Best Dispersed Camping near Romney, WV
The Potomac Highlands surrounding Romney, West Virginia feature primarily dispersed camping options within an hour's drive, including Edwards Run Wildlife Management Area just north of town and several Forest Service sites to the south. Squirrel Hollow Road Camping and Squirrel Gap Road Dispersed sites offer primitive tent camping with fire rings but minimal amenities. Wolf Gap Recreation Area, approximately 45 miles south, provides more developed sites with picnic tables, vault toilets, and trash collection. The region's camping landscape extends east into Virginia's Shenandoah Valley and west into the Monongahela National Forest, where Dolly Sods Backcountry offers remote wilderness camping for experienced backpackers.
Forest roads throughout the region vary significantly in quality, with many requiring high-clearance vehicles after rain or snow. As one camper at Canaan Loop Road noted, "The road is easy to drive on with some bumps, but we managed in a small Kia sedan." Weather conditions change rapidly in the higher elevations, particularly at Dolly Sods where campers report "climate and conditions similar to the Canadian Tundra." Spring brings muddy trails and high water crossings, while summer offers easier access but increased weekend crowds. Most dispersed sites operate on a first-come basis with no reservations, though popular areas fill quickly on holiday weekends. Cell service remains limited or nonexistent throughout much of the region.
Wildlife encounters add to the camping experience, with black bears active throughout the area. "Be sure to hang your food," advises one Dolly Sods visitor, while others recommend proper food storage at all regional sites. Campers consistently praise the solitude found at dispersed sites, particularly during weekdays and shoulder seasons. The Wolf Gap Recreation Area receives high marks for its "beautifully wooded" sites that are "mostly secluded from the rest of the park." Little Fort Campground offers a unique site selection system where campers "flip a washer on a hook on the board from green to red" to claim their spot. Most sites permit fires in established rings, though seasonal restrictions may apply during dry periods.
