West Virginia is divided into eight regional areas. There are campgrounds available in all areas, including the Metro Region which is home to the state capitol, Charleston. Most of the state is made up of hills and rugged mountains that are part of the Appalachian and Allegheny mountain ranges. Almost 80 percent of West Virginia is forest land and within these wilderness areas are 37 state forests and state parks. Hiking, skiing, fishing, swimming, hunting and horseback riding are some of the activities offered in campgrounds throughout the state.
State park and state forest campsites are divided into four types. Deluxe sites have electric hookups and some sites with water and sewer services. There is an RV dump station (place to empty the RV's used water and sewage tanks), public showers, laundry room and restrooms with flush toilets. Standard sites mirror the deluxe but usually with no hookups except electric in some cases. Rustic sites offer pit toilets and well water. Primitive campsites are undeveloped and may or may not have toilets or water available.
Though most campgrounds in West Virginia are in the state park, state forest or wildlife management areas, there are privately owned campgrounds. Some, like the Fox Fire KOA offer more of a resort setting. They offer paved streets and pull-through RV sites with full hookups that are able to handle the largest motor homes or truck and trailer combinations. It is still camping, but there are usually playgrounds for the kids, swimming pools and onsite mini-markets. This particular KOA is just off Interstate 64 and close enough for a quick trip to Charleston, 28 miles east.
Most state-owned campgrounds are open from the middle of April to the latter part of October, depending on the weather. Some, like those at Moncove Lake and on state forest land, usually remain open through the end of deer hunting season, early December at the latest. A few, including the Pipestem Resort and the Stonewall Resort, are open year round. Winter campers should make sure they have heat tape for the water connections and a well insulated RV unit. Call ahead and make sure campsites are available and check on driving conditions.
Not all RVs will fit in all campgrounds. Facilities such as Stonewall Resort in Stonewall Jackson State Park offer camp spaces large enough to accommodate 40 foot class-A motor homes with slides. The Stonewall Resort offers water, sewer and electric hookups. At the opposite end of the camping scale is the Mill Creek Campground at the Kumbrabow State Forest. Drivers of campers more than 20 feet long may have a tough time navigating the roadways and finding a camp space big enough for their rig. There are no hook ups but there are camp showers and a laundry room.
