Renting an RV in West Virginia

Places to See in West Virginia

Looking for a unique state in the Mid-Atlantic Southeast region? West Virginia is a great place for RVers. Whether you’re going for a longer stay or just want to rent an RV in West Virginia for the weekend, you should be able to find everything you’re looking for in this amazing Appalachian state.

West Virginia is known as the Mountain State. This makes sense. It’s in the heart of the Appalachian Mountain range. It’s also quite beautiful. This is one of the reasons you’ll want to rent an RV while you visit.

The state is home to some of the most beautiful landscapes east of the Mississippi River, and there’s also thriving cities and small towns, fantastic campgrounds, wonderful state parks, nature areas, and so much more. Don’t overlook this amazing state when planning your next trip.

Why Renting an RV in West Virginia Is the Way to Go

You could rent a cabin or hotel, but renting an RV in West Virginia gives you the freedom to see multiple parts of the state in one trip.

Renting an RV is smart for anyone who doesn’t want the ownership responsibilities that come with the RV. If you’d like to own, we can point you towards the right RV for you, but renting provides flexibility that you won’t have as an owner.
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While West Virginia is not as big of a state in terms of area as some of the popular western states, you’ll find that it has more to offer than you can experience in one short trip, and RVing simply makes it easier to take it all in.

Also, RVing in the state is welcomed. There are plenty of modern, high-quality campgrounds in the state, and most of them are near parks and venues that you’ll want to visit. This makes hitting the big bucket-list items easy.

10 Eye-Opening Places to See in West Virginia in Your Rental RV

West Virginia is home to some of the  U.S.’s best-hidden gems. It’s full of amazing hiking trails, white water rafting, rolling hills, and of course some of the most impressive parts of the Appalachian Mountains. Knowing where to go can be tough, so we’ve put together a list of the top 10 places you should visit in your rented RV.

Dolly Sods Wilderness Area

Located in the Monongahela National Forest, the Dolly Sods Wilderness Area is a truly unique location within the state. It features bog and heath eco-types, which are more commonly found in southern Canada. It’s a beautiful area with over 17,371 acres to explore and elevations change from 2,500 to over 4,700 feet. There are numerous campgrounds within the Monogahela National Forest that you can stay at in an RV. While none of them are right in the Dolly Sods Wilderness Area, there are numerous around the area, including Red Creek Campground, which is very close.
RVs near Dolly Sods Wilderness Area

Learn more about Dolly Sods Wilderness Area.

Blackwater Falls State Park

In the Allegheny Mountains of Tucker County, Blackwater Falls State Park offers families an opportunity to experience some wonderful trails and outdoor activities. One of the biggest attractions for the park is its a 57-foot cascade tinted with tannic acid from fallen hemlock and red spruce needles. This gives the falls their unique look, but the falls aren’t the only thing to see here. There are 20 miles of hiking trails and the longest sledding hill in the entire state.

The park has a campground, but there are plenty of other campgrounds in the area that you can stay at in your rented RV. These campgrounds are modern with plenty of amenities in most cases. They will enhance your visit to the amazing park and are perfect for you and your family.

Learn more about Blackwater Falls State Park

Summersville Lake

Summersville Lake is a reservoir located near the middle of the state that covers 2,700 acres and provides over 60 miles of shoreline. The lake has become a hub for recreation, including fishing, boating, and rock climbing. There’s also snorkeling and even scuba diving in certain areas. The deepest part of the lake is 390 feet, enabling scuba divers to go down into the depths and see some interesting things. The lake is also a fantastic place for families and surrounded by the Gauley River National Recreation Area.

Camping at the lake is easy in your rented RV. There are many campgrounds right on the lake. If you’d rather not be right near the water, then there are plenty of other campgrounds that accommodate RVs in the area. You should have no problem finding the perfect modern campground for you and your family.

Learn more about Summersville Lake

Spruce Knob

Spruce Knob is the highest peak in the entire state. Located within the Monongahela National Forest, the peak—and the surrounding area—is one of the most popular locations for visitors. The area around Spruce Knob offers some fantastic hiking and backpacking opportunities as well as beautiful scenic views. There’s also Spruce Knob Lake, which is a 23-acre reservoir that offers swimming, boating, and fishing opportunities.

Camping at Spruce Knob is easy in your RV. There’s a campground right at the lake that can accommodate you and your family in your rented RV. There are other modern camping opportunities in the area if that campground is full. However, those will be a little further away.

Learn more about Spruce Knob

Hawks Nest State Par

Hawks Nest State Park is one of the best in all of West Virginia. With over 270 acres of recreational area, this park is nestled right inside the heart of the state’s white water rafting country right next to the New River. Known for its scenic views, this park also offers some fantastic hiking an aerial tramway, and jetboat rides. White water rafting is the main draw, though.

There is a lodge at Hawks Nest State Park, but you can’t camp right there. However, there are several campgrounds in the area, so you should have no problem finding a place to park your RV and camp with your family. With only a few minutes’ drive to Hawks Nest from the nearest campgrounds, you’ll be right in the thick of things.

Learn more about Hawks Nest State Park

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park


Want to step back in time? Then visit Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. This park features picturesque streets, exhibits, museums, trails, and battlefields. You can also learn about the amazing peregrine falcons and how the area changed over time. It’s a fantastic place for families, especially if you have young kids who you want to get some education as well as entertainment.

Camping at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park is very easy. There are two campgrounds right next to the park, and more in the area. If you’re looking for a good place to park your RV, you won’t be in short supply. Some of the campgrounds are more primitive than others, so make sure to find one that works for you and your family.

Learn more about Harpers Ferry National Historical Park

Seneca Caverns

Located on a great Native American trading route through the Appalachian Mountains, the Seneca Caverns in West Virginia has a long and rich history. The caverns are an amazing sight to behold, and the roughly 45-minute tour through the caverns is both fun and educational. The surrounding area also provides opportunities for hiking, horseback riding, whitewater rafting, rock climbing, and more.

While there are no campgrounds right at the Seneca Caverns, there are numerous ones to the north and the west. These modern campgrounds will give you everything you need in terms of amenities and can act as your home base for activities in the area.

Learn more about Seneca Caverns

New River Gorge National River Park

The New River Gorge National River Park is made up of over 70,000 acres of land along the New River. The New River is one of the oldest on the continent, and it provides some of the most breathtaking views anywhere in the state of West Virginia. This area is home to some great fishing, hiking, rafting, boating, cycling, and exploring out there. There are also numerous nature centers and museums to visit.

Inside the park itself, there are only primitive campgrounds. If you’re up for boondocking and have rented a small enough RV, you may be able to camp right in the park. However, if you want more amenities, then you should look at the surrounding campgrounds. These campgrounds will provide you with more amenities.

Learn more about New River Gorge National River

West Virginia State Museum at the Culture Center, Charleston

Want to spend some time in a city while in West Virginia? You should head to Charleston. It’s the capital of the state and home to the West Virginia State Musem and Culture Center, which is a fun and educational place for all ages. With well-designed exhibits and over 60,000 artifacts, there’s plenty to see.

While there aren’t any campgrounds in Charleston, there are campgrounds in the area. While it might be a little bit of a drive into the city, you’ll find that these campgrounds are located at interesting spots like the Kanawha State Forest. You should have no problem finding a campground in this area of the state, and you’ll only have a 20-minute drive or so to the museum.

Learn more about Blackwater Falls State Park

Monongahela National Forest

So, some of the locations listed previously were in the Monongahela National Forest, but the forest itself deserves its own mention here. It’s simply an amazing natural place filled with wildlife, beautiful sights, and scenic landscapes. The forest includes 921,000 acres within a 1,700,000 acres proclamation boundary. As you can imagine there are thousands of possibilities within this park, including the ones listed above. We would urge you to drive the Highland Scenic Highway and check out a few of the wilderness areas within the forest.

Camping in the Monongahela National Forest is easy. It spans such a large area, you will have no problem finding a place to camp in your rented RV. We would advise you to find a location within the forest that offers access to some other places you want to see. From there look for campgrounds that offer good amenities and are close to the things you want to experience.

Learn more about Monongahela National Forest

Campgrounds and RV Parks in West Virginia

As has been mentioned above, campgrounds are plentiful in West Virginia. The state is full of both publicly-owned and privately-owned campgrounds. This means you have plenty of choices in most cases.

If you want to camp at a publicly-owned park, make sure to think about the length of the RV you intend to rent. Many campgrounds have limits on length. In general, unless you need it, you’ll be better served by a shorter RV. This is true when driving the RV on West Virginia’s winding mountain roads, too.

Our advice would be to stick to campgrounds that are close to national parks and forests, or state parks and forests. These campgrounds will be higher trafficked and that can translate to more amenities and a better campground or RV park in general. You can see a list of campgrounds in West Virginia here, compiled by Good Sam.

Things to Note About Camping in West Virginia

West Virginia is a mountainous and hilly landscape. This means there will be many elevation changes. Make sure if you’re renting a towable RV, you have a vehicle that can handle the job of towing the camper without issue.

Also, it’s important to note that West Virginia has a humid climate. This means it can get quite hot and uncomfortable in the hottest months of the year. Keep this in mind if you’re looking for a campground. We would advise finding a location with full hookup campsites if you’re going to be camping in the hottest months of the year so that you can run your air conditioner if your RV has one.

In general, weather and temperatures can vary in West Virginia, so it’s important to pay attention to the weather in the area of the state you plan to visit.

Dry Camping or Boondocking in West Virginia

Campgrounds are plentiful in West Virginia, but there are also opportunities for boondocking or dry camping in the state.

The Monongahela National Forest allows dry camping, and that means there are hundreds of thousands of acres for you to camp at. Of course, you will still have to find a way to power up your RV’s batteries and empty your tanks from time to time.

Boondocking in West Virginia can be a great way to keep your overall trip bill down. We would suggest easing into boondocking if you’ve not ever done it before. Try it for a single night and then the next night find a nice campground with full hookup campsites and amenities.

In some cases, certain businesses—such as select Walmarts—will even let you boondock in their parking lot overnight. This can be a great way to load up on groceries and supplies and then relax at the end of a long day out hiking. While not glamorous, it’s free and allows you to put the money you’ve budgeted for your trip to better use elsewhere.