57 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
State parks and developed campgrounds form the backbone of camping opportunities around Lenore, West Virginia. The area features several established facilities, including Chief Logan State Park Campground and Cabwaylingo State Forest, offering a mix of tent, RV, and cabin camping options. Chief Logan State Park operates from March to November with electric hookups, drinking water, and showers. Many nearby campgrounds sit along rivers and lakes, creating opportunities for fishing, kayaking, and other water recreation activities within the Appalachian highlands.
Camping in this region follows seasonal patterns with most facilities operating from April through October. Cabwaylingo State Forest, approximately 40 minutes from Lenore, maintains campgrounds from April 1 to October 31 and provides both primitive and developed camping options. Road conditions in this mountainous region can be challenging, with several campgrounds noting single-lane bridges and remote access points. Cell service varies significantly throughout the area, with better coverage typically available near larger campgrounds and facilities. Several campgrounds offer full hookups for RVs, though site leveling can be difficult due to the mountainous terrain. A camper reviewing Cabwaylingo State Forest remarked, "The drive to Cabwaylingo State Forest is half the adventure. You'll be motoring through the heart of southern West Virginia's coal country where you'll cross several single-lane bridges and pass through at least one historic tunnel."
Water access represents a significant feature of camping in the region, with multiple campgrounds situated near lakes and rivers. Beech Fork State Park provides sites with lake views, and several visitors mentioned fishing opportunities at Grayson Lake and Paintsville Lake State Park. Campers seeking more privacy should consider sites along the outer edges of campgrounds where tree coverage offers better separation between sites. Facilities range from primitive sites with vault toilets to developed campgrounds with showers, laundry facilities, and camp stores. During summer weekends, many campgrounds reach capacity, particularly those with water recreation access. According to one review, "The park is kind of famous for having elk, which are common out west," highlighting the wildlife viewing opportunities in this part of Appalachia.
"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 Availability"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 Availability"Here's another tip from the superintendent: If you pull up next to the satellite dish by the bathhouse, there's Internet service with no pass code."
"The campground is small, tucked into a side hollow just off the main road through the State Forest with tiny Spruce Creek flowing right through it. "
from $15 - $75 / night
Check Availability"The park’s along the lake and has hiking, birding, a restaurant, and a nice surprise: an open air theatre with shows outside all summer."
"I lived in the Dewey Lake-JWSP area with family members, until 2002. Currently, I live about 10-15 minutes away from JWSP and visit the park at least once a month, depending on the weather."
from $35 - $45 / night
Check Availabilityfrom $35 - $50 / night
Check Availability"In my opinion the best sites are the boat in tent camping sites down the hill by the lake. The sites also run along a gravel rode that can be used to hike in."
"It's been a few years since I've visited Yatesville Lake State Park Campgrounds but it used to be a staple of my summer. The campsites are a LONG distance from each other."
from $24 - $36 / night
Check Availability"this campsite is not for the new camper, very limited on the nicer things at a campsite. but easy access to the lake. And great view"
"There is a lake nearby, and most of the other campers were boating or horseback riding. Showers and bathrooms."
"Campground is located right next to the East Lynn outlaw trails. The owner and staff very friendly and even set us up with a local group to show us around."
"We ride with the WV Outlaws and they take you on awesome trail and creek rides!! Kids love the creeks on hot days they have so much fun!! "
from $20 - $50 / night
Check Availability"It was surrounded by a lot of trees, so it had shade. It was a short walk to the bathhouse which was very clean with nice showers. The campground has 4 different loops."
"A wonderful getaway when you want to be away from it all. Several campground sections to choose from with primitive sites to full hookup with electric, water, and sewer."
from $20 - $38 / night
Check Availability"We tent camped at one of the hike-in (it's a well maintained gravel path) sites at PLSP, #33. This is the first site on your way in."
"Very clean campground, the marina is great and easy access to the lake. We kayak and it was great being that close to the lake and the campsites have plenty of room."
from $25 - $45 / night
Check Availability
ScoutGood 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.
TravelerBeautiful 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!!⛺️
TravelerLevel sites. Water electric sewer at every site. Only seven sites available for transient; the rest are very permanent. On site restaurant.
TravelerWe stayed Friday-Sunday and had a great time. Check-in is a little late, but we still had plenty of time to set up. Heavy traffic at times but speed bumps help regulate speed.
TravelerWe have stayed at Beech Fork 3 times now and the view is always spectacular. However, we had to use the shower houses this time & they need attention. The water was barely luke warm and some of the stalls were dirty.
TravelerNice pool, most sites I could see have sewer. Water pressure was low. Very few shady sites on top level.
ScoutI love this campground as the nostalgia is strong for me. The family has been camping here for years and years but now it's my turn to take my little family camping and I'm so thankful to give them the same memories I was able to have!
East fork is always clean, polite, well maintained and kid friendly. We are very thankful to live just about an hour away for impromptu camping trips!
TravelerWe were surprised to find the store open when we arrived at 6, but woman inside was a trip. She could not seem to figure out how to do anything and talked to herself the whole time. Check in took about 20-30 minutes! She was very friendly though and explained how to get to our site. Tried to get propane- first she said she didn't know how to do it, then she decided she did, but wound up being clueless. She did let us change our site because it was so far from the bathroom. We had to go down a crazy steep narrow hill to get to the lower area. Thought it might be quiet but wound up on top of a busy road. Ok for an overnight. Huge street lights over us. Sites a little junky looking.
TravelerThe spots are pretty close, but expected from what the map showed when we booked. While they are close there is enough room to make yourself at home. Nice new picnic tables and clean fire pits! It rained while we camped and there was some water pooling in areas.
Primitive and dispersed camping options near Lenore, West Virginia supplement the developed campgrounds in this mountainous region. Terrain elevations range from 650 to 1,500 feet throughout nearby camping areas, creating significant temperature variations between valleys and ridgetops. Cell service remains unreliable in many campgrounds, with reception limited to specific locations like near satellite dishes or at higher elevation campsites.
Kayaking access points: East Fork campground offers direct lake access with a small beach area suitable for launching kayaks. According to one visitor, "I haven't camped here yet but I love their beach area. It's small and easy to keep track of small children. The scenery is beautiful as well."
Wildlife viewing: Chief Logan State Park Campground features a wildlife center with bears, bobcats and raptors for a $2 donation. A camper notes, "The caretaker helped me get some nice photos of the bears by putting some honey and peanut butter on the fence around their enclosure. You won't have to pay a dime to see deer."
Golf courses: Several campgrounds provide access to nearby golf courses. Yatesville Lake State Park Campground includes an 18-hole course alongside camping. As one visitor mentions, "Who doesn't like there own island? This state park offers you 3, along with great views, beautiful scenery and 18 holes of golf, swimming and hiking options."
Trail network systems: Many campgrounds connect to extensive trail systems. Campers at Breaks Interstate Park Campground can access numerous hiking trails and overlooks. "We spent 6 nights here, hiked & biked a lot. Off season, so some of the amenities were closed (pool looks awesome). We lucked out in the B loop, as a small trail (Grassy Overlook trail) took us to see the northern lights one evening."
Budget-friendly options: Several campgrounds offer affordable primitive camping near Lenore. At Backwoods Camping & RV Park, a camper reported, "Small, affordable, really nice to deal with. 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."
Walk-in tent sites: Multiple campgrounds feature secluded walk-in tent camping areas. Paintsville Lake State Park Campground offers hike-in sites along a maintained gravel path. One camper noted, "We tent camped at one of the hike-in sites at PLSP, #33. This is the first site on your way in. The lake is really calm. There are boats coming in and out but not 'traffic' per se, no issues at all kayaking."
Site spacing: Yatesville Lake State Park receives praise for its well-spaced sites. A reviewer mentioned, "One of my favorite KY state campgrounds. Plenty of space between campsites." Another visitor confirmed this, stating "Always clean sites well spaced out."
Cultural performances: Some campgrounds feature outdoor theater performances during summer months. Chief Logan State Park hosts productions in their outdoor theater with one camper noting, "Actors had just wrapped a sold-out run of 'Deadly Divide' about the bloody history of the Hatfields and McCoys and were practicing for the 'Lion King, Jr.' Chief Logan also has an entertainment venue called 'Pickin' In The Park,' where you can hear some local bluegrass music on the weekends."
Bathroom availability: Bathhouse access varies significantly across campgrounds. At Cabwaylingo State Forest, "The bathhouse here is permanently closed due to a dried up well, so the only facilities are the ancient pit toilets." At Spruce Creek Campground in the same forest, facilities are "older but completely serviceable."
Internet access: Cell service limitations make wifi hotspots valuable. A Cabwaylingo visitor shared, "If you pull up next to the satellite dish by the bathhouse, there's Internet service with no pass code." At Paintsville Lake, "Wifi available bc there is no LTE service."
Water conditions: Lake water quality varies by location. Jenny Wiley State Park has received critical reports about water conditions with one camper stating, "Be warned, the lake is gross. People using house boats are known to dump waste directly into the lake." Another noted, "I've never seen so much garbage in a lake in my life."
Reservation challenges: Some of the best places to camp near Lenore require advance planning. A Paintsville Lake camper shared, "It is a nice campground, and we would recommend it to anyone, but actually getting a reservation is difficult. I tried for two years before I finally got a reservation."
Playground access: Several campgrounds feature playgrounds near camping areas. Pappy's Creekside Camp received praise from family campers: "We have been camping at Pappys for 2 yrs now! We always have a great time, the folks out there are so nice and friendly it literally feels like a family reunion everytime!"
Swimming options: Multiple locations offer swimming facilities beyond lake access. Chief Logan State Park includes a swimming pool with one reviewer noting, "I didn't get to try the Chief Logan swimming pool, but it looked amazing with a giant slide, high dive and kiddie pool."
Animal exhibits: Wildlife exhibits provide educational opportunities for children. A visitor to Chief Logan mentioned, "The wildlife exhibit is a fun detour ($2/person). We saw a water slide, putt-putt, and enjoyed the restaurant at the lodge."
Water safety considerations: Lakes with active boating require safety measures. A visitor to Jenny Wiley warned, "DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE A MOTORBOAT! NO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ON THE BOAT! EVERY PERSON ON BOARD MUST BE WEARING A LIFE JACKET! The Fish & Wildlife officers do surprise checks on the recreational boats."
Leveling requirements: The mountainous terrain creates challenges for RV leveling. A visitor to Breaks Interstate Park noted, "Be careful when choosing a site as some are challenging to get into with larger units. We had a pull through which was big enough for our rig."
Supply planning: Limited services near some campgrounds necessitate advance planning. A Breaks Interstate visitor advised, "Be sure to bring all necessary supplies BEFORE you get here, nearest stores are a 20 minute drive away on crooked mountain roads."
Water hookup positioning: Some campgrounds have unusual utility layouts. A Jenny Wiley camper noted, "Campsites are set up were the water hookups at in front of your camper. Bring long water hose."
Road access concerns: Access roads present challenges for large rigs. Another visitor mentioned, "The roads to this amazing State Park are two lane and twisting. We have a 38' 5er and a CrewCab Dually tow vehicle. We didn't have a lot of issues getting here but it is quite mountainous with a lot of climbs to get here."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular campground near Lenore, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Lenore, WV is Chief Logan State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 7 reviews.
What parks are near Lenore, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 30 parks near Lenore, WV that allow camping, notably Dewey Lake and East Lynn Lake.
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