Best Campgrounds near Parkersburg, WV

The area around Parkersburg, West Virginia has several camping spots worth checking out within a short drive. Forked Run State Park Campground sits just over the Ohio line with paved sites, though you'll want to pick your spot carefully since the campground is built on hills. Campbell Cove Camping gives you more room between neighbors and good tree cover if you want some quiet. Most roads to these places are fine for regular vehicles, but the ones leading to Forked Run get narrow in spots, which can be tricky for big RVs or trailers. Keep your food locked up since deer and raccoons are common visitors to campsites in this area. Salt Fork State Park Campground has good fishing and hiking trails right from camp. If you need hookups, Dillon State Park Campground has big sites with water and electric that work well for RVs. The land around Parkersburg ranges from flat areas to gentle hills, which makes for nice views. Weather is best in spring and fall when it's not too hot or cold. It's smart to look up current rules and road conditions before heading out to camp in this part of West Virginia.

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Best Camping Sites Near Parkersburg, West Virginia (106)

    1. Forked Run State Park Campground

    21 Reviews
    Long Bottom, OH
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (740) 378-6206

    "On the border with West Virginia. There aren’t really sites on the water but there’s a nice path to the lake from the camp sites and lots of deer."

    "Yes, it's a bit rough around the edges. We liked that it wasn't crowded. The attendant said the park was full over Memorial Day weekend."

    2. Blennerhassett RV Park

    1 Review
    Washington, OH
    4 miles
    Website
    +1 (740) 706-1790

    3. Mountwood Park Family Campground(Wood County Park)

    5 Reviews
    Petroleum, WV
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (304) 679-3611

    $20 - $40 / night

    4. Ashland RV Park

    3 Reviews
    Marietta, OH
    13 miles
    Website
    +1 (740) 350-8157

    "Very close to the nice little downtown Marietta, Ohio but still very rural location. Large sites. Great staff. Absolutely love this place. Slow pace and quiet."

    "The highway traffic can be a little loud in the morning if you're on that side of the property, but who wants to sleep when there are trails to hit!"

    5. Washington County Fairgrounds

    1 Review
    Marietta, OH
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (740) 373-1347

    6. River Run Campground — North Bend State Park

    11 Reviews
    Cairo, WV
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (833) 987-2757

    "Initially, you don't see it...you must drive up and over a roller."

    "North Bend State Park is located at the halfway point of the 72-mile North Bend Rail Trail, so it’s a great camping spot for hikers, bikers and horseback riders who want to explore this scenic trail which"

    7. Burr Oak State Park Campground

    33 Reviews
    Glouster, OH
    33 miles
    Website
    +1 (740) 767-3683

    "The Blue Trail goes through here and provides a fun hike. There is a bathroom across the road and access to water at the entrance of the site. Showers are 15 minutes walk or a quick drive away."

    "Burr Oak State Park is on the eastern edge of Wayne National Forest, outside Glouster, Oh , off Rt 13. The Lodge is on the opposite side of the lake off Rt 78."

    8. Lane Farm Campground

    1 Review
    Marietta, OH
    16 miles
    Website

    "This roadside campground is near homes and a small town, so not much traffic during the day, but quite a bit during the morning and evening commuting time."

    9. Kinderhook Horse Trail

    5 Reviews
    Newport, OH
    20 miles

    "Close to the restroom there’s a picnic table, tentspots and a manual water pump. A lot of insects, humid and dense deciduous forest surrounding the trailhead. The Kinderhook trail was overgrown."

    "Area is dedicated to horse trail riding. Nice clean area just off main road.Can camp here in certain spots. Not much area to camp. No fire rings, one picnic table."

    10. Carthage Gap

    1 Review
    Wayne National Forest, OH
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (740) 667-3072

    $35 / night

    "Sitting above two fishing lakes, one you can swim in during the summer the campground is peaceful and tranquil and next to some amazing woodland."

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Showing results 1-10 of 106 campgrounds

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Recent Reviews near Parkersburg, WV

334 Reviews of 106 Parkersburg Campgrounds


  • Kathy L.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 5, 2025

    Seneca Lake Park Campground

    Okay campground

    Nice campground on the lake. Some mosquitos& gnats. Much of the campground has sites/ trailers that are owned(or leased), with some campsites for daily/ short-term reservations. Someone we met explained that the short-term ones are on flood areas so they can’t let people build on those sites. Another aspect is that there are boat slips that are owned(or leased) and those can even be in front of one of the short-term campsites so water access is blocked by those no trespassing private docks. Okay place to stay on our way across the country.

  • Aly M.
    Sep. 3, 2025

    Blennerhassett RV Park

    Friendly campground

    The owner was great. I called when I was on my way, he gave me a space number, and I was able to go straight to it. Weekly and monthly pricing is great too.

  • Alex A.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 28, 2025

    Baileys Trail Tent Camping

    Peaceful Stay

    Wonderful little location. We drove for about 3 hours to get from where we are. Nice wide open space surrounded by woods. There were other campers but very friendly and had plenty of space to ourselves. Very nice bathroom/shower compared to what we expected. Will visit again.

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 12, 2025

    Kinderhook Horse Trail

    Nice Site, Not Private

    The site itself is quite nice, with access to toilets and picnic tables. However, it also seems to be a spot locals visit quite a bit. I’ve had two cars drive in after sunset who have just sat around for a bit then left. I would not recommend this site if you are traveling solo (Like I am).

  • L
    Jul. 5, 2025

    Zaleski State Forest

    Nice get away

    Trails are nice and kept well, campsites are clean and well maintained. at each backpacking camp (3 in total) there is water and a toilet (nothing to wipe with) water is definitely well water tastes meh better off bringing a filter just in case. I will say there is some noise pollution from cars and planes near campsite 1. We ended up meeting our guide kitty friend at camp 1- most likely dumped which sucks but very friendly. tried bringing him home but he didn’t follow us. Besides Kitty and 2 other groups i saw no one else was here which was nice especially during a holiday weekend. NO SERVICE PLAN ACCORDING make sure you have a map especially to get out of the park!!!! PS if someone sees kitty please say hi :)

  • D
    Jun. 30, 2025

    Lake Hope State Park Campground

    Small undeveloped sites

    Camp sites are very small and very unlevel, had to raise back of camper and put front about a 1/4" off grond to get close to level. Site around is sloped in all directions. No internet or phone service so great to disconnect. Friendly staff. Bathhouse had good pressure and hot water in mens bathhouse 1 but womens had low pressure, bath house 2 had low to no pressure at times, but we're very clean and nice. Bathrooms were also clean and nice. Would rate higher with more level useable area.

  • cyndy F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 23, 2025

    Wolf Run State Park Campground

    Great chill time

    This is a smaller, older campground. We were in the non electric site area. It was pretty quiet, a great place to chill. The showers are older but well kept up. No bugs, we even watch them broom the outside windows and doors knocking down all webs.Nice shower head, good pressure. There are only vault toilets, but not bad , they pressure washed really well. Has dump station and plenty potable water stations. Good canoe and kayak lake. Part of buckeye trail on one side of lake. Has a playarea for kids with basketball court.

  • TThe Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 23, 2025

    Burr Oak State Park Campground

    Good time with friends staying at lodge

    Very hot outside so aware that many sites do not have shade. Camp store people friendly, made a site change for us. The store has some basics but they were out of ice. The lodge is on the other side of the lake so about 10 minutes away. Going to rent a pontoon boat today and check out the beach, as well. In the 90’s so very few spots taken!

  • Shane T.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 20, 2025

    Forked Run State Park Campground

    Decent campground, dated park and facilities

    Was a great spot while we were passing through and needed a place for the night.

    There was not manny people there, Sites are small back in, we stayed in loop two site 69 with great shade and electric. Toilets are vault style and very old so you can imagine it’s hard to clean/keep clean.

    I do like they have water fountains with faucets every 10-15 sites. As well as grey water dump stations about the same spacing but stagers with the filling.

    Showers were clean but only central and shared between all loops.

    We drove through loop 1 on our way out and it looked to be kept up better and cleaner.

    The lake was nice but I am not sure if they recently had some weather that caused it to be pretty brown/muddy, or if that’s normal.

    Camp store wasn’t open yet for the season no other staff was Seen except one guy cleaning on loop A


Guide to Parkersburg

Camping near Parkersburg, West Virginia, offers a mix of beautiful landscapes and fun activities for everyone. Whether you're looking for a family getaway or a peaceful retreat, there are several campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Hiking: Explore the scenic trails at Hocking Hills State Park Campground. One camper mentioned, "Beautiful area with great hikes and views close by," making it a perfect spot for nature lovers.
  • Swimming: At Salt Fork State Park Campground, there's a nice pool that many visitors enjoy. One review noted, "They had a pool which people seemed to enjoy."
  • Fishing: Wolf Run State Park Campground is great for fishing enthusiasts. A camper shared, "We had the whole back section to ourselves! Not a soul on site but a few boats out fishing."

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate the cleanliness of the restrooms at Campbell Cove Camping. One visitor said, "I have NEVER seen such amazing, clean, nice bathrooms at a campground."
  • Spacious Sites: Many enjoy the large sites at Dillon State Park Campground. A reviewer mentioned, "Dillon is one of our favorite camping destinations. They have very large sites."
  • Family-Friendly Atmosphere: Barkcamp State Park Campground is noted for its peaceful environment. One camper said, "Enjoyed a couple nights. Limited use of the campground during our visit, so we enjoyed peace and quiet."

What you should know:

  • Close Proximity: Many campgrounds are just a short drive from Parkersburg, making them convenient for quick getaways. For instance, Lake Hope State Park Campground is a great option for those looking to escape the city.
  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Forked Run State Park Campground, may have outdated facilities. A visitor noted, "The campground is in need of an update and targeted maintenance."
  • Noise Levels: Be prepared for noise at certain campgrounds. One camper at Wolf Run State Park Campground mentioned, "Our main issue was lack of oversight/patrolling after quiet hours."

Tips for camping with families:

  • Choose Family-Friendly Campgrounds: Look for places like Campbell Cove Camping, which has a playground and swimming area. A parent shared, "There is a great playground for kids and a swimming hole."
  • Plan Activities: Make sure to have a list of activities to keep the kids engaged. One camper at Hocking Hills State Park Campground said, "The trails were peaceful and unique."
  • Pack Essentials: Bring along games and outdoor gear to keep everyone entertained. A visitor at Salt Fork State Park Campground mentioned, "The park is super nice and well taken care of."

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site before booking. A reviewer at Dillon State Park Campground noted, "Some of them do hold water in the bottom inside loop of section A."
  • Look for Full Hookups: Campgrounds like Burr Oak State Park Campground offer full hookups, which can make your stay more comfortable. One camper said, "There are a lot of great full hook up sites here."
  • Be Mindful of Weather: Some sites can get muddy when it rains, as mentioned by a visitor at Forked Run State Park Campground. They advised, "If rain is predicted, the place turns into a complete mudpit."

Camping around Parkersburg, WV, has something for everyone, from families to solo adventurers. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!

Frequently Asked Questions

What campgrounds are available near Parkersburg, WV?

Several excellent campgrounds surround Parkersburg, WV. Mountwood Park Family Campground is located about 15 minutes east of Parkersburg on Route 50, offering a convenient option close to town. For those willing to venture a bit further, North Bend State Park has two distinct camping areas (River Run and Cokeley) about 10 miles south of Route 50 east of Parkersburg. Additional options include Ashland RV Park near Marietta, Trailer Center Campground in Parkersburg, and several Ohio state parks within an hour's drive including Burr Oak, Forked Run, and Wolf Run State Parks. Many of these campgrounds offer both primitive and developed sites to accommodate different camping preferences.

Can I find lakeside camping opportunities around Parkersburg, WV?

The Parkersburg area offers several excellent lakeside camping opportunities. Wolf Run State Park Campground features campsites that wrap around the lake, with most sites very close to the water. The lake is known for its clear water and is perfect for families, with no high-speed water activities permitted. Burr Oak State Park Campground provides spacious campsites with lake access and hiking trails. Lake Hope State Park is another option with lakeside amenities. While not all sites at these parks are directly on the water, many offer easy lake access via short walking paths. These lakes provide opportunities for fishing, swimming, paddling, and simply enjoying the peaceful waterfront scenery, making them ideal for campers seeking water recreation.

How much does it cost to camp near Parkersburg, West Virginia?

Camping costs around Parkersburg vary based on amenities and location. Forked Run State Park Campground offers affordable camping with basic amenities including shower facilities. Carthage Gap provides camping options above two fishing lakes with competitive pricing. Most state parks in the region (both West Virginia and Ohio) typically charge between $20-40 per night for standard campsites, with potential discounts for West Virginia residents or seniors. Private campgrounds may charge $25-50 depending on hookups and amenities. Many campgrounds offer both weekly and monthly rates for extended stays, which provide better value than nightly rates. Reservation fees may apply when booking in advance, particularly during peak summer months.

Are there RV parks with full hookups near Parkersburg, WV?

Yes, RV enthusiasts can find full hookup options near Parkersburg. Cokeley Campground at North Bend State Park offers sites with electrical hookups, though you'll want to verify full hookup availability when booking. Ashland RV Park near Marietta provides water hookups and is big-rig friendly, making it convenient for larger RVs. Trailer Center Campground directly in Parkersburg caters to RVs with utility connections. When planning your trip, check site dimensions and hookup specifics as they can vary within each campground. Many campgrounds in the area have upgraded their electrical systems in recent years to accommodate modern RVs with higher power demands, but it's always best to call ahead to confirm exact hookup specifications for your particular RV needs.