A
Annette E.
Scout
ScoutMiddle Ridge Campground
Great Getaway
Such a hidden gem! Beautiful place. Great host! Just what we were looking for
Camping near Maysville, WV
168 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Search destinations
Add dates
SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
The Monongahela National Forest surrounding Maysville, West Virginia provides a range of camping experiences from primitive backcountry sites to developed campgrounds with modern amenities. Notable options include Dolly Sods Backcountry, offering free dispersed camping with stunning high-elevation views, and Seneca Shadows Campground, which features tent and RV sites with views of the iconic Seneca Rocks formation. The region includes several state parks like Blackwater Falls and Canaan Valley Resort State Park, which offer cabin rentals alongside traditional camping areas.
Access to many campgrounds varies seasonally, with most established sites operating from April through October. Forest roads leading to dispersed camping areas like Canaan Loop Road may become impassable during winter months or after heavy rainfall. Elevation plays a significant role in camping conditions, as higher areas like Spruce Knob (the highest point in West Virginia at 4,863 feet) experience cooler temperatures and stronger winds year-round. Reservations are recommended for developed campgrounds, particularly during summer weekends and fall foliage season. Cell service remains limited throughout much of the region, especially in wilderness areas and deep valleys. A camper noted that "Spruce Knob is the highest peak in West Virginia and offers great views. The forest is silent and beautiful, looks like it belongs out west in the PNW."
Several visitors highlight the exceptional natural features that define camping in this region. Waterfront camping along the Middle Fork River and near Blackwater Falls receives consistently positive reviews, with campers appreciating the clear mountain streams and swimming opportunities. Wildlife sightings, particularly deer, are common at campgrounds like Canaan Valley. The area's extensive trail network connects many campgrounds to scenic viewpoints and natural features. Proximity to rock climbing at Seneca Rocks makes nearby campgrounds popular with outdoor enthusiasts. A visitor described Seneca Shadows as "one of the most beautiful campgrounds I've ever seen" with its meadow tent section offering "an incredible view of Seneca Rocks." Campers should note that higher elevation sites can experience significant temperature drops at night, even during summer months.
Best Campgrounds near Maysville (168)
1. Blackwater Falls State Park Campground
"Blackwater State Park, Davis, WV https://wvstateparks.com/park/blackwater-falls-state-park/ Camping anywhere in West Virginia is a highlight, but this area offers hiking views aplenty."
"This was our first stay in a state park campground in West Virginia and it was a great stay. Arrived during a steady downpour and rented a cabin for the first night but camped the second night."
from $50 / night
Check Availability2. Red Creek Campground
"I stayed two nights at site 2 which is tucked away from most of the other sites, save for one close by."
"It is away from everything and it is surrounded by a ton of hiking trails. Great camping, great hiking."
3. Dolly Sods Backcountry
"We hiked in in warm weather and once we reached the top of a long entrance road (where one trailhead was) we found snow."
"Having visited Dolly Sods numerous times at the Red Creek Campground, using that as the base camp to launch off to explore the myriad of trails."
4. Big Bend Campground
"Forest, West Virginia."
"The campground is situated in the middle of a bowl in the canyon(you're surrounded by mountains)."
from $27 - $50 / night
Check Availability5. Canaan Loop Road Dispersed
"road is easy to drive on- some bumps but we were in a small kia sedan and it was fine, there are a lot of spots visible from the road but there are also some hidden a few steps away from the road that"
"The one downside, if you are into privacy, is that all of the sites are RIGHT NEXT to that dirt road, so others will be driving past your site."
6. Seneca Shadows
"I stayed here for a single night while I was exploring West Virginia, but I wish I had stayed longer. This is one of the most beautiful campgrounds I've ever seen."
"West Virginia is packed with some of the best hiking, climbing, rafting, biking, canyons, mountains, rivers, valleys, and forests in the U.S...and the beauty is few people take advantage of it."
from $17 - $65 / night
Check Availability7. Canaan Valley Resort State Park Campground
"Campground Review: Canaan Valley State Park and Resort, Davis, West Virginia The Canaan Valley State Park and Resort is situated in a very popular outdoor activity area...for every season."
"West Virginia is a state for anyone who enjoys the outdoors!!!! There are tons of out door activities! We recently camped 3 nights at Canaan Valley! We had a great time!"
from $20 - $45 / night
Check Availability8. Smoke Hole Caverns and Log Cabin/RV Resort
"Easy access to Dolly Sods, short drive to Seneca Rocks and Spruce Knob. Did I mention access to multiple areas for great trout fishing."
"Located in the Smoke Hole Canyon resort area, not far from the caverns, this small campground offers 10 RV sites along the river. Picnic tables and fire rings available."
from $45 / night
Check Availability9. Middle Ridge Campground
"It is not near a main highway unless you call Route 50 through Romney a main highway. It is west of town up a curved mountain road. It is on the top area of "Middle Ridge" mountain. "
"Very positive experience."
10. The Oasis at Bear Run Farm
from $35 - $175 / night
Check Availability
Drive Time
- 1 hr 24 min from Winchester, VA
- 1 hr 35 min from Harrisonburg, VA
- 1 hr 35 min from Morgantown, WV
Recent Camping Photos near Maysville, WV
432 Photos of 168 Maysville Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers
Just Plane Adventures
Just Plane Adventures
Momma Tried RV & Campground
The Oasis at Bear Run FarmA
Smoke Hole Caverns and Log Cabin/RV Resort
Riverside Cabins and RV ParkM
Red Creek Campground
Dolly Sods Backcountry
Abrams Creek Campground and Retreat Center
Big Bend Campground
Jess Judy
Canaan Loop Road Dispersed
Recent Reviews near Maysville, WV
984 Reviews of 168 Maysville Campgrounds
Sandra P.ScoutCoopers Rock State Forest- McCollum Campground
Very calm campground
We stayed 2 nights. People are very nice. Bathrooms and Laundry are clean.
Spaced spots surrounded by the forrest. Some trails directly from the camp.
- ddan H.
GuideEndless Caverns RV Resort & Cottages
Great RV park/ resort
The RV park is on a mountain side. Roads are fairly steep. Most sites are level, ours was a bit sloped but were able to level our trailer. Plenty to do here. Endless Caverns site is quite large. Huge rec room with large projection TV. Game room, large deck with public bbq equipment. Great pool. A catch n release fishing pond, pickle ball & volleyball courts and a great playground for the younger set sporting a large air filled bouncing pad. Kids in the camp loved it. The cavern tour is worth it once. Tour guides are young so not much geological knowledge. The New Market Civil War Battlefield is about 3 miles away, it and it's museum are well worth it. The Endless Caverns staff is super. Prices reasonable. A great find. I will stay again.
Shelby H.
TravelerYough Lake Campground at Tub Run
Fantastic for Family
We love it here so much we almost never leave. There is a creek, playground and games for the kids year round. The lake is great for fishing, boating, swimming and more from March-August usually but even longer this year it seems. They are INCREDIBLY strict about 5mph and I LOVE THAT! My 8 year old can run around and be a kid at camp like I was without me being panicked. They even have events once a month. They are constantly adding and upgrading around the campground. Everything from walk to primitive sites to full hook ups and dry cabins.
Highly recommend for a long or short get away.
- CCrispin S.Guide
Little Fort Campground
Good Sleep Spot
This spot was good for a one night pull over and just wanted to rest; I would not set up camp and spend some time at this site.
There are several spots with a vault toilet. We stayed at campsite 6. This spot had a tent pad, fire ring, and picnic table but overall pretty small. It did offer a slight more privacy due to the tent pad being below the parking spot and surrounded by overgrown brush. There are no views with this spot but does offer a trail. I would not recommend the trail being it has been used as a bathroom spot with toilet paper and heavy smell included.
The vault toilet was just a vault toilet. It is a heavy noise area with other campers and ATV so if you are looking for a secluded peaceful site with spectacular views, this is not it. If you just need a place to lay your head or wanting to bring your ATV along this is for you.
- CCasie T.Traveler
Brooklyn Heights Riverfront Campground
Peaceful and spacious
Stayed with friends at RV6. Non electric spot but huge with a nice fireplace and benches. No picnic table but great views of the river and the peaceful sounds of flowing water. Only toilet facility is an outside port-o-potty but they have spray, tp, hand sanitizer and seems well kept.
Benji H.ScoutSmoke Hole Canyon
Very remote and beautiful place
This campground is very basic. The area is very remote. Make sure you bring supplies. Going out to eat is at least a 30-minute drive. Floating the loop at Big Bend is one of the best things you can do without traveling away from the camping area. Seneca Rocks, Smoke Hole Caverns, and Seneca Caverns are all within an hour drive.
- AAlly S.Scout
Yough Lake Campground at Tub Run
Awful place
I wish I could give this campground zero stars. Like the reviews below us stated, we were also verbally attacked by the little man on the golf cart. This campground should be embarrassed by the way it treats families. We were supposed to stay Thursday through Sunday with our best friends and our six children. Instead, we packed up and left Saturday after returning from our planned trip to Ohiopyle with our kids. What was supposed to be a fun, relaxing family camping weekend turned into an experience that left us shocked, disappointed, and completely disrespected. We are experienced campers and have spent years creating memories with our children at campgrounds. We are respectful guests, we follow rules, and we have never had an experience like this. Unfortunately, this campground chose poor communication, intimidation, and selective enforcement over basic customer service. During our stay, we had a truck briefly drive down to the swimming area to unload and later reload chairs, coolers, and supplies for our six children. There are no signs stating that vehicles are prohibited on the grass. In fact, there were multiple golf carts in the same area throughout the day, including staff members and seasonal campers, which led us to believe this was permitted. We understand vehicles are heavier than golf carts, but there were zero signage stating no cars allowed. To preface, there was zero damage done to the grass area due to our truck, we took photos prior to leaving the campground to protect ourselves since management is so emotionally unstable. Mind you: this is an army corp engineers campground, by Under federal law(36 CFR§ 327.2), motorized vehicles, including golf carts, UTVs, ATVs, and standard cars, must remain strictly on designated paved or gravel roads and parking lots. We found this rule after we got home and did our research. There were about 5 golf carts AND a gator in and out of the beach area through out the day. If someone had simply approached us and kindly explained that vehicles were not allowed there, we would have apologized. Instead, staff chose to sit back after someone complained, watch my children swim for hours, wait for us to clean up and bring the truck down to reload, then turn a simple misunderstanding into a confrontation. A staff member approached the truck in a golf cart, speeding up and hopping out(this is all on video) while my minor daughter was inside, reached into our vehicle and took our tag then proceeded to yell at us to pack our“shit” and prepare to leave. The way this was handled was completely unnecessary and unprofessional. Our children were present, witnessed this, and were left scared and confused over a situation that could have been resolved in less than a minute with a respectful conversation. We were also told there is a strict 5 mph speed limit and that radar is used because of a serious incident involving a child in the past, He was hit and life flighted. Yet seasonal campers continued driving golf carts around at unsafe speeds while drinking. Rules and safety expectations should apply equally to everyone, not only when management decides to enforce them against certain guests and not their buddies who pay for a seasonal spot. We went to the office in good faith to discuss what happened and believed the situation had been resolved. We stayed another night, only to be told the following morning that we were no longer welcome back. To permanently ban a family over a first time issue involving a rule that was never communicated is absolutely unacceptable. A well run campground understands that communication and respect go both ways. Instead, this campground made paying guests feel unwelcome and disposable. Management needs to take a serious look at how they handle conflicts because this was not customer service, it was an unnecessary escalation. We will never return to this campground, and after this experience, we strongly encourage other families to think twice before booking a stay here. Especially with young children.
Cari E.
RangerAndy Guest/Shenandoah River State Park Campground
A lovely, quiet state park
I stayed two nights in between bookings at the national park and I was surprised by how lovely the state park was. Quiet with great trails for strolling and peaceful river views. Level, spacious sites with some privacy offered by tree/bushes and a clean, modern bathroom (loved that the showers told you what temp the water is and that each shower was private/in its own room).
Guide to Maysville
Primitive camping thrives throughout the Monongahela National Forest surrounding Maysville, West Virginia, with elevations ranging from 1,000 to nearly 5,000 feet creating distinct microclimates across different sites. Dispersed campsites often require high-clearance vehicles to access, particularly after rainfall when forest service roads become challenging. Nighttime temperatures can drop below 50°F even in summer months at higher elevation locations.
What to do
Hiking and waterfall viewing: Blackwater Falls State Park offers multiple waterfall hikes with varying difficulty levels. "There are waterfalls in many areas around Canaan. Blackwater falls, Douglas falls, Elakala falls is the 4 falls of Shays Run, Falls of Seneca, Red falls, the list goes on. Our favorite was Elakala, a great hike down blackwater canyon and view of some beautiful falls," notes a camper at Canaan Valley Resort State Park Campground.
Tubing and river activities: The South Branch Potomac River forms a natural lazy river loop at Big Bend Campground. "The best part about this place is the nearly 360° lazy river tubing experience. This place has no cell service and you'll have to travel along a 2 1/2 mile dirt road to finally get to the campground," explains a visitor at Big Bend Campground. The river encircles the campground, making it easy to tube repeatedly with a short walk between exit and entry points.
Stargazing opportunities: The remote nature of many campgrounds creates excellent night sky viewing conditions. A camper at Seneca Shadows reports, "We came here on a weekday with hardly anyone staying near us and rose around sunrise to catch the light over the rocks. It was such an easy and short distance to get there."
What campers like
Diverse ecosystems: The high-elevation areas create unique landscapes unlike typical eastern forests. A backpacker at Dolly Sods Backcountry observes, "With the incredibly varied landscapes and diverse vegetation, Dolly Sods truly feels like you are somewhere far north from WV. The ferns and evergreens reminded me of being in Maine, the vast meadows felt like I was in Wyoming or Montana."
Fishing access: Multiple locations offer easy access to quality fishing. "The South Branch Potomac River winds around the campground, so bring rafts, tubes, or kayaks to float on. There is also a rope swing around the corner you can hike or float to. Fishing is popular there as well," notes a visitor describing Big Bend Campground.
Wildlife encounters: Many campgrounds feature regular wildlife sightings. "Deer meander through the primitive tent sites with their fawns each morning and evening," reports a camper at Canaan Valley Resort State Park Campground, while another mentions, "Though one evening we drove down toward Bear Rocks and laid in an open field to stargaze one evening to enjoy a wonderful light show from shooting stars. We were so quiet, several deer passed between us within arms reach."
What you should know
Road conditions: Forest roads can become challenging depending on weather and season. A camper at Canaan Loop Road Dispersed warns, "It was muddy and snowy but our Subaru made it fine about half way into Canaan loop road. All of the sites were mud pits but they were easily identified by big fire rings."
Weather preparedness: Temperature swings and rainfall are common year-round. "Know that it will likely rain on you in Dolly Sods, so always bring rain gear. Also realize, that with climate and conditions similar to the Canadian Tundra, temperatures and winds vary and fluctuate often, any time of year," advises an experienced visitor.
Limited connectivity: Cell service is virtually nonexistent throughout much of the region. At Big Bend, "This place has no cell service and you'll have to travel along a 2 1/2 mile dirt road to finally get to the campground." Similarly, at Dolly Sods, campers report "No cell service, no car camping, no trail markers, no toilets, and no running water. It's the real deal."
Tips for camping with families
Accessible wildlife viewing: Children can observe wildlife safely from many campgrounds. "The camp store has firewood and helpful rangers. The park overall is absolutely gorgeous. There's something to do for people of any activity level," notes a visitor to Blackwater Falls State Park Campground.
Family-friendly amenities: Some campgrounds offer specific activities for children. A camper at Canaan Valley Resort State Park Campground reports, "Older playground, but good enough for kiddos. Mini golf course, rock wall, and civil war reenactments when we came." Another notes, "A kid's playground is situated beside (separated by a field) primitive tent sites 1 & 2."
Water activities for kids: Several locations feature kid-friendly water features. A visitor at Big Bend Campground explains, "A natural lazy river surrounds the campground and is a great location for fishing and river activities. The water level was a little low, but you could still float on your inter tube around the entire loop. The entire loop took a little over an hour to complete, then a 2 minute walk, and start again."
Tips from RVers
Full hookup options: Several campgrounds offer complete RV amenities. A camper at Middle Ridge Campground states, "Nice full hook-up sites in spacious level sites in the woods. Great place to get away. Great value with a gracious host and hostess."
Access challenges: Some of the best places to camp near Maysville, West Virginia have difficult road access for larger RVs. "Road to access the campground was good with some tight turns up the hill the last couple of miles. The campground itself is gravel roads that were pretty tight gettin in and out of and fairly steep with trees on all sides. Made it in and out no issue taking it slow, but not sure I would try anything longer than about 36' fifth wheel or 34' travel trailer," advises an RV owner at Middle Ridge Campground.
Utility considerations: Water pressure and electrical issues can occur at some sites. At Middle Ridge Campground, an RVer notes, "Water pressure was just a bit weak and used our water tank and pump during our stay. Best we could get for water pressure out of the hose was 25-20 psi. No issues with power or sewer."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Maysville, WV?
What camping is available near Maysville, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, Maysville, WV offers a wide range of camping options, with 168 campgrounds and RV parks near Maysville, WV and 24 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Maysville, WV?
Which is the most popular campground near Maysville, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Maysville, WV is Blackwater Falls State Park Campground with a 4.4-star rating from 55 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Maysville, WV?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Maysville, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 24 free dispersed camping spots near Maysville, WV.
Keep Exploring