Pet friendly camping near Daniels, West Virginia offers diverse options within the Appalachian Mountains, where elevations range from 1,500 to 3,200 feet. The area experiences four distinct seasons with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during the day and 55-65°F at night. Most campgrounds in this region follow seasonal operations from April through October, though some provide year-round access.
What to do
Waterfall hiking trails: Explore the two waterfalls at Camp Creek State Park, just 16 miles from Daniels. "The waterfalls were very sparse when we were there so not sure about other times of the year. There is an office with a small store," according to Lee D., who noted the park has an "ADA-accessible short trail" making some areas available to all mobility levels.
Fishing at Bluestone Lake: Cast a line from shoreline sites at Bluestone State Park's Meador Campground. "We stayed in Meador site 14, which was the furthest away from the bath house (still only maybe 150 yards), but it was on the water & was the most secluded. It was freshly mowed, had a fire ring, picnic table, & was right on the water with nice views of the lake & mountains," writes Jay N., who also mentioned seeing "TONS of deer all around (just hanging out eating vegetation)."
Visit historic structures: Check out the reconstructed gristmill at Babcock State Park. "The beautiful gift shop was once a former park restaurant of a bygone era," notes Dave V., who adds that "the building and surrounding stone structures, retaining walls, and staircases were built by the CCC and are magnificent and in great shape."
River access: Enjoy New River swimming spots at the free Army Camp Campground within the national park. A camper notes, "We spent a night here on our way to Ohio. It has a small loop of campsites near the river. It is a one lane road to get to the campground... Campsites were mowed and it was a short walk to a really nice spot on the river."
What campers like
Free camping options: Take advantage of no-cost sites at Army Camp Campground in New River Gorge National Park. "You can't beat an established campground (picnic tables, fire pits, bathrooms) in a national park that's also free! Good amount of spiders and ants but didn't notice any mosquitoes in mid May. Peaceful and quiet!" writes Rachel S.
Clean facilities: Many campers appreciate the well-maintained bathhouses at Rifrafters Campground near Fayetteville. Melissa O. notes, "We checked in around 7 pm and they walked us to our site AND helped us back in! This was our first trip with this camper and it was such a help after a day of driving in the rain."
Spacious campsites: Find room to spread out at Pipestem Resort State Park. Jennifer S., who tent camped with her family, said "Our site was spacious and shaded. We had just electric hookup for our tent. Park was well kept and clean. Shower houses were well maintained daily throughout the week."
Wildlife viewing: Observe local animals in their natural habitat. At Meador Campground, Jay N. mentioned seeing "TONS of deer all around (just hanging out eating vegetation)" during their short one-night stay, while Babcock State Park offers encounters with various woodland creatures on its extensive trail system.
What you should know
Seasonal closures: Check opening dates before planning trips. At Camp Creek State Park, Jessica D. learned the hard way: "Even though the campground is open year round, the bathrooms are not. We were told there was one open bathroom however it was not made clear this was 1-2 miles away which was not exactly convenient."
Flood risks: River sites can experience rapid water level changes. Dave V. noted at Army Camp Campground: "When breaking camp, it was noted the New River had encroached another 100ft through the woodland, flowing alongside the campground loop gravel drive...30 ft from our tent pad. Even though it had not rained in 18 hours, the New River continued to swell beyond what I thought probable."
Weather variations: Prepare for temperature fluctuations. "The temperature got down to 30 degrees and frost covered everything," reported Dave V. about Babcock State Park during an early May visit, despite daytime temperatures being much warmer.
Limited connectivity: Most campgrounds have spotty cell coverage. Tucker B. mentioned at Army Camp Campground: "No AT&T service so I only stayed two nights (gotta work during the week!)."
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Choose campgrounds with dedicated play areas for children. At Little Beaver State Park, facilities include a nice playground for kids. Michelle W. noted, "A nice playground for children. Lots of deer about. The tent sites have water, fire ring, table and nice shade."
Educational opportunities: Visit park nature centers for kid-friendly learning. At Babcock State Park, the visitor's center provides historical information about the area. One visitor mentioned that "The Nature Center is nice. The typical stuffed animals. You're not allowed to pet the bear!"
Swimming options: Find campgrounds with water features during summer months. ACE Adventure Resort offers water activities children enjoy. Terah J. reports, "The main one is the Lake with multiple giant anchored inflatables to play on for all ages. Others include white water rafting (day trips and overnighters), ziplines, mud course, biking and more."
Kid-friendly biking routes: Look for paved campground roads for easy cycling. Michelle W. noted about Camp Creek State Park, "All the roads are paved making it easy for the little ones to ride bikes."
Tips from RVers
Site levelness: Request level spots when making reservations. At Grandview Sandbar Campground, Dane J. observed that "the sites do have a picnic table, lantern post and firepit. Depending on the site you choose, the initial sites to the right are all below the campground roadway you wind down."
Access road challenges: Be prepared for narrow entry roads at several area campgrounds. Charlie W. commented about Little Beaver State Park, "Dump site was a little different. Had to make a uturn to get in to dump."
Full hookup availability: Plan according to utility needs. At Pipestem Resort State Park, Swain K. advised, "There's 82 sites in the campground. 1-31 have full hookup, 32-49 electric only, 50-82 water & electric."
Big rig considerations: Some campgrounds have size restrictions. Regarding Rifrafters Campground, Cassondra P. noted, "It is very much built into a big hill - I was a little worried our Avion (similar to airstream) that had low clearance would bottom out as we came in and out of entrance hill to road but we had no issue."
