Middle Ridge Campground provides comfortable outdoor experiences near Keyser, West Virginia. The mountaintop location sits at approximately 1,600 feet elevation, offering cooler temperatures than surrounding valleys during summer months. Campground roads are gravel with some steep sections requiring careful navigation for larger vehicles.
What to do
Hiking trails exploration: The walking paths at Middle Ridge Campground offer various terrain options through wooded areas. "Perfect little site. Super friendly and accommodating, beautiful walking paths, great campsites. We really enjoyed our stay," reports camper Melissa F.
Lake swimming and boating: Rocky Gap State Park Campground features a lake with designated swimming areas and rental equipment. "A fair amount of gnats and other bugs but no mosquitoes to speak of. Clean, well run camp store. Nice beach area with volley ball nets. Lots of paddle boards and canoes for rent," notes Jeff H.
Waterfall viewing: Several cascades are accessible within short drives from Keyser. At Swallow Falls State Park Campground, visitors can see "Muddy Creek Falls - the main attraction of the state park and the highest waterfall in Maryland," with a trail that "though only 2 miles or so - has a lot to offer."
What campers like
Private wooded sites: Campsites with tree coverage provide natural separation at top-rated campgrounds. "We really enjoyed our stay. Quiet camping on top of a mountain. Beautiful wooded views. Hosts were amazing and plenty of space between campers. All the spots are shaded," writes Lyle & Stephanie H. about Middle Ridge Campground.
Wildlife encounters: Deep Creek Lake State Park Campground offers opportunities to spot local fauna. "We were told there were regular bear sightings and there were bear boxes at each site; we saw many deer but not a single bear, keeping our zero bear sightings record intact," reports one visitor.
Clean facilities: Well-maintained bathhouses are consistently mentioned in positive reviews. "The bathhouses were very nice and rivaled any hotel shower I've had," notes a camper at Deep Creek Lake State Park Campground, while another states, "The bathrooms were quite possibly the cleanest camp bathrooms I've ever come across."
What you should know
Seasonal considerations: Weather conditions vary dramatically throughout the year. Blackwater Falls State Park Campground visitors should "keep in mind, anytime after mid September can be quite cold overnight. But the foliage is totally worth it!"
Cell service limitations: Connectivity is spotty throughout the region. "Starlink was sketchy at best, Verizon had one bar and slightly usable, ATT was best with a couple of bars and ok speeds," according to Stephen H. at Middle Ridge Campground.
Water access: Not all campgrounds have direct water access from campsites. At Deep Creek Lake State Park, "don't let the name fool you, the campground is across the street from the lake and there are no lake view sites."
Tips for camping with families
Fishing options: Yough Lake Campground at Tub Run provides family fishing opportunities. "The boat ramp, slips and trailer storage made it an easy boating/camping vacation spot. Yough lake is small, but fun to explore. Good fishing," writes Kathy G.
Animal encounters: Children often enjoy interactions with resident animals. "We have three children who absolutely loved petting and feeding Mules and Donkeys!" shares Kayla M. about Middle Ridge Campground.
Playground access: Multiple campgrounds feature play areas for children. At Rocky Gap State Park, "near the beach there is a nice playground near shade for parents to watch."
Tips from RVers
Site selection strategy: Many RV sites require careful consideration. At Laurel Hill State Park Campground, "the sites are REALLY not level because the RV sites are on a major slope, especially the pull-through sites," warns Kathy L.
Hookup placement: Electrical connections aren't always conveniently located. "The electrical hookups are not played out well like an expensive RV park with the shared power post on the entrance side of the camper. You may want to have an extension for your power cable," advises Erik E. at Laurel Hill State Park.
Access roads: Some roads to glamping sites near Keyser, West Virginia can be challenging. "Road to access the campground was good with some tight turns up the hill the last couple of miles. The campground itself is gravel roads that were pretty tight gettin in and out of and fairly steep with trees on all sides," notes Stephen H.
