RV Rental West Virginia

Top Three Rental Locations in West Virginia

The state of West Virginia is known for its forests that cover 72% of the land. Compared to the trees, hills, valleys, and streams, the cities seem almost an afterthought. It is a great place to live and even a better place to visit. Visitors can best explore the state by searching one of the three largest cities for an appropriate RV to rent—Charleston, Huntington, or Morgantown.

Travel trailers are the favorite RVs to rent in West Virginia. These units are easy to park while exploring the area with the detached tow vehicle. There is a significant cost difference between travel trailers, which is often dependent on their size, age, and the number of people they sleep. For instance, an 18-foot, 2012 Jayco Flight that sleeps five rents for $65 per night while a 29-foot 2019 Jayco Jay Flight SLX that sleeps eight costs $135 per day.

Those preferring to use motorhomes to explore West Virginia tend to rent Class C vehicles. Older Class C motorhomes like the 31-foot 2008 Coachmen RV Freelander found in Vienna that sleeps five rents for $175 per night while the 32-foot 2013 Jayco Classic in Dunbar that sleeps six costs $250 per day. 

West Virginia RV Rentals by City

Charleston, West Virginia’s capital, has a population near 52,000. As a salt-mining community, Charleston quickly grew as the only developer and distributor of this essential product. Recent developments in the chemical, glass, and timber industries mitigated the decline of the coal mining industry. Economic advancements in Charleston, including those related to government, helped create small businesses and amenities, including:

• 300+ Restaurants
• 100+ Gas Stations
• 5 Campgrounds
• 2 Nearby State Parks
• 2 Nearby Dump Stations

With a population of 51,000, Huntington sits on the Ohio River directly across from the state of Ohio. It benefits from its location and has the second-busiest inland harbor in the country. The city is famous for its antique shops and period architecture. Recent years have seen a dramatic increase in businesses such as:

• 250+ Restaurants
• 80+ Gas Stations
• 4 Campgrounds
• 1 Nearby State Park

Morgantown sits on the northern border with Pennsylvania, tucked in the Appalachian Mountains amongst dense forests. Over 30,000 people call the city home. Heavily invested in the coal industry, Morgantown is winning the battle to reinvent itself with new industries such as chemical plants, forest products, and hotels to invigorate a flagging economy. Recent economic surges are producing new small business opportunities, including:

• 400+ Restaurants
• 90+ Gas Stations
• 2 Nearby State Parks
• 9 Campgrounds

Best National Parks in West Virginia

West Virginia hosts one national park, New River Gorge National Park. Set aside as a natural preserve for decades, the area elevated to national park status in 2020. Sitting close to Charleston, this park consists of 70,000 acres of land stretching along the New River's mountains and valleys. As a natural wonderland, this park provides incredible views, an unbelievable variety of deciduous and conifer trees, and numerous tributaries that crash and bang their way down hills to plunge into the waiting waters of the New River. Anglers find trails that lead to bouncing brooks and hidden lakes filled with teeming fish. Hikers and mountain bikers take to the miles of trails to observe wildlife habitats for owls, bald eagles, hawks, opossums, deer, bears, and many more.

Shenandoah National Park is less than a four-hour drive eastward from Beckley, WV. It sits in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, protecting over 300 square miles. Hikers, anglers, wildlife enthusiasts, and mountain bike riders love this park for its preservation of an area full of life. The forests color the hillsides in the fall and burgeon with new life in the spring. One of the most popular national parks in the system, Shenandoah is visited by more than 5 million visitors annually. 

Mammoth National Park is less than a four-hour drive west of Huntington, WV. Named for the huge system of caves found near Brownsville, KY, this park protects 52,830 acres of wilderness designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve. There are over 80 miles of hiking trails, including boardwalks and backcountry paths that explore the park's deep valleys and hills. The featured attraction, the caves, includes over 400 miles of caverns filled with flowstone, stalagmites, and stalactites, making it the largest system of known caves in the world.

Popular State Parks in West Virginia

About 100 miles east of Charleston, Holly River State Park, the second-largest state park in West Virginia covering 8,130 acres, fills a narrow valley surrounded by forested mountains. Inside the park, guests find tennis courts, a swimming pool, an RV campground, rivers, and miles of hiking and biking trails. The Holly River Restaurant, located in the park, is perched on a hillside providing impressive views of the valley below and the surrounding mountains.

Moncove Lake State Park sits 133 miles southeast of Charleston and includes 832 acres of green, forested terrain around 144-acre Moncove Lake. The park is a favorite for bird watchers as over 160 species of birds use the park as a rest point during their biannual migrations. The fishing in the lake and the tributaries around it is excellent, and visitors often rent rowboats, kayaks, or canoes to get onto the water to enjoy the scenery around them. Hiking trails run around the lake and into the forests.

Located 87 miles south of Charleston, Twin Falls Resort State Park sits high on a wooded ridge overlooking an impressive valley. The park includes an 1830s farm that reenacts the life of farmers in the hills of West Virginia before the Civil War. More than 25 miles of hiking trails run up and down the mountain and beside the rushing stream at the bottom of the valley. An 18-hole golf course and a swimming pool allow guests to relax while viewing the fantastic mountains around them.

Must-see Monuments and Landmarks in West Virginia

One of the most incredible landmarks in West Virginia, the Greenbriar, located 120 miles east of Charleston, sits near the border with Virginia. It was established as a fantastic resort in 1913 to take advantage of the numerous natural mineral springs in the area. The resort is still in operation with 20 restaurants, more than 55 indoor and outdoor activities, and 36 retail stores. During the Cold War, this landmark was reserved by the federal government as a fall-out shelter for members of Congress. 

Situated 173 miles east of Morgantown on the border with Virginia, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park sits at the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers. Covering 4,000 acres, the park includes the historic town of Harpers Ferry, where John Brown was captured after attempting to rob the federal arsenal. Over 22 miles of hiking trails greet visitors with views much as they were in 1859. 

Part of the 2,100-mile Appalachian Trail runs near Harpers Ferry along the West Virginia-Virginia border. The trail is considered one of the premier paths through the United States landscape. It runs from Maine to Georgia, covering many historic areas in the country.

Popular RV Parks and Campgrounds in West Virginia

There are lots of great options for campgrounds in West Virginia. Kanawha State Forest Campground lies seven miles from Charleston. It sits atop a mountain providing 44 sites that are 30 feet wide and 60 feet long. There is plenty of room for families to enjoy the dense high woods, the streams, and the 2-acre Ellison Pond stocked with trout, bass, and bluegill. Over 25 miles of hiking trails run through the forest, up and down slopes, and alongside streams. The campground has a swimming pool and wading pool.

Lazy K’s Campground and Canoe Livery sits 17 miles north of Charleston beneath a thick hedge of woodlands. This peaceful campground, far from any highways or neighbors, provides 23 RV campsites. The sites are widely dispersed, and campers have a choice of 30-amp or 50-amp service. The Elk River runs alongside the park, which provides swimmers, anglers, and boat enthusiasts with plenty of fun.

Driving 22 minutes eastward from Morgantown along the northern border of West Virginia with Pennsylvania, visitors find Coopers Rock State Forest McCollum Campground. This campground provides 25 RV pull-through spaces with connections to 30-amp electric power. The campground offers restrooms, showers, and a dump station. It provides a Wi-Fi system to stay connected and a modern playground for children. Incredible views greet the eye no matter which way a person turns.

RV Dump Stations in West Virginia

Dump stations are an essential factor when taking an RV road trip. Public dump stations like the one in Beckley Travel Plaza help RV travelers experience a healthy and carefree journey. This dumpsite is big rig-friendly, free to use, and provides non-potable water for dishwashing and showers. The facility is open during regular business hours the entire year. To find other facilities, use this list of dump stations in West Virginia.

Upcoming Events in West Virginia

• Cooper River Bridge Run. The Cooper River Bridge Run is an annual event supporting physical fitness and health efforts for the young and old. The 10k course finishes in Charleston after crossing the beautiful Cooper River Bridge. 
• The Funktafest. Enjoy the music and fun at the upcoming Funktafest in Huntington. The event runs from 11:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. featuring the top funk, jam, reggae, and other groovy music performers from the area.
• The Mountainfest. If you enjoy riding or watching motorcycles, come to the upcoming Mountainfest in Morgantown. The weekend entertainment includes daredevil riding, motorcycle races, music, food trucks, and neighborhood comedians.