North Bend State Park RV & Campground Guide
West Virginia
North Bend State Park
in West Virginia finds its home nestled in rolling hills, with beautiful lakes and streams for fishing and boat rides. The park features 2,459 acres right along the North Fork of the Hughes River, and is named after the sharp bend in the river that formed three sides of the original boundary! Not just a park for water activities, North Bend State Park offers a variety of wildlife viewing, hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking, so there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Read on to learn what makes this park worth a visit for your next camping trip!
Spring 50s-70s F
Summer 60s-80s F
Fall 50s-70s F
Winter 20s-40s F
Ellenboro, WV
Harrisville, WV
RV Resorts & Campsites in North Bend State Park
Tent camping is always fun, but it’s not always comfortable or easy! A glamping experience in an RV always means a kitchen you can stock with your favorite snacks, a private bathroom and a comfortable and cozy bed. If you’re thinking of an RV for your trip, consider renting one from RVshare.com. The helpful support team can walk you through finding a perfect, completely custom RV that fits your budget and all your needs. Plus, all rentals come with nationwide insurance and 24/7 roadside assistance.
Once you’ve rented your perfect RV, finding the perfect spot to camp is the next step. What could be better or more convenient than right inside the park? North Bend State Park offers two campsites, open from mid-April through Thanksgiving, with over 70 RV sites and various amenities. These popular campsites fill up quickly, but luckily there are several campgrounds in the area. Here are some worth checking out:
Leigh Mason RV Park and Campground
Just about 40 minutes from the state park, Leigh Mason RV Park and Campground offers large grass campsites in a quiet, country setting. It’s minutes from local shopping and restaurants. This family-friendly campground is family owned and operated, and makes a great choice for your North Bend State Park trip.
Water hookup: yes
Electrical hookup: yes
Sewer hookup: yes
Wifi: yes
Pet-friendly: no
Other amenities: 24-hour security and maintenance onsite, wifi
Leigh Mason RV Park and Campground
Just about 40 minutes from the state park, Leigh Mason RV Park and Campground offers large grass campsites in a quiet, country setting. It’s minutes from local shopping and restaurants. This family-friendly campground is family owned and operated, and makes a great choice for your North Bend State Park trip.
Water hookup: yes
Electrical hookup: yes
Sewer hookup: yes
Wifi: yes
Pet-friendly: no
Other amenities: 24-hour security and maintenance onsite, wifi
Leith Run Campground
Just about 45 minutes from the state park, Leigh Run Campground is part of the Wayne National Forest and is located right on the Ohio River. With scenic views of the River, plus a hardwood-pine forest covering the campground, it’s a quiet, family-friendly campground with plenty of amenities and activities to enjoy.
Water hookup: yes
Electrical hookup: yes
Sewer hookup: no
Wifi: no
Pet-friendly: yes
Other amenities: picnic tables, campfire rings, grills, accessible flush toilets, showers, drinking water, on-site dump station, picnic area with shelters, volleyball court, horseshoe pits, playground
What to Do at
North Bend State Park
Inside North Bend State Park
Take to the lake, enjoy a bike ride or take part in a completely custom nature experience. It’s all possible inside North Bend State Park, plus plenty more! There is so much to do and see, everyone in your group will find something they love. Here are some of the things to do inside the park:
Hiking and the North Bend Rail Trail – Part of the American Discovery Trail, which passes through 14 National Parks and 16 National forests, spanning the length of the United States, the North Bend Rail Trail is one of the most popular activities in the park. The 72-mile trail is designed for hiking, mountain biking and even horseback riding. It’s scenic and has plenty of history, too – it follows the abandoned B&O railroad corridor, and provides many picturesque stops.
There are also 14 additional hiking trails over 26 miles, which vary in degree and difficulty, and over 20 miles of single-track mountain biking trails for bike riders of all experience levels.
Water Activities – Inside the North Bend State Park is a 305-acre recreational lake, allowing for plenty of water fun! The lake has a boat and canoe launch, boat rentals, canoe, kayak, Jon boats and pontoon rental. Anglers can fish for bass, crappie, musky and catfish on the water or from the handicapped accessible fishing pier and other fishing access points. The park also offers a swimming pool, which is open during the summer from noon to 6pm. You can spend a whole day enjoying the lake!
Quest Outdoor Adventures – There is so much to do and see inside North Bend State Park, planning a day can be overwhelming! With the park’s Quest Outdoor Adventure program, you can work with their team to customize a day of nature fun for your group. Activities can include backpacking, hiking, yoga, navigation, nature interpretation and many other nature activities.
Outside North Bend State Park
The area surrounding North Bend State Park has no shortage of history and natural beauty. The fun doesn’t have to stop after you leave the park: you can learn more about the area at a museum, visit another nearby park and much more. Here are some local attractions worth checking out:
Restaurants
Whether you’re ready for a fun, family meal at a restaurant or want to enjoy some local takeout at your campsite, there are plenty of options nearby the State Park. Here are some of the local restaurants worth checking out:
North Bend State Park Restaurant
There could be no more perfect location for a delicious and fun family meal than the North Bend State Park Restaurant! Located right on site inside the park, the dining room is open year-round and offers free Wi-Fi.
Type: American
Location: Cairo, WV
The Pizza Box
Looking for a casual meal? Whether you’re thinking of enjoying some takeout pizza by your campground fire pit or want to enjoy a meal with family and friends in a relaxed restaurant atmosphere, The Pizza Box is the perfect option. Enjoy pizza, subs, salads, pastas and more.
Type: Italian
Location: Pennsboro, WV
Crossroads Cafe
Crossroads Café is the perfect spot to fuel up with a delicious breakfast before enjoying the state park, or grab a quick lunch or dinner with family and friends after! With a wide variety of menu items, everyone at your table will find something they love.
Type: American
Location: Pennsboro, WV
Sightseeing
Ohio River Museum
Once you’ve dried off from enjoying water fun within North Bend State Park, learn about the nearby water at the Ohio River Museum! The museum features a variety of exhibits that teach visitors the history of the river and the wide variety of boats that have been transporting people and cargo for decades.
Location: Marietta, OH
Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge
Part of the National Wildlife Refuge System, the Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge protects, conserves and restores habitat for wildlife native to the river’s floodplain. With 22 islands and 4 mainland tracts over 362 miles of the upper Ohio River, there is plenty of wildlife and beautiful natural settings to enjoy.
Location: St Marys, WV
Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park
Located on a small island in the Ohio River, Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park is one of the most unique state parks in the area! Visitors can access the park and island by a sternwheeler riverboat, and then once they enter, enjoy tours of the Palladian mansion, the grounds and a museum of regional history.
Location: Parkersburg, WV
How to Get to
North Bend State Park
North Bend State Park is located on North Bend State Park Road in Cairo, WV. For more information, click here.
Entering North Bend State Park
There is no fee to enter North Bend State Park.
We can’t wait to hear all about your adventures at North Bend State Park – whether you’ll be hiking or mountain biking part of the American Discovery Trail, or catching some fish at the lake. When you post your fun vacation photos on social media, don’t forget to tag us, or shoot us a photo and some details at [email protected]. We may just feature your story on our blog or social media channels. Happy camping!