6 Places to Set Up Camp in West Virginia

West Virginia is known for its stunning natural features and variety of unique terrains, but is also full of opportunities for memorable stays while exploring all the Mountain State has to offer. Enjoy the unspoiled beauty of West Virginia in these wild and wonderful camping spots.

1. Double the Fun at Tomlinson Run State Park

This Northern Panhandle park offers two very distinct camping experiences in one: flourishing fields of wildlife and fauna plus paddleboats, yard games, fishing and more outdoor recreation. Tomlinson Run State Park also hosts unique camping experiences with yurt and camper cabin rentals.

2. Go With the Flow at Blackwater Falls State Park

Deep in the Allegheny Mountains, Blackwater Falls State Park is home to some of the most photographed locations in the state. Maximize your exposure with an overnight stay that allows you to charge while you recharge: all 65 tent and RV sites here contain electric hookups — plus easy access to the amber-color rush of 57-foot-high Blackwater Falls.

3. Into the Woods at Audra State Park

Once you’ve claimed your tent or RV spot near the Middle Fork River, trek the forested Alum Creek and Cave Trail to a gorgeous view of the water. Audra State Park offers 67 campsites available Memorial Day through Labor Day.

4. Reach for the Cosmos at Spruce Knob Mountain Center

Whether you drift off gazing at the stars through the skylight of a Mongolian-style yurt or tucked in your own tent, you’ll have one of the best views of the heavens east of the Mississippi at this dark sky site. During the day, explore more great heights with a trek to the highest peak in the state: Spruce Knob.

5. Room to Roam at Summersville Lake Retreat and Lighthouse

Go big along the shores of West Virginia’s largest lake with roomy A-frame cabins and spacious pull-through sites for even the largest RVs (open all year too.) Get a birds-eye view from the top of the state’s only working lighthouse—scale 122 steps to a 360-degree viewing deck that offers panoramic views of the lake and Gauley River National Recreational Area.

6. Out-of-this World Experiences at Green Bank Observatory

When you’re done hiking, fishing and exploring terrain, you can gaze deeper into the stars at the Green Bank Observatory. From its location in the National Radio Quiet Zone, where transmissions are restricted, this Pocahontas County observatory helps researchers crack mysteries of our universe. Green Bank Observatory earned recognition from major publications like Thrillist and Travel + Leisure for being one of the quietest places in the Country. Learn about radio astrology (like how radio waves help researchers peer into black holes) and see the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope. The largest of its kind in the world, it has picked up information from across the universe, including clues to the Milky Way’s structure. Take the SETI tour to learn how the telescope searches for signs of extraterrestrial life and more. There are several great options to set up camp nearby while experiencing everything the 100-meter wide telescope has to offer, including Watoga State Park which offers guests different types of cabins and two campgrounds to choose from.

 Discover more places to camp in Almost Heaven.

This post was last updated on August 29, 2023