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Best Campgrounds near Thomas, WV

698 Reviews

Several campgrounds encircle Thomas, West Virginia, a small mountain town situated in the heart of the Allegheny Mountains. Blackwater Falls State Park Campground provides both tent and RV sites with electric hookups, while nearby Canaan Loop Road offers free dispersed camping options in a more primitive setting. The area supports a range of accommodation types, from basic tent camping to full-service RV sites with hookups, as well as cabins at Canaan Valley Resort State Park Campground and glamping opportunities at Five River Campground.

The campground landscape near Thomas experiences significant seasonal variation, with many facilities operating only from April through October. "The park is gorgeous with many great trails and overlooks! If you are going through WV you need to stay here!" noted one visitor about Blackwater Falls. Water and electric hookups are available at several established campgrounds, though placement can sometimes be challenging, with some sites reporting hookups on the "wrong side" for RVs. Elevation changes affect temperatures year-round, with higher elevation sites remaining cool even during summer months. Cell service varies throughout the region, with Blackwater Falls reporting reasonably good coverage for both Verizon and AT&T users.

Public lands surrounding Thomas include multiple dispersed camping areas that receive consistently high ratings from visitors seeking more remote experiences. Dolly Sods Backcountry provides free primitive camping with a perfect 5.0 rating from reviewers who appreciate its natural setting, though it lacks amenities like drinking water and toilets. A recent review emphasized that "the trails lead through incredible flower laden sections to incredible views!" when describing the area around Blackwater Falls. Wildlife sightings, particularly deer, are common at several campgrounds, with some visitors reporting regular encounters during morning and evening hours. Campers seeking both convenience and natural experiences can find sites ranging from fully-developed campgrounds with showers and electric to remote backcountry locations within a 30-minute drive of Thomas.

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Best Camping Sites Near Thomas, West Virginia (140)

    1. Blackwater Falls State Park Campground

    52 Reviews
    Davis, WV
    2 miles
    Website
    +1 (304) 259-5216

    $50 / night

    "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."

    2. Five River Campground

    27 Reviews
    Parsons, WV
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (304) 478-3515

    $15 / night

    "This is a hidden gem right outside of town. We utilized one of the rv sites with 50 amp service and full hookups."

    "It sets at the end of a side street (Walnut St) at the edge of town (Parsons). A small, quaint mountain town."

    3. Red Creek Campground

    19 Reviews
    Cabins, WV
    12 miles
    Website

    "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."

    4. Canaan Loop Road Dispersed

    10 Reviews
    Davis, WV
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (304) 478-2000

    "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"

    "Big site, good fire ring, paths the walk right from the site. The moss was like walking on carpet"

    5. Canaan Valley Resort State Park Campground

    12 Reviews
    Red Creek, WV
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (304) 866-4121

    $20 - $45 / night

    "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."

    "There’s a centrally located bath house with flush toilets and hot showers. Many of the sites are pull-through with parking parallel to the loop road."

    6. Dolly Sods Backcountry

    11 Reviews
    Red Creek, WV
    12 miles
    Website
    +1 (304) 257-4488

    "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."

    7. Horseshoe Recreation Area

    5 Reviews
    Thomas, WV
    6 miles
    Website
    +1 (304) 478-2481

    $17 - $85 / night

    "Great place to connect with family in the wide open spaces of West Virginia. Very nice bathroom facilities,no bath house but plenty of water."

    "If you use solar, ironically, the sites around the loop/with electric, are your best bet as there is a large open field in the middle; a second loop contains more primitive sites and some walk-in sites"

    8. Seneca Shadows

    32 Reviews
    Seneca Rocks, WV
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (304) 567-3082

    $17 - $65 / night

    "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."

    9. Brooklyn Heights Riverfront Campground

    3 Reviews
    Hendricks, WV
    9 miles
    Website
    +1 (703) 328-1840

    $20 - $55 / night

    "includes 14 camping sites(firepits, slabwood benches, parking, and future picnic tables), 5 primitive shelter cabin sites(10x`12 lofted barn cabins with hasp for your padlock), and a 5 short term RV sites near"

    10. Lower Glady Dispersed Campground

    7 Reviews
    Harman, WV
    14 miles
    Website
    +1 (304) 636-1800

    "No one next to me. There were a couple of small groups, like two rigs together. Nice and quiet. A few friendly fishermen each day, sharing local knowledge."

    "I didn't pull in until close to 11 PM, but a couple notes on what I could see. There is a very sharp turn if you come in from the south on Sully Road, which seems to be the primary way to get there."

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Recent Camping Photos near Thomas, WV

383 Photos of 140 Thomas Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Thomas, WV

698 Reviews of 140 Thomas Campgrounds

  • G
    Sep. 29, 2025

    Middle Ridge Campground

    Private

    If you’re looking for quiet and privacy, this is the place.  they laid out the sites so that you’re not side by side. They are all on an angle which moves you further away from anyone on both sides.  The angled site also was great for driving just past you’re site and practically backing straight back into you’re site.  Decent bath house and friendly, low key staff.  Great rates per night.

  • RThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 28, 2025

    Audra State Park Campground

    Quiet

    A beautiful park located on a river very quiet. Campsites are small only electric is available bathhouse clean. The roads are very narrow with sharp turns.

  • Sonder B.
    Sep. 21, 2025

    Dispersed camping at Mower Basin

    Clean, Remote, Pristine, off the beaten path = Mower Basin

    I chose for this trip to pay a visit to the Monongahela Nation Forest in West Virginia. I plan on dispersed camp in the Mower Basin for seven days. 

    The first three I would be solo and on that Friday my partner in crime would come to camp. I went to the primary camp site, and it was occupied. 

    I had four other camp sites chosen and continued to the other four. I found that other campers were on the other spots. I went to the last one and found it to be open. In setting up camp I found two piles of bear scat. 

    One pile was clearly fresher than the other, but still two piles! The attached photo is the last dispersed camp site. It was a little over a mile from the other site. I was dispersed camping in the Mower Basin. You can drive right up to your camp site, but don’t be fooled, this is primitive camping. 

    You need to bring everything with you and take it all out with you.

    Nearest Cell tower is here 38.688719,-79.979097

    Fuel &  small gocery store can be found here 38.710707,-79.979095

    Minor Automotive shop and tire repair here 38.713085,-79.979352

  • JThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 18, 2025

    Canaan Loop Road Dispersed

    Great dispersed sites!

    We only drove down to the second site, but it was awesome! Big site, good fire ring, paths the walk right from the site. The moss was like walking on carpet

  • AThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 14, 2025

    Middle Ridge Campground

    Large wooded sites

    The owners are so friendly and personable. The sites are actually in a wooded area not just a big field. Each site has full hookups. We will definitely return.

  • Alia
    Sep. 7, 2025

    Kick Back n Camp

    Last Minute Getaway

    My husband and I went on a spontaneous camping road trip. We called the campground, and they had availability for walk-ins! Usually, you’d have to book in advance. The campsite was a semi-private spot, and it cost less than $30 a night, without electricity. They also have sites with electricity. We were fortunate enough to have no campers around us, making it quite private.

    The campground had a picnic table, a fire pit, and they even delivered our firewood directly to our site. They had separate sites for RVs and tent camping, so we could choose the one that best suited our needs. The owners were incredibly friendly and outgoing, making our stay even more enjoyable.

    If you forget anything, the campground office had everything you needed for purchase. They also had a well-organized brochure that showcased the campground’s amenities and offerings. And let’s not forget their delicious ice cream! They had a variety of flavors, and I highly recommend trying them all.

    One of the standout features of the campground was the bathhouse. It was spotlessly clean and felt like a spa. The showers were comfortable and had hot water, making it our highlight

    Overall, we had a fantastic time at the campground. It was a great place to unwind and connect with nature. If you’re looking for a peaceful and affordable camping experience, I highly recommend this campground.

  • Aileen C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 3, 2025

    Blackwater Falls State Park Campground

    Clean Campground in a Beautiful Park

    This is one of our favorite places. The park is beautiful, and so are the nearby Canaan Valley Wildlife Refuge and Canaan Valley State Park.

    The campground is better suited to tents and small to medium size camping units. I think the person who designed it was not familiar with camping units other than tents. Loop 1-30 is one way going clockwise. Loop 31-65 is one way going counterclockwise. But in both loops, to have your door facing away from the street, you have to drive counterclockwise if your site is on the outside of the loop, and clockwise if your site is inside the loop.  In some sites, the electric pedestal is on the wrong side, so you'll have to use a long cord and take it under your unit to reach your electric hookup.

    There are two water fill stations, one at the camp store where you check in, and the other at a water fountain near the bathhouse in loop 31-65. They are supplied supplied with a green garden hose, not a white potable water hose, so we unscrewed the hose and used our own. The water tastes unusually good.

    The dump station is in a section of loop 31-65. You have to go the wrong way on a one way road to be close enough for your slinky to reach it. The non potable rinse water is across this road from the dump station and it has a white hose--beware--this is not the drinking water! You stretch this hose across the road to rinse your gray and black tanks and slinky.

    Some of the sites are not very level, and many of the pull thru sites share some driveway space with another pull thru site or a back in site. There are two pairs of sites that share a pull thru--OK for people traveling together, but otherwise a headache if you're arriving and leaving at different times.

    Once you have dealt with all this inconvenience and oddness, you'll find you're within walking distance of the falls, a small lake, hiking trails that go through beautiful forests with rhododendrons, hemlocks, spruce, and hardwoods. The camp store is limited, but the staff is very friendly and helpful. The nature center is one of the best I've ever visited, and park naturalists provide programs on weekends. There are kayak rentals in summer. The lake has a swimming beach, but you can pay to use the swimming pool at the lodge for better swimming. The lodge also has a huge lobby with a cabinet containing jigsaw puzzles. We worked on one on a rainy day when we didn't want to be outside. Davis and Thomas have some interesting shops and good restaurants.When you get back after a day of adventures, you'll find clean restrooms with hot showers that are actually hot. And the T-Mobile service was good enough for my husband to stream a movie while I sent photos to my family. The park was very busy for Labor Day weekend, but it was a family atmosphere and after dark, there were few lights and little noise.

  • Lee G.
    Sep. 2, 2025

    Big Bend Campground

    Big Bend Campground…Definitely Worth the Experience

    Big Bend Campground is a beautiful place with a great family atmosphere. The campsites are large and accommodate RVs and/or multiple tents. 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. The Camp Hosts were great and offered a lot of local information and tips. While this is a great location and provides memorable adventures, it would be great if the picnic tables and some of the fire rings could be updated as they’re nearing the end of their service life. However, this is simply a great place to unhook from the daily grind.

  • M
    Aug. 30, 2025

    Middle Ridge Campground

    Perfect Site

    This was the perfect little site. Super friendly and accommodating, beautiful walking paths, great campsites. We really enjoyed our stay.

Guide to Thomas

The Monongahela National Forest surrounds Thomas, West Virginia, creating a lush wilderness camping environment at elevations between 2,800 and 4,300 feet. This high-altitude location stays 10-15 degrees cooler than lower regions during summer months, making it a popular destination for those seeking relief from heat. The area's remote camping locations often experience significant fog and mist, especially in morning hours.

What to do

Enjoy riverside recreation: At Five River Campground, campers can fish, tube, and paddle the river. "We walked up river to the end of the property and were able to tube down to the lower end of the property. The view and sunsets over the river made for gorgeous pictures. We also spent a little time fishing," shares one visitor who stayed for a week.

Explore diverse ecosystems: The unique landscape around Dolly Sods offers distinctive vegetation zones unlike anywhere else in the region. "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," notes one backpacker.

Go stargazing: Clear mountain nights provide excellent stargazing opportunities. At Seneca Shadows, "With no ambient light, the night skies are amazing." Another camper at Blackwater Falls State Park mentioned, "The sky was absolutely perfect to view from the campground - you could bring a telescope!"

What campers like

Easy access to small towns: Nearby communities offer cultural experiences within minutes of wilderness camping. One Blackwater Falls State Park visitor appreciated "spending the day in Thomas looking at local art & antiques. The evening in Davis eating at hellbender burritos." The campground serves as "a central location to some of the best of our state."

Wildlife encounters: Deer sightings are common at most campgrounds in the region. A Canaan Valley visitor noted, "Deer meander through the primitive tent sites with their fawns each morning and evening." At Seneca Shadows, one camper described how "we were so quiet, several deer passed between us within arms reach" while stargazing.

Temperature comfort: The higher elevations provide natural cooling during summer months. "We visited in August and the weather was lovely," reported one camper at Canaan Valley. Another mentioned, "even though the weather was in our favor, at night there is extreme winds and it's enough to completely destroy your tent" - highlighting the importance of proper gear.

What you should know

Seasonal road conditions: Winter access requires preparation and appropriate vehicles. A visitor to Canaan Loop Road warned, "We camped here on a winter road trip fully prepared for the worst weather and this mountain top dispersed site delivered. It was muddy and snowy but our Subaru made it fine about half way into Canaan loop road."

Cell service variability: Communication access varies dramatically by location. Five River Campground boasts "great cell signal for most carriers and even offers wifi and cable," making it unique among wilderness camping options.

Water challenges: Many trails and camping areas experience persistent mud and water issues. A Dolly Sods visitor shared, "Be advised that during the summer lots of rain fall so trails will be muddy and some trails almost completely underwater, Dobbins Grade is one of the trails that typically is wet and muddy most of the summer and fall."

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find camping options near Thomas, WV?

Thomas, WV is surrounded by excellent camping destinations. Blackwater Falls State Park Campground in nearby Davis offers scenic camping with access to the iconic waterfall and extensive hiking trails. The area also features Canaan Valley Resort State Park Campground with three loops of hookup sites, primitive tent sites, and a central bathhouse with hot showers. For those seeking more rustic options, check out Dolly Sods Wilderness Area for backcountry camping, or the budget-friendly Eagle Rock Campground along the river. Most campgrounds in the region are open seasonally from spring through fall, with winter closures common due to harsh weather conditions.

What amenities does Momma Tried Campground offer near Thomas?

While specific information about Momma Tried Campground isn't available in the reviews, the Thomas area offers several alternatives with known amenities. Seneca Shadows provides both standard sites with gravel pads, water, and electricity in the front section, plus more scenic tent camping areas with breathtaking views. For a more rustic experience, Eagle Rock Campground offers basic riverside camping for just $10 per night with a self-pay system. Most campgrounds in the region provide access to outdoor activities like hiking, fishing, and wildlife viewing. For verification of Momma Tried Campground's specific amenities, contact the local tourism office in Thomas.

What camping is available near Thomas, WV?

According to TheDyrt.com, Thomas, WV offers a wide range of camping options, with 140 campgrounds and RV parks near Thomas, WV and 24 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Thomas, WV?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Thomas, WV is Blackwater Falls State Park Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 52 reviews.

Where can I find free dispersed camping near Thomas, WV?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 24 free dispersed camping spots near Thomas, WV.

What parks are near Thomas, WV?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 24 parks near Thomas, WV that allow camping, notably Jennings Randolph Lake and Youghiogheny River Lake.

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