Best Campgrounds near Summersville, WV
Camping in Summersville, West Virginia centers around Summersville Lake, providing options 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 established 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 adventurers and outdoor enthusiasts.
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.
