Best Campgrounds near Elkins, WV

I love Gandy Creek! I have camped at 4 different sites and have explored and reconned almost all of them! Some you walk-in a short distance but are rewarded with amazing sites on the creek, secluded and wooded. Other places you can camp in your vehicle or park at the site. My favorite areas are on the creek. Lots of privacy, every site is unique and special in it's own way. There's minimal cell reception and by that I mean you'll be walking along and all the sudden your phone will start dinging because you hit a pocket where you get one bar of reception and the text messages pour in lol! Used to be a gravel packed road but they started some paving last year. I haven't been there in 10 months or so but plan to later this summer.

There are lots of trails, LOTS, all around that area. There's a really cool rock formation where the creek goes under the Whitmer Road Bridge (I forget the name of it). There is a pit toilet on either end of the camping area but you're not really close to one. I totally recommend being self-contained. Dispose of your waste properly, please. It's one of my favorite areas and even when it's hot it's a great place to camp because the elevation and the creek.

We stayed here in early June with a tent— only 5 sites were occupied, so it felt quiet and peaceful. The campground is very clean, with plenty of trash bins and protected drinking water spigots— almost every site has one nearby. Each site has a fire ring and a grill grate, which was a nice touch. 

The bathrooms were spotless, and the showers were hot— almost too hot! Definitely one of the best free showers we’ve had. 

Payment is self-serve:$20 per night in the box, with discounts available for various groups. 

• Heads-up: There’s no cell service at the sites. 

• Starlink users beware: 0/5— the entire campground is under heavy tree cover.

 Would recommend for a quiet offline stay in nature.

To my surprise, the camp site itself was ran by using a self serve station. Signing ourselves in was extremely easy and we were settled in and unpacked in only an hour. On weekdays it’s not that busy and you see more empty cars than people. As for the campsite, everyone is equipped with a pole for hanging things, campfire pit with a grille, picnic table, and a place to put your tent. From there you are free to walk or drive anywhere you want in the state park. There are tons of trails with amazing sights to see. It felt like every turn was a different biome. With all of the biodiversity, you’ll never be bored of seeing everything it has. Once our stay went into the weekend it got extremely busy. Tons of cars flooded the parking spots and when we packed up and left, someone had already claimed our spot. Locals are nice and everyone is pretty reserved. Had no encounters with bears and loved the untouched nature everywhere. One problem is the weather, even though the weather was in our favor, at night there is extreme winds and it’s enough to completely destroy your tent. Other than that it is definitely worth a visit!