The St. Marys area of West Virginia sits at approximately 650 feet above sea level in the Mid-Ohio Valley region. Located near the confluence of Middle Island Creek and the Ohio River, this region combines Appalachian foothills with river valley terrain. Summer temperatures typically range from 75-90°F, while winter camping requires preparation for temperatures often dropping below freezing.
What to do
Archery range access: At Hook Lake in Jesse Owens State Park, visitors can enjoy dedicated archery facilities as part of their camping experience. "This campground was very quiet, lots of shade (not ideal if you are running on solar only). The DNR make rounds on a regular basis," notes one visitor at Hook Lake.
Boat tours and lake exploration: Stonewall Resort State Park offers structured water activities beyond standard boat rentals. "At the lodge there's some restaurants, indoor outdoor pool, spa, you can rent kayaks to paddle around. They also have a boat that will take you on a tour of the lake. I highly recommend going to the marine to feed the carp. It's definitely an experience," explains a camper who visited Stonewall Resort.
Stargazing opportunities: The rural location provides excellent night sky viewing at many area campgrounds. One visitor to Strouds Run State Park noted, "Amazing at night for stargazing!" The same reviewer continues, "Awesome park! There are shelters with picnic tables at one stop, and a little beach and boating dock if you keep going!"
What campers like
Spacious camping areas: Many campgrounds in the region provide ample room between sites. At Ashland RV Park, campers appreciate the generous layout: "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."
Diverse water features: Multiple ponds, lakes and streams throughout the region create varied fishing and paddling options. One Forked Run State Park visitor mentioned, "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."
Authentic horse camping: Barkcamp State Park Campground offers specialized facilities for equestrian campers. "This is set up with a whole section for horse camping with tie outs and trailer/truck sites. Lots of bridle trails and a really quiet park," shares a reviewer. Another adds, "The camp store is an old log cabin so instantly I liked this park."
What you should know
Cell reception limitations: Connectivity varies significantly throughout the region. At Hook Lake Campground, a camper advises: "While most of the sites at Hook Lake do not have cell coverage we were lucky enough to find that at the 'top of the hill' we were able to get both att and verizon at around 2 bars (3 to 5gb download but under 1 upload)."
Toilet facilities vary greatly: Many campgrounds in the region have basic facilities. At Forked Run, a camper reported, "This park campground is nice, but lost in time. Outhouses are gross. Usable, but gross. No water hook ups, but a place to fill your tank behind water fountains."
Seasonal closures and changes: Off-season camping brings different amenities and experiences. A winter visitor to Strouds Run State Park shared: "We stopped here on Thanksgiving on our way South. Self paying, off season was $15. But the restrooms were closed. There were only 3 other sides occupied."
Tips for camping with families
Beach recreation options: Several parks offer swimming areas with additional facilities. At Burr Oak State Park Campground, families can enjoy "a nice beach and the lake is awesome. There are adequate shower facilities," according to one visitor.
Lodge backup accommodations: If weather turns poor during glamping in St. Marys, West Virginia, consider nearby lodge options. A visitor to Burr Oak shares: "We actually stayed at the lodge and it was lovely. We would hike around during the day and swim inside as it was before spring. Lots of great trails."
Playgrounds and recreation areas: Several campgrounds offer dedicated children's play areas. "There is a swingset across the road in the main campground," notes a camper about Strouds Run State Park, adding that "There is also a large wooden screen near the entrance where you can use your own projector to watch movies at night."
Tips from RVers
Parking surface conditions: Pay attention to pad quality when booking glamping or RV sites near St. Marys, West Virginia. A Stonewall Resort visitor cautioned: "I wasn't too impressed. I thought it was expensive. The site was difficult to back into because everything was so narrow."
Seasonal water access: Water hookups may be unavailable in cooler months. A November visitor to Barkcamp State Park noted: "The campground had no water hookups, about 90% of the sites were not level (and....I mean by A LOT). We were one of the only people in the campground, so we ended up just moving to one of the more level campgrounds."
Electrical reliability varies: Power issues can occur at some campgrounds. One RVer at Stonewall Resort reported: "My surgeguard shut off the power in the evening due to high voltage. It was showing 137 volts at one time."
