Troy O.
Traveler
TravelerAdventures on the Gorge - Mill Creek
Good adventurous day
It is full service campground with store, restaurant, swimming pool, paintball, and cabin.
Camping near Ethel, WV
85 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Search destinations
Add dates
SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Camping options around Ethel, West Virginia span from state parks to private facilities across the Appalachian landscape. The region includes several established campgrounds like Chief Logan State Park, which offers tent sites, RV hookups, and cabins in a 4,000-acre forested setting. Nearby, Twin Falls Resort State Park Campground provides year-round access with similar accommodation types plus glamping options. Several private campgrounds like Backwoods Camping & RV Park and Ole Henry's Camping Retreat supplement the public offerings with additional amenities and cabin rentals. These camping areas typically provide varying levels of services from primitive sites to fully developed facilities with electric, water, and sewer hookups.
The camping season throughout the region generally runs from spring through fall, with limited winter availability at select locations like Twin Falls Resort State Park. Many campgrounds offer reservation services, though availability varies significantly during peak summer months when facilities reach capacity. Weather conditions can impact the camping experience, particularly at creek-side locations where heavy rainfall may cause flooding in some areas. Cell service is inconsistent throughout the region, with better coverage at higher elevations. As one visitor to Kanawha State Forest noted, "No phone signal on AT&T or Verizon. Very limited Wi-Fi at the Ranger Hut near the main bathhouse."
Campers report abundant recreational opportunities across the area's mixed-use campgrounds. Chief Logan State Park features wildlife exhibits, swimming pools, mini-golf, and extensive trail systems that support hiking and mountain biking. Water features are common highlights in camper reviews, with several locations offering creek access, swimming holes, or proximity to rivers. A review of Ole Henry's mentioned, "The creek nearby offers up a good, safe swimming hole for all the kids and adults." For those seeking more remote experiences, campgrounds like East Fork provide boat-in access options along with traditional drive-in sites. Campground amenities vary widely, with some offering full-service facilities including showers, restrooms, and camp stores, while others maintain a more rustic, primitive camping atmosphere.
Best Campgrounds near Ethel (85)
1. Chief Logan State Park Campground
"No water or electricity at the primitive campground, but you’re within walking distance of the main bathhouse which was nice and clean during my stay. "
"There was creek nearby and walking paths all over. We went over to the lodge and was able to swim in the pool and hot tub as part of the price of our campsite."
from $16 / night
Check Availability2. Kanawha State Forest
"Tucked away in the middle of the mountains, surrounded by the constant reminder of wildlife around. I stayed for the very start of spring. The world was covered in the brightest green moss."
"Kanawha state forest is nestled in the mountainous Hills of West by God Virginia right on the outskirts of Charleston. There is plenty of hiking in Kanawha state forest."
from $35 - $40 / night
Check Availability3. Twin Hollow Campground and Cabins
"Near the town of Gilbert. Great access to avt trails"
"Very convenient trail access."
4. Backwoods Camping & RV Park
"The staff are very easy to work with - they will sell and chop the wood you need, let you put your tent in any of the open grass areas around the lot and they are flexible on arrival."
from $10 - $160 / night
Check Availability5. Almost Heaven Cabin Getaways
from $190 - $700 / night
Check Availability6. East Fork (WV)
from $35 - $50 / night
Check Availability7. Rifrafters Campground
"Some really great beer places close by as well. Nice a shady too. I’d like to go back and do some exploring around the area. Just be careful with what gps app you use."
"They walked us to our site and helped us back into our spot. Everything worked well with all of the hookups. It was a quiet and clean campground."
from $15 - $50 / night
Check Availability8. Twin Falls Resort State Park Campground
"There’s tons to do at this campsite from beautiful trails, to a golf course and they even had a resort at a different portion of the park as well."
"I chose this particular place because it was two hours away from family that we had not seen in a while. Coming from South MS, I had no idea how stunning WV would be."
9. Ole Henry's Camping retreat
"The creek nearby offers up a good, safe swimming hole for all the kids and adults. Giovanni's pizza restaurant on site has wifi. This campground is located out in God's country. "
from $20 / night
Check Availability10. Little Coal River Campground
"This is across the main highway from the water ways water park. Others camp here to be close to the Hatfield McCoy ATV trail system."
from $20 - $110 / night
Check Availability
Drive Time
- 1 hr 31 min from Beckley, WV
- 1 hr 32 min from Huntington, WV
Recent Camping Photos near Ethel, WV
145 Photos of 85 Ethel Campgrounds
J A.
Backwoods Camping & RV Park
Andrew S.
Ole Henry's Camping retreat
Sarah W.
Riverside R&R
Jessica L.
East Fork (WV)
Riders Retreat
Riders Retreat at Romans Branch
Marci S.
Kanawha State Forest
Kim S.
Twin Falls Resort State Park Campground
Pooch
Pappy's Creekside Camp
deChantel
Lake Stephens Campground
Sarah R.
Four Coves Campground — Beech Fork State Park
Dawn M.
Moxley Branch Campground — Beech Fork State Park
Andrea R.
Old Orchard Campground — Beech Fork State Park
Recent Reviews near Ethel, WV
502 Reviews of 85 Ethel Campgrounds
- vvictoria L.
ScoutHuntington / Fox Fire KOA
Just passing through
Good overnight spot. It could be nice for a local family also. I wouldn’t make it a destination for a long vacation because of highway noise. It’s not horrible closer to the front or in the middle but along the back is where you’re right on it.
Very clean campground and staff was nice. Camp store is cute and there are multiple ponds.
Cari E.
RangerLittle Beaver State Park Campground
Nice trails, an okay site
The second time I stayed was in site 36, which was far preferable to 41 as it was a larger site, but still moderately unlevel. Fun hiking trails down the creek and close proximity to New River Gorge.
- Cari E.Ranger
Little Beaver State Park Campground
Ok campground, close to New River Gorge
I ended up enjoying the park more than expected—disc golf was a nice surprise! However I found that loop 2 wasn’t nearly as nice or spacious as the other camping areas. The sites were small and unlevel, but the bathrooms were nice enough for a state park. I enjoyed walks around the lake (lots of fun fungi and fish to spy) but the main draw for me was the proximity to New River Gorge—only a 20-25 min drive.
- MMichael N.Traveler
Thunder River Campground
The perfect getaway for the camping lovers
Beautiful scenery right next to the Russell Fork River! A solid 5 stars for the campground & staff. You don’t have to worry about the fun police monitoring your every action. Very budget friendly, they have the cheapest rates that I could find around the area. It’s really laidback & peaceful. You can sit at camp & relax while you drink your favorite beverage, enjoy your favorite smoke, just keep it to yourself & don’t raise hell. Or you could hit the Russell Fork for some awesome river activities such as fishing, swimming, kayaking, etc. At check-in you get the free Wi-Fi password & a bundle of wood for your fire pit. It’s a great getaway & I thoroughly enjoyed my stay & look forward to coming back. The only downside is that they need more shade options for the back tent sites to beat the summer heat. I highly recommend Thunder River Campground!!⛺️
- SSydneyTraveler
Little Beaver State Park Campground
Quiet and Clean
We stayed at Little Beaver in late June and were overall very pleased with the campground! Site 38 is probably the most private within loop 1 (tent camp area) its two buddy sites are a little ways away (shouting distance) with plenty of trees in between. The site is relatively level and pretty rocky. Note that there is a walking path that runs directly behind the site and will take you over to loop 2. There weren't too many people using it while we were there though. Camp staff were friendly and helpful, if you get a confirmation email there is no need to check in you can drive straight to your campsite.
The one drawback of this campground is how far away the bathrooms are. You have to drive to the bathrooms/showers from loop 1. It's about a 10 minute walk. Tough in the middle of the night...
This is always a toss up, but while we were there the campground was very quiet even with most of sites booked.
Beautiful little walking path around a small lake that you can take paddle boats out on. Also a few little picnic areas and more than one playground, including one right by the lake and one right by the camp office.
We went white water rafting with ACE (had a great time!) which was about 45 min away and my parents who were camping with us went on a bridge walk (also about 45 min away) and enjoyed that, too.
Overall, great campground to explore New River Gorge area.
- TTrevorTraveler
Robert Newlon Airpark RV Park Huntington, WV
Good stopover
Level sites. Water electric sewer at every site. Only seven sites available for transient; the rest are very permanent. On site restaurant.
Joe M.TravelerWest Virginia Adventures Campground
Wide open campground right outside the national park
Huge driving area, no problem maneuvering. Very simple set up. Nice bath house. RV spots are nice concrete pads and pretty level. Hookups work.
Wide open skies- great for solar. Quiet campground other than the nearby road that has trucks driving by using their Jake brakes
- MMichael G.Scout
The Outpost at New River Gourge
A parking lot with landscaping
Nice automatic faucets in the bathroom (whoopie) No space between parking spots. 3 parking lots for parking. More like a motel chain than a campground. I'm used to campgrounds that feel like you're in nature. They have a hook up lot, tent camping lot, and a dry camper lot. The tent parking lot looks more fun as I looked across from my parking lot. We booked 5 days, but we checked out next day to find a natural campground and it cost less. Check around...
Guide to Ethel
Camping options near Ethel, West Virginia range from primitive tent sites to full-hookup RV accommodations across the hilly Appalachian terrain. Most campgrounds in the region sit at elevations between 1,000-2,000 feet, making for cooler summer nights than surrounding lowland areas. Winter camping remains limited to a few year-round facilities, with temperatures typically dropping below freezing from December through February.
What to do
Hiking trail systems: Chief Logan State Park maintains several well-marked paths for various skill levels. "I hiked the Coal Mine Trail with remnants of the coal industry decaying in the forest, then continued on the Wilderness Trail which gives you a nice view of the surrounding mountains," noted a visitor who appreciated the park's maintenance.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: During spring and fall, wildlife activity increases throughout the region's campgrounds. "There's a small wildlife center where you can see bears, bobcats and raptors in enclosures for a $2.00 donation. The caretaker helped me get some nice photos of the bears by putting some honey and peanut butter on the fence around their enclosure," reports one camper.
Swimming options: Most local swimming areas close after Labor Day and reopen Memorial Day weekend. "I didn't get to try the Chief Logan swimming pool, but it looked amazing with a giant slide, high dive and kiddie pool. There's also a stocked fishing pond in this park," a camper mentioned.
What campers like
Secluded campsites: Twin Falls Resort State Park Campground offers more private camping spots than many facilities in the region. "Sites are reasonably spaced. Some are wooded, others are out in open," explains one reviewer, noting the balance of options.
Clean facilities: Bathhouse conditions vary significantly between campgrounds. "The bathhouse has heated, clean showers (score!). Digging this campground because it's open year round and the hiking trails are plentiful," reports a camper about Twin Falls Resort State Park.
Family-friendly amenities: Backwoods Camping & RV Park provides recreational facilities suitable for children. "Several cabins, RV spots and grassy tent areas. The staff are very easy to work with - they will sell and chop the wood you need, let you put your tent in any of the open grass areas around the lot and they are flexible on arrival," notes a visitor.
What you should know
Seasonal availability: Most of the best places to camp near Ethel, West Virginia operate from April through October, with limited winter options. "We stayed for one night when passing through. Nice big sites with lots of trees. Bathroom has nice showers with good pressure/hot water," explains a visitor to East Fork.
Road conditions: Access roads to many campgrounds feature steep grades and sharp turns. "Make sure your truck/vehicle towing is not underrated for what you're pulling as it is a lot of big uphill elevation and tons of windy roads and tight turns," warns a Twin Falls Resort State Park camper.
Reservation requirements: Most campgrounds fill quickly during summer weekends and holidays. "Very well taken care of with plenty of trails to hike and sights to see," notes a camper about Twin Falls Resort State Park, making it a popular destination requiring advance planning.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Ethel, WV?
What camping is available near Ethel, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, Ethel, WV offers a wide range of camping options, with 85 campgrounds and RV parks near Ethel, WV and 1 free dispersed camping spot.
Which is the most popular campground near Ethel, WV?
Which is the most popular campground near Ethel, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Ethel, WV is Chief Logan State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 7 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Ethel, WV?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Ethel, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Ethel, WV.
What parks are near Ethel, WV?
What parks are near Ethel, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 29 parks near Ethel, WV that allow camping, notably R.D. Bailey Lake and East Lynn Lake.
Keep Exploring