A
Andrew H.
Guide
GuideRhododendron Camping Area
Pretty Basic Campsite
I stayed at the non electric campsite area and it was nice. Very wooded and lots of trails to explore
Camping near Monongah, WV
101 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
Search destinations
Add dates
SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
The Monongah area in north-central West Virginia offers several campground options within a short drive. Tygart Lake State Park Campground, approximately 10 miles south in Grafton, provides tent sites, RV spots with electric hookups, and cabin accommodations from mid-April through October. Camp Ara, located closer to Monongah, features tent camping, cabin rentals, and a lake for fishing and canoeing. Other nearby options include Family Fishing N' Camping and Coopers Rock State Forest, which sits about 30 miles northeast near Bruceton Mills and accommodates tents, RVs, and cabins.
Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally, typically closing for winter between late October and April. The terrain features rolling hills and forested areas surrounding Tygart Lake, with varying site conditions. "Most sites are walk-ups, which is NOT noted on their site. Also, almost all sites are on a hill," reported one Tygart Lake camper. Road access is generally good to developed campgrounds, though some tent sites require short walks from parking areas. Weather conditions can change rapidly in the Appalachian foothills, with summer temperatures typically warm and pleasant but occasional storms. Cell service varies throughout the area, with better coverage near larger towns like Fairmont and Grafton than in more remote camping locations.
Campers consistently mention the natural beauty and recreational opportunities as highlights. The lake at Tygart Lake State Park receives particular attention for boating, kayaking, and fishing. "The lake offers great relaxation and the trails around the lake offer pretty views," noted one visitor. Several reviews mention wildlife encounters, particularly raccoons at Tygart Lake, suggesting food storage precautions are necessary. Camp Ara receives praise for its hospitality, with one camper describing it as having "some of the kindest hosts we met in our travels cross country." Bathroom facilities vary widely between locations, with some campgrounds offering modern, clean facilities while others provide more rustic options. For those seeking more privacy, carefully selecting tent sites away from main camping areas can provide a more secluded experience.
Best Campgrounds near Monongah (101)
1. Tygart Lake State Park Campground
"There was a bathroom close by with running water and showers. It was beautiful and very close to the lake."
"Trails to lakeside/shore where campers do swim although no swimming from shore is "not" allowed. Just be respectful and clean up after yourselves and usually no drama involved."
2. Coopers Rock State Forest- McCollum Campground
"This is the largest state forest in West Virginia, it has a total of 25 sites that vary in their privacy. Each site has electrical hookups, picnic tables, fire grates, and utility post."
"There is also a small laundry room with dishwashing sink behind the bathhouse. Both ice and firewood are sold onsite."
from $25 - $48 / night
Check Availability3. Camp Ara
"Beautiful lake for canoeing and fishing and the hiking and mountain bike trails are amazing! Cant wait to go back!"
from $20 - $150 / night
Check Availability4. Family Fishing N' Camping
from $10 - $150 / night
Check Availability5. Morgantown / Mylan Park KOA Holiday
"Decent sized “parking spaces” Available on holiday weekend Good price ($40/night) Full hookups (bring your long sewer tube, I used 3 x15’ as it’s at the tail of the spot) Fields & Grassy area adjacent"
"We love it here most of the time it’s close to Morgantown so it’s perfect for university events. Really close to campus. They have full hookups & partial hookups."
6. Farnum Park LLC
7. Audra State Park Campground
"Audra State Park, is a bit off the beaten path but well worth the journey. Tucked away, just outside of Buckhannon, WV...home of West Virginia Wesleyan College."
"v=VLUEBlIxHpo) Trails undulate with the terrain. The short trail within the campground area is steep in areas but offers some nice views."
8. CAMP73ROCKST☆R
from $35 - $65 / night
9. Kentuck Campground — Ohiopyle State Park
"The plan was to camp and hike throughout West Virginia, but when we visited Pathfinder outdoor retailer in Morgantown, WV the staff encouraged us to check out Ohiopyle, while we were so close."
"Very close to two Frank Lloyd Wright properties– Kentuck Knob and the more widely known Falling Waters."
from $24 - $80 / night
Check Availability10. Indian Meadows Campground
"The rate for a tent spot is 17 and there are spot for 50,30 amps RVs The owner is a nice guy There is a near gas station"
Drive Time
- 27 min from Morgantown, WV
- 1 hr 32 min from Pittsburgh, PA
- 1 hr 32 min from Wheeling, WV
- 1 hr 41 min from Weirton, WV
Recent Camping Photos near Monongah, WV
220 Photos of 101 Monongah Campgrounds
Mark S.
Tygart Lake State Park Campground
Danielle S.
Coopers Rock State Forest- McCollum Campground
Laura H.
Sand Springs Campground
The Dyrt
Tentrr Signature Site - Creekside Camp Signature Site at Whitewater Preserve
Dyan F.
Audra State Park Campground
Alia
Kick Back n Camp
Brian S.
Ryerson Station State Park Campground
keri S.
Broken Wheel Campground
Bethany R.
Bigfoot Ridge
Jennifer
Possum Tail Farm Camp
Dave V.
Five River Campground
Dave V.
Stonewall Resort State Park Campground
Recent Reviews near Monongah, WV
521 Reviews of 101 Monongah Campgrounds
Tatiana I.GuideFarnum Park LLC
Great campground
Full hookup, accessible after office hours. Friendly staff.
- AAlly S.
ScoutYough 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.
Julie P.
TravelerBenner's Meadow Run RV Campground
great for families!
check in was easy. there’s lots to do for families kids- there’s ponds to fish, swimming pool, mini golf. golf cart rentals. playground. they also have events like family olympics and outdoor movies. site was also very nice and spacious
Kindra W.GuideCoopers Rock State Forest- McCollum Campground
5 stars! Large lots, beautiful scenery, and nice campers
Coopers Rock State Park is an absolute gem and easily deserves 5 stars. The RV lots are large and easy to navigate, making setup stress-free and comfortable. The staff was very friendly and helpful, which made the whole stay even better. The new washrooms were clean, modern, and well maintained, and the scenery is breathtaking everywhere you look. It’s the perfect place to relax, enjoy nature, and take in the beautiful views.
- Dani P.Guide
Coopers Rock State Forest- McCollum Campground
Beautiful and lush campground
This place is gorgeous and very quiet. The shower house and bathrooms were well maintained, and even had a laundry room and large sink around the back for dishes. Laundry costs $2 in quarters per load, 4 quarters for the washer and 4 quarters for the dryer. They are quick as well, took maybe an hour and 15 minutes all together. Campsites are spaced apart so you're not directly on top of eachother, but you can still see most of the other campers. Lots of trails in the area. We had electrical hook up and a lantern pole, and the is a dump and water station on the way in/out. Highly recommend this site.
- MMark M.Guide
Washington-Pittsburgh SW KOA
OK place to stay, work in progress
We've stayed here annually for 7 years. Getting into the RV sites is a steep climb, then you head down from the top of the hill to the RV sites.
The older portion has back in and pull through sites. They are medium to small in size, and due to their height and proximity to Interstates you hear trucks engine breaking. The newer section is lower (and quieter) and the sites are larger, but the gravel is not compacted so it sinks in when you drive, park or try to level your RV on it.
There were dog walking trails in the woods but they are so overgrown you need a machete to use them. The pool is nice and is clean. The camp store is not small but carries a very limited amount of supplies.
The staff are friendly. We've had RV issues and birds nesting under our slide room covers that they have helped us deal with.
- TTed D.Traveler
Coopers Rock State Forest- McCollum Campground
Cooper’s Rock Rocks
We are here a couple days . Staff and facilities are great. Lots of hiking trails of various types and lengths. June 9 and only 2 other RVs on our loop. The “new” loop has great single occupancy bath facilities.
N A.TravelerKentuck Campground — Ohiopyle State Park
Fantastic wooded campground
We LOVED our visit to Kentuck campground and Ohiopyle. We went mid-week in early June and had very few neighbors Tuesday and Wednesday, with more rolling in toward the end of the week.
We stayed on Hickory Loop with our dog and saw quite a few other dogs while we were there. Not all sites are equal at this campground - ours was huge and lovely with adequate flattish area and a stream running along two sides of it. Others were quite small and not very level. I think we had one of the best sites on the loop, with great trees for hammocks and big rocks nearby, as well as good privacy from other sites.
The campground is very shaded and was regularly several degrees cooler than elsewhere in the park, which was great to home 'home' to. There's a lot of poison ivy in the area, so be watchful.
Firewood is available for purchase on entrance to the campground.
The bathhouse was relatively clean, with a large kitchen sink for washing dishes, three toilet stalls, and two shower stalls. We never had to wait for any of it.
Guide to Monongah
Monongah camping sites offer a mix of river-based and forested settings throughout the Appalachian foothills. Elevations range from approximately 900 feet near riverfront sites to 2,500 feet at higher forest campgrounds. Summer temperatures typically reach the mid-80s during the day with cooler 60-degree evenings, while spring and fall camping often requires additional layers for temperature shifts of 30+ degrees within 24 hours.
What to do
Paddle the Middle Fork River: At Audra State Park Campground, located 40 miles south of Monongah, whitewater enthusiasts gather during spring rainfall. "Paddlers from all over the country...and one from Germany" visit when the river swells, according to one camper. The river is calmer during summer months, offering swimming in designated areas.
Rock climbing opportunities: Head to Coopers Rock State Forest, 30 miles northeast of Monongah, for accessible climbing routes. "The pitches aren't too high (50ft) but great just to get out there and enjoy life!" notes one regular visitor. Technical climbing equipment and experience required.
Lake activities year-round: At Camp Ara, just a short drive from Monongah, you can access "a beautiful lake for canoeing and fishing" according to a recent visitor. The camp provides canoe rentals, and the lake remains open for activities when other water recreation areas have closed for the season.
What campers like
Convenient stopover locations: Travelers passing through value CAMP73ROCKST☆R for its accessibility. "Safe place to pull over for the night right off interstate," mentions one reviewer. Located about 20 miles from Monongah, it provides basic amenities for overnight stays.
Waterside camping spots: Campers consistently praise the river proximity at several locations. At Audra State Park, "Most of the 67 campsites are along the river's edge, or have visual of it," with reviewers noting the sound of flowing water creates a peaceful atmosphere throughout the campground.
Bird watching opportunities: Early morning birdwatching is productive at several camping sites near Monongah. "The birds are active and wonderful to listen to!" reports one camper at Tygart Lake State Park. Spring and fall migrations bring additional species through the area.
Privacy options: Sites with greater seclusion can be found by requesting specific locations. At Tygart Lake, site 21 gets special mention: "It is the tent site with the most privacy and it is the only one on that side of the road... right beside a trail that went directly to the lake."
What you should know
Limited grocery options: "Plan your meals well, before arriving. There are a couple of restaurants in Ohiopyle, but they are not open late. There are no grocery stores real close," advises a visitor to Kentuck Campground. This applies to most camping areas near Monongah - stock up in Fairmont, Morgantown or Grafton.
Variable bathroom conditions: Bathroom facilities differ significantly across campgrounds. "The bathrooms are nice but are a very far walk from any of the shaded/non-electric sites, and you are not permitted to drive up to them," reports one Tygart Lake visitor. Some campgrounds like Coopers Rock note that "bathrooms do not have lighting so bring a headlamp or flashlight."
Site slope challenges: Many sites throughout the region sit on uneven terrain. At Tygart Lake, a camper noted that "almost all sites are on a hill" with some sites being particularly challenging: "There was no flat spot for our 10 x 20 tent, so we had to sleep on an angle."
Wildlife considerations: Beyond raccoons, campers should prepare for other wildlife encounters. "Secure food storage is essential at all campgrounds in the region, with hanging food or using bear-resistant containers recommended at more remote sites.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Family Fishing N' Camping offers family-friendly facilities including play areas. One visitor reports having "very nice Campground we tent camp and enjoyed our stay" with children.
Hiking difficulty levels: For families with younger children, select easier trails. At Coopers Rock State Forest, a parent notes their dog is "mostly weenie dog, and his little legs made it everywhere. Also had 12yr old son with me and he had a great time. Didn't miss his PS4 at all."
Water safety preparation: River and lake swimming areas have variable conditions. One camper at Audra State Park notes that after rain, "the Middle Fork River rages" so families should check water conditions before allowing children near water features.
Communication considerations: Cell service is inconsistent at most camping sites near Monongah. Consider walkie-talkies for larger groups, as one camper suggests: "Trying to keep tabs on the kids while camping, give them a radio, operational instructions and clip it to their belt or pack."
Tips from RVers
Access limitations: Many campgrounds near Monongah have challenging access roads. "Big/long RV's (driven or pulled) have difficulty navigating this narrow, curvy campground road pocked with rocky outcroppings," warns one RVer about Audra State Park. Similar cautions apply at several other local campgrounds.
Hookup availability: At Coopers Rock State Forest, RVers note ongoing improvements: "The RV lots were well maintained and all the asphalt seems to have been redone recently... the site we were in had electric hookup for 50a/30a/20a but no water at the site." Some locations are adding services, as another camper notes: "A new section will be opening later this season that will have elec and water."
Weather preparedness: RVers should prepare for rapid weather changes. One camper at Coopers Rock reports they "Road out a decent storm and 2.5 inches of rain in 24 hours. One tree came down close us. Probably no more risky than anywhere else."
Wi-Fi considerations: Connectivity varies significantly. At Indian Meadows Campground, approximately 25 miles from Monongah, RVers appreciate that it's a "Nice camping site with a wi-Fi" though signal strength varies throughout the grounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Monongah, WV?
What camping is available near Monongah, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, Monongah, WV offers a wide range of camping options, with 101 campgrounds and RV parks near Monongah, WV and 3 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Monongah, WV?
Which is the most popular campground near Monongah, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Monongah, WV is Tygart Lake State Park Campground with a 4.2-star rating from 20 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Monongah, WV?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Monongah, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 3 free dispersed camping spots near Monongah, WV.
Keep Exploring