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Dog-Friendly Camping near Mount Clare, WV

1 campground with availability this weekend

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    Audra State Park Campground features spacious pet-friendly campsites along a river with private, shaded areas. Leashed dogs are welcome at this clean, well-maintained campground with easy access to hiking trails and water recreation. The bathrooms and shower facilities are regularly cleaned, and the campsites include fire pits and picnic tables. Family Fishing N' Camping allows dogs but no longer offers tent sites as of 2024. Several other pet-friendly options exist around Mount Clare including Broken Wheel Campground, which has undefined tent camping areas where visitors can select their spot, trash receptacles throughout, and catch-and-release fishing opportunities. Campers with pets report having plenty of space to set up between trees.

    Pet owners appreciate the river access at Audra State Park, where dogs can cool off in the water during hot months. The clean, crystal-clear river runs along large rocks and offers numerous spots to wade with pets. Most sites are near the water even if they don't have direct river access. Well-maintained walking trails wind along the water, providing excellent opportunities for exercising dogs. The campground requires pets to remain on leash at all times. Campers report the campground isn't overly buggy and remains quiet in mornings and evenings, important for reactive dogs. Some sites are close to roads, so pet owners should select locations farther from traffic when possible. The park office offers wifi access, beneficial for checking local veterinary services as cell reception is limited.

    Best Dog-Friendly Campgrounds near Mount Clare (70)

      1. Audra State Park Campground

      4.7(35)20mi from Mount ClareRVs, Tents

      "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."

      "Pets are permitted. There is an onsite dumping station as well. The outer edge of the campground has sites next to the river but be weary of low sites during rainy days as the river rises rapidly."

      2. Tygart Lake State Park Campground

      4.2(20)18mi from Mount ClareRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "There was a bathroom close by with running water and showers. It was beautiful and very close to the lake."

      "Trails to lakeside/shore where campers do swim although no swimming from shore is "not" allowed. Just be respectful and clean up after yourselves and usually no drama involved."

      3. Family Fishing N' Camping

      3.7(3)14mi from Mount ClareRVs, Tents, Cabins

      from $10 - $150 / night

      Check Availability

      4. Broken Wheel Campground

      4.7(3)16mi from Mount ClareRVs, Tents

      "I recently went tent camping with my two children and 2 dogs it was a wonderful experience!"

      5. Kick Back n Camp

      5.0(2)21mi from Mount ClareRVs

      "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."

      from $25 - $40 / night

      Check Availability

      6. Five River Campground

      5.0(27)36mi from Mount ClareRVs, Tents, Glamping

      "Exercise area for pets is huge. Within five minutes a local grocery store. I love this campground and hope to return for the blue grass festival next year."

      "Lots of happy, courteous kids and well-behaved dogs on leashes. Our pups loved it, especially swimming! We appreciated the poop bags and trash cans convos fly located around the campground."

      from $15 / night

      Check Availability

      7. Camp Ara

      5.0(2)21mi from Mount Clare3 sitesTents, Cabins

      "Beautiful lake for canoeing and fishing and the hiking and mountain bike trails are amazing! Cant wait to go back!"

      Available this weekend

      from $20 - $150 / night

      Check Availability

      8. Blackwater Falls State Park Campground

      4.4(55)46mi from Mount ClareRVs, Tents, Glamping

      "This campground is the highest in West Virginia, it has a total of 65 campsites 30 of which are electric and 35 are non-electric."

      "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."

      from $50 / night

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      9. Coopers Rock State Forest- McCollum Campground

      4.5(37)42mi from Mount ClareRVs, Tents, Cabins, Glamping

      "This is the largest state forest in West Virginia, it has a total of 25 sites that vary in their privacy. Each site has electrical hookups, picnic tables, fire grates, and utility post."

      "There is also a small laundry room with dishwashing sink behind the bathhouse. Both ice and firewood are sold onsite."

      from $25 - $48 / night

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      10. Curtisville Lake and Campground

      5.0(1)22mi from Mount ClareRVs, Tents

      from $10 - $20 / night

      Check Availability

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    Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Mount Clare, WV

    471 Reviews of 70 Mount Clare Campgrounds

    • Kenneth K.
      Oct. 20, 2026

      Audra State Park Campground

      Beautiful camping sites along the river! This is a small State Park, but packs a punch with some beautiful trails, and direct river access from almost half of the sites. Nice camp store and heated, full bath houses with showers. Note that sites are gravel….so if tenting bring a cot and/or some extra cushioning. Wi fi is available within close range of the camp store. I was at Site #8.

    • kacee W.
      Oct. 10, 2026

      Dispersed camping at Mower Basin

      Absolutely gorgeous

      There are 25 or so established sights at Mower Basin and you're bound to find one with an incredible view of the mountains. Sight 12 took my breath away, but unfortunately as a tent camper the wind pushed us down to the lake sight just passed it. It was close to the road but still felt private. Everyone who passed our sight was very friendly. It's a gorgeous place, and from someone who's never been to Virginia, it was the perfect place to have my first experience. We will probably go back when we are heading back down south.

    • kacee W.
      Oct. 10, 2026

      Holly River State Park Campground

      It's a beautiful, clean place with incredible staff

      This review is for the primitive boondockers like myself. It's a very established campground, full amenities, restaurant, gift shop, the works. I thought we would find a primitive campground with much more privacy based on the details and reviews of the grounds. The primitive camping spots are all in view of each other down a long stretch of dirt road. They're very clean and come with trash cans at each sight, which was nice. We were the only tent campers so it was enjoyable, but I don't know if I would have had the same experience if there were a lot of campers. I think that's a very important and left out detail about this location for the people who enjoy a more private environment. I'm still very happy with my stay, and the staff is absolutely WONDERFUL. They're all so kind and went out of their way to provide us with information when we had questions they didn't know the answer to, everyone who works there is a delight. 25$ a night felt a little much to sleep in our tent, but the showers, clean bathrooms, and care put into the property made it worth it. Waterfalls nearby as well. I'd stay again.

    • E
      Sep. 17, 2026

      Audra State Park Campground

      Wonderful Family Campground

      This was a gem of a state park. It's small and older (which for me is a feature, not a bug), all entirely walkable with a central bathroom, camp store and playground at the heart of the campground. We had a site on the back of the campground that was larger than most (lots of small sites) and could fit our big tent set up. It rained like the dickens for a one of the days we were there and there was a drainage river running THROUGH our site that could have turned into a problem. Luckily the rain stopped in time and our site drained quickly. Despite all that, I loved our stay. It was VERY busy when we stayed, but I liked how it felt like a family retreat, where kids were safe to hop over to the playground to play with other kids, we could take walks right to the river for swimming or (after the rain) "viewing". If you can catch a dry weekend, this campground must be utter perfection. Would probably be dicey in sustained rain, especially if you're on the river itself.

    • Sarah J.The Dyrt Pro User
      Sep. 7, 2026

      Coopers Rock State Forest- McCollum Campground

      Beautiful location

      The spots are spread out and the trees are beautiful. The people are so nice. The drive in is tight narrow lanes. We stayed one night at #49, pull through with water and electric, no sewer. We booked #43 but Becky moved us to 49 cuz it’s more level.

    • Sandra P.
      Aug. 28, 2026

      Coopers Rock State Forest- McCollum Campground

      Very calm campground

      We stayed 2 nights. People are very nice. Bathrooms and Laundry are clean.

      Spaced spots surrounded by the forrest. Some trails directly from the camp.

    • MThe Dyrt Pro User
      Aug. 26, 2026

      Dispersed camping at Mower Basin

      Best Dispursed Camping!

      This is a very accessible trail. We brought our 22ft Ember Overland Trailer down it with ease. While our trailer has high clearance and independent suspension.. you do not need that to get to some great sites!

      We tried 3 different sites here and found campground 12 to be our favorite. It is secluded off the road, had amazing views, and tons of room for multiple cars or campers.

      Hiking trails are also great and dog friendly!

    Guide to Mount Clare

    Camping areas around Mount Clare offer access to West Virginia's central forests and river valleys at elevations between 1,000-2,500 feet. The region's moderate climate makes camping possible from April through October, with summer temperatures typically ranging from 65-85°F. Local campgrounds provide various pet accommodations, from riverside spots to wooded camping areas with dedicated exercise spaces.

    What to do

    Fishing opportunities: At Broken Wheel Campground, families can enjoy catch-and-release fishing in the stocked pond. "The catch and release pond was a wonderful place to take kids to learn and gaurentee to catch a fish with worms. We also found newts!" reports a camper.

    Hiking with elevation changes: Trails near Blackwater Falls State Park Campground offer varying difficulty levels with scenic rewards. One visitor describes, "Lindy Point overlook was a.3M one way for a fabulous view." Another adds that the park has "beautiful trails with gorgeous views."

    Water recreation: Many campgrounds feature water access for cooling off during summer months. At Five River Campground, "The river is fantastic and holds trout and smallmouth for those that like to fish," while the campground sits "along a half mile grassy stretch of river" where you can set up camp.

    What campers like

    Quiet mornings: Unlike the existing description mentions, many campgrounds in the region offer peaceful morning experiences. "The Holly River runs clear through the Park, right beside a good many of the sites and hanging a hammock and listening to the water, can't be beat!" shares a visitor to Holly River State Park Campground.

    Clean facilities: Campgrounds maintain high cleanliness standards. At Kick Back n Camp, a visitor noted, "Bathhouses are clean and better then my bathroom at home." Similarly, a Blackwater Falls camper stated, "The bath houses are MUCH cleaner than Pipestem & checked often."

    Space between campsites: Dog friendly campgrounds near Mount Clare typically offer room between sites. "We were fortunate to find one along the river which was great to sit by a fire while the kids swam," notes a camper at Audra State Park, while another mentions the "spacious lots" at Bulltown Camp.

    What you should know

    Seasonal considerations: Weather patterns affect camping conditions. At Holly River, one visitor shared: "Every morning and every night it rained which made it difficult to swim and fish. The park workers said this is common year round." Plan accordingly with tarps and rain gear.

    Reservation systems vary: Not all campgrounds offer advance booking. "No reservations, first come, first served," notes a reviewer at Audra State Park. Meanwhile, Bulltown Camp has a "self-serve kiosk where you check-in and pay with cash or check" during off-season.

    Site selection matters: At Blackwater Falls, "The handicapped sites are in the first loop by the bathroom. There's a dump that's in the middle of the first loop. You have to go the wrong way on a one way road to dump." Study campground maps before choosing a site.

    Tips for camping with families

    Kid-friendly water features: Camp Ara offers "Beautiful lake for canoeing and fishing and the hiking and mountain bike trails are amazing!" Sites with water access are particularly popular with families in summer months.

    Playground access: Multiple campgrounds feature play areas for children. Broken Wheel Campground has "a nice park to play at," while Five River Campground includes "a playground for the kids and plenty of room for them to play."

    Educational opportunities: The region offers learning experiences for children. Bulltown Camp includes a historic area where "you can check out historic structures on the site and hike to the top of the hill where the Union soldiers ultimately withstood the Confederate attack."

    Tips from RVers

    Road access considerations: Access roads can challenge larger vehicles. As one Bulltown camper warns, "If you are coming from route 19 north about 10 miles from intestate 79 past the Stonewall Resort there is a huge dip in the road. I missed part of the huge dip that swallowed my camper and left it bouncing around the road."

    Site configuration: Electric hookups may be positioned awkwardly at some campgrounds. At Blackwater Falls, "Many of the pull thru sites are situated in the wrong direction with the electric hookup on the wrong side." Bring extension cords to accommodate.

    Cell service and connectivity: Reception varies significantly between dog friendly campgrounds near Mount Clare. Five River Campground "is one of the only campgrounds in all of WV where you have cell service...and wifi!" while other parks have limited or no service.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Mount Clare, WV?

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Mount Clare, WV is Audra State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 35 reviews.

    What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Mount Clare, WV?

    TheDyrt.com has all 70 dog-friendly camping locations near Mount Clare, WV, with real photos and reviews from campers.