Jennings Randolph Lake camping options span both West Virginia and Maryland, with most campgrounds located within a 30-minute drive of the lake. Elevations in the region range from 1,300 to 2,800 feet, creating diverse microclimates and varying weather conditions. Winter camping is limited to a few year-round facilities while summer availability requires advance booking due to regional popularity.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: The South Branch Potomac River offers excellent trout fishing at Smoke Hole Caverns and Log Cabin/RV Resort, where one visitor noted, "Great fishing. Very quiet. Full hookups for RVs including cable. A little pricey for the area. I Would stay here again. Easy access to Dolly Sods, short drive to Seneca Rocks and Spruce Knob. Did I mention access to multiple areas for great trout fishing."
Hiking trails: Explore trails near Brooklyn Heights Riverfront Campground, which offers easy access to water recreation. A camper shared, "The river is beautiful, but you do have to go down a bit of an incline to get there. On the beach there are rafts, paddleboats, chairs, and across the river there is a ladder to climb up on the rocks."
Historical sites: Visit Fort Necessity National Park, located near Benner's Meadow Run RV Campground. A camper mentioned, "We stayed for 2 nights while we visited Fallingwater and the Flight 93 Memorial. We should have stayed another night so we could visit Fort Necessity NP just down the road but ran out of time."
What campers like
Private riverside spots: Campers appreciate the secluded waterfront sites at Brooklyn Heights Riverfront Campground. A visitor explained, "Rustic, clean porta johns, private, primitive spots on river. Community fire rings on beach area. Firewood available. Relaxing."
Star gazing: Clear night skies make astronomy a popular activity at multiple sites. At Smoke Hole Caverns and Log Cabin/RV Resort, a camper observed, "Dark sky and an open field for stargazing. There are cabins nearby, but no tents. No cell phone coverage."
Family activities: Benner's Meadow Run offers extensive recreation options. One visitor commented, "Great place for kids! Family friendly atmosphere, cordial staff, well run campground. Lots of activities. Tree shaded sites!"
Natural setting: Campers enjoy the rustic feel of several campgrounds. At Brooklyn Heights, a camper noted, "It has the primitive feel, campsites are in the natural woods as opposed to a pristine tent pad. I love how open and natural it feels."
What you should know
Road conditions: Many access roads to rv parks near Jennings Randolph Lake require careful navigation. At CAMP73ROCKST☆R, a camper simply called it a "Safe place to pull over for the night right of interstate."
Cell coverage limitations: Most campgrounds in the region have limited or no cell reception, especially in canyon areas. At Smoke Hole Caverns, multiple reviews mention no cell service availability.
Site sizes and slope: Site dimensions vary considerably between campgrounds. At Benner's Meadow Run, one camper reported, "The sites are very close together with little privacy. We stayed in site 435. The site was sloped pretty bad side to side and there is a drop off on the one side of the fire ring."
Seasonal variations: While a few campgrounds operate year-round, many have limited schedules. Benner's Meadow Run operates from "Mid Apr to Mid Oct" while Riverside Cabins and RV Park remains open "All year."
Tips for camping with families
Water activities: Look for campgrounds with water features for children. At The Oasis at Bear Run Farm, a visitor called it a "Waterfront Glamping" experience, while Brooklyn Heights offers "rafts, paddleboats, chairs" along the river.
Entertainment options: Choose rv parks near Jennings Randolph Lake with programmed activities. At Benner's Meadow Run RV Campground, a camper enjoyed, "Saturday night was a fun DJ. The facilities are very clean. They offer a game room, pool, mini golf, a full camp store, firewood, etc."
Off-season advantages: Consider camping during shoulder seasons for a quieter experience. One visitor to Benner's Meadow Run noted, "We went to Benner's meadow the end of September. Not many people were there and the seasonal campsites were mostly closed up for the winter."
Staff helpfulness: Some campgrounds provide extra assistance for families. At Brooklyn Heights, a mobility-impaired camper shared, "The guys were super helpful bringing the wheelbarrow of wood to me, which would have been difficult for me."
Tips from RVers
RV size restrictions: Many area campgrounds have limitations on vehicle length. Brooklyn Heights Riverfront Campground accommodates "RV's 30 foot or less recommended" according to their listing information.
Hookup availability: Double G Campground offers complete services for recreational vehicles. A camper described, "Decent size RV park with mostly seasonal and full time residents. They are still happy to have short term campers. Nice full hook up sites and cable TV."
Level sites: Site leveling can be challenging at some facilities. One visitor to Benner's Meadow Run reported, "The site was sloped pretty bad side to side and there is a drop off on the one side of the fire ring."
Road access warnings: Some access roads are unsuitable for larger rigs. At Smoke Hole Caverns, a reviewer specifically noted it's good for "camping for bigger rigs" because "There are a number of campgrounds in the Smoke Hole Canyon/Seneca Rocks area, but most of them are better suited to smaller rigs and tent campers."
