Best Campgrounds near Whitmer, WV

Dispersed camping areas and established campgrounds surround the small community of Whitmer, West Virginia, nestled in the Monongahela National Forest region. Gandy Creek Dispersed Camping provides free primitive sites with drive-in and walk-in access for both tents and RVs, while nearby Spruce Knob Lake Campground offers a more developed experience with drinking water and toilet facilities. The mountainous terrain throughout the area creates diverse camping environments, from riverside sites along creeks to higher elevation locations near Spruce Knob, West Virginia's highest peak at 4,863 feet.

The Monongahela National Forest camping areas typically operate seasonally, with most campgrounds open from April through October. Winter conditions at higher elevations can be challenging, while summer brings moderate temperatures even when surrounding lowlands are hot. Many campgrounds in the region require reservations during peak season, though dispersed areas like Gandy Creek operate on a first-come basis. Cell service is limited or nonexistent in most camping areas, particularly in the more remote dispersed sites. Gravel roads access many of the camping areas, with some requiring careful navigation. A camper noted that "Gandy Creek used to be a gravel packed road but they started some paving last year. I haven't been there in 10 months or so but plan to later this summer."

Campers consistently highlight the natural features and solitude available at sites throughout the region. The higher elevation campgrounds like those near Spruce Knob offer cooler temperatures and unique forest environments dominated by red spruce. Several visitors mention the excellent stargazing opportunities due to minimal light pollution. Wildlife sightings are common, with deer frequently seen near campsites. Water features factor prominently in camping experiences, with many sites positioned along creeks or near small lakes. According to one review, "I love Gandy Creek! I have camped at 4 different sites and have explored and reconned almost all of them! Some you walk-in a short distance but are rewarded with amazing sites on the creek, secluded and wooded."

Best Camping Sites Near Whitmer, West Virginia (131)

    1. Seneca Shadows

    32 Reviews
    Seneca Rocks, WV
    9 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."

    2. Gandy Creek Dispersed Camping

    16 Reviews
    Whitmer, WV
    4 miles
    Website

    "Some you walk-in a short distance but are rewarded with amazing sites on the creek, secluded and wooded. Other places you can camp in your vehicle or park at the site."

    "Just camped there with two of my friends this past weekend, really cool site we were lucky enough to get a site next to the river! Get there early as it’s first come first serve!"

    3. Spruce Knob Lake Campground

    17 Reviews
    Riverton, WV
    5 miles
    Website
    +1 (304) 567-3082

    $15 - $32 / night

    "It is about 5 miles from the summit of Spruce Knob (highest peak in West Virginia).  Tow campers smaller in size can certainly make it, although mostly tent camping which I like. "

    "The Spruce Knob Lake Campground offers extra-large camp sites with lots of shade and so much undergrowth I only saw my neighbors when I took a walk to check out the campground."

    4. Blackwater Falls State Park Campground

    52 Reviews
    Davis, WV
    21 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."

    5. Spruce Knob and Spruce Knob Observation Tower

    8 Reviews
    Circleville, WV
    8 miles

    "Spruce Knob is the highest point in West Virginia and offers great views."

    "Spruce Knob is West Virginia's highest peak and on a clear day offers breathtaking 360 degree views from the Observation Tower.      https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mnf/recarea/?"

    6. Five River Campground

    27 Reviews
    Parsons, WV
    21 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."

    7. Canaan Valley Resort State Park Campground

    12 Reviews
    Red Creek, WV
    15 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."

    "West Virginia is a state for anyone who enjoys the outdoors!!!! There are tons of out door activities! We recently camped 3 nights at Canaan Valley! We had a great time!"

    8. Lower Glady Dispersed Campground

    7 Reviews
    Harman, WV
    11 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."

    9. Big Bend Campground

    14 Reviews
    Cabins, WV
    17 miles
    Website
    +1 (304) 358-3253

    $27 - $50 / night

    "Forest, West Virginia."

    "The campground is situated in the middle of a bowl in the canyon(you're surrounded by mountains)."

    10. Bear Heaven Campground

    6 Reviews
    Bowden, WV
    11 miles
    Website

    "It’s a nice base camp if you don’t mind driving to other trails nearby. Visit in spring with mountain laurel, rhododendrons, etc. are blooming in the nearby lands, it’s like nothing else!"

    "You can either walk through or climb these boulders. The area has several great hiking and mountains biking trails."

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Recent Reviews near Whitmer, WV

648 Reviews of 131 Whitmer Campgrounds


  • Zach L.
    Oct. 17, 2025

    Harrisonburg - Shenandoah Valley KOA

    Fall Leaf Peeping Trip

    We stayed here for 3 nights. Perfect campground with everything you need. Bathrooms are very clean. Ice, propane, and other items are available on site at the store. Halloween was in full effect including a haunted walk. Sites are spacious and have natural stone in ground fire pits instead of rusted metal rims which adds character. Dog park, pool, and plenty of games are available on site. Harrisonburg is down the road if you to need to stop in town.

  • Spencer W.
    Oct. 13, 2025

    Stultz Gap Dispersed Campsite

    Stultz Gap Dispersed Camping

    The spot itself is right next to the road. The map seems to indicate trails connected but they appear very overgrown.

    Appears some may use this with horses as some small amount of waste was left behind.

    We ended up driving about 10-15 minutes further north along the same road and found a nicer spot with an established fire ring.

  • C
    Oct. 4, 2025

    Hawk Nest Mushroom Farm

    Convenient location

    It s nice to have a camp option near Harrisonburg. I agree with others that the tall grass seems like a tick risk. The tall grass is too close in the more private fire circle for fire safety. It was nice to hear several owls nearby. There is road noise during the day. Orv is welcoming and accommodating.

  • 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

  • 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.


Guide to Whitmer

Dispersed camping areas near Whitmer, West Virginia sit at elevations between 2,000-4,000 feet in the Monongahela National Forest, creating camping opportunities with notable temperature differences from surrounding valleys. The mountain terrain creates significant microclimates, with campsites at higher elevations often 10-15 degrees cooler in summer months than nearby towns. Access roads to many of the best places to camp near Whitmer transition from paved to gravel as elevation increases, with most campgrounds within 30-45 minutes of the small community.

What to do

**Night sky viewing at Spruce Knob: At 4,863 feet, West Virginia's highest point offers exceptional stargazing. "On a clear night, star gazing is incredible as there's no ambient light. It is much cooler at this elevation, even in the summer...and the winds on the summit cut through like a knife," explains a reviewer at Spruce Knob and Spruce Knob Observation Tower.

Water-based activities on creek systems: The numerous streams near Whitmer provide natural water recreation. At Gandy Creek Dispersed Camping, a visitor notes, "Very nice area, several nice spots right along the creek. Areas are spread out and private. Nice spot to relax and escape along creek. Drive back is well maintained dirt road."

Hiking on multi-day trails: The region offers trails for extended backpacking. One camper at Spruce Knob shared, "We camped off the Huckleberry Trail, which has lots of camping spots off the trail. The forest is silent and beautiful, looks like it belongs out west in the PNW. The moss-covered ground and rocks make it the perfect oasis for a weekend trip."

Visit geological formations: The area features unique rock structures accessible from campgrounds. "Right beside the camp ground is a really cool area to explore unique boulders and rock structures. You can either walk through or climb these boulders," explains a camper at Bear Heaven Campground.

What campers like

Privacy at dispersed sites: Campers appreciate the seclusion of non-established camping areas. A visitor to Lower Glady Dispersed Campground mentioned, "Nice camp sites, and good fishing." Another noted, "Arrived 8 May for a week. Nice and cool. 4 to 8 other campers. No one next to me... Nice and quiet. A few friendly fishermen each day, sharing local knowledge."

River access for recreation: The proximity to water attracts many visitors. At Big Bend Campground, a camper described, "The river makes a loop where there is only a couple hundred yards to climb out of the river and get back in and do it again. Great smallmouth fishing stream." Another mentioned, "The entire loop took a little over an hour to complete, then a 2 minute walk, and start again."

Forest environment: The distinctive forest ecosystems receive positive comments. A Spruce Knob Lake Campground reviewer wrote, "In the pines, just below the summit, it is eerily quiet and muffled. I've never seen another camper when I've stayed, so the solitude is glorious."

Clean facilities at developed campgrounds: Maintained bathrooms matter to campers. At Blackwater Falls State Park Campground, a guest observed, "The shower and bathrooms were spotless. Some sites were closer together than others but we didn't mind since we just had a tent."

What you should know

Cell service limitations: Connectivity is minimal or non-existent in many camping areas. A visitor at Big Bend noted, "No cell service. Nearest cell reception is a 20 minute drive away."

Weather variability: Higher elevation sites experience significant weather differences. A camper at Seneca Shadows mentioned, "Keep in mind, anytime after mid September can be quite cold overnight. But the foliage is totally worth it!"

Road conditions: Access to many sites requires careful driving. "The drive to the Spruce Knob Lake Campground is on a combination of narrow, winding, mostly unpaved roads. Go slow because there are plenty of blind curves," warned a reviewer.

Reservations vs. first-come sites: Campground availability varies by location. A Big Bend camper explained, "It's a first come-first serve style with getting campsites, can reserve through by phone to the campground host. The upper loop is $12 per night and river loop is $14 per night."

Tips for camping with families

Easy water play spots: Families appreciate safe water access. One visitor at Five River Campground wrote, "The location is amazingly located right on the Shavers Fork river on a section that was shallow and calm enough for our small children to enjoy it."

Campground activities: Some sites offer recreation beyond hiking. At Canaan Valley Resort State Park Campground, a visitor mentioned, "Older playground, but good enough for kiddos. Mini golf course, rock wall, and civil war reenactments when we came."

Wildlife viewing opportunities: Animal sightings enhance family experiences. A Canaan Valley camper reported, "Deer meander through the primitive tent sites with their fawns each morning and evening."

Choose sites with facilities: For family comfort, prioritize campgrounds with amenities. "The campground has flush toilets, hot showers, and water spigots," explained a Big Bend reviewer about their family's experience.

Tips from RVers

Hookup availability: RVers need to know utility options. At Canaan Valley Resort State Park, a camper noted, "This campground is absolutely beautiful. All sites have full hook ups and a paved pad."

Site layout considerations: Some campgrounds have unusual configurations. A Blackwater Falls visitor explained, "Many of the pull thru sites are situated in the wrong direction with the electric hookup on the wrong side. The dump station is in a weird spot and the only water available is the same used for flushing."

Level parking areas: RVers require flat sites. At Five River Campground, an RV camper observed, "The majority of the site is level and grass. I will be back for the bluegrass festival in August."

Frequently Asked Questions

What camping is available near Whitmer, WV?

According to TheDyrt.com, Whitmer, WV offers a wide range of camping options, with 131 campgrounds and RV parks near Whitmer, WV and 28 free dispersed camping spots.

Which is the most popular campground near Whitmer, WV?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Whitmer, WV is Seneca Shadows with a 4.5-star rating from 32 reviews.

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

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 28 free dispersed camping spots near Whitmer, WV.

What parks are near Whitmer, WV?

According to TheDyrt.com, there are 25 parks near Whitmer, WV that allow camping, notably Monongahela National Forest and Jennings Randolph Lake.