West Virginia Outdoor Guide: Campgrounds, Trails, Beaches & RV Spots
Key Takeaways
- West Virginia actually ranked #1 in a recent “most outdoorsy states” study based on per-capita outdoor activity searches — this isn’t a hidden gem anymore, it’s a real destination
- New River Gorge is the anchor of the whole state’s outdoor identity — the Endless Wall Trail alone is worth planning a trip around
- Summersville Lake’s clear water and sandstone cliffs have earned it the nickname “Little Bahamas of the East,” and it’s a genuinely good swap for anyone expecting an ocean beach
- Expect poor-to-no cell service and electric-only hookups at most state park campgrounds — plan around it rather than being surprised by it
Mountains, Gorges, and Genuinely Clear Water
West Virginia doesn’t have a coastline, so lakes and rivers do all the swimming work here — and New River Gorge does most of the heavy lifting for hiking. Both are genuinely worth the trip.
Campgrounds
Blackwater Falls State Park Campground — Davis
65 sites near the iconic falls, with a bathhouse, hot showers, and a laundromat. Deer wander through at dusk, and you’re close to the arty towns of Davis and Thomas. Sites are paved but often not level — a heads up more than a dealbreaker.
Learn more
Watoga State Park — Marlinton/Hillsboro
West Virginia’s largest state park, with campgrounds along the Greenbrier River and near a lake with a solar-heated pool. Spacious and quiet — but expect no cell service and weak WiFi.
Learn more
Babcock State Park — Clifftop
52 sites near the famously photogenic Glade Creek Grist Mill. Some sites run small and unlevel, and the roads in are narrow and winding — worth knowing before you arrive with a bigger rig.
Learn more
ACE Adventure Resort — Oak Hill/Minden
A 1,500-acre activity hub right at New River Gorge, with both tent and full-hookup RV sites, rafting, a zipline, and a 5-acre waterpark. The best pick if your family wants built-in activity alongside the camping.
Learn more
Stonewall Resort / Stonewall Jackson Lake State Park — Roanoke
Reservable lakeside camping paired with an upscale resort lodge and marina. Clean amenities and real lake views.
Learn moreHiking Trails (New River Gorge, Blue Ridge & Mountains)
Endless Wall Trail, New River Gorge National Park
The park’s signature hike — 2.4 to 5.4 miles depending on the route, ending at Diamond Point’s cliff-top views over the New River. Hemlock forest, rock climbers visible below. If you only do one hike in West Virginia, make it this one.
Learn more
Long Point Trail, New River Gorge
An easy-to-moderate 3-mile round trip to a rock outcrop framing the New River Gorge Bridge — the longest single-span steel arch bridge in the country when it opened in 1977. A genuinely great sunset spot.
Learn more
Grandview Rim Trail
A moderate 4.1-mile rim trail with rhododendron tunnels and horseshoe-bend views over the river.
Learn more
Sandstone Falls (boardwalk)
An easy boardwalk to the New River’s largest waterfall, spanning roughly 1,500 feet — a good low-effort payoff for younger kids.
Learn more
Blackwater Falls & Elakala Falls Trails, Blackwater Falls State Park
Boardwalk stairs to the amber-colored Blackwater Falls, plus the smaller, fairy-tale Elakala Falls nearby. Easy-to-moderate, and worth pairing with a stay at the campground.
Learn more
Seneca Rocks — near Seneca Shadows
About 1.5 miles each way to an observation platform below the famous crag. Moderate-to-strenuous, and a genuinely dramatic destination.
Learn moreLakes & Swimming Areas
Summersville Lake
West Virginia’s largest lake — clear water and sandstone cliffs that have earned it the “Little Bahamas of the East” nickname. Great for swimming, kayaking, and cliff-jumping if your family’s up for it.
Learn more
Stonewall Jackson Lake — Roanoke
A resort lake with swimming, a marina, and watercraft rentals — a good pick if you want amenities alongside the water.
Learn more
Beech Fork Lake / State Park — near Huntington
A sandy swim beach kids genuinely love, paired with camping and good birding.
Learn more
Audra State Park (Middle Fork River)
A beloved classic swimming hole with deep pools and flat rock ledges — informal, scenic, and a real local favorite.
Learn more
Lake Sherwood — Monongahela National Forest
At around 2,700 feet elevation, this is West Virginia’s coolest lake — a good pick on a hot day when you want genuinely cold water.
Learn moreRV Spots
Battle Run Campground, Summersville Lake
110 electric lakeside sites, fitting rigs up to 50 feet, with a boat ramp right there. The top RV pick in the state.
Learn more
Watoga State Park
Spacious sites, most with electric, and genuinely large-rig-friendly — just don’t expect cell service.
Learn more
ACE Adventure Resort
Full-hookup RV sites paired with an excellent New River Gorge base and built-in activities.
Learn more
Blackwater Falls State Park
Large-RV-capable electric sites — check site slope before booking, since level ground isn’t guaranteed everywhere in the park.
Learn morePlanning Your Trip
New River Gorge should anchor almost any West Virginia trip — base at ACE Adventure Resort or Battle Run and build your days around the Endless Wall Trail and a swim at Summersville Lake. If you want a quieter, more rustic stay, Watoga or Blackwater Falls are both excellent, just plan around the lack of cell service and confirm your rig fits the site before you arrive.