Campsites near Nitro, West Virginia cluster around the Kanawha River Valley at elevations between 600-1,000 feet. The region experiences mild to hot summers with average temperatures ranging from 70-85°F and cool winters dropping to 25-40°F. Most campgrounds in this area offer year-round accessibility with peak camping season running from April through October.
What to do
Swimming in natural settings: Lake Vesuvius provides a clean swimming beach within a forested setting. "The lake while not overly big, is clean and great for swimming(there's a beach), kayaking, and fishing. They have plenty of crappie, bass, and catfish stocked in the lake and there are bait shops close by," notes a visitor to Iron Ridge - Lake Vesuvius.
Disc golf courses: Several campgrounds maintain disc golf courses among wooded terrain. A camper at Forked Run State Park Campground mentioned the "rural area, lake, disc golf, fishing, swimming, hiking" as key attractions, while another specified that the "disc golf" was a standout feature of their visit.
ATV trail riding: The East Lynn outlaw trails connect directly to some camping areas. One reviewer at Pappy's Creekside Camp shared: "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!!"
What campers like
Wooded campsites: Forested sites offer shade and natural surroundings. A camper at Rays Campground wrote: "The site we had, site 10, was large and secluded. Clean shower house and hot water and the owners were extremely friendly." Another noted: "The tent area I stay in is very spacious and often you cant see any neighbors unless traveling to the shower house."
Family-friendly activities: Multiple organized events keep children entertained throughout their stay. "We enjoyed our stay at Huntington/Fox Fire KOA! This is a holiday KOA that offers more amenities for vacationers... The staff is wonderful, they obviously care very much about their jobs and we enjoyed talking to them," shared a visitor.
Affordable glamping options: Alternative to the upscale accommodations, budget-friendly glamping in Nitro, West Virginia region can be found at Ole Henry's Camping retreat. A visitor noted: "Ole' Henry's has a very nice setup with a Giovannis pizza restaurant and camp store on site... The playground are has a nice swing set and a couple big wooden play structures. There is blain drain pipe slides coming off one of the hillsides that is a kid favorite."
What you should know
Highway noise: Interstate proximity affects sound levels at some sites. A review at Huntington/Fox Fire KOA stated: "The only downside was that the tent sites are close to the interstate, so there was A LOT of road noise all night. Otherwise, it was a great camping experience!"
Seasonal events: Many campgrounds offer special holiday programming. At Huntington/Fox Fire KOA, one camper observed: "Perfectly fine KOA. Nicely decorated for Halloween and seemed like it had lots of nice amenities for kids."
Bathroom facilities vary widely: Quality ranges from primitive to well-maintained. A visitor to Rifrafters Campground mentioned: "The bathrooms were clean and well maintained," while another at Forked Run noted: "The pit toilets were filthy- covered in flies, spiderwebs and dirt. They look like they have not been hosed out since the 70's."
Tips for camping with families
Rainy day options: Some sites include restaurants with Wi-Fi access. A visitor to Ole Henry's Camping retreat shared: "Giovanni's pizza restaurant on site has wifi. This campground is located out in God's country. Its very beautiful and is near several attractions with 5 minutes to the Mud river."
Kid-friendly attractions: Adventure resorts combine outdoor activities with structured recreation. A camper at Adventures on the Gorge - Mill Creek reported: "We loved our experience here! RV sites are not private but we had great neighbors and a great weekend. Bathhouses were very clean, firewood was delivered which made things easy."
Wildlife encounters: Some campgrounds have friendly animals on-site. At Ole Henry's, a visitor mentioned: "There is a pony that lives on the site and is very friendly. It scavenges for free food and the children love it. There is also a few cats or so that live on site and is very friendly to children."
Tips from RVers
Site selection matters: Choose locations away from common areas for more privacy. A visitor to Rifrafters Campground advised: "Up front is a regular campground but we are in the back, secluded and peaceful. Site 34. There are about 8 nice sites out back with water and electricity."
Leveling challenges: Many campsites require adjustment for comfortable parking. At Iron Ridge - Lake Vesuvius, a camper noted: "Some sites are more difficult for parking a camper than others. We stayed at site 6 which wasn't too difficult to park but the water pressure was extremely high."
Utility limitations: Full hookups aren't available at all locations. An ACE Adventure Resort visitor remarked: "The Mountain Top Campground was quite nice. Most of the sites have shade but if it had been crowded there's a few that don't have any. The trees were great for hammocks! They have a picnic bench, fire ring and garbage can at each site."
