121 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
The Monongahela National Forest region surrounding Grafton, West Virginia provides a range of camping experiences from developed state parks to more remote forest service sites. Tygart Lake State Park Campground offers cabin accommodations and tent camping with lakefront access just north of Grafton, while Audra State Park Campground, approximately 20 miles south, features riverside sites along the Middle Fork River. Both locations support mixed camping styles including tent sites, RV hookups, and cabin rentals. Additional options extend into nearby areas like Coopers Rock State Forest and Blackwater Falls State Park, which provide more extensive trail systems and scenic overlooks within an hour's drive.
Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally from mid-April through October, with limited winter accessibility. Road conditions vary significantly throughout the area, with some forest service roads requiring high-clearance vehicles, particularly after rainfall. According to one visitor, "West Virginia is packed with some of the best hiking, climbing, rafting, biking, canyons, mountains, rivers, valleys, and forests in the U.S...and the beauty is few people take advantage of it." Cell service remains limited in many camping areas, though some state parks have begun adding WiFi near central facilities. Reservations are recommended for weekend stays during summer months, especially at popular waterfront sites. Elevation changes affect temperatures significantly, with higher elevation campgrounds like those near Spruce Knob experiencing cooler nights even in summer.
Riverside camping locations receive consistently positive reviews, with the Middle Fork River at Audra State Park and Tygart Lake offering popular water recreation opportunities. Campers frequently mention wildlife sightings, particularly deer, throughout the region's campgrounds. Several visitors noted the quality of hiking trails connecting to camping areas, with Blackwater Falls and Coopers Rock providing exceptional scenic overlooks accessible from their respective campgrounds. A camper wrote, "The views of Seneca Rocks were welcomed, when it wasn't raining (a common occurrence in WV)," highlighting the region's variable weather patterns. Primitive camping options in the higher elevations provide greater solitude but require more preparation for temperature fluctuations and limited facilities. Many campgrounds feature updated bathhouses with hot showers, though more remote forest service campgrounds typically offer only vault toilets and hand pumps for water.
"There was a bathroom close by with running water and showers. It was beautiful and very close to the lake."
"Trails to lakeside/shore where campers do swim although no swimming from shore is "not" allowed. Just be respectful and clean up after yourselves and usually no drama involved."
"Audra State Park, is a bit off the beaten path but well worth the journey. Tucked away, just outside of Buckhannon, WV...home of West Virginia Wesleyan College."
"v=VLUEBlIxHpo) Trails undulate with the terrain. The short trail within the campground area is steep in areas but offers some nice views."
"This is the largest state forest in West Virginia, it has a total of 25 sites that vary in their privacy. Each site has electrical hookups, picnic tables, fire grates, and utility post."
"There is also a small laundry room with dishwashing sink behind the bathhouse. Both ice and firewood are sold onsite."
from $25 - $48 / night
Check Availability"Beautiful lake for canoeing and fishing and the hiking and mountain bike trails are amazing! Cant wait to go back!"
from $20 - $150 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $10 - $150 / night
Check Availability"This is a hidden gem right outside of town. We utilized one of the rv sites with 50 amp service and full hookups."
"It sets at the end of a side street (Walnut St) at the edge of town (Parsons). A small, quaint mountain town."
from $15 / night
Check Availability"Blackwater State Park, Davis, WV https://wvstateparks.com/park/blackwater-falls-state-park/ Camping anywhere in West Virginia is a highlight, but this area offers hiking views aplenty."
"This was our first stay in a state park campground in West Virginia and it was a great stay. Arrived during a steady downpour and rented a cabin for the first night but camped the second night."
from $50 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $35 - $65 / night
"The plan was to camp and hike throughout West Virginia, but when we visited Pathfinder outdoor retailer in Morgantown, WV the staff encouraged us to check out Ohiopyle, while we were so close."
"Very close to two Frank Lloyd Wright properties– Kentuck Knob and the more widely known Falling Waters."
from $20 - $54 / night
Check Availability"Decent sized “parking spaces” Available on holiday weekend Good price ($40/night) Full hookups (bring your long sewer tube, I used 3 x15’ as it’s at the tail of the spot) Fields & Grassy area adjacent"
"We love it here most of the time it’s close to Morgantown so it’s perfect for university events. Really close to campus. They have full hookups & partial hookups."
Travelercheck in was easy. there’s lots to do for families kids- there’s ponds to fish, swimming pool, mini golf. golf cart rentals. playground. they also have events like family olympics and outdoor movies. site was also very nice and spacious
GuideCoopers Rock State Park is an absolute gem and easily deserves 5 stars. The RV lots are large and easy to navigate, making setup stress-free and comfortable. The staff was very friendly and helpful, which made the whole stay even better. The new washrooms were clean, modern, and well maintained, and the scenery is breathtaking everywhere you look. It’s the perfect place to relax, enjoy nature, and take in the beautiful views.
GuideThis place is gorgeous and very quiet. The shower house and bathrooms were well maintained, and even had a laundry room and large sink around the back for dishes. Laundry costs $2 in quarters per load, 4 quarters for the washer and 4 quarters for the dryer. They are quick as well, took maybe an hour and 15 minutes all together. Campsites are spaced apart so you're not directly on top of eachother, but you can still see most of the other campers. Lots of trails in the area. We had electrical hook up and a lantern pole, and the is a dump and water station on the way in/out. Highly recommend this site.
TravelerWe are here a couple days . Staff and facilities are great. Lots of hiking trails of various types and lengths. June 9 and only 2 other RVs on our loop. The “new” loop has great single occupancy bath facilities.
TravelerThis place is beautiful! I loved seeing all the wildlife! My daughter and I enjoyed walking the entire campground looking for Bigfoot.😉 we loved waking up the next morning to having squirrels, chipmunks, deer and birds on our campsite. We stayed on site 14
TravelerWe LOVED our visit to Kentuck campground and Ohiopyle. We went mid-week in early June and had very few neighbors Tuesday and Wednesday, with more rolling in toward the end of the week.
We stayed on Hickory Loop with our dog and saw quite a few other dogs while we were there. Not all sites are equal at this campground - ours was huge and lovely with adequate flattish area and a stream running along two sides of it. Others were quite small and not very level. I think we had one of the best sites on the loop, with great trees for hammocks and big rocks nearby, as well as good privacy from other sites.
The campground is very shaded and was regularly several degrees cooler than elsewhere in the park, which was great to home 'home' to. There's a lot of poison ivy in the area, so be watchful.
Firewood is available for purchase on entrance to the campground.
The bathhouse was relatively clean, with a large kitchen sink for washing dishes, three toilet stalls, and two shower stalls. We never had to wait for any of it.
ScoutSuper remote camp spot! The drive to the forest road was a little tight and windy for an inexperienced mountain driver as myself. Wouldn't want to do it at night.
Most camp spots are on loops of more group camping with 4-6 sites at each loop and I believe there were 3 or 4 loops. Not my cup of tea, too fish bowl for me and way too exposed. Outside of the loops, there were 8-10 sites that were more my style, with the one we stayed at was just right! The most perfect spot in the whole place (for our preferences) we were literally on a babbling creek. Couldn't get any closer. Had direct access to water for washing and other needs. However I read in a brochure to not drink the water without boiling for 3 minutes because the area has giardia.
Saw a lot of people headed further down creek to fish for trout. No cell service for about 20 minutes. We had to drive back to route 33 and the halfway to Elkins to catch a sliver of cell service.
If you are staying at camp and brought everything you need, you're golden. There are lots of things to occupy yourself with exploring. There is a trailhead on forest rd 162 with miles of hiking with a hand full of trails to choose.
We arrived around 4PM on a Sunday. Plenty of sites to choose from. Was about half full. When we got up the next morning to leave, most spots were open. We stayed until mid day on Friday. Action was definitely picking up. Saw more people, more kids and louder noises. We are definitely Sunday to Thursday campers. I want to camp without knowing the neighbors are there. When leaving on Friday most sites were taken.
Had no problems finding plenty of fallen kindling for our fire. We found a great roadside house on route 33 that was selling firewood in their front yard for only $10 a "row" as they called it. We got 2 rows because we werent sure what to expect when we got there. We built a good hearty fire every morning and every evening and still had firewood we left there since there was so much accessible resources.
We ended up doing a lot of "tourist" experiences that was a bit of a drive to get to due to my inexperience in driving in the mountains. The drives were usually 30 minutes to an hour and a half. But well worth the drive.
Elkins is the closest place to "civilization" (north on 33) we went there for cheap gas, ice, and the grocery store. Didn't explore Elkins as it was too "city" for us. We wanted more remote experiences.
Harman was the next closest place (south on 33) not much for exploring, but they have a dollar general (what remote town doesn't have a dollar general?) and a place for gas
Continue on 33 south and hit Seneca Rocks! Such a beautiful sight to see! Also have the oldest general store built in 1902 and Yokums country store. Its like going back in time. Both tourist traps but worth the experience. We went to the recreation area with river access so beautiful to see the cliffs upclose and personal. If you are a climber this is the place for you. We are hikers. But enjoyed the views.
Continuing on 33 south there is smoke hole caverns. Another tourist trap but fun. For $20 you get a cavern tour tack on a little more if you want to go gem "panning" and get a bag of dirt to find gems. Or putt putt. Giant gift shop. Someone said it was the largest gift shop in West Virginia.
From Seneca Rocks if you head west on 28 it will take you past Seneca Caverns. They were closed for the summer due to blasting nearby.
Continuing on 28 west you then come to one of my favorite spots. Spruce Knob. The highest elevation in all of West Virginia, gorgeous views all around! Terrible observation tower that you cant see anything due to trees. Nice picnic area. Going down the other side of the mountain Spruce Knob lake, lots more trail heads AND a fantastic dispersed camping area! Seneca Creek backcountry. Didn't camp here. Will camp here next time. All dirt roads down the other side of the mountain. But so worth the adventure!
From camp and going to Harman take 32 east and that will take you to Canaan Valley state park, didn't explore too much but access to a lot more hiking
Then you come to Davis WV one of the cutest little towns ever! Very developed for back country but very very quaint. The davis depot has some camping/hiking clothes and lots of tourist items with t-shirts stickers and such. But great designs. Spent a hunk of change here. Has a grocery store and a dollar general. And a hiking, camping, backpacking store. Has gear, clothes, shoes, you name it. Had an issue with my hiking boots. Got good quality boots here! There are several small boutique stores a couple of restaurants a brewery and a bicycle shop.
Last point of interest I'll address, on the other side of Davis, Blackwater State Park. Easy in intermediate hiking here did most of our hiking here. Gorgeous falls. 3 to be exact. Nice overlooks. Nice recreation center for the kids. Near Canaan loop rd.[Canaan loop rd has dispersed camping too. This is where I had planned on camping when we came to WV and ended up over in Glady. However, I was told by the guy at the camp store in Davis that it was closed. I cannot confirm this. But just definitely check into it before solidifying plans]
My preferences for camping are not usually the whole tourist thing. But WV has so much to offer I just couldn't get enough! So we kept trekking out to see more. The drive is a lot and was a whole day's journey round trip with spending time at those locations but so worth it. Not that far of a drive in the scheme of things
Will come back to this area over and over for all the dispersed camping options and for all the sights and experiences packed in such a small area.
GuideI used the coordinates and it took me to a campground that charges $15 a day. They weren’t private being right on the gravel road. There were tables,pits and the shepherds hook in each one. There were some that were on the river. There were toilets. I didn’t use them so I can’t say anything more about them. Not much sun thru the dense trees for solar. I kept driving around the forest on FR227 and came upon a whole nother set of labeled dispersed campsites that were very private and have open areas for solar. They were numbered. There were at least 12 that I saw.
ScoutThe biggest problem with the WV state parks is the cancellation policy. Make sure you check it out. Bath houses are decent. Shower had hot water and good pressure. Most of the sites are not level 1-9 are the best sites by far. Poor drainage when raining.
Dispersed camping options expand beyond state parks in the Monongahela National Forest area surrounding Grafton, West Virginia. The region sits at the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains with elevations ranging from 1,000-2,500 feet, creating significant temperature variations between valley campgrounds and higher elevation sites. Most forest service roads require high-clearance vehicles and become particularly challenging after rainfall when muddy conditions can make access difficult.
Rock climbing experiences: Near Coopers Rock State Forest, climbers find beginner-friendly pitches under 50 feet high. "I have been going here for years and I always love to climb this area. The pitches aren't too high (50ft) but great just to get out there an enjoy life!" notes one visitor.
River activities: The Middle Fork River at Audra State Park Campground becomes a whitewater paddling destination during spring rains. According to a camper: "During other times the river is crystal clear with anglers trying to hook rainbow or golden trout. Locals flock to Audra S.P. Day Use areas on weekends to cool off at several park swimming areas."
Trail exploration: Kentuck Campground offers direct access to the Great Allegheny Passage trail. "Awesome campground right on the Great Allegheny Passage trail. We loved being able to access the GAP trail right from the campground," shares one visitor, who also noted its convenient proximity to Fallingwater.
Waterfront access: Campers consistently praise the river camping at Audra. One visitor reported: "The whole thing is along a beautiful crystal clear river that runs along large rocks. There is great trout fishing in the area and great hiking trails within the park."
Wildlife spotting: At Tygart Lake State Park Campground, birdwatching opportunities abound. "The birds are active and wonderful to listen too!" notes one camper who visited in early May when the park was nearly empty.
Winter camping options: While most campgrounds close seasonally, Five River Campground remains open year-round. A camper explains: "I really love Five River Campground in Parsons, WV. The owners are amazing! This campground is paved up to the campground. It has 120 RV sites many with full hook-ups."
Raccoon awareness: Tygart Lake has documented wildlife issues. A camper reported: "There is a HUGE raccoon problem here, even during the day. Many people bring an extra tent to keep their food in... At one point they even put holes in the outside of our $300 tent!!"
Cell service limitations: Most campgrounds have limited connectivity, but Five River Campground is an exception. "Ended up staying 2 weeks as the wifi service is the best we have had on the road," notes one camper, making it suitable for remote workers.
Tent site selection: Choose carefully at Blackwater Falls State Park Campground. According to a visitor: "You back in & your door is facing the correct way, but your picnic table & fireplace are on the wrong side! A lot of sites on this loop are like that."
Playground proximity: At Coopers Rock State Forest, families appreciate the kid-friendly layout. "There is a playground for the kids and plenty of room for them to play," reports one camper who noted the campground wasn't overcrowded with RVs or noisy.
Swimming spots: Audra State Park offers natural water recreation for children. A visitor explains: "We were fortunate to find one along the river which was great to sit by a fire while the kids swam. Across the road is a day use area for swimming and tubing - bring your own or rent one."
Educational opportunities: Camp Ara offers a lake with multiple activities. "Beautiful lake for canoeing and fishing and the hiking and mountain bike trails are amazing!" notes one visitor, highlighting its appeal for active families.
Site spacing: At Coopers Rock, RV campers praise the newer section layout. "New section is spaced out with a berm of earth in between a lot of the sites," explains a camper who weathered a major storm there and noted the 50-amp service had no issues.
Hookup locations: At Tygart Lake, RVers should note site placement issues. "The electric sites have no shade or privacy, and they are all on top of each other," warns one camper who opted for a non-electric site for better privacy and lake access.
Urban convenience: When needing full hookups with easy highway access, Mylan Park offers RV-friendly convenience. "We have a 5th wheel that's 46' long... Lots of shopping and gas stations in and around the area," notes one visitor, though they recommend taking exit 155 rather than 152 for easier access with large rigs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the RV campgrounds in Grafton, WV near Tygart Lake?
For RV camping near Tygart Lake in Grafton, Tygart Lake State Park Campground is the closest option, though reviews suggest checking other alternatives. Five River Campground near Parsons is another option with full RV hookups and is big-rig friendly. For a better camping experience with RVs in the general region, consider venturing a bit further to campgrounds that offer more amenities and spacious sites. Many RVers recommend calling ahead to confirm site availability and hookup options before making the trip.
What camping options are available at Family Fishing N' Camping in Grafton?
Family Fishing N' Camping offers drive-in and walk-in camping opportunities with basic amenities including reservable sites, potable water, and toilet facilities. As the name suggests, this campground specializes in fishing experiences for families. For those seeking a more rustic camping option in the region, Spruce Knob Lake Campground provides a quiet alternative with fewer sites than most public campgrounds. Family Fishing N' Camping is ideal for those who prioritize angling opportunities while enjoying a straightforward camping experience without elaborate amenities.
What activities can families enjoy when camping near Tygart Lake in Grafton?
Families camping near Tygart Lake can enjoy water activities including swimming, fishing, and boating on the lake itself. Horseshoe Recreation Area offers additional water recreation with tubing options. For hiking enthusiasts, Blackwater Falls State Park Campground provides scenic trails with stunning views within driving distance. The region features numerous hiking paths suitable for all skill levels, picnic areas, wildlife viewing, and photography opportunities. During summer months, ranger-led interpretive programs are often available for children, making it an educational experience as well as a recreational one.
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