Camping areas around Duck, West Virginia offer direct access to the New River Gorge region with elevation changes between 1,400 and 2,800 feet. Mountain terrain throughout the area creates challenges for navigation, particularly on narrow access roads leading to more remote camping facilities. Water access remains a key feature at several campgrounds with Summersville Lake providing 2,700 acres of clear water for recreation.
What to do
Hiking at Battle Run: Explore numerous trails near the campground with varying difficulty levels. Located at Battle Run, visitors can access both water-based activities and land exploration. "If your into hiking, rock climbing, fishing, swimming, kayaking, white water rafting, paddle boarding or just hanging out outdoors battle run is for you," notes one visitor.
Lake activities at Summersville: Clear waters support scuba diving, swimming, and cliff jumping at designated areas. "Summerville Lake is surrounded by cliffs topped by trees. Perfect for exploring by boat. Lots of wildlife, nice beach," reports a camper who stayed at Battle Run.
Mountain biking from campgrounds: Access trails directly from select camping areas without driving. "Great campground near New River Gorge National Park. Mt biking from the campground - a bike shop, food and beverages, showers, and goats! Great for families, too," says a visitor to Arrowhead Bike Farm.
Historical exploration: Visit nearby Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park for Civil War history. "Carnifex Ferry Battlefield was a pivotal Civil War victory for the Union, turning the Confederate Army from the Virginias," explains a Battle Run camper who explored the area.
What campers like
Waterfront camping: Many sites at Summersville Lake Retreat & Lighthouse offer direct water views. "We loved this campground. Very central location to everything. Super dog friendly, clean bathrooms, and everyone who works there were great," reports one visitor who appreciated the well-maintained facilities.
Clean facilities: Regularly maintained bathhouses at multiple campgrounds receive positive reviews. "The campground is clean and well maintained. It is very much built into a big hill," notes a visitor to Rifrafters Campground, highlighting the terrain features.
Dog-friendly options: Most campgrounds welcome pets with designated walking areas. "Very dog friendly, clean bathrooms, and everyone who works there were great. We loved our site plenty of space and were not on top of our neighbors," reports a Summersville Lake Retreat camper.
Riverfront locations: Several sites position campers directly along waterways for fishing or scenic views. "Beautiful RV Park. Wonderful sites for parking your RV. Very well lit with very modern water and electric hook ups. All slips have a fire pit, bar-b-que grill and picnic tables," says a visitor to Elk River Camp and RV Park.
What you should know
Reservation timing: Many campgrounds fill months in advance during peak seasons. "Very hard to get sites. Must be booked 6 months in advance," advises a Battle Run visitor about securing spots at popular locations.
Cell service variations: Coverage strength differs significantly between providers and locations. "Great cell phone service for Verizon," notes a Flatwoods KOA visitor, though service can become limited in more remote camping areas.
Limited hookup options: Not all campgrounds offer full hookups. "Mix of wonderful water and electric sites with ok full hookups. Beautiful river spots. The owner was wonderful. No laundry, showers or wifi," reports an Elk River Camp visitor.
Terrain challenges: Many sites feature significant slopes requiring leveling equipment. "Not sure if they are all like this, but it's a big ugh," mentions one Flatwoods KOA camper regarding unlevel sites, suggesting bringing additional leveling blocks.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Choose sites near play areas for easier supervision. "Mountain Lake Campground is a massive system of varied campsites. This was our first trip here and since arriving we've been impressed. Staff is courteous, facilities are very clean and stocked, and the property has so many amenities (shower houses, laundromats, pools, ice cream store, and playgrounds)," reports a visitor to Mountain Lake Campground and Cabins.
Swimming options: Several campgrounds provide beach access with gradual entry points for children. "Battle Run Campground has a large beach area and bathhouses are cleaned regularly. Water is super clean," notes a visitor who recommends the facilities for families.
Wildlife viewing: Many camping areas offer opportunities to spot local deer and other animals. "Lots of deer, we even saw a mother with 2 fawn!" shares a Mountain Lake Campground visitor who enjoyed the wildlife experience with their four-year-old.
Entertainment variety: Look for campgrounds with multiple activity options. "Arrowhead bike farm is a great place to camp. They have a big field for you to set up tents on along with RV camping areas and a place with individual sites in the back. It's also a bike shop and restaurant. They have goats and miles of bike trails," reports an Arrowhead Bike Farm visitor.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling concerns: Many RV campgrounds near Duck, West Virginia require significant leveling equipment. "Our site was level but pretty unlevel, wasn't a huge concern," notes a visitor to Flatwoods KOA, suggesting bringing additional leveling blocks.
Narrow access roads: Some campgrounds have challenging entry points for larger rigs. "Narrow gravel road to get to the newly developed portion of campground. We arrived during heavy rains & muddy site conditions," warns an Elk River Camp visitor who struggled with their 42-foot fifth wheel.
Electric service reliability: Power fluctuations can occur during high-demand periods. "One camper had 30 amp breaker blow 2 days in a row and my 50 amp ran A.C. units fan but didn't cool all day," reports a Mountain Lake Campground visitor during summer camping.
Site selection strategy: Choose back sections at DaLazyBear and Rifrafters for more privacy. "Up front is a regular campground but we are in the back, secluded and peaceful. Site 34. There are about 8 nice sites out back with water and electricity," advises a Rifrafters camper who discovered the more private sections.
