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Best Campgrounds near Kerens, WV

614 Reviews

The Monongahela National Forest surrounds Kerens, West Virginia, providing numerous camping opportunities throughout the region. Five River Campground and Revelle's River Resort offer full hookup RV sites along with tent camping options, while primitive camping can be found at Bear Heaven Campground and dispersed sites like Lower Glady and Gandy Creek. The area features a mix of established campgrounds with amenities and more remote forest service camping areas. Stuart Recreation Area and Blackwater Falls State Park Campground provide additional options within driving distance, with many sites situated near rivers for fishing and water recreation.

Road quality and seasonal restrictions impact camping access throughout the Monongahela National Forest. Most established campgrounds near Kerens operate from April through October, with limited winter availability. "Nice campground that is seldom full. About ten tent sites with firepit, picnic table, clean concrete vault toilet. No running water or showers. Close to Elkins and half hour from Davis," noted one visitor about Bear Heaven Campground. Cell service can be spotty in more remote areas, though coverage improves near towns like Parsons and Davis. Higher elevation campgrounds experience cooler temperatures and earlier seasonal closures, while river valley locations typically remain accessible longer into fall.

Riverside camping represents a significant draw for visitors to the Kerens area, with several campers highlighting water access as a key feature. The Shavers Fork river flows near multiple campgrounds, offering opportunities for fishing, swimming, and tubing during summer months. One camper described Five River Campground as "amazingly located right on the Shavers Fork river on a section that was shallow and calm enough for our small children to enjoy." Weekday visits generally provide more solitude than weekends, when popular campgrounds can become crowded with visitors. Bear Heaven Campground receives particular praise for its unique boulder formations and proximity to hiking trails, while the more developed campgrounds like Revelle's River Resort offer amenities including showers, camp stores, and organized activities during peak season.

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Best Camping Sites Near Kerens, West Virginia (127)

    1. Five River Campground

    27 Reviews
    Parsons, WV
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (304) 478-3515

    $15 / night

    "This is a hidden gem right outside of town. We utilized one of the rv sites with 50 amp service and full hookups."

    "It sets at the end of a side street (Walnut St) at the edge of town (Parsons). A small, quaint mountain town."

    2. Audra State Park Campground

    33 Reviews
    Volga, WV
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (304) 457-1162

    "Audra State Park, is a bit off the beaten path but well worth the journey. Tucked away, just outside of Buckhannon, WV...home of West Virginia Wesleyan College."

    "v=VLUEBlIxHpo) Trails undulate with the terrain. The short trail within the campground area is steep in areas but offers some nice views."

    3. Blackwater Falls State Park Campground

    52 Reviews
    Davis, WV
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (304) 259-5216

    $50 / night

    "Blackwater State Park, Davis, WV https://wvstateparks.com/park/blackwater-falls-state-park/ Camping anywhere in West Virginia is a highlight, but this area offers hiking views aplenty."

    "This was our first stay in a state park campground in West Virginia and it was a great stay. Arrived during a steady downpour and rented a cabin for the first night but camped the second night."

    4. Revelle’s River Resort

    6 Reviews
    Bowden, WV
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (304) 636-0023

    "Restaurant, Shavers Saloon, was walking distance and had full bar with good food. Service there was great. Bathrooms were older but very clean. Plenty of hot water."

    "This seemed to be a well laid out campground with sites for weekenders in maybe the best location right along the river and the seasonal campers spread out around."

    5. Bear Heaven Campground

    6 Reviews
    Bowden, WV
    9 miles
    Website

    "It’s a nice base camp if you don’t mind driving to other trails nearby. Visit in spring with mountain laurel, rhododendrons, etc. are blooming in the nearby lands, it’s like nothing else!"

    "You can either walk through or climb these boulders. The area has several great hiking and mountains biking trails."

    6. Lower Glady Dispersed Campground

    7 Reviews
    Harman, WV
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (304) 636-1800

    "No one next to me. There were a couple of small groups, like two rigs together. Nice and quiet. A few friendly fishermen each day, sharing local knowledge."

    "I didn't pull in until close to 11 PM, but a couple notes on what I could see. There is a very sharp turn if you come in from the south on Sully Road, which seems to be the primary way to get there."

    7. Stuart Recreation Area

    5 Reviews
    Bowden, WV
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (304) 636-5070

    $33 - $150 / night

    "There is one building with showers and flush toilets near the entrance, and several outhouse style toilets scattered around."

    8. 5 Rivers Campground

    3 Reviews
    Parsons, WV
    8 miles
    Website

    $15 / night

    "Beautiful location with the river flowing beside the campground. Great for floating, fishing, kayaking or cooling off on a hot day. We love the owners who take great care of their campers!"

    9. Gandy Creek Dispersed Camping

    16 Reviews
    Whitmer, WV
    21 miles
    Website

    "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."

    "Just camped there with two of my friends this past weekend, really cool site we were lucky enough to get a site next to the river! Get there early as it’s first come first serve!"

    10. Canaan Valley Resort State Park Campground

    12 Reviews
    Red Creek, WV
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (304) 866-4121

    $20 - $45 / night

    "Campground Review: Canaan Valley State Park and Resort, Davis, West Virginia The Canaan Valley State Park and Resort is situated in a very popular outdoor activity area...for every season."

    "West Virginia is a state for anyone who enjoys the outdoors!!!! There are tons of out door activities! We recently camped 3 nights at Canaan Valley! We had a great time!"

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Recent Camping Photos near Kerens, WV

357 Photos of 127 Kerens Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Kerens, WV

614 Reviews of 127 Kerens Campgrounds

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 28, 2025

    Audra State Park Campground

    Quiet

    A beautiful park located on a river very quiet. Campsites are small only electric is available bathhouse clean. The roads are very narrow with sharp turns.

  • Sonder B.
    Sep. 21, 2025

    Dispersed camping at Mower Basin

    Clean, Remote, Pristine, off the beaten path = Mower Basin

    I chose for this trip to pay a visit to the Monongahela Nation Forest in West Virginia. I plan on dispersed camp in the Mower Basin for seven days. 

    The first three I would be solo and on that Friday my partner in crime would come to camp. I went to the primary camp site, and it was occupied. 

    I had four other camp sites chosen and continued to the other four. I found that other campers were on the other spots. I went to the last one and found it to be open. In setting up camp I found two piles of bear scat. 

    One pile was clearly fresher than the other, but still two piles! The attached photo is the last dispersed camp site. It was a little over a mile from the other site. I was dispersed camping in the Mower Basin. You can drive right up to your camp site, but don’t be fooled, this is primitive camping. 

    You need to bring everything with you and take it all out with you.

    Nearest Cell tower is here 38.688719,-79.979097

    Fuel &  small gocery store can be found here 38.710707,-79.979095

    Minor Automotive shop and tire repair here 38.713085,-79.979352

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 18, 2025

    Canaan Loop Road Dispersed

    Great dispersed sites!

    We only drove down to the second site, but it was awesome! Big site, good fire ring, paths the walk right from the site. The moss was like walking on carpet

  • Alia
    Sep. 7, 2025

    Kick Back n Camp

    Last Minute Getaway

    My husband and I went on a spontaneous camping road trip. We called the campground, and they had availability for walk-ins! Usually, you’d have to book in advance. The campsite was a semi-private spot, and it cost less than $30 a night, without electricity. They also have sites with electricity. We were fortunate enough to have no campers around us, making it quite private.

    The campground had a picnic table, a fire pit, and they even delivered our firewood directly to our site. They had separate sites for RVs and tent camping, so we could choose the one that best suited our needs. The owners were incredibly friendly and outgoing, making our stay even more enjoyable.

    If you forget anything, the campground office had everything you needed for purchase. They also had a well-organized brochure that showcased the campground’s amenities and offerings. And let’s not forget their delicious ice cream! They had a variety of flavors, and I highly recommend trying them all.

    One of the standout features of the campground was the bathhouse. It was spotlessly clean and felt like a spa. The showers were comfortable and had hot water, making it our highlight

    Overall, we had a fantastic time at the campground. It was a great place to unwind and connect with nature. If you’re looking for a peaceful and affordable camping experience, I highly recommend this campground.

  • Aileen C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 3, 2025

    Blackwater Falls State Park Campground

    Clean Campground in a Beautiful Park

    This is one of our favorite places. The park is beautiful, and so are the nearby Canaan Valley Wildlife Refuge and Canaan Valley State Park.

    The campground is better suited to tents and small to medium size camping units. I think the person who designed it was not familiar with camping units other than tents. Loop 1-30 is one way going clockwise. Loop 31-65 is one way going counterclockwise. But in both loops, to have your door facing away from the street, you have to drive counterclockwise if your site is on the outside of the loop, and clockwise if your site is inside the loop.  In some sites, the electric pedestal is on the wrong side, so you'll have to use a long cord and take it under your unit to reach your electric hookup.

    There are two water fill stations, one at the camp store where you check in, and the other at a water fountain near the bathhouse in loop 31-65. They are supplied supplied with a green garden hose, not a white potable water hose, so we unscrewed the hose and used our own. The water tastes unusually good.

    The dump station is in a section of loop 31-65. You have to go the wrong way on a one way road to be close enough for your slinky to reach it. The non potable rinse water is across this road from the dump station and it has a white hose--beware--this is not the drinking water! You stretch this hose across the road to rinse your gray and black tanks and slinky.

    Some of the sites are not very level, and many of the pull thru sites share some driveway space with another pull thru site or a back in site. There are two pairs of sites that share a pull thru--OK for people traveling together, but otherwise a headache if you're arriving and leaving at different times.

    Once you have dealt with all this inconvenience and oddness, you'll find you're within walking distance of the falls, a small lake, hiking trails that go through beautiful forests with rhododendrons, hemlocks, spruce, and hardwoods. The camp store is limited, but the staff is very friendly and helpful. The nature center is one of the best I've ever visited, and park naturalists provide programs on weekends. There are kayak rentals in summer. The lake has a swimming beach, but you can pay to use the swimming pool at the lodge for better swimming. The lodge also has a huge lobby with a cabinet containing jigsaw puzzles. We worked on one on a rainy day when we didn't want to be outside. Davis and Thomas have some interesting shops and good restaurants.When you get back after a day of adventures, you'll find clean restrooms with hot showers that are actually hot. And the T-Mobile service was good enough for my husband to stream a movie while I sent photos to my family. The park was very busy for Labor Day weekend, but it was a family atmosphere and after dark, there were few lights and little noise.

  • Lee G.
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Big Bend Campground

    Big Bend Campground…Definitely Worth the Experience

    Big Bend Campground is a beautiful place with a great family atmosphere. The campsites are large and accommodate RVs and/or multiple tents. The best part about this place is the nearly 360° lazy river tubing experience. This place has no cell service and you’ll have to travel along a 2 1/2 mile dirt road to finally get to the campground. The Camp Hosts were great and offered a lot of local information and tips. While this is a great location and provides memorable adventures, it would be great if the picnic tables and some of the fire rings could be updated as they’re nearing the end of their service life. However, this is simply a great place to unhook from the daily grind.

  • scott K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 23, 2025

    Gladwin Dispersed Camping

    Go a little further

    Decided to try it even though other review said private property- and seems they were correct but incorrect. Initially you do come to private land with several campsites and campers present. But if you go down the dirt road a little to the low water bridge you will find a wonderful site on the right with several fire pits. Or another 100 yards after bridge was another nice site on the left

  • Evan C.
    Aug. 18, 2025

    Robert W. Craig - Jennings Randolph Lake

    Great Tenting, Little Busy

    8/14/2025

    USACE-managed campground with hosts who are on-site all season. Nice sites (easy staking) with picnic tables and fire pits, plus a camp store for firewood and other supplies (got there too late to check it out though). A little crowded with what seemed like folks who stay there for a hefty chunk of the season, and the sites are pretty close together, but there weren't any issues with rowdy folks - it seems like the hosts keep things in order/enforce quiet hours if necessary. 

    Drinking water right next to the site (37) as well as a trail to a restroom - I think there's a shower on the other loop/section. 

    $22 for a basic (non-electric) tent site.

Guide to Kerens

Camping near Kerens, West Virginia, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are plenty of campgrounds to explore.

What to do:

  • Hiking: There are numerous trails nearby, perfect for exploring the stunning scenery. Many campers enjoy the trails accessible from campgrounds like Blackwater Falls State Park Campground, where one reviewer mentioned, "Hiking trails accessible by foot from the campground is a plus for us."
  • Fishing: The rivers and lakes around Kerens are great for fishing. Campers at Five River Campground have noted, "Right on the River. Perfect for floating."
  • Sightseeing: Don’t miss the breathtaking views at places like Seneca Rocks. One visitor at Seneca Shadows said, "Seneca Rocks was majestic and lots of fun outdoors areas to explore."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and showers. A review for Audra State Park Campground highlighted, "The bathrooms were spotless with tiled floors and walls."
  • Spacious Sites: Many campgrounds offer roomy sites that provide privacy. A camper at Red Creek Campground mentioned, "The sites aren’t huge or majorly spread out, but there is just something about them that makes it nice."
  • Friendly Staff: Campers often rave about the helpfulness of campground staff. One visitor at Five River Campground said, "The owners are amazing and so helpful."

What you should know:

  • No Reservations: Some campgrounds operate on a first-come, first-served basis. A camper at Tygart Lake State Park Campground noted, "Usually don’t accept walk-in. But we lucked up as someone didn’t show up."
  • Limited Amenities: Not all campgrounds have full amenities. A review for Spruce Knob Lake Campground mentioned, "This campsite is very basic with the only facilities being vault toilets and bins for your trash."
  • Wildlife: Expect to see deer and other wildlife. One camper at Blackwater Falls State Park Campground shared, "Watching the white tail deer stroll through the campsites at sunset was a lot of fun!"

Tips for camping with families:

  • Kid-Friendly Activities: Look for campgrounds with playgrounds or nearby swimming spots. A review for Audra State Park Campground mentioned, "The campground also offers a playground, flush toilets, and hot showers."
  • Plan for Meals: Bring easy-to-cook meals and snacks. One family at Tygart Lake State Park Campground enjoyed the camp store for supplies, saying, "There was a shop where you could purchase wood and supplies."
  • Safety First: Always keep an eye on kids near water. A camper at Five River Campground advised, "The campground is clean and well maintained."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Size: Make sure your RV fits the site. A review for Seneca Shadows mentioned, "The sites are mostly paved areas."
  • Electric Hookups: Look for campgrounds with electric hookups if needed. Campers at Stonewall Resort State Park Campground appreciated the full hookups, stating, "The campground is small but they good size, spread out fairly well."
  • Plan for Water: Bring extra water if the campground doesn’t have hookups. A visitor at Big Bend noted, "There is a single water source and I'd highly recommend boiling first."

Camping near Kerens, West Virginia, offers a variety of experiences for everyone. Whether you're in a tent or an RV, there's something for you to enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Kerens, WV?

According to TheDyrt.com, Kerens, WV offers a wide range of camping options, with 127 campgrounds and RV parks near Kerens, WV and 20 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Kerens, WV?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Kerens, WV is Five River Campground with a 5-star rating from 27 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Kerens, WV?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 20 free dispersed camping spots near Kerens, WV.

What parks are near Kerens, WV?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 27 parks near Kerens, WV that allow camping, notably Burnsville Lake and Jennings Randolph Lake.

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