Camping sites near Ripley, West Virginia offer diverse outdoor recreation options within the Appalachian plateau region. The area features elevations ranging from 600 to 1,200 feet with mixed hardwood forests dominating the landscape. Summer temperatures average 75-85°F during day with cooler evenings, while spring and fall camping seasons bring more variable conditions with occasional heavy rainfall affecting trail and access road conditions.
What to Do
Fishing opportunities: At Forked Run State Park Campground, campers can enjoy fishing in the lake which contains unique wildlife. "What makes the lake unique at Forked Run is that it contains dime sized fresh water jelly fish. These type aren't able to sting you," notes Andrew S.
Water recreation: The swimming pond at Huntington / Fox Fire KOA provides family entertainment beyond swimming. "They had so much for kids to do: a swimming pond with inflatables, gem mining, banana bikes, and more. They showed a movie at 9pm on a big inflatable movie screen outside," shares Zach H.
Hiking trails: Multiple trail options exist near camping areas with varying difficulty levels. "Hiked the lake view trail, poorly maintained. The upper loop from the beach end is very hard to find and not marked at all," warns Bob L. about trails at Forked Run State Park, suggesting visitors should map routes carefully before setting out.
Disc golf: Outdoor recreation beyond water activities includes disc golf courses at select parks. "Attractions: rural area. lake. disc golf. fishing. swimming. hiking. I would go camping here again," mentions Benjamin C. about the amenities available at Forked Run.
What Campers Like
Lake access: Many campers appreciate waterfront camping locations. "Our site was a pull thru on the lake. What a spot!! We watched the resident swan swim around the fountain," shares Debbie F. about her stay at Rippling Waters Church of God Campgrounds.
Privacy between sites: Site spacing varies significantly between campgrounds. "This campground has been around since the 1800s. It has a lot of permanent residents and we had a lot of fun checking out the different set ups," notes Jeremiah S. about Kountry Resort Campground.
Wildlife viewing: Deer and other wildlife sightings are common at several campgrounds. "There seems to be an abundance of deer in the area," mentions Andrew S. about Statts Mills Campground, which offers sites with water and electric hookups directly on O'brien Lake.
Clean facilities: When facilities are well-maintained, campers consistently mention it. "The showers were clean but only central and shared between all loops," notes Shane T. after staying at Forked Run State Park, indicating the value placed on clean shower facilities despite limitations.
What You Should Know
Bathroom conditions: Facility quality varies widely between campgrounds. "Toilets are vault style and very old so you can imagine it's hard to clean/keep clean," explains Shane T. about Forked Run State Park, while another camper reported that "the shower house was OK, toilets are primitive."
Road access challenges: Some campgrounds have difficult approach roads. "After you get off the high way expect narrow twists and turns to reach the park," warns Angelo V. about Kanawha State Forest, adding that "the park itself isn't nearly as bad as the stretch between highway and park entrance."
Site leveling issues: Many campgrounds feature uneven terrain requiring leveling equipment. "Overall I'd give it 4 or 5 stars if they had toilets," noted Sandra S. about Forked Run, adding that "most spots are not level."
Noise levels: Road noise affects several campgrounds. "The highway is close and very noisy," reports Joe B. about Huntington/Fox Fire KOA, while other reviews mention that "the tent sites are close to the interstate, so there was A LOT of road noise all night."
Tips for Camping with Families
Playground options: Look for campgrounds with maintained play areas. "The park's main feature is a lake that looks to be artificial. Maybe an old gravel quarry? The terrain around the lake is nicely landscaped," reports Alex M. about Krodel Park Campground, noting that facilities include "a paved path along the shore, along with picnic tables and shelters."
Evening activities: Some campgrounds offer organized nighttime events. "They showed a movie at 9pm on a big inflatable movie screen outside. Lots of other families there to hang out with," shares Zach H. about the Huntington/Fox Fire KOA.
Swimming options: Multiple water recreation areas exist for children. "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," notes Shane T. about Forked Run State Park's swimming area.
Cell service: Connectivity varies greatly between locations. "Don't expect to have signal. I'm on tmobile and I had an occasional bar," shares Angelo V. about Kanawha State Forest, important information for families needing to stay connected.
Tips from RVers
Hookup arrangements: Utility configurations vary between campgrounds. "The hookups are a little strange. You share pedestals in many of the sites. And the arrangement is a little strange but it works," explains Laura H. about camping at Huntington/Fox Fire KOA.
Site length limitations: Several campgrounds have restricted capacity for larger vehicles. "I wouldn't recommend anything over 28'," advises Larry M. about Kanawha State Forest due to "tight hairpin turn" access roads.
Dump station availability: Not all campgrounds offer full sanitation services. "Was a great spot while we were passing through and needed a place for the night," mentions Shane T. about Forked Run State Park, adding "they have water fountains with faucets every 10-15 sites as well as grey water dump stations about the same spacing."
Free overnight options: Budget-conscious RV travelers have limited free camping options. "It's rare to find free RV camping, especially sites with 30 AMP electric hook-ups! The City of Saint Albans has a roadside park with three RV sites where you can camp for 2-days max in a 14-day period," explains Jennifer B. about Saint Albans Roadside Park.
