Karissa R.
Scout
ScoutArmy Camp — New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
Perfect camp spot
Perfect camp spot has a fire ring and table lots of trees around
Camping near Summersville, WV
130 campgrounds · Check availability for any dates.
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SUMMARY PRESENTED BY
Camping in Summersville, West Virginia centers around Summersville Lake, with campgrounds ranging from primitive tent sites to full-service RV campgrounds and cabin rentals. Mountain Lake Campground and Cabins offers diverse accommodation types including tent camping, RV sites with hookups, cabins, and glamping options. Battle Run Campground provides sites with electric hookups along the shoreline. The region also includes free primitive camping at Gauley Tailwaters Campground, located below Summersville Dam, appealing to budget-conscious campers looking to explore the area.
Most campgrounds in the Summersville area operate seasonally, with the main camping season running from April through October. Mountain Lake Campground operates from April 15 to October 31, while Battle Run is open from May 1 until Columbus Day. Several sites require reservations, especially during summer weekends when waterfront locations fill quickly. Winter camping options are limited, with only a few campgrounds like Summersville Lake Retreat remaining open year-round for RVs. Roads within campgrounds can present challenges, particularly for larger vehicles. "The road to area 4 was horrendous to be pulling a camper. Had to use 4Low to creep out. It should be paved, no exceptions for that hill," noted one visitor about Mountain Lake Campground.
Waterfront camping receives consistently high ratings from visitors who appreciate the clear water and scenic shorelines of Summersville Lake. Campground amenities vary widely across the area, with some offering extensive facilities like playgrounds, mini-golf, swimming pools, and ice cream shops, while others provide only basic services. Several campers mention the spaciousness of sites at Mountain Lake Campground as a significant advantage. "Mountain Lake Campground is a large campground with four different main sections. All of the spaces that we saw seem to be quite spacious, and many of them are shaded at least in part," reported one reviewer. Gauley Tailwaters Campground, though primitive, earns praise for its free camping with basic amenities and riverside location. Many visitors note the convenient access to recreational activities like boating, fishing, kayaking, and rock climbing opportunities nearby.
Best Campgrounds near Summersville (130)
1. Mountain Lake Campground and Cabins
"Best camp ground in Summersville lot of things you keep the kids occupied"
"We took site 269 for the proximity to one of the little playgrounds and easy walk to bathrooms. We had a great time and it was easy to let our 3 year old play while we setup."
2. Battle Run
"Whether it's weekend camping with friends/ family or some where to crash after a long day on the lake/ river you won't regret staying in beautiful West Virginia."
"This campground is situated on gorgeous Summersville Lake!"
from $24 - $40 / night
Check Availability3. Gauley Tailwaters Campground — Gauley River National Recreation Area
"there are bathrooms and tap water, but no electrical or showers. you park right next to your tent. you can walk down to the gauley river. you may see many white water rafters here for this reason."
"You can hike trails to the river, even to a beautiful swimming spot just below the dam and camping sites!"
4. Summersville Lake Retreat & Lighthouse
"I’m 42 yrs old and I’ve been camping at Summersville Lake since shortly after I was given birth too( no joke)! Therefore I’ve been camping at Summersville for my whole life!"
"Summersville is a pretty lake. Fayetteville is close & a really cute town. Bridge Day happens at a near bye bridge over the New River."
from $40 - $56 / night
Check Availability5. Babcock State Park Campground
"The most photographed place in west Virginia is the grist mill. Awesome trails all around."
"Babcock State Park, located in the thriving megapolis of Clifton, West Virginia is postcard perfect!"
from $33 / night
Check Availability6. Rifrafters Campground
"A 3 mile drive to long point trailhead and only 20 minutes from the beautiful Summersville lake. The campground has a bathhouse and store but we didn’t use either so can’t comment on those amenities."
"Some really great beer places close by as well. Nice a shady too. I’d like to go back and do some exploring around the area. Just be careful with what gps app you use."
from $15 - $50 / night
Check Availability7. Chestnut Creek Campground
"It is a nice little campground near New river gorge bridge and Summersville lake. It is a heavily forest area with lots of sing birds. The owner was friendly."
"Great tent campground very near the New River gorge and close by Summerville Lake and the Gulley River. Multiple campsites in heavily forested area. Drive up to the sites."
from $10 - $11 / night
Check Availability8. Rays Campground
"And about 30 mins south of summersville lake!"
"Easy to find, sites are tucked into the woods with a lot of space, good shower rooms. We enjoyed it!"
from $9 - $34 / night
Check Availability9. Adventures on the Gorge - Mill Creek
"This spot was a short drive away from awesome rock climbing in the New River Gorge."
"The white water rafting was incredible and the staff all around was FANTASTIC. The only downside would be the campsites (tent camping) being very close to one another."
from $7 - $69 / night
Check Availability10. New River Campground
"I told them I did not have these capabilities in my rig and they gave me sole access to the handicapped shower."
"The owner goes around the campground at 430p offering firewood for $5/bundle. The view from our full hookup campsite is hands down amazing!! We're situated directly on the New River in Gauley Bridge."
from $30 - $40 / night
Check Availability
Drive Time
- 41 min from Beckley, WV
- 1 hr 58 min from Blacksburg, VA
- 2 hrs 13 min from Parkersburg, WV
Recent Camping Photos near Summersville, WV
240 Photos of 130 Summersville Campgrounds
Elana C.
Mountain Lake Campground and Cabins
Ramone P.
Summersville Lake Tiny Camper
Ruby W.
Gauley Tailwaters Campground — Gauley River National Recreation Area
Jean C.
Battle Run
Chase J.
Summersville Lake Retreat & Lighthouse
Jennifer B.
Tawney Farm
Stephanie P.
Rays Campground
Jennifer B.
Big Rock Campground
Camp With Me
Cranberry River Sites NF Campground
Scott B.
Adventures on the Gorge - Mill Creek
Emily C.
New River Gorge Campground - American Alpine Club
Georgina
Chestnut Creek Campground
Recent Reviews near Summersville, WV
636 Reviews of 130 Summersville Campgrounds
- AAdee W.Scout
Rifrafters Campground
Homey feel, spotless grounds, and top-notch hospitality!
We had a wonderful stay at Rifrafters! The campground is remarkably clean, well-organized, and has a truly welcoming, homey feel. The dog park is large, open, and was a great spot for our dogs to run around and burn off some energy.What really sets this place apart is the incredible owners. They are as friendly, accessible, and easygoing as they come. They guided us into our spot perfectly on the first attempt, constantly checked in to ensure we were comfortable, and even recommended a great local mechanic when our truck needed service. You can really tell they care about their guests. We will definitely be staying here again next time we're in the area!
- BBen L.Scout
Rays Campground
Nice Place
Very low key place. Self check-in. Bath house is old but clean, plenty of hot water. Washing machine and dryer available. Free coffee every morning.
Ethan W.ScoutLake Sherwood Road Dispersed Camping in Monongahela National Forest
Great Spot, slightly dirty
If you’re expecting service just don’t. I didn’t get service till i left and drove for about an hour till i finally got one bar. If that isn’t an issue for you this place is pretty great. Solitude yourself deep in the forest and if you’re lucky you can get a site near the creak. Unfortunately my site was absolutely littered with trash when i arrived. I’m talking beer bottles and trash all over the place, DIAPERS IN THE FIRE PIT… I mean get a grip people. Other than that it was amazing.
Andrew S.
GuideRifrafters Campground
Great Campground, TERRIBLE owners.
The owners of this campground are among the rudest people we have ever come across in the camping world.
On our first attempt at reserving a site, we reserved the site three months in advance. When we arrived, they moved us to a different spot to accommodate 'other campers' with zero explanation. When we tried to explain we reserved that site in advance and specifically, the older bald guy, became unprofessionally furious and threatened to kick us off the grounds without a refund. The second year we tried to stay there,we again, reserved a specific site AND paid the lock-in fee, thinking, surely, this will not happen again. Unfortunately, the campground is rather beautiful, so we simply tried to fully abide by THEIR OWN rules the second time to avoid unnecessary conflict.
Nope. When we arrived, they moved us AGAIN to a terrible site. Bottomline, these people are power-trippers. They're argumentative, they're rude, they're short, and if you even try to ask about the reservation process, they will just kick you off the property with no refund and no campsite.
And again, they do not calmy explain what they're doing or why. They just do it...and if you question them, they will escalate the situation to an incredulous level of arguing.
This place could be incredible, but the owners have completely ruined it. We will never be trying to stay here again, and will pass it along to anyone trying to stay in that area.
- EEric W.Guide
Summer Wind RV Park
Super convenient & peaceful
An exceptional setting, this RV park is conveniently located next to I-64 in the mountains of WV. While during the day one can hear the traffic, it’s not that bad, and it’s not loud at night. The park sits adjacent to a cattle ranch nestled in the mountains. All arrangements are made via text and payments are made via cash or Venmo. You definitely get a sense of community with the other campers here as all seem to be very courteous and cordial at the time of my stay. Sites are gravel and fairly level. A very clean and well kept bathhouse is on the premises. Laundry can also be done here with a load costing $2 to wash and $2 to dry. Currently there is no camp host but the park does have quite the surveillance camera set up. WiFi is also available and it works extremely well! All sites are pull-thru. I only planned to stay for one night but enjoyed it so much I decided to stay for two. I most certainly will be staying here during my next trip through WV!
Jonathan G.
TravelerBee Run Campground — Sutton Lake
Quiet quick stop off the highway
We picked this spot because we were trying to make some miles on our way South and it was conveniently close to the highway. Only about 5 minutes off the freeway exit, it was extremely peaceful and quiet. We went to the camping loop a little further up the road rather the more RV oriented area closer to the highway. There were 12 small pull-through spots, suitable for trailers or RVs up to about 30 ft. No facilities other than pit toilets and a single water spigot. First come first served reservations by scanning a QR code on the picnic table at your site. There was a campground host trailer there, but we never saw the host themselves. Only one other camper when we were there. We didn't have time to explore the area much, but it is a national recreation area with a lake and the elk River nearby. There was a sign for a trail leading right out from the campground, we walked it and it quickly disappeared into a network of Little Jeep roads that might have been fun to explore.
David B.ScoutHolly River State Park Campground
Don’t take the short trip in
Don’t follow the shortest trip using GPS it’ll take you on an old goat path to get here. But back to the campground it’s a really good location. Very very rural out in the middle of nowhere campsites are spaced. Adequately with plenty of shade several small playgrounds in each loop for the kids very quiet family oriented place. This place is so far out in the middle of nowhere they have to pipe the sunshine in.
- CChris F.Guide
Babcock State Park Campground
Quiet, out of the way
We stayed here for 3 nights, occupying site 32. Although is was close to the bath house, I would not recommend this specific site, as it is not very level.(But, there are plenty of other nice sites around the park.) When you arrive, you check in at the small building along Clifftop Rd. They have ice($3/bag) and firewood(skip it...find another place to buy wood as the park's is too green to burn).
The campground is a maze of fairly unmarked roads winding lazily through the trees.(Seriously, put up a sign or two for direction.) The bath house is dated, but relatively clean. Showers take a minute or two to heat up and lack serious pressure, but they work. Sites are generally spaced far enough apart and noise is kept to a minimum. The weekend we were there had a lot of kids riding bikes, playing in the playground and doing kid stuff. Good to see.
The park is out of the way, but only a short drive to the New River Gorge and park system. Cell service was 5G for both Verizon and T-Mobile. The park has wi-fi, but we never needed it.
Guide to Summersville
Camping spots near Summersville, West Virginia offer more than just proximity to the lake. Located in the Appalachian Plateau region at elevations averaging 1,800 feet, the area experiences relatively mild summers with temperatures rarely exceeding 85°F. The surrounding Nicholas County terrain features both steep forested hillsides and flat plateaus, creating diverse camping experiences from riverside sites to mountain settings.
What to do
Hiking near the dam: Gauley Tailwaters Campground provides access to trails leading directly to the river. "This place provides an amazing view of the gauley river just below the dam! You can hike trails to the river, even to a beautiful swimming spot just below the dam and camping sites!" reports Ashley W.
Watersports beyond the lake: While Summersville Lake is well-known, the nearby New River offers different water experiences. At New River Campground, "You can fish right from your site" and it's "a great place for kayaks," according to Jim C. and Nikhil.
Climbing opportunities: The region features excellent rock climbing options. According to Ruby W. at Gauley Tailwaters Campground, the area is "Very close to Summersville Lake, where there is a lot of boating, deep water soloing, and hiking." Paul P. notes it's "Known by kayakers and rock climbers."
Historical exploration: Visit historical sites like the nearby grist mill. At Babcock State Park, "The beautiful gift shop was once a former park restaurant of a bygone era" and "three remaining gristmills from around the state were dismantled and rebuilt into one at the present location over 30 years ago," according to Dave V.
What campers like
Budget-friendly options: Free camping at Gauley Tailwaters appeals to cost-conscious campers. Amber W. calls it the "Best free camping, HANDS DOWN" with "flat & comfortable sites" and notes it's "Close to any store you may need."
Riverside views: Many campers appreciate waterfront access. At New River Campground, Kenneth K. describes "Beautiful night along the New River! Waterfront tent site with access to clean, personal bathrooms/showers assigned to each site." Thomas H. adds, "The spots on the river are darn near in the river lol. It is really cool being that close to the river."
Wooded privacy: For those seeking seclusion, Rays Campground offers natural separation between sites. Tyler H. calls it a "Hidden Gem" with "large and secluded" sites, while tawney notes, "The tent area I stay in Is very spacious and often you cant see any neighbors unless traveling to the shower house."
Swimming access: Many campgrounds offer direct water access. Battle Run receives praise for its "large beach area" and "super clean" water. Jason Y. notes it has "several site right on the lake" and "a large beach area."
What you should know
Reservation timing: The most popular waterfront sites fill extremely quickly. Jason Y. warns that Battle Run is "Very hard to get sites. Must be booked 6 months in advance." Plan accordingly, especially for summer weekends.
Road conditions: Some campground access roads present challenges. At Mountain Lake Campground and Cabins, Fred R. cautions, "The road to 4 was horrendous to be pulling a camper. Had to use 4Low to creep out." Similarly, at New River Campground, Chris S. notes, "The drive from Rt 19 to the campground is 8% grades both uphill and down, with twists, turns, and practical uturns with my 35ft."
Bathroom facilities vary: Quality of facilities differs significantly between campgrounds. At Chestnut Creek Campground, Lisa K. describes "Nice bathhouse with good hot water and water pressure," while at Rifrafters Campground, Jaime H. found "The bathrooms weren't in any where close to great shape."
Weather considerations: The region can experience severe storms. Patience W. at Rifrafters Campground recommends being prepared: "We stopped in one night on our way back to Pennsylvania. We had a lovely stay and the hosts were so hospitable."
Tips for camping with families
Playground proximity: Choose sites near play areas. At Mountain Lake Campground, Nick C. recommends site 269 for "the proximity to one of the little playgrounds and easy walk to bathrooms. We had a great time and it was easy to let our 3 year old play while we setup."
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Many local campgrounds offer nature encounters. At Adventures on the Gorge - Mill Creek, Fred R. mentions "friendly skunks visit every night. They keep the Raccoons away and didn't spray any one or any dogs." At Babcock State Park, Carissa V. suggests families "pack a lunch" as there are "Great areas for picnics."
Multiple activity options: Some sites offer extensive recreation beyond swimming. At Mountain Lake Campground, Fred J. reports, "This place is huge! There is so much to see and do" including "the mini golf was fun" and "the ice cream store was also satisfying."
Educational opportunities: The region provides learning experiences for children. Babcock State Park offers historical structures where "the beautiful gift shop was once a former park restaurant of a bygone era" according to Dave V., making it perfect for explaining local history to children.
Tips from RVers
Limited hookup options: Many sites lack full hookups. Thomas H. notes about New River Campground: "The sites are gravel, or at least the patio area is" and "I put my passenger side wheels just on the edge of the gravel patio so my entry steps wouldn't be in the mud and I was nearly level."
Site selection strategy: Look for specific locations within larger campgrounds. At Summersville Lake Retreat & Lighthouse, Larry M. advises, "Up front is a regular campground but we are in the back, secluded and peaceful. Site 34. There are about 8 nice sites out back with water and electricity."
Connectivity issues: Cell service varies significantly. At New River Campground, Sammii D. warns, "Verizon service is terrible. Perfect for the weekend getaway but not during work hours. AT&T is flawless though."
Seasonal maintenance differences: Some campgrounds have better upkeep depending on the season. Rachel S. at Adventures on the Gorge mentions, "Bathhouses were very clean, firewood was delivered which made things easy. Be prepared to dry camp as there are no water hookups."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Summersville, WV?
What camping is available near Summersville, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, Summersville, WV offers a wide range of camping options, with 130 campgrounds and RV parks near Summersville, WV and 3 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Summersville, WV?
Which is the most popular campground near Summersville, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Summersville, WV is Mountain Lake Campground and Cabins with a 4.3-star rating from 19 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Summersville, WV?
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Summersville, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 3 free dispersed camping spots near Summersville, WV.
What parks are near Summersville, WV?
What parks are near Summersville, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 26 parks near Summersville, WV that allow camping, notably Summersville Lake and Sutton Lake.
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