A
Andrew H.
Guide
GuideRhododendron Camping Area
Pretty Basic Campsite
I stayed at the non electric campsite area and it was nice. Very wooded and lots of trails to explore
Camping near Colfax, WV
104 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Search destinations
Add dates
SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
The area surrounding Colfax, West Virginia features several established campgrounds set within the rolling terrain of northern West Virginia. Tygart Lake State Park Campground provides camping options just south of Colfax with tent sites, RV hookups and cabin rentals, situated along the shores of a ten-mile lake. Nearby alternatives include Camp Ara and Family Fishing N' Camping, both offering water access and wooded sites. The region includes a mix of state park facilities and private campgrounds, most operating seasonally with some offering year-round options for recreation and overnight stays.
Most campgrounds in the area operate from April through October, with limited facilities available during winter months. Tygart Lake State Park's camping season typically runs from mid-April to October, while Cooper's Rock State Forest, located about 40 miles northwest, maintains a similar seasonal schedule. Travelers should consider making reservations, particularly for summer weekends when waterfront sites fill quickly. Many campsites feature sloped terrain that can affect tent placement and comfort. Several campgrounds provide electric hookups, though availability varies by location, with options for both primitive tent camping and full-service RV sites. As one visitor noted, "We had site 33 (probably the worst site). The entire site was on a slant and covered in rocks. There was no flat spot for our tent, so we had to sleep on an angle."
Wildlife encounters are common at camping areas throughout the region, with raccoons frequently mentioned in visitor reviews. The primary draws include water-based recreation at Tygart Lake, with boating, fishing, and limited swimming opportunities. Campers report clean facilities at most established campgrounds, though site spacing varies considerably. Several visitors mentioned the helpful and friendly park staff as a highlight of their experience. Camp Ara received particularly positive reviews, with a camper commenting, "The hosts of this camp provide drinking water and warm hospitality." Tygart Lake offers scenic hiking trails connecting camping areas to the lakeshore, though some visitors noted trash along the shoreline in certain areas. Winter camping options are limited, with most campgrounds closing during colder months, though some cabin facilities remain available year-round.
Best Campgrounds near Colfax (104)
1. Tygart Lake State Park Campground
"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."
2. Coopers Rock State Forest- McCollum Campground
"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 Availability3. Camp Ara
"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 Availability4. Family Fishing N' Camping
from $10 - $150 / night
Check Availability5. Audra State Park Campground
"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."
6. Morgantown / Mylan Park KOA Holiday
"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."
7. CAMP73ROCKST☆R
from $35 - $65 / night
8. Farnum Park LLC
9. Kentuck Campground — Ohiopyle State Park
"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 $24 - $80 / night
Check Availability10. Five River Campground
"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
Drive Time
- 15 min from Morgantown, WV
- 1 hr 20 min from Pittsburgh, PA
- 1 hr 20 min from Wheeling, WV
- 1 hr 28 min from Weirton, WV
Recent Camping Photos near Colfax, WV
236 Photos of 104 Colfax Campgrounds
Mark S.
Tygart Lake State Park Campground
Danielle S.
Coopers Rock State Forest- McCollum Campground
Laura H.
Sand Springs Campground
The Dyrt
Tentrr Signature Site - Creekside Camp Signature Site at Whitewater Preserve
Dyan F.
Audra State Park Campground
Alia
Kick Back n Camp
Jennifer
Possum Tail Farm Camp
Dave V.
Five River Campground
keri S.
Broken Wheel Campground
Brian S.
Ryerson Station State Park Campground
Vince L.
Brooklyn Heights Riverfront Campground
Katie H.
Swallow Falls State Park Campground
Recent Reviews near Colfax, WV
532 Reviews of 104 Colfax Campgrounds
Tatiana I.GuideFarnum Park LLC
Great campground
Full hookup, accessible after office hours. Friendly staff.
- AAlly S.
ScoutYough Lake Campground at Tub Run
Awful place
I wish I could give this campground zero stars. Like the reviews below us stated, we were also verbally attacked by the little man on the golf cart. This campground should be embarrassed by the way it treats families. We were supposed to stay Thursday through Sunday with our best friends and our six children. Instead, we packed up and left Saturday after returning from our planned trip to Ohiopyle with our kids. What was supposed to be a fun, relaxing family camping weekend turned into an experience that left us shocked, disappointed, and completely disrespected. We are experienced campers and have spent years creating memories with our children at campgrounds. We are respectful guests, we follow rules, and we have never had an experience like this. Unfortunately, this campground chose poor communication, intimidation, and selective enforcement over basic customer service. During our stay, we had a truck briefly drive down to the swimming area to unload and later reload chairs, coolers, and supplies for our six children. There are no signs stating that vehicles are prohibited on the grass. In fact, there were multiple golf carts in the same area throughout the day, including staff members and seasonal campers, which led us to believe this was permitted. We understand vehicles are heavier than golf carts, but there were zero signage stating no cars allowed. To preface, there was zero damage done to the grass area due to our truck, we took photos prior to leaving the campground to protect ourselves since management is so emotionally unstable. Mind you: this is an army corp engineers campground, by Under federal law(36 CFR§ 327.2), motorized vehicles, including golf carts, UTVs, ATVs, and standard cars, must remain strictly on designated paved or gravel roads and parking lots. We found this rule after we got home and did our research. There were about 5 golf carts AND a gator in and out of the beach area through out the day. If someone had simply approached us and kindly explained that vehicles were not allowed there, we would have apologized. Instead, staff chose to sit back after someone complained, watch my children swim for hours, wait for us to clean up and bring the truck down to reload, then turn a simple misunderstanding into a confrontation. A staff member approached the truck in a golf cart, speeding up and hopping out(this is all on video) while my minor daughter was inside, reached into our vehicle and took our tag then proceeded to yell at us to pack our“shit” and prepare to leave. The way this was handled was completely unnecessary and unprofessional. Our children were present, witnessed this, and were left scared and confused over a situation that could have been resolved in less than a minute with a respectful conversation. We were also told there is a strict 5 mph speed limit and that radar is used because of a serious incident involving a child in the past, He was hit and life flighted. Yet seasonal campers continued driving golf carts around at unsafe speeds while drinking. Rules and safety expectations should apply equally to everyone, not only when management decides to enforce them against certain guests and not their buddies who pay for a seasonal spot. We went to the office in good faith to discuss what happened and believed the situation had been resolved. We stayed another night, only to be told the following morning that we were no longer welcome back. To permanently ban a family over a first time issue involving a rule that was never communicated is absolutely unacceptable. A well run campground understands that communication and respect go both ways. Instead, this campground made paying guests feel unwelcome and disposable. Management needs to take a serious look at how they handle conflicts because this was not customer service, it was an unnecessary escalation. We will never return to this campground, and after this experience, we strongly encourage other families to think twice before booking a stay here. Especially with young children.
Julie P.
TravelerBenner's Meadow Run RV Campground
great for families!
check 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
Kindra W.GuideCoopers Rock State Forest- McCollum Campground
5 stars! Large lots, beautiful scenery, and nice campers
Coopers 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.
- Dani P.Guide
Coopers Rock State Forest- McCollum Campground
Beautiful and lush campground
This 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.
- TTed D.Traveler
Coopers Rock State Forest- McCollum Campground
Cooper’s Rock Rocks
We 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.
Heather S.TravelerCanaan Valley Resort State Park Campground
Beautiful place!
This 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
N A.TravelerKentuck Campground — Ohiopyle State Park
Fantastic wooded campground
We 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.
Guide to Colfax
Camping spots near Colfax, West Virginia center around the Monongahela National Forest region where elevations range from 1,000 to 3,000 feet and summer temperatures average 75-85°F during the day. The area experiences frequent afternoon thunderstorms during summer camping season, with many sites situated on sloped terrain requiring careful tent placement. Northern West Virginia campgrounds typically remain open from mid-April through October, with limited winter options outside state parks.
What to do
Whitewater adventure: Middle Yough River offers family-friendly rafting opportunities just 75 minutes from Colfax at Ohiopyle State Park. A self-guided raft down the Middle Yough features minimal Class 1 and 2 rapids. "The float took three hours, was relaxing, serene and full of solitude," according to one visitor.
Natural water slides: Sliding Rock sits just outside Ohiopyle's campground entrance. "Get there early to get a parking spot and then look forward to having some serious liquid fun. A natural water slide extends around 100 feet as it winds through the rock," notes a camper who recommends sturdy footwear.
Trout fishing opportunities: The local rivers provide excellent fishing access, particularly at Five River Campground where visitors can fish directly from their sites. "The river is fantastic and holds trout and smallmouth for those that like to fish," reports one angler who stayed at this riverside campground in Parsons.
What campers like
Clean facilities: Campgrounds throughout the region receive positive marks for maintenance. "Facilitaties are extremely clean!" notes a recent visitor to Tygart Lake State Park Campground, which features updated bathrooms despite the challenging terrain at many sites.
Helpful camp hosts: Several private campgrounds provide exceptional service beyond what visitors experience at state parks. At Camp Ara, "The hosts of this camp provide drinking water and warm hospitality. On our second night after taking a HOT shower in one of the lodges we were offered a warm meal and even warmer company from one of the families running the site."
Trail accessibility: Many campgrounds feature direct trail access from camping areas. At Blackwater Falls, "There's a trail that literally goes through someone's site." Coopers Rock State Forest visitors appreciate that "The sites are nicely spaced apart, the camp staff is helpful, and the showers are very clean."
What you should know
Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds in the region feature sloped terrain. Visitors to Audra State Park Campground report: "Almost all sites are on a hill. The pictures do not accurately show this." Campers should bring leveling blocks or select sites carefully.
Wildlife encounters: Raccoons frequently visit campsites throughout the area, particularly at Tygart Lake where campers note: "There is a HUGE raccoon problem here, even during the day. I wish we were warned ahead of time. Many people bring an extra tent to keep their food in." Secure food storage is essential.
Campground access limitations: Some campgrounds have restrictions for larger vehicles. "The roads are very narrow with sharp turns," notes a visitor to Audra State Park. At Ohiopyle, "Big/long RV's (driven or pulled) have difficulty navigating this narrow, curvy campground road pocked with rocky outcroppings."
Tips for camping with families
Nearby splash pads: Communities surrounding Colfax offer water recreation beyond lakes. In Parsons near Five River Campground, "There's a wonderful park nearby that has a walking/biking trail, splash pad, and a large playground." This provides alternative water play when lake conditions aren't ideal.
Campground playgrounds: Most state parks include playground facilities, though maintenance quality varies. Coopers Rock State Forest gets high marks from parents: "There is a playground for the kids and plenty of room for them to play." One parent noted their "12yr old son had a great time. Didn't miss his PS4 at all."
Beach access considerations: While lakes are popular destinations, families should note potential issues. At Tygart Lake, "You cannot bring dogs in the designated swimming area," and some visitors have noted that "The lake was pretty but there was a ton trash all around it," requiring parental supervision for safety.
Tips from RVers
Electric hookup locations: Many campgrounds have recently upgraded electrical service, but placement can be problematic. At Blackwater Falls State Park Campground, "Many of the pull thru sites are situated in the wrong direction with the electric hookup on the wrong side." RVers should carry extension cords.
Cellular connectivity: Unlike more remote camping areas, most campgrounds near Colfax offer reliable cell service. Five River Campground visitors note, "We had cell service since we were right outside of town which is hard to find in WV." This makes the area suitable for remote workers needing connectivity.
Dump station locations: RVers should plan waste disposal carefully. "The dump station is in a weird spot and the only water available is the same used for flushing," reports a Blackwater Falls visitor. At other parks, "You have to go the wrong way on a one way road to dump," requiring careful timing to avoid traffic conflicts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Colfax, WV?
What camping is available near Colfax, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, Colfax, WV offers a wide range of camping options, with 104 campgrounds and RV parks near Colfax, WV and 3 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Colfax, WV?
Which is the most popular campground near Colfax, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Colfax, WV is Tygart Lake State Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 20 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Colfax, WV?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Colfax, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 3 free dispersed camping spots near Colfax, WV.
Keep Exploring