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 is one of the most overlooked RV states in the East, with a brand new national park, rock climbing, and excellent hunting. It's got a mountain character that surprises most visitors from the flat parts of the country.
West Virginia mountain roads demand a mid-size or smaller rig. US-33 through Seneca Rocks, WV-32 into Canaan Valley, and the access roads into New River Gorge's Grandview and Thurmond areas are scenic but steep, winding, and narrow. A Class C under 28 feet or a compact travel trailer handles these roads well. A 40-foot Class A navigates the interstate corridors but significantly limits back-road access.
A travel trailer with a tow vehicle is the best setup for New River Gorge. The gorge overlooks, whitewater put-ins, and historic Thurmond require navigating roads that are impractical in a large motorhome. Unhitch at camp and use the tow vehicle to explore the gorge properly.
Self-contained matters in the Monongahela National Forest backcountry. The Cranberry Wilderness, Dolly Sods, and the Seneca Rocks area have primitive and semi-primitive camping with limited hookups. Larger tanks and a generator open up the most scenic spots without requiring a nightly hookup.
WV roads are in variable condition — know your route. West Virginia's secondary road network has sections that are rough or unpaved, particularly in the eastern highlands. Check WVDOH road conditions and confirm your specific access roads before committing to remote destinations.
West Virginia is logistically straightforward on the interstate corridors and requires more care on the back roads. A few specifics:
New River Gorge National Park campgrounds book through Recreation.gov. Grandview Campground has hookup sites. Glade Creek and Stone Cliff are primitive. The park is still relatively new to national park status (designated 2020) and campground infrastructure continues to develop — confirm current availability before booking.
Blackwater Falls State Park is the most popular campground in West Virginia. The lodge, full hookup campsites, and 57-foot waterfall make it the top state park destination in the state. Books through WV State Parks and fills fast for fall weekends.
Canaan Valley Resort State Park has the most full hookup sites in the state. Near Davis in the Allegheny Highlands, at 3,400 feet elevation. Full hookup sites, a ski resort (in winter), and a golf course. Cooler in summer than the lower valleys — a good choice for heat-avoidance travel.
Bear in mind that cell service is limited throughout much of the eastern highlands. The area around the Green Bank Telescope is a radio-free zone. The surrounding areas, like Monongahela National Forest, Seneca Rocks, and Dolly Sods areas have minimal to no cell coverage. Download offline maps before you leave the interstate corridor.
Respect private property. There is a lot of private property in West Virginia. Respect park boundaries, signs, and know where you're pulling off before settling in.
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 trails, streams, and 2-acre Ellison Pond stocked with trout, bass, and bluegill.
Lazy K’s Campground and Canoe Livery sits 17 miles north of Charleston beneath a thick hedge of woodlands along the Elk River. 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.
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.
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 WV.
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.
On average expect to pay $144 per night in West Virginia.
Do you need to be a certain age to rent an RV in West Virginia?Yes. The minimum age is 25 to be eligible to get an RV Rental in West Virginia 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 West Virginia?Yes. Prior to renting any RV, check with the owner since not all will offer this particular option.
Do you need a special license to drive an RV in West Virginia?No. You don’t need a special license or CDL to drive an RV in West Virginia.