Dispersed camping options near Weston, West Virginia extend throughout the Monongahela National Forest at elevations ranging from 1,000 to 4,000 feet. Most free campsites sit within 35-60 minutes of Weston along gravel forest service roads. Winter camping remains possible but access becomes challenging after snowfall, with temperatures frequently dropping below freezing from November through March.
What to do
Mountain biking on marked trails: Mower Basin offers multiple single-track trails connecting the dispersed camping areas. One visitor noted, "I love this place as it has a small network of single track trails for anyone with a bike, or in my case, Electric unicycle. The trails were well maintained and offered a wonderful variety of wooded and open space riding."
Fly fishing catch-and-release waters: At Elk River Dispersed camping, anglers can access prime fishing spots. "Along this road you will see areas to pull off where people have set up fire rings. There is Elk Springs Resort & Fly Shop just down the road. Here you can hire a guide, or pay to fly fish their well stocked area," explains one camper who visited the area.
Hiking forest trails: The Span Oak trail at Little River Dispersed Campsites provides ridge views. "We hiked the Span Oak trail, at the beginning of the camping area, which led us along a beautiful ridge," shares a visitor. Another notes, "There's also a nice trailhead at the south end of little river road."
What campers like
Quiet mountain seclusion: The free camping near Weston appeals to those seeking solitude. A camper at Monongahela National Forest Dispersed Site shared, "It was dead when we arrived; only saw two other vehicles. Very quiet and secluded. Easy to navigate and find a spot."
Stargazing opportunities: Clear mountain skies provide stellar viewing at Dispersed camping at Mower Basin. "The moon was bright but you could still see hundreds of stars. There was a fire ring and enough space to fit a car and tent, but other sites were large enough to fit many cars and a dozen people," reports one visitor.
River access: Many sites feature creekside or riverside locations. A camper at Little River Dispersed Campsites described their experience: "The site was breathtaking, with a small stream pool running along one edge, and the rushing river on another. Soft dirt padded the entire area, and great trees filled the space with their natural architecture and canopy."
What you should know
Winter access challenges: Snow can make reaching campsites difficult. A camper at Lower Glady Dispersed Campground reported, "To start this review off, I drove in during a small snow storm, it was in the single digits for temp, and I woke up with about 8 inches on the ground. Due to this, I was the only one here."
Wildlife encounters: Bears are present in the region. One visitor to Little River Dispersed Campsites warned, "Not even 2 minutes from our dispersed camp site we were charged by an extremely aggressive black bear. We decided to keep ALL FOOD in the car's trunk those nights and not hanging in a tree just to be safe."
No cell service: Most free camping areas near Weston have no connectivity. A camper at Dispersed camping at Mower Basin noted specific locations: "Nearest Cell tower is here 38.688719,-79.979097. Fuel & small grocery store can be found here 38.710707,-79.979095."
Tips for camping with families
Spacious group sites: Mower Basin offers larger areas for family groups. "I took the road all the way to the end passing other sites, some taken and some open. There was a fire ring and enough space to fit a car and tent, but other sites were large enough to fit many cars and a dozen people," one camper shared.
River swimming spots: Little River campsites provide water play areas. "When you park and walk down to the river, if you turn right, there's a beach area about 50 yards down that offers a great spot to take a dip!" according to a regular visitor.
Early arrival recommended: Popular free camping sites fill quickly on weekends. A visitor to Lower Glady cautioned, "We tried to get a spot this weekend and arrived around 430pm on Friday. Every single spot was taken with many people who look like they have been set up there all summer."
Tips from RVers
Trailer access considerations: Some dispersed sites can accommodate travel trailers. At Lower Glady Dispersed Campground, one RVer reported, "We pulled our 28 foot travel trailer in past I'd say ten other campsites that were taken. The last big turnaround featured four rv accessible campfires for us to pick."
Technical driving required: Many roads present challenges for larger vehicles. "Awesome spot in mountain, not too many sites but they are all well marked. Just have to push through some steep gravel roads but we did it in truck and trailer," noted a camper at Mower Basin.
Higher clearance needed: Standard passenger cars can reach some sites while others require more capable vehicles. "You will want a car with decent clearance to get down here. I went in my Subaru Forester and was fine," advised a camper about accessing the forest service roads leading to dispersed sites.
