Best Campgrounds near Parkersburg, WV
Campgrounds surrounding Parkersburg, West Virginia provide diverse accommodations across both Ohio and West Virginia state lines. The area features established campgrounds like Mountwood Park Family Campground, located just 15 minutes east of Parkersburg, offering tent, RV, and cabin camping options. Other nearby options include Blennerhassett RV Park in Belpre, Ohio and Forked Run State Park Campground in Long Bottom, Ohio, approximately 30 minutes southwest of Parkersburg. The region includes both state-operated facilities and county parks with varying levels of amenities and site types.
Most campgrounds in the area operate seasonally, with many closing between November and April. Forked Run State Park Campground maintains year-round availability, though with limited services during winter months. "Many of the sites were open on reserveamerica.com so we knew we could just show up and choose a site," noted one camper about Forked Run during off-peak season. Road access throughout the region is generally good with paved roads leading to most established campgrounds, though some primitive sites have rougher access. Cell service can be spotty, particularly at Lane Farm Campground and other more remote locations. Water availability varies significantly by site, with some campgrounds offering full hookups while others have no potable water.
The Ohio River and its tributaries define many camping experiences in the region. Several campgrounds provide direct river access, including Ashland RV Park, which one visitor described as having a "large open campground minutes from downtown Marietta OH" with a "clean, nice newer bath house." Mountwood Park offers hiking trails, ATV routes, and mountain biking opportunities across the highway from its campground. Tent campers should note that some sites throughout the region have challenging terrain - at Forked Run, campers mentioned that "sites are very bad for tent camping and not the best for RVs" with few level spots available. Wildlife sightings are common, with deer frequently seen at campgrounds throughout the area, particularly at dawn and dusk.