A complete guide to camping in West Virginia

West Virginia is entirely mountain terrain. The state sits within the Appalachian Plateau with no flat land to speak of, and the camping scene reflects it. River gorges, ridgeline trails, and forested hollows define every campground setting. The New River Gorge, recently designated as the newest national park, anchors the southern camping corridor around Summersville and Hinton. The gorge drops 1,000 feet through sandstone walls with whitewater rafting as the primary draw.
The Monongahela National Forest covers 900,000 acres across the central and eastern highlands, holding the Dolly Sods Wilderness, Seneca Rocks, and Spruce Knob (the state's highest point at 4,863 feet). Elkins and Marlinton serve as the main access towns. Canaan Valley in the northeast provides a high-elevation plateau with a different character. The entire state lies between 380 and 4,200 feet at campground elevations, creating a consistently mountain-forest camping environment.
Mar-May
High 56°F · Low 44°F
Rhododendron and mountain laurel bloom in May. Spring wildflowers emerge along stream corridors. Water levels run high for whitewater rafting. Campgrounds open through April. Cool temperatures and occasional rain.
Jun-Aug
High 75°F · Low 63°F
The primary camping season. Mountain elevations keep temperatures cooler than surrounding lowland states. New River Gorge rafting peaks. Dolly Sods and Spruce Knob are accessible. Afternoon thunderstorms in the mountains.
Sep-Nov
High 56°F · Low 44°F
Fall color across the highlands peaks in early to mid-October. Dolly Sods turns red and gold. One of the most scenic camping seasons in the eastern US. Cool, dry conditions. Campground crowds moderate after Labor Day.
Dec-Feb
High 36°F · Low 24°F
January averages 28 degrees. Higher elevations see significant snow. Most campgrounds close or operate with limited services. Snowshoe ski resort draws winter visitors to the Allegheny Highlands. Winter camping is for the prepared.
| Season | Months | Avg High | Avg Low | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Mar-May | 56°F | 44°F | Rhododendron and mountain laurel bloom in May. |
| Summer | Jun-Aug | 75°F | 63°F | The primary camping season. |
| Fall | Sep-Nov | 56°F | 44°F | Fall color across the highlands peaks in early to mid-October. |
| Winter | Dec-Feb | 36°F | 24°F | January averages 28 degrees. |
Source: NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals

| Region | Terrain | Key Areas |
|---|---|---|
| New River Gorge | Mountain | Summersville, Hinton, Fayetteville, Beckley |
| Allegheny Highlands and Monongahela | Mountain | Elkins, Marlinton, Seneca Rocks, Riverton |
| Canaan Valley and Blackwater | Mountain | Davis, Thomas, Canaan Valley |
| Ohio River Valley | Plains | Moundsville, Weston, Parkersburg, Huntington |
Mountain · Summersville, Hinton, Fayetteville, Beckley
America's newest national park centering on a 1,000-foot-deep gorge through sandstone. Whitewater rafting on the New and Gauley rivers drives the camping traffic. Summersville Lake above the gorge adds flat-water recreation. Fayette Station and Cunard access points reach the river level. Mountain Lake Campground and Cabins near Summersville and Berry's Campground in Hinton provide private bases along the gorge and Gauley River corridor.
Mountain · Elkins, Marlinton, Seneca Rocks, Riverton
The Monongahela National Forest covers the central highlands. Dolly Sods Wilderness, Seneca Rocks, and Spruce Knob provide the most dramatic terrain. Elkins sits at the center of the forest. Marlinton and the Greenbrier Valley access the southern sections. The highest and most remote camping in the state. Revelle's River Resort near Elkins and Pocahontas Campground in Marlinton serve the central highlands and Greenbrier Valley.
Mountain · Davis, Thomas, Canaan Valley
A high-elevation valley in the northeastern highlands at 3,200 feet. Canaan Valley Resort State Park and Blackwater Falls State Park offer developed camping. The Blackwater Canyon drops 500 feet through dark hemlock forest. Cooler summer temperatures than the rest of the state. Cross-country skiing in winter. Canaan Valley Resort Campground and Restrite Campground in Davis provide the primary camping options on the high-elevation plateau.
Plains · Moundsville, Weston, Parkersburg, Huntington
The western border along the Ohio River. Moundsville, Wheeling, and Parkersburg have state parks with river-bluff camping. Beech Fork and North Bend state parks serve the Huntington and Charleston metro areas. Lower elevation and warmer than the highland regions. Hidden Hollow Park near Moundsville and campgrounds in the Weston area serve the western border corridor.

The national park has limited developed camping. Army Campground near Thurmond is the primary park-operated option. Private campgrounds and outfitter-affiliated camps along the gorge rim provide most of the camping capacity. Many campers combine a weekend of whitewater rafting with a night or two of camping.
Dolly Sods Wilderness sits at 4,000 feet on an exposed plateau with wind-stunted spruce, bogs, and open meadows. Parts of the wilderness have no maintained trails. Fog and weather can change rapidly. The terrain feels more like northern Canada than the mid-Atlantic. Come prepared for navigation and cold, wet conditions.
The Monongahela National Forest permits dispersed camping on most forest land. No fee or permit required. Popular areas near Dolly Sods and Seneca Rocks have established dispersed sites. State parks and forests require designated campsites.
Higher elevations around Dolly Sods and Spruce Knob begin turning in late September. The main Allegheny Highlands peak in early to mid-October. The New River Gorge and lower elevations follow in the third week of October. Conditions vary by a week or two depending on temperature patterns each year.
The New River and Gauley River provide the primary whitewater in the state. The New River has Class III to V rapids through the gorge. The Gauley below Summersville Dam is one of the most challenging commercial rafting runs in the East, operating during fall drawdown (September through October). Multiple outfitters combine rafting with camping packages.