143 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
The Monongahela National Forest surrounds Monterville, West Virginia, providing a range of camping areas from established campgrounds to remote backcountry sites. Kumbrabow State Forest, located approximately 14 miles northeast of Monterville, offers primitive camping with tent sites along Mill Creek, as well as rustic cabins built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Dispersed camping opportunities exist at several locations including Mower Basin, Elk River, and Stonecoal areas, while nearby Holly River State Park provides more developed facilities with electric hookups, showers, and cabin accommodations.
Access to many camping areas requires navigating remote forest roads that can become challenging during wet weather. Several primitive sites lack drinking water, requiring campers to either bring their own supply or filter from nearby streams. According to one visitor, "West Virginia is packed with some of the best hiking, climbing, rafting, biking, canyons, mountains, rivers, valleys, and forests in the U.S...and the beauty is few people take advantage of it." Cellular service is extremely limited throughout the region, particularly at dispersed sites. Most developed campgrounds operate seasonally, typically from April through October or early December, with Kumbrabow State Forest open mid-April to December and Holly River State Park operating from early April to late November.
The region's campgrounds frequently position sites along waterways, with the Middle Fork and Greenbrier Rivers being popular features. Campers report encountering abundant wildlife, with deer sightings common at dawn and dusk. "Wildlife and songbirds were abundant and as shocked to see you as you were them," noted one reviewer describing their experience along the Greenbrier River Trail. The Monterville area offers diverse camping options from tent-only sites to full-service campgrounds with amenities for all types of outdoor recreation. The higher elevation at Kumbrabow State Forest (3,000 feet above sea level) provides cooler temperatures even during summer months, making it a pleasant retreat from heat. Evening temperatures typically remain cool throughout the camping season, with overnight lows requiring warm sleeping gear even in June. Primitive campsites generally offer fire rings, and some include pit toilets, though amenities vary significantly between dispersed and established campgrounds.
"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. "
"I do a lot of dispersed camping, and have done several dispersed camping sites in West Virginia recently. Mower Basin is, hands down, my favorite one so far."
"I should preface each of my reviews for West Virginia campgrounds and state forests by stating...West Virginia has the nicest and friendliest people I've come across...and that is a pure pleasure in this"
"We enjoyed the beautiful drive in with the fall colors and the little stream next to the road that goes through the campground. The sites are a little tight if you have a bigger camper."
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Kumbrabow State Forest offers lots of great trails, rustic cabins, and a primitive campground.""Beautiful campground located in the middle of nowhere. Quiet and peaceful with a fantastic stream going through the campground to either fish or play in."
from $16 - $60 / night
Check Availability"To get to the fire tower you will want to take the Loop Road, it is gravel and there are pot holes on the edges of the road so you will want to be careful of those."
"There is much history and lore that is behind every fire tower. The Thorny Mountain Fire Tower was built by the CCC sometime around 1935...and is erected at an elevation of 3458 ft."
"We set up camp right next to Rose Run, just East of the closed off bridge. Along this road you will see areas to pull off where people have set up fire rings.
Just pull off and set up camp. "
"Nice well kept campground adjacent to the Durbin Rocket steam locomotive. They are doing a train robbery this week, robbers are riding horseback to steal a guarded shipment!"
"Very peaceful, surrounded by mountains. The campground had stables and catered to people with horses, but we felt very welcomed by the owners."
"They are all surrounded by woods and a river and a few on the river. Very kid friendly, I mean I have four girls so...yeah. It was amazing and we are definitely coming back!"
"Snowshoe Valley camping is close to Snowshoe resort, and also surrounded by protected forests, perfect for getting some hiking in! Check them out and make sure to share some pictures of your stay!"
from $20 - $85 / night
Check Availability"The camp site was on a small gravel road, tucked up in the forest, only 1 or 2 other campers, but the grounds man who delivered my firewood checked on my 1-2 times a day."
"Good access to water with the river. No mosquitos. Soft ground for staking a tent. Getting here long after dark isn’t an issue, because you can drive right into a campsite."
"Stayed 9/5/2020 - FREE Site "Turnaround"
This was difficult to find on Apple Maps, but if you pin the location, it takes you right to it. "
TravelerThis place is beautiful! I loved seeing all the wildlife! My daughter and I enjoyed walking the entire campground looking for Bigfoot.😉 we loved waking up the next morning to having squirrels, chipmunks, deer and birds on our campsite. We stayed on site 14
ScoutSuper remote camp spot! The drive to the forest road was a little tight and windy for an inexperienced mountain driver as myself. Wouldn't want to do it at night.
Most camp spots are on loops of more group camping with 4-6 sites at each loop and I believe there were 3 or 4 loops. Not my cup of tea, too fish bowl for me and way too exposed. Outside of the loops, there were 8-10 sites that were more my style, with the one we stayed at was just right! The most perfect spot in the whole place (for our preferences) we were literally on a babbling creek. Couldn't get any closer. Had direct access to water for washing and other needs. However I read in a brochure to not drink the water without boiling for 3 minutes because the area has giardia.
Saw a lot of people headed further down creek to fish for trout. No cell service for about 20 minutes. We had to drive back to route 33 and the halfway to Elkins to catch a sliver of cell service.
If you are staying at camp and brought everything you need, you're golden. There are lots of things to occupy yourself with exploring. There is a trailhead on forest rd 162 with miles of hiking with a hand full of trails to choose.
We arrived around 4PM on a Sunday. Plenty of sites to choose from. Was about half full. When we got up the next morning to leave, most spots were open. We stayed until mid day on Friday. Action was definitely picking up. Saw more people, more kids and louder noises. We are definitely Sunday to Thursday campers. I want to camp without knowing the neighbors are there. When leaving on Friday most sites were taken.
Had no problems finding plenty of fallen kindling for our fire. We found a great roadside house on route 33 that was selling firewood in their front yard for only $10 a "row" as they called it. We got 2 rows because we werent sure what to expect when we got there. We built a good hearty fire every morning and every evening and still had firewood we left there since there was so much accessible resources.
We ended up doing a lot of "tourist" experiences that was a bit of a drive to get to due to my inexperience in driving in the mountains. The drives were usually 30 minutes to an hour and a half. But well worth the drive.
Elkins is the closest place to "civilization" (north on 33) we went there for cheap gas, ice, and the grocery store. Didn't explore Elkins as it was too "city" for us. We wanted more remote experiences.
Harman was the next closest place (south on 33) not much for exploring, but they have a dollar general (what remote town doesn't have a dollar general?) and a place for gas
Continue on 33 south and hit Seneca Rocks! Such a beautiful sight to see! Also have the oldest general store built in 1902 and Yokums country store. Its like going back in time. Both tourist traps but worth the experience. We went to the recreation area with river access so beautiful to see the cliffs upclose and personal. If you are a climber this is the place for you. We are hikers. But enjoyed the views.
Continuing on 33 south there is smoke hole caverns. Another tourist trap but fun. For $20 you get a cavern tour tack on a little more if you want to go gem "panning" and get a bag of dirt to find gems. Or putt putt. Giant gift shop. Someone said it was the largest gift shop in West Virginia.
From Seneca Rocks if you head west on 28 it will take you past Seneca Caverns. They were closed for the summer due to blasting nearby.
Continuing on 28 west you then come to one of my favorite spots. Spruce Knob. The highest elevation in all of West Virginia, gorgeous views all around! Terrible observation tower that you cant see anything due to trees. Nice picnic area. Going down the other side of the mountain Spruce Knob lake, lots more trail heads AND a fantastic dispersed camping area! Seneca Creek backcountry. Didn't camp here. Will camp here next time. All dirt roads down the other side of the mountain. But so worth the adventure!
From camp and going to Harman take 32 east and that will take you to Canaan Valley state park, didn't explore too much but access to a lot more hiking
Then you come to Davis WV one of the cutest little towns ever! Very developed for back country but very very quaint. The davis depot has some camping/hiking clothes and lots of tourist items with t-shirts stickers and such. But great designs. Spent a hunk of change here. Has a grocery store and a dollar general. And a hiking, camping, backpacking store. Has gear, clothes, shoes, you name it. Had an issue with my hiking boots. Got good quality boots here! There are several small boutique stores a couple of restaurants a brewery and a bicycle shop.
Last point of interest I'll address, on the other side of Davis, Blackwater State Park. Easy in intermediate hiking here did most of our hiking here. Gorgeous falls. 3 to be exact. Nice overlooks. Nice recreation center for the kids. Near Canaan loop rd.[Canaan loop rd has dispersed camping too. This is where I had planned on camping when we came to WV and ended up over in Glady. However, I was told by the guy at the camp store in Davis that it was closed. I cannot confirm this. But just definitely check into it before solidifying plans]
My preferences for camping are not usually the whole tourist thing. But WV has so much to offer I just couldn't get enough! So we kept trekking out to see more. The drive is a lot and was a whole day's journey round trip with spending time at those locations but so worth it. Not that far of a drive in the scheme of things
Will come back to this area over and over for all the dispersed camping options and for all the sights and experiences packed in such a small area.
GuideThere were at least 12 numbered sites. Free dispersed camping. 14 day limit. Most sites had sun so you could have solar. Some sites were very private tucked far off the gravel road. All sites were very spaced out. Very quiet.
GuideI used the coordinates and it took me to a campground that charges $15 a day. They weren’t private being right on the gravel road. There were tables,pits and the shepherds hook in each one. There were some that were on the river. There were toilets. I didn’t use them so I can’t say anything more about them. Not much sun thru the dense trees for solar. I kept driving around the forest on FR227 and came upon a whole nother set of labeled dispersed campsites that were very private and have open areas for solar. They were numbered. There were at least 12 that I saw.
ScoutBeautiful and secluded. Primitive camping area for boondocking or tent camping. Large enough to set up several electric pens for horses.
ScoutAbsolutely no service here cell or internet. We have a starlink so are connected if needed Stayed at the furthest site removed from anyone. Very beautiful.
TravelerI can’t believe no one has rated this beautiful place. The sites are level, gravel, well spaced out and surrounded by trees. We stayed at White Pines Campground and there was a network of trails you can access a short walk away. The trails had views, lake, waterfall, and beautiful mountain laurel in bloom. These trails looked great for mountain biking too. The showers were nicely laid out, clean and had great pressure and there were plenty of them. The huge bonus was the dishwashing station with hot water. I can’t wait to come back and explore this beautiful area more!
ScoutBeautiful quiet place
TravelerI’m a new car camper and my mom and I took a day trip out to check out the sites. When I tell you this is the most beautiful, secluded, peaceful camping site I truly couldn’t have asked for a better find!! I did however (like an idiot) end up going waaay too far down the trail (aka the whole 18 miles) and THANK GOD I drive a 4 runner!! That road gets pretty sketchy in most spots the further you go down but I somehow (by the grace of God) made it through the whole thing IN TWO WHEEL DRIVE!! ugh may never do that again but the camping is fantastic!! If you wanna check out more of the off-roading aspect I recommend checking out nolimitbmore on youtube! Will be spending most of my summer & fall here!!
Dispersed camping near Monterville, West Virginia offers varied terrain at elevations between 2,000-3,500 feet throughout the Monongahela National Forest. Camping spots in this region experience significant temperature drops after sunset, with overnight lows requiring warm sleeping gear even during summer months. Many sites sit along waterways including Shavers Fork of the Cheat River, Mill Creek, and several mountain streams that provide both scenic value and water access for filtering.
Hiking trail access: At Mower Basin, several marked trails connect directly to dispersed camping areas. "Following the road all the way to the final site you will cross paths with no fewer than 5 distinct and different toughness hiking trails, there are likely more, but I was only there for a week and would usually just do one trail a day," notes a camper at Dispersed camping at Mower Basin.
Mountain biking: Some camping areas provide excellent single-track trail access. One camper at Mower Basin explained, "I also love this place as it has a small network of single track trails for anyone with a bike, or in my case, Electric unicycle. The trails were well maintained and offered a wonderful variety of wooded and open space riding."
Fishing opportunities: The Elk River area provides designated catch-and-release fishing zones. A visitor to Elk River Dispersed camping noted: "There is Elk Springs Resort & Fly Shop just down the road. Here you can hire a guide, or pay to fly fish their well stocked area. A well stocked fly shop as well. The area where we camped is catch and release only!"
Elevated campsites: Camping at higher elevations provides cooler temperatures and improved visibility. A camper at Stonecoal Dispersed Camping Area shared: "This has been the best spot I've found so far in terms of what it offers. It's easy to find, the roads are gravel and maintained enough for just about any vehicle to get back there, the views are truly incredible with great star gazing opportunities."
Private camping spots: The forest layout provides natural separation between sites. "The sites are so spread out/the foliage is so thick that you can't see or hear anyone," explains a Mower Basin visitor who spent a week camping there and only saw three other vehicles during their stay.
Winter camping options: Some Monterville-area camping locations remain accessible during colder months. "We strolled up the mountain in our 39ft skoolie. It snowed and we had a really good time!" reports a winter visitor to Mower Basin, highlighting the area's year-round accessibility for properly equipped campers.
Road conditions: Many dispersed sites require traveling on unpaved forest roads. A camper at Seneca State Forest advises: "I'm sure this is an amazing campsite, but it was a little to rustic for my liking. There is no cell service within 30 miles, so for an outsider who doesn't know the area, it was difficult to find the campsite."
Water sources: Most dispersed sites have no potable water. "The campsites are just pullouts in the road with fire pits. Good access to water with the river," notes a Stonecoal camper, highlighting the need to filter water from natural sources.
Cell service limitations: Coverage is extremely spotty throughout the region. "I have T-Mobile and had signal only by the first campsite for some reason. I had no signal for almost two hours heading towards VA," reports a Mower Basin visitor, emphasizing the importance of offline maps and emergency planning.
Riverside sites: Camping areas with stream access provide natural entertainment for children. A visitor to Kumbrabow State Forest Mill Creek Campground shared: "This campground in the Kumbrabow State forest has 13 campsites that are pretty secluded and private. They are all surrounded by woods and a river and a few on the river. Very kid friendly, I mean I have four girls so...yeah."
Tent-friendly terrain: Most forest campgrounds provide level ground for setting up tents. "Soft ground for staking a tent," notes a camper at Stonecoal, making the area suitable for family tent camping with appropriate equipment.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Many campsites offer chances to observe local wildlife. "We drove In Thursday evening intending to go to stonecoal but the road was blocked off so we headed out to mowers basin and were lucky enough to snag this beautiful view. The few people we did encounter were friendly," mentions a Mower Basin visitor who documented wildlife sightings during their stay.
Access limitations: Forest roads restrict the size of vehicles that can navigate to remote sites. One RVer at East Fork Campground and Horse Stables notes: "Very nice campground with water and electric right on the river for $32, clean bathrooms and showers, and very nice owners. We stayed for one night but most of the others staying there had horses and were staying a while."
Seasonal considerations: Camping areas near Monterville typically operate from April through October/November. "We called to say we couldn't make it until the 2nd no problem and no charge, that was nice if him to do so. Nice well kept campground adjacent to the Durbin Rocket steam locomotive," describes an East Fork Campground visitor.
Parking surfaces: Most dispersed sites lack improved parking pads. "Awesome spot in mountain, not too many sites but they are all well marked. Just have to push through some steep gravel roads but we did it in truck and trailer," explains a Mower Basin camper who successfully navigated the terrain with their RV.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Monterville, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, Monterville, WV offers a wide range of camping options, with 143 campgrounds and RV parks near Monterville, WV and 21 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Monterville, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Monterville, WV is Dispersed camping at Mower Basin with a 5-star rating from 9 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Monterville, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 21 free dispersed camping spots near Monterville, WV.
What parks are near Monterville, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 24 parks near Monterville, WV that allow camping, notably Monongahela National Forest and Burnsville Lake.
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