Best Dog-Friendly Camping near Wardensville, WV

Squirrel Gap Road Dispersed Campground offers free pet-friendly primitive camping near Wardensville in the George Washington National Forest. Pets are allowed at all sites, with ample space for tent and small RV camping in a quiet, wooded setting. The camping area features stone fire rings with plenty of firewood available on-site. Access requires driving several miles down Squirrel Gap Road, with a somewhat steep entrance directly off the road. The campground receives excellent ratings from visitors with dogs, noting the peaceful setting and natural surroundings.

Dog owners camping in the Wardensville area should also consider Trout Pond Recreation Area, which provides pet-friendly sites with 15-amp electrical hookups at 14 of their campsites. Each site includes a picnic table and fire ring, with several trails accessible directly from the campground loop. The crystal-clear Rockcliff Lake allows dogs on leash along the shoreline, though pets are not permitted in designated swimming areas. Visitors note the campground is clean and well-maintained, with hiking trails ranging from easy lake loops to more challenging mountain ascents like the one-mile Lina Constable Overlook trail. Cell service is limited throughout most pet-friendly campgrounds in the area, with Trout Pond offering a payphone for emergencies. The area closes seasonally with entrance gates locked from December 21 through May 1.

Best Dog-Friendly Sites Near Wardensville, West Virginia (120)

    1. Andy Guest/Shenandoah River State Park Campground

    56 Reviews
    Bentonville, VA
    22 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 622-6840

    $30 - $40 / night

    "Tons of trails great for families with dogs or those wanting to get out and hike. The campsite featured some of the best bathroom/ shower houses, they were super clean and well maintained."

    "In my opinion it has the best location of the 3 Turks they have. It’s it the woods close to a boat landing you can see a bit of the river. In the fall or spring I’m sure the view is amazing."

    2. The Cove Campground

    15 Reviews
    High View, VA
    15 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 858-2882

    "Several rustic campsites with a large lake for the kids, and miles of off road trails for atvs, jeeps, and dirtbikes."

    "The road is gravel and could use some work, I’d recommend 4x4 drive. We really enjoyed it and will go back. The reason for 4 stars instead of 5, water situation and the roads could use some work."

    3. Creekside Campground

    17 Reviews
    Edinburg, VA
    18 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 984-4299

    $26 - $47 / night

    "We spent 2 nights at Creekside Campground in Edinburg, VA on our way to West Virginia—- and found a real gem. 

    We paid$50/night for Back-in Creekview FHU Site#20."

    "I gave this campground 5 stars because it is super convenient to I81, the staff is wonderful, my tent spot was right on the creek, the bathrooms are immaculate with hot water showers, and they allow dogs"

    4. Trout Pond Recreation Area

    6 Reviews
    Baker, WV
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (304) 897-6450

    $25 - $105 / night

    "There were other trails too. We also hiked the Rockcliff lake trail which was rocky at spots but pretty level. There’s a boat launch for non powered boats, and fishing spots along the lake."

    "The area closes completely (entrance gate is locked) from Dec 21 - May 1. The site was super clean and well maintained. Lots of hiking trails and a very easy one that loops around the Rockcliff Lake."

    5. Mathews Arm Campground — Shenandoah National Park

    44 Reviews
    Rileyville, VA
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 999-3132

    $30 - $75 / night

    "This is a nice and very large campground tucked away in the northern part of Shenandoah. The facilities and grounds were well kept and it’s a short car’s travel (but there’s also a trail!)"

    "The pull in area was paved and behind it was a nice flat tent area."

    6. Big Meadows Campground — Shenandoah National Park

    120 Reviews
    Stanley, VA
    39 miles
    Website
    +1 (540) 999-3500

    $30 - $75 / night

    "Stayed here with three other girls and my dog- it was a great spot! Nice and close to some great trails for our evening walk, and nothing beats staying Inside the NP!"

    "This was a great campground location to many, many National Park Trails. Our stay was during the last week of September. We met up with family who live in the area and got 3 sites hugging the AT."

    7. Haven

    2 Reviews
    Star Tannery, VA
    8 miles
    +1 (301) 801-1279

    8. Elizabeth Furnace Campground

    9 Reviews
    Strasburg, VA
    18 miles
    Website

    $20 / night

    "In the valley outside of Shenandoah, it was a nice spot to return to at night. There are also some hiking trails across the street."

    "Campground Review:

    What a great find, so close to a town….though feels like you are deep in the forest!"

    9. Elizabeth Furnace Family Campground

    9 Reviews
    Strasburg, VA
    17 miles

    "Great spot right outside Shenandoah NP with quick access to the park or nearby trails. great fishing and hikes for kids, too!"

    "There are a couple of sites that have a path to the creek that flows behind the campground.There is also plenty of hiking trails to be completed around the campgrounds of various levels from beginner to"

    10. Middle Ridge Campground

    19 Reviews
    Romney, WV
    23 miles
    Website
    +1 (304) 822-8020

    "We have three children who absolutely loved petting and feeding Mules and Donkeys! The pool is a nice amenity unfortunately the weather wasn't swimming weather when we were there."

    "It’s peaceful and has lots of hiking trails! They are a dog friendly campground and the owners are so kind. Thank you for providing a safe, quiet space to camp. ❤️🥰"

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Dog-Friendly Camping Reviews near Wardensville, WV

1205 Reviews of 120 Wardensville Campgrounds


  • Kevin C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 14, 2024

    Wolf Gap Recreation Area

    An Outstanding Forest Service Campground

    The road leading to the camp site from Wardensville was in excellent condition all the way to the camp site. There are e total of 9 campsites.

    Most sites have a paved parking platform and then a second tier for the camp site. All sites are quite large and include picnic tables, fire rings and large tent platforms.

    The campsite itself is beautifully wooded. Each campsite is mostly secluded from the rest of the park.

    The campground has vaulted toilet and communal garbage receptical. There is a large day use area. There are several trails that intersect with the campsite ànd day hikers are a common site.

  • L
    Sep. 1, 2018

    North Fork Resort

    Love this place!

    We began our membership here this June. it has a great atmosphere on the banks of the Shenandoah River. There are activities every weekend like concerts and group activities. Staff is very friendly and helpful. The facilities are clean and very convenient. Pet friendly; two dog parks.

  • E
    Jun. 13, 2021

    Spacious Skies Shenandoah Views

    Beautiful views & large spots

    Beautiful views. Adjacent to a working farm where cows, sheep, llamas, chickens and roosters can graze next to the campsites.

    The grounds were beautifully manicured and incredibly clean.

    It also had the largest dog park area of any campground I’ve ever seen.

    Very nice pool, friendly staff and firewood available for purchase. They will even deliver right to your site.

    Very close to downtown Luray, which has great shops and restaurants. There is a very nice 2 mile long walking trail, the Luray-Hawksbill Greenway, near the campground that will take you right into town.

    Also close by to some excellent hiking, wineries, breweries and distilleries.

  • Joe
    Sep. 29, 2020

    Luray RV Resort on Shenandoah River

    Spacious and clean campground

    We recently stayed for a long weekend at the Outlanders campground after we received a referral from a friend and could not have been more happy with our stay.  The RV sites at this campground are very spaced out, you have a lot of room to each side of your RV.  The park and facilities were very clean.  They have a playground for the kids, fishing ponds, cabins, pet friendly with a dog park and they are located right along the Shenandoah river.  You can go tubing on the river but need to provide your own tubes.  The ride down the river from one end of the park to the other is around 30 minutes.  Also for all of the people attached to the internet like us we were able to have plenty of cell signal to hotspot and get internet.

  • Matt S.The Dyrt PRO User
    May. 5, 2025

    Harpers Ferry / Civil War Battlefields KOA

    Location. Location. Location.

    We set up camp at Harpers Ferry/Civil War Battlefields KOA Holiday as our launchpad to visit the historic sites in and around Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, and Frederick, Maryland. 

    We paid$114/night(average per night, including fees and taxes) for Site# 94. A bit pricey considering a lack of elbow room, but it’s a great location and everything is well-kept. 

    THINGS I LIKED: 

    • Location, Location, Location! Close proximity to plenty of historic and tourist places to visit. The Harpers Ferry National Historical Park Visitor Center is literally next door. Harpers Ferry Lower Town and Bolivar Heights are a few minutes by car(or shuttle from the Visitor Center). Frederick and Antietam are each barely 30-minutes by car. Gettysburg, Baltimore, and DC are about an hour’s drive. 

    • Clean and level gravel site with well-maintained utility hook-ups. 

    • Great campground store filled with food, drinks, camp supplies, souvenirs, and essentials you may need while away from home. 

    • Friendly staff in the office& store. 

    • The whole park is quiet and well-maintained. 

    THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE SO MUCH: 

    • Heads up, big rig owners! Our Pull-thru FHU Patio site(#199) had a serious slope. It was impossible to level my 45’ motorhome without elevating the front wheels dangerously in the air. The nice staff kindly moved us to a FHU site without the patio and furniture. And refunded the difference in price for the lesser site. Thanks for providing the move but ‘premium’ sites should be somewhat level, am I right? 

    • Get cozy, the sites are quite small and tightly packed together. 

    • A $3 per night“Pet Fee” for our small, mostly-indoor dog felt a bit like nickel-and-diming. I realize it only amounted to an extra$12, but he didn’t need any extra gravel. 

    WOULD WE COME BACK? 

    • Absolutely, this is a nice campground with lots of great places nearby including Harpers Ferry, Antietam, Frederick, Washington DC, Baltimore, and more.
  • Hannah V.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 17, 2018

    Blackwater Falls State Park Campground

    Fun in Every Season

    This campground is the highest in West Virginia, it has a total of 65 campsites 30 of which are electric and 35 are non-electric. Each site has a picnic table and fire pit, most of the campsites are open and have little privacy from neighbors. No tent pads, but no more than two tents permitted (but may be charged for the second tent). It has a bath house with hot showers, flush toilets, and coin laundry. There is a dumping station. Reservations can be made by phone or at campground registration but is otherwise first come-first serve. Pets are permitted. The sites are $25 a night.

    The park has tons of hiking trails to choose from and two viewable waterfalls. There is a lake that is open to swimming, volleyball, basketball, and tennis courts are in the vicinity as well. Fishing is a large draw as well to this area, both catch and release and catch and keep permitted on the Blackwater River.

  • B
    Jun. 26, 2018

    Spacious Skies Shenandoah Views

    Great Location for visiting Luray Caverns

    This campground is very close to Luray Caverns and all that they have to offer. There is also a Duke's of Hazzard themed museum and store where they do live music on weekends nearby, it's called Cooter's. This campground is very small but quiet. It does border cow pasture land so when the wind shifts you get the smell but it wasn't constant and it wasn't unbearable. They have 2 swimming pools and a very large dog park. The bath houses were clean and well maintained. I would definitely recommend this campground.

  • Joel R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 30, 2021

    Harpers Ferry / Civil War Battlefields KOA

    Very convenient to National Park

    This place is right outside the gate of Harpers Ferry NP. We walked to the shuttle bus stop. It is a very large KOA, and was almost empty when we visited in September. The original site the gave us had a large rut and washed out spot, so we could not get level. I checked in the office and the reassigned another space that was much better. Full hook ups, nice clean shower and bathrooms, playground, pool, large dog park.

  • Dave V.
    Sep. 4, 2020

    Canaan Valley Resort State Park Campground

    A State Park for all Seasons

    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. Winter brings copious snowfall and the skiing here draws thousands...downhill and XC. The summer sees backpackers, hikers, mountain bikers, gravel grinders, car-campers and RVers. Not only do you have hiking trails here on the State Park location...you can drive up to the nearby Dolly Sods Wilderness Area for camping, day-hikes or multi-day backcountry trips; Blackwater Falls (10 miles north) offers memorable falls, great hikes with long gorge views (Lindy Point a favorite). Even Seneca Rocks and Spruce Knob are only 30 minutes or so away. Possibilities are endless in this neck of the woods. This very weekend was to be the Mountainbike Festival, but due to Covid-19, well you know the rest of that story. The Abe Run Trail was a pleasant trail leaving from the campground.

    The campground portion is not expansive but 34 sites are situated in three small loops (see photo of campground map). Primitive tent sites don't have water or electric and parking is roadside but you are within 100 yards of the "Comfort Station." The three "tent only" sites have only been around for a couple years...but sites 1 and 2 are in a nice grassy area away from the RV loop 2. Always verify current rates, but June 18, 2020...mid $30's nightly for nonresidents (WV residents get 30% off). Primitive tent sites were $17 a night.

    The Resort Lodge, Golf course, swimming pool and a covered ice skating rink (obviously the last three mentioned being seasonal) were further up the windy park roadway. (See rates on park website).

    The campground "Comfort Station," is a restroom/shower/laundry and soda machine building. The gender specific restroom/shower rooms each have two wooden stalled modern facility stools, two shower stalls (men's are separated by a shower curtain, women's by a wall); a separate unisex ADA restroom/shower sits adjacent to the men's and appears newer.

    The grounds are well-maintained and manicured as are all WV State Parks. Trails are scattered throughout the park. some are foot traffic only, others permit bicycles. The Back Hollow Trail was predominantly a mown grass trail but occasional wooded sections were rocky two-track. This is Wet Virginia, so expect to experience rain and bring foul weather gear in the summer months. I have mastered the fine art of campsite tarping due to West Virginia camping. It also still gets chilly in these mountains during the early summer months.

    Deer meander through the primitive tent sites with their fawns each morning and evening. A kid's playground is situated beside (separated by a field) primitive tent sites 1 & 2.

    We spent three days in June and experienced afternoon rain showers daily, but arranged our hikes and bikes around them.


Guide to Wardensville

Discover the perfect spots for pets-allowed camping near Wardensville, West Virginia, where you and your furry friends can enjoy the great outdoors together.

Dog-friendly activities while camping near Wardensville

Dog owners appreciate the amenities

Pet-friendly campgrounds include great features

  • Candy Hill Campground is known for its friendly staff and well-stocked camp store, ensuring you have everything you need for a comfortable stay with your pet.
  • North Fork Resort features a variety of activities, including river access for kayaking and tubing, making it a fun destination for adventurous pet owners.
  • Trout Pond Recreation Area offers stunning views and a peaceful environment, perfect for relaxing with your dog after a day of exploring.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dog-friendly campsite near Wardensville, WV?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dog-friendly campground near Wardensville, WV is Andy Guest/Shenandoah River State Park Campground with a 4.7-star rating from 56 reviews.

What is the best site to find dog-friendly camping near Wardensville, WV?

TheDyrt.com has all 120 dog-friendly camping locations near Wardensville, WV, with real photos and reviews from campers.