Camping near Hurricane, West Virginia offers direct access to a network of campgrounds surrounded by the hills and waterways of southwestern West Virginia. Several campgrounds lie within a 30-mile drive along winding roads that connect to natural spaces suitable for various camping setups. Most campgrounds in this region require advanced planning as sites fill quickly during peak seasons from late spring through early fall.
What to do
Hiking and biking trails: Kanawha State Forest offers numerous hiking opportunities with varying difficulty levels, though visitors should note road access requires navigation of tight turns. "Very close to Charleston, but feels somewhat removed. Tons of hiking and biking (mountain and road) opportunities available," notes one camper about Kanawha State Forest.
Fishing opportunities: The lakes at Beech Fork State Park provide prime fishing locations with multiple species available. "The lake is the center of activity. We saw lots of wildlife (check bird migration schedules!)," reports a visitor to Moxley Branch Campground.
Water activities: Boating and paddling options exist at several locations including Saint Albans Roadside Park. "If you have a boat you can use the boat access. There is a grocery store directly across the road along with several gas stations," explains one camper about the riverside location.
What campers like
Lakeside camping: Sites adjacent to water consistently receive high ratings from visitors at Beech Fork State Park. "We stayed at Beech Fork in our overlander tent, right on the lake. The sunrises were absolutely spectacular, tons of blue heron and ducks every morning floating on the water," shares a camper at Lake View Campground.
Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathhouses appear frequently in positive reviews. "The bath houses were impressively clean. They have a nice Park Head quarters with a general store that has grocery items, firewood, and cool souvenirs," notes a visitor to Beech Fork State Park Lower Bowen.
Kid-friendly amenities: Many campgrounds offer specific activities for children. "They had so much for kids to do: a swimming pond with inflatables, gem mining, banana bikes, and more. They showed a movie at 9pm on a big inflatable movie screen outside," explains a camper at Huntington / Fox Fire KOA.
What you should know
Limited cell service: Multiple campgrounds report minimal to no cell coverage, particularly with certain carriers. "The good... peaceful, nice lake with some spots next to the lake. The bad... not much of a camp store, the wifi is horrible, no Verizon service," warns a visitor to Old Orchard Campground.
Access road challenges: Several campgrounds require navigation of winding or steep roads. "Great campground. Terrible access road," states one concise review about driving conditions.
Weather considerations: Spring camping can involve muddy conditions at many sites. "Our site was muddy but it did rain 2 out of 3 days. Site 32. The staff was very pleasant and helpful," mentions one camper.
Tips for camping with families
Swimming options: While lake swimming may be restricted, pool facilities exist at certain locations. "There is a pool very close but you still have to pay if you are camping there - at least discount the price to campers. There is beach access but it takes 30-45 minutes to drive to it," advises a visitor to Four Coves Campground.
Family programming: Scheduled activities occur at many campgrounds, particularly on weekends. "During the evening hours they offered kid friends activities like slip and slid," shares one camper.
Space for activities: Some campgrounds offer more room for children to explore safely. "It is very safe for kids. The park ranger makes his rounds quite frequently," explains a visitor.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: RVers recommend researching specific sites before booking. "We had one of the back in sites which was nice because there was nothing but woods behind us," notes a camper at Fox Fire KOA.
Utility connections: The arrangement of hookups varies between campgrounds. "The hookups are a little strange. You share pedestals in many of the sites. And the arrangement is a little strange but it works," explains one RVer.
Level sites: Pad conditions and levelness differ between campgrounds. "Ok for overnight stop. Pros: 50 amp hook-up, Water, Sewer. Cons: Gravel pad, Sites close together," reports one RV camper.
