Cabins near Harpers Ferry, West Virginia range from waterfront shelters to forested retreats situated between 250-550 feet in elevation. The area's humid continental climate features hot summers and mild winters, with highest rainfall in May and July averaging 4.5 inches per month. Most cabin camping locations operate seasonally from April through October, though several offer year-round accommodations.
What to do
River activities: At Brunswick Family Campground, the Potomac River provides excellent water recreation. "The Shenandoah River is beautifully clean clear and cool. There wasn't much late night going on it seemed all the campers for the most part were turned in by 11," notes one visitor. The river access is approximately 100 yards from most sites.
Hiking trails: The Harpers Ferry Campground - River Riders location connects directly to the Appalachian Trail. "If you're facing the river then the trail is to the right of the campground with a sign reading that you have entered Harper's Ferry National Park. The trail is about 1.5 miles one way," explains a camper who enjoyed the proximity to hiking routes.
Historic sites: Visit Civil War battlefields and historic structures near Hagerstown / Antietam Battlefield KOA. The KOA is "close to Antitiem battlefield, vineyards, antiques or even DC (1 hour)," according to a reviewer, making it an excellent base for history enthusiasts.
What campers like
River views: Waterfront cabins provide direct access to the Potomac. At Brunswick Family Campground, "the river view was nice" according to visitors, with some noting cabins have "great Potomac river views." Most river-facing accommodations include picnic areas and fire rings.
Swimming access: Gambrill State Park offers freshwater swimming options near their cabin accommodations. "The creek is cool - swings for kids plus a field. Spent 2 weeks there and it was never packed," notes one visitor to the park, highlighting the uncrowded water access even during peak season.
Wildlife viewing: Harpers Ferry / Civil War Battlefields KOA provides opportunities to observe local wildlife from cabin porches. The grounds are "kept in great shape" with "the grass/trees trimmed," creating habitat for birds and small mammals while maintaining comfort for visitors.
What you should know
Train noise: Many cabins sit near active rail lines. At Brunswick Family Campground, "the CNO railroad runs pretty close it's not super loud just wanted to make you aware." Similarly, another camper noted, "when the train comes barreling by at 1am, 2am and 3am you either laugh or you cry depending on how tired you are."
Cabin sizes: Accommodations range from tiny to spacious. At Manor - Cunningham Falls State Park, cabins offer more room than others in the area. Meanwhile, at Brunswick, one visitor observed their cabin "was TINY. Essentially four beds (two bunks) and some space between them to move around."
Seasonal operations: Most locations close during winter months. As one camper at Harpers Ferry Campground noted, "The campground cannot do anything about their location along the tracks," but visitors should check operating dates as most facilities run "April 1 to October 31" with limited off-season availability.
Tips for camping with families
Water activities: Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park provides extensive water recreation for children. "There is a small creek to play in and a nice little hiking trail within the campground. Has a great water park, playground and bounce pad feature," writes one visitor who found the amenities perfect for young campers.
Kid-friendly events: Seasonal programming enhances cabin stays for families. "We recent went camping for the first time at Jellystone in Maryland. 5 of our 6 kids came with us, so we knew we needed to find a camping ground more geared kids. Jellystone was amazing in every way possible," reports a family who found the structured activities beneficial.
Space considerations: Families should book larger cabins when possible. A Harpers Ferry KOA visitor mentioned, "Get cozy, the sites are quite small and tightly packed together," suggesting families reserve early for the limited number of larger cabin units available during peak season.
Tips from RVers
Site selection: Little Bennett Campground offers quality RV sites near cabin areas. "The sites are quiet, very spacious, level, and heavily wooded with 50A service, water and sewer hookup," notes one RVer who found the campground accommodating for larger vehicles.
Navigating campgrounds: Some cabin areas have challenging access roads for RVs. A reviewer at Hagerstown Antietam KOA mentioned, "the roads are very narrow and winding. We did fine with the pup, but can't imagine trying to navigate a large motorhome through there," suggesting travelers with both RVs and cabin reservations plan accordingly.
Alternative options: RVers who find cabin-only areas restrictive can consider mixed-use campgrounds. At Harpers Ferry KOA, "our Pull-thru FHU Patio site had a serious slope," but staff "kindly moved us to a FHU site without the patio and furniture." This flexibility makes it possible to switch between cabin and RV camping as needed.
