Best Camping in and near Kanawha State Forest

100% (3 reviews)

Discover Kanawha State Forest's lush trails and diverse wildlife.

Popular ways to camp

Community favorites near Kanawha State Forest

Book externally

Public campgrounds in the park
Book externally

Stay at a public campground in Kanawha State Forest

100%

(3)

Kanawha Campground

46 sites · RVs, Tents In Kanawha State Forest

Top-rated campgrounds near Kanawha State Forest

100%

(1)

Flat Hollow Farm

7 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents10 acres · Clendenin, WV

Flat Hollow is a very secluded mountain wilderness area. This hidden gem is a treat for the eyes and a real hideaway from the real world. There is a stocked pond, firepit, outdoor cooking supply, camper hookups, rental cabins, hiking trails, local trout stream, wifi, pet friendly but the main attraction is the beauty of the Appalachian Mountains and the guaranteed Classic Almost Heaven WV Experience you will get! The location is ideally located 17 miles from the Capitol of West Virginia and 11 miles from the airport! Only a few miles from I-79 and I-77 for people passing through but still want a real mountain wilderness experience. There is now an available Dumping Station!

98%

(22)

Ray's Campground

25 sites · Lodging, RVs, Tents50 acres · Hico, WV

Ray's Campground is a picturesque camping facility located in Hico, West Virginia. Nestled in the heart of nature, this campground offers a serene and tranquil setting for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy the beauty of the surrounding area. The campground is situated amidst lush greenery, with towering trees providing shade and a sense of privacy to campers. The natural landscape of the area creates a peaceful atmosphere that allows visitors to unwind and connect with nature. Ray's Campground offers a variety of camping options to cater to different preferences. Whether you prefer tent camping or RV camping, you'll find suitable accommodations here. The campground provides spacious campsites with fire rings and picnic tables, allowing you to have a comfortable and enjoyable camping experience. One of the highlights of Ray's Campground is its proximity to the scenic New River Gorge National River. This nationally recognized park offers breathtaking views of the New River and its impressive gorge. Visitors can engage in a range of outdoor activities, including hiking, fishing, kayaking, rock climbing, and mountain biking. The campground serves as an excellent base for exploring the natural wonders of the area. In addition to the stunning natural surroundings, Ray's Campground provides amenities to enhance your camping experience. The facilities may include clean restrooms with showers, and a communal gathering area where you can socialize with fellow campers. Whether you are seeking solitude in nature or looking to engage in thrilling outdoor adventures, Ray's Campground in Hico, WV, offers a welcoming and scenic environment for a memorable camping getaway.

100%

(6)

Hamilton Farms

2 sites · RVs, Tents30 acres · Big Chimney, WV

Our 30 acre farm has plenty of places to stroll or hike. We used to run a show barn but currently only board, hence the 23 stall barn. Charleston, the state capital, has all you need for a fun day of activities, restaurants, shopping and river front. Learn more about this land: Located 15 minutes from downtown Hip Historic Charleston WV. We are a boarding horse farm. There is one location available with electronic and water hookup. In addition there are various other places to park around the farm. In bad weather if you are tent camping you can sleep inside our indoor riding arena which is also where the bathroom is located. Hiking available on property and beyond.

Booked 1 time

Riverside Retreats

2 sites · Lodging, Tents100 acres · Alum Creek, WV

Beautiful rustic cabin and campsites along the Little Coal River. Enjoy the unique experience of floating in with your kayak or canoe and staying for the weekend at The Lillian, our newly built cabin or at one of our campsites located on the bank of the river. Enjoy the sounds of the rippling water while snoozing in the shade of the hammock or the nightly whippoorwill’s song as you are relaxing by the warm glow of the campfire. Once you have experienced this slice of “almost heaven” you will most surely not want to leave. BOAT ACCESS ONLY- NO VEHICLE ACCESS - bookings will not be refunded due to site access.

100%

(15)

Mountain Magnolia Forest Farm

1 site · RV, Tent8 acres · Fayetteville, WV

8 acres of beautiful forested land with a small creek running nearby the campsite. WALKING distance to New River Gorge National Park! Approx 5min walk across edmond-lansing rd to short creek/head house trail. Hiking to views of the gorge, down to the river and plenty of climbing. Endless wall is 2 min drive down the road, some of the best hiking and climbing in the gorge! Beauty Mountain overlook is 1.5 miles away. Campsite is off of a private neighborhood road. GPS will NOT take you to our place. It will send you to the neighbors, so please follow written directions from host. We don’t want to burden our neighbors. Thank you! There is a small fire ring, bring dry wood and make sure to put your fire completely out anytime you wont be attending it, this is the woods. ALL are welcome. This space is a safe place, and prejudice or hate will not be tolerated. Thank you for treating others with respect and kindness.

100%

(2)

Horse Creek Cabins

2 sites · RVs1 acre · Morrisvale, WV

Welcome to our serene campground nestled in the heart of rural West Virginia. Picture yourself surrounded by lush greenery, with the soothing sound of a small creek running alongside your campsite. As you relax by the fire pit, you might catch glimpses of deer grazing in the distance, adding to the tranquil ambiance of nature. Conveniently located just 4 miles from the Hatfield McCoy Trails Ivy Branch Trailhead and a short drive from the Hobet Outlaw Trails, our campground is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. Whether you're an avid hiker, biker, or ATV rider, there are plenty of adventures waiting for you just beyond our doorstep. Despite our secluded setting, you're never too far from modern conveniences. Within a 25-minute drive, you can explore the vibrant shopping scene at Southridge in Charleston, WV, where you'll find a plethora of stores and dining options to suit every taste. Escape the hustle and bustle of city life and immerse yourself in the beauty of nature at our peaceful campground. We look forward to welcoming you for a memorable outdoor experience.

98%

(27)

Possum Holler Camp- New River Gorge

1 site · RV, Tent3 acres · Victor, WV

Camping at Possum Holler Camp will provide you the perfect blend of solitude and recreation access. You will truly be in the heart of the New River National Park, yet still feel secluded in the beautiful woods without neighbors. You will have private access to beautiful and idyllic Mill Creek, which has many beautiful emerald pools and is even seasonally stocked with rainbow trout! Within a mile you can access the New River Gorge Bridge and the Canyon Rim Visitor Center, and you are equally close to the park's world class climbing, rafting, hiking, ziplining, and mountain biking at the New River Gorge National Park and surrounding areas. Your group will have the entire camp to yourselves, so there's no need to worry about noisy neighbors. Our driveway has recently been revamped to include more flat parking and a less steep access route! While these improvements are great, we still caution our guests to avoid bringing large trailers and to use 4WD if available in an attempt to minimize rutting in the future. We want you to enjoy a lovely campfire, but we ask that you purchase firewood locally because invasive pest species can travel in firewood. Possum Holler Camp is a Leave No Trace campsite, guests are asked to pack out anything they bring in and leave the area undisturbed. This includes damaging vegetation, creating new fire rings, or altering the natural area in any way. Also, please do not camp in the meadow area and only use the cleared out areas in the woods surrounding the parking and picnic/fire area for pitching tents. If you stay below the high water line, then feel free to move as far up or downstream Mill Creek as you like. The creek is indescribably beautiful in both directions! But please keep in mind that there is private property once you are above the high water line, please do not trespass on our neighbor's property.

100%

(9)

Moore Mountain

2 sites · Tents20 acres · Summersville, WV

Sitting at 2500' elevation we are offering 20 acres of mixed hardwood forest with berry picking and wildlife viewing, including a hiking trail that ends at a mountaintop veiw. We are located 10 min from summersville lake and 20 min from Monongahela National forest. Backpacking tents or hammocks are well suited for the mtn top camping site. Fresh garden veggies, farm eggs and spring water available while in season

100%

(2)

Skyedanser Campsite

1 site · Tent5 acres · Red House, WV

Once known as Skyedanser Farms, horse ranch turned campsite. Five acres of land located “on the hill.” For several generations hay, gardens, and livestock have been raised on this land.

96%

(12)

New River Gorge Lodging

9 sites · Lodging10 acres · Hico, WV

Retreat to our tiny houses that look like miniature log cabins inside & enjoy the freedom of having the whole space to yourselves. Just like the kind in the TV shows, we built these last year. Our 18'x8' tiny house can sleep up to four. We are located right off of the main highway, in a campground/RV park ***off to the side in our own area where we have 4 tiny houses in total**. All are self contained and on grid with full electric & water. **No children under age 10 and not pet friendly**WE CLOSE THEM DOWN FOR THE WINTER FROM OCT 22, 2023 to MAY 1, 2024*** We are located exactly 2 & 1/2 miles north of the New River Gorge Bridge which is the edge of town of Fayetteville. We are close to the location that Airbnb put us, but due to West Virginia addressing it is the closest we could show on their map. Please ask us any questions you may have prior to booking about location, the tiny houses, activities, or anything!! ** No children under age of 10 and all tiny houses are not pet friendly** We love the location being 2 minutes from the New river and close to all national parks. The Gorge is an awesome site and we hope others enjoy are area as much as we do. Close to white water rafting and rock climbing areas too. Guests have access to the parking lot and the yards in back of the cabins. Feel free to bring a frisbie! Also have free access to free washing machines and dryers on the property as well. ***PLEASE NOTE*** Even though they can sleep up to 4 people, it may be very cramped inside with that many.**** Please note the tiny house is 18' X 8'. The first floor approximately 126 square feet including the bathroom. The second floor loft is approx. 80 square feet. Our water is city water on tap. ALSO, there are 4 of the tiny houses on that part of the campground. EVERY tiny house has it's own picnic table and fire ring. You will never share anything with any other tiny house guest. This is like the new tiny house hotels! All 4 of them are listed on Airbnb. Ask us for the Airbnb links to the others! Built just last year, our 18'x8' tiny house can sleep up to four. **Our tiny house ceilings are low, with just 6’2’’ in the kitchen. Clearance in the loft is about 4 feet. There’s a steep, narrow ladder into the open loft, which has a small railing, and doorways are narrow at 24 inches wide.** We have 4 tiny houses in total. We are located right off of the main highway, in a campground/RV park ***off to the side in our own area***. All of our tiny houses are completely self contained and on grid with full electricity and running water. ***Please note*** Even though they can sleep up to 4 people, it may be cramped inside with that many.**** Please note the tiny house is 18' X 8'. ***IN THE EARLY SPRING AND AGAIN IN THE FALL UNTIL END OF OCTOBER**There is a space heater and also a wall heater. Please note that these may not warm up to 80 degrees or more*** ***PLEASE NOTE****The couch on the first floor has 3 sections that are stacked and are made out of a regular 8 " memory foam , full size bed mattress. The mattress was cut into 3 sections and each section covered. This can sleep 2 people but please note it is a full size mattress, not a queen size. The 3 sections lay next to each other & become a regular full size mattress on the floor. *****The fitted sheet included in the bedding will keep all the pieces put tightly together side by side*** Please ask us any questions you may have prior to booking if you are unsure. There is a regular home mattress that is queen size in the loft as well. Both are very thick memory foam, regular bed mattresses with all pillows and bed linens provided. The bedding for the first floor bed will be laid out on the couch when you come in. There is a folding card table and 2 metal folding chairs in the tiny house. The full bathroom has a shower, toilet, and sink. We include towels, toilet paper, and hand soap. Usually the towel sets are underneath the bathroom sinks. You will have access to the laundry building where washers and dryers are free to use. Kitchenette has a kitchen sink with running water, mini fridge, coffee maker, microwave and a hot plate. We include a Mr Coffee type coffee maker, filters, coffee and styrofoam coffee cups. We have one pot, one pan (which are specific to the hot plate), paper plates, paper bowls, plastic ware -knives, forks, and spoons, & plastic cups. We also provide liquid dish soap and paper towels. There is a television but no satellite, cable or local stations. Feel free to bring your own DVD player, games, etc. and cords. We do not supply cords for your devices. **Please Note** There is NO wifi. The entire New River Gorge area does not have a good service provider yet. Cell service in our area is usually very good for most carriers, as we are high up and off the main highway. Your cellular hot spot should work very well. Outside the tiny house, there is a picnic table and fire ring that you’re able to use to cook and push aside the grate later to sit around a fire. Firewood is for sale for $5 per bundle if you call the phone # on the door. They will deliver it in a short period of time. You may want to bring lawn chairs as I do not supply them. Also any outdoor cooking utensils would be good to bring as well. Love playing games? This is the place for you! More than enough space outside to play bags, horses, washers, frisbee, soccer, kickball...you name it! Ask me about our space! There is plenty of parking to include trailers and toys. Our tiny houses are along the side on the inside of a campground. Feel free to have a friend camp outside the tiny house. We have no parking rules, feel free to park right by your tiny house. **Our tiny house ceilings are low, with just 6’2’’ in the kitchen. Clearance in the loft is about 4 feet. There’s a steep, narrow ladder into the open loft, which has a small railing, and doorways are narrow at 24 inches wide.** We clean and sanitize your space according to Airbnb’s enhanced cleaning protocol that was developed Internationally with EcoLab. Here are a few highlights: We sanitize high-touch surfaces, down to the doorknob. We use cleaners and disinfectants approved by global health agencies, and the cleaning team wear protective gear to help prevent cross-contamination. We clean each room using extensive cleaning checklists. If you would like extra cleaning supplies, please call us, do not message or email. We also comply with local laws, including any additional safety or cleaning guidelines. Please ask us any questions you may have. We have also own 7 cabins on one property about 2 miles north of the tiny houses. They are also listed in Airbnb, if you can't find their listing please message and I will send you the link to their listings. All are listed in Airbnb. Great for groups or family get togethers! Our intention is for the tiny house to be affordable and work with your schedule. If the price you see for the dates you want is not available, please message us and let us know what would work for you so we can try to accommodate you. **PLEASE NOTE** Our general area has a few food delivery services. However, most restaurants will also have carry outs available for you to pick up. Also our guests have ordered groceries at our local Walmart for pick up. This is very handy for groups.

80%

(5)

Bare Cove

4 sites · RVs, Tents120 acres · Ravenswood, WV

If you are looking for a party you found it. We have no quiet hours, we do get loud and have a great time on the weekends. Its not uncommon for beer pong or card games to go into the early hours. Not the best idea to bring small children to a rager but were open to all ages and backgrounds, anybody that enjoys making friends and having fun on the lake. All guests must sign personal injury waivers to cover our 6. So about the property, its 120+ acres with a 5 acre man made lake that features blue waters, a beach area and tikibar. We have atv trails, private camp sites and group sites. Enjoy the day floating in the clear blue water, fishing (separate pond) or hiking. Our lake also features a launch pillow for blasting your friends up to 20 ft in the air! We also have inflatable cabanas on the water for rent if you want some R&R. Thanks for looking, would love to host you and your party out at the lake.

Booked 1 time

5 Leaf Farm

5 sites · Lodging100 acres · Walton, WV

This area was known by the Native Americans as "Pocatalico" (land of the fat doe), and first settled by Europeans around 1890. The property itself was first settled by a man named Mayford Jones, who set the first stones here around 1910. A Jenny Lynn style farmhouse was built and the property was known as one of the best developed farms in the area. Today, the forest has returned to what was once pasture land on the majority of the 100 acre plot, and a small but intensive sustainable forest farm has been taking shape since 2013 under the current host and occupant, who prefers the term "steward" rather than "owner".

The best camping near Kanawha State Forest guide

Overview

About

KanaWHAT?! A place you can find 9,300 wooded acres full of wildflowers and songbirds just seven miles from the capital? It’s no surprise that Kanawha is a favorite spot among Charleston urbanites for weekend picnics and the occasional camping trip. Hiking, mountain biking, and cross-country skiing trails make this forest an outdoor gym for local residents, but Kanawha isn’t just good for a quick dose of fresh air and recreation. The State Forest is known among naturalists as a hotspot for wildflowers and birds, with rich habitats that support 19 different species of wood warblers. If you think this place is just for locals, don’t be dismayed! Birders travel all the way from Canada to witness Kanawha in summer bloom. No need to book a hotel in Charleston—camp right in the forest for some fresh air and an early morning wake-up call, courtesy of those 19 types of warblers.

When to go

The ideal time to visit Kanawha State Forest is during the spring and fall when the weather is mild and the forest is alive with color. Summer offers lush greenery but can be quite warm, while winter brings a quiet, frosty beauty, though some trails may be less accessible. Avoid peak holiday weekends for a more tranquil experience.

Know before you go

Check the forest's official website for any trail closures or safety alerts before your visit.
Wear appropriate footwear and clothing for hiking and be prepared for changing weather conditions.
Cell service may be limited, so download maps and trail guides ahead of time.
Respect wildlife habitats by keeping a safe distance and not feeding the animals.
Facilities such as restrooms and picnic areas are available, but it's wise to bring essentials like water and snacks.