Charleston, the capital of West Virginia, is a lively city located in the heart of Appalachia. Established as Charles Town in 1788, Charleston has become an exciting destination for lovers of history and culture. With a population of over 50,000 people, Charleston is a bustling city with many attractions to explore. The City Park of Charleston includes sprawling green spaces and features several monuments that pay homage to the city’s history. The park also contains playgrounds and picnic areas that are perfect for families. Nearby the park lies the Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences, which boasts historical and modern art galleries and science exhibits. The surrounding area is home to several historical sites, such as Elkview Fort, which was built to protect against Native American raids during Colonial times, and Rock Creek Mansion, which was built in 1819-20 by Colonel John Stuart. Kanawha State Forest provides plenty of outdoor activities for nature enthusiasts, including hiking trails, fishing spots, hunting zones, and camping grounds. For those looking to relax, Kanawha River is a great spot for kayaking or canoeing down its winding waters. Further down south lies Kanawha State Farm, which offers acres upon acres of picturesque woodlands where visitors can go bird-watching or admire the local wildlife while on a leisurely stroll. Offering everything from quaint restaurants serving up classic Southern comfort food to Italian eateries offering delectable pasta dishes, there's something in Charleston for everyone's taste buds. Restaurants such as The Spice & Tea Exchange specialize in seasonal ingredients sourced from local farms while others like Craft Beer Cellar curate an impressive selection of craft beers from all over the world. In addition to this wide range of dining options available throughout town, several popular farmers markets are held weekly where visitors can purchase fresh produce from local vendors at extremely affordable prices.
Rippling Waters Campground is located just a few miles outside Charleston and offers over 95 beautiful campsites, including those with full hookups, cable TV, fire pits, and picnic tables. It also features several amenities, such as a swimming pool, laundry facilities, and over 15 miles of hiking trails to explore. This campground is perfect for RVers who like staying as close to the city as possible while enjoying some outdoor activities. Krodel Park is located about 30 minutes from downtown Charleston and offers recreational activities such as paddle boating, fishing, and biking on over six miles of paved trails. It also includes a variety of RV sites with full hookups and spectacular views of the lake. With its convenient location and many amenities, this park is ideal for RVers who want to get away from it all without straying too far from civilization. Little Coal River Campground is a popular spot among RVers because of its tranquility and natural beauty. Located in nearby Poca, WV, this campground features full-hookup sites along with a variety of other amenities, including laundry facilities, a pool table room, playgrounds, and basketball courts. The nearby river provides plenty of opportunities for fishing or kayaking during your stay. Little Coal River Campground is perfect for those seeking a peaceful escape while still only being an hour away from downtown Charleston.
Chief Logan State Park is located in the southern part of the state and offers over 2,000 acres of woodlands and rolling hills. There are 10 miles of trails that wind through some of the region’s best viewpoints and a large lake where visitors can swim or fish. The park also contains a playground, lodge area with a restaurant and gift shop, campground with cabins available for rent, meeting facilities, and an outdoor amphitheater. Kanawha State Forest lies just 10 miles east of downtown Charleston. It comprises nearly 10,000 acres of rugged hillsides covered by vast tracts of forestland. There are numerous trails available for hiking or horseback riding while fishing in its two lakes provides another way to enjoy the outdoors. An archery range is also located within the park’s boundaries for those who wish to practice their aim with a bow and arrows. Beech Fork State Park lies about 40 miles west of Charleston in Wayne County near Huntington. This 980-acre park was created around Beech Fork Lake, which provides excellent fishing opportunities for anglers looking for bass or catfish. In addition to swimming beaches on both sides of the lake, camping is available here along with other recreational amenities such as boat launch ramps and picnic areas scattered throughout the park grounds. Trails provide more ways to explore this picturesque setting featuring forested ridges that rise above lush green valleys where wildflowers bloom during springtime.
Gauley River National Recreation Area is located in Fayette County, West Virginia and consists of over 25,000 acres along the New and Gauley Rivers. The area was established in 1988 to preserve and protect scenic rivers and their tributaries. Visitors can enjoy outdoor activities such as swimming, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, camping, and hiking. There are also several historic features like old mines and bridges that give visitors an insight into the local history. Bluestone National Scenic River is located in Summers County, West Virginia and is part of Monongahela National Forest. This beautiful river offers plenty of opportunities for trout fishing as well as other recreational activities like canoeing, kayaking, and boating. It is also home to some rare species of plants and animals that are rarely seen anywhere else in the state. Hopewell Culture National Historical Park preserves an ancient earthwork system created by indigenous people more than 2,000 years ago. Located in Ross County, Ohio, near Mound City State Monument, this park offers visitors a unique opportunity to explore Native American history up close with its earthworks, including mounds constructed from soil moved by hand from nearby quarries. Visitors can tour reconstructed dwellings demonstrating traditional building techniques used by these ancient people. The park also offers opportunities for exploring mounds containing artifacts left behind by early civilizations, such as pottery shards, arrowheads, spear points, and tools made from stone or bone.
Monongahela National Forest, located just over two hours outside of Charleston, is one of the closest national forests to the city. The nearly 900,000-acre forest offers breathtaking mountain views and adventure for hikers, campers, and RVers alike. Visitors can explore one of more than two dozen trails ranging from easy family hikes on gentle paths to intense climbs up steep terrain. Campsites are plentiful in the park, with over 50 developed sites available and numerous primitive spots in the backcountry. Monongahela also offers ample opportunity for wildlife viewing, with a variety of animals, such as white-tailed deer, squirrels, and black bears roaming through its lush landscape. Next on the list of nearby national forests is Wayne National Forest, which is also around two hours away from Charleston. The area boasts more than 244,000 acres of forests, foothills, and wetlands in southeastern Ohio. The lakes, streams, and rivers in the forest are popular among anglers. Other activities available in the forest include RV and primitive camping, horseback riding, and OHV riding. Visitors can also hike and explore the forest via its more than 400 miles of trails. Located in Tennessee, just under four hours away from Charleston, Cherokee National Forest is split in half by Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The forest's 650,000 acres are home to a variety of wildlife and many great spots for hiking, hunting, camping, and fishing. There are over 30 campgrounds and numerous picnic areas available. Hikers and bikers will find more than 700 miles of trails, including a portion of the Appalachian Trail. Anglers can try their luck at the Ocoee and Tellico rivers or Watauga Lake, which is also a popular boating destination. Other attractions in Cherokee National Forest include the Bald Mountains, Starr Mountain, and the Backbone Rock Recreation Area.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park is a protected area between Cleveland and Akron, Ohio and is only about two hours from Charleston. This park is home to numerous species of wildlife, including white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, and coyotes. It also boasts an array of trees, such as chestnut oak, black walnut, and sugar maple. In addition, trails wind through the forests, offering breathtaking views and opportunities for hiking, biking, or horseback riding. The park also features historical sites such as the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail, where visitors can learn more about the region’s history. New River George National Park is situated along the border between West Virginia and Virginia — just under three hours away from Charleston. It encompasses over 70 miles of wild riverside land with unique geological features such as concretions, which are formations of stone composed of iron ore deposits that look like giant eggs scattered across the ground. The park provides plenty of activities for outdoor enthusiasts, including camping, fishing, canoeing, and kayaking along its serene waters. Visitors can also take in spectacular views from several overlooks along either side of the river or explore hiking trails lined with lush greenery. Shenandoah National Park lies three hours from Charleston on the Crestline of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. This stunning park spans over 200,000 acres and includes hundreds of miles of hiking trails for visitors to enjoy amid rolling hillsides covered by hemlocks, oaks, and maples. Additionally, it features dark sky preserves allowing stargazers to get an unobstructed view into night skies while camping or backpacking. For those who would rather stay in their car, they can also drive along Skyline Drive. This 105-mile stretch offers spectacular views throughout four distinct seasons as well as plenty of places to pull off for photographs or picnics.
Motorhomes are divided into Class A, B, and C vehicles. On average expect to pay $185 per night for Class A, $149 per night for Class B and $179 per night for Class C. Towable RVs include 5th Wheel, Travel Trailers, Popups, and Toy Hauler. On average, in Charleston, WV, the 5th Wheel trailer starts at $70 per night. Pricing for the Travel Trailer begins at $60 per night, and the Popup Trailer starts at $65 per night.
Do you need to be a certain age to rent an RV in Charleston?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in Charleston from RVshare.
Does RVshare have emergency roadside assistance?Yes. Every RV rental booked through RVshare receives 24/7 emergency roadside assistance.
Does RVshare offer one way RV rentals in Charleston?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.
