Canaan Valley Resort State Park Campground

This is my second review of this campground. We visit Canaan Valley yearly, and have only camped it for the past two years because we now own a travel trailer. It's so nice to see improvements being regularly made on an already well maintained campground! This year we saw new sites and a completed (and very nice, modern) bathhouse. Each time we return it feels more like home. We always meet people who camp here regularly, no surprise! Most sites had dogs this time, and all were well behaved. The staff at the resort are just exceptional! But my favorite thing of all about this campground, both times that we've stayed here, are the vibes. It's what everyone wants to feel when camping. And you get that here! Oh, and then there's also those beautiful mountains 😄

Pluses: pull through, spacious site, recently paved, water sewer and electric in a state park!!!!, so much great stuff to do in the area, and this is the best public option, garbage pail at the site with daily pickup.

Minuses: so many uneven sites, site 3 poorly designed in terms of turning arc and narrowness, washing machines out of order for six days, including on a holiday weekend, couldn't see a camp host, which was needed.One bathhouse for the entire campground????

So - 4.5 stars?

Loved this campground! We were surprised to have full hookup in October. (The septic backed up the morning we leaving, and we had to drive over to Blackwater Falls campground to dump our black tank. We alerted the camp office. Minor inconvenience...) The week we stayed there was a stretch of cold weather. Days in the upper 30's, lows well below freezing. One night it snowed 1"! Campground is scenic, clean and well maintained, with what looked like a brand new loop completed, but not open yet. Site 16 is tight, and probably not for a larger rig, but there are plenty of big rig friendly sites in the three loops. Not all are level. Bathhouse is older and needs some love, but a new one is under construction closeby. The weather prevented us from hiking. The towns of Davis and Thomas offer shopping, but few stores were open during the week. (Tip Top in Thomas has tasty treats). We visited one of our favorite WV attractions, Seneca Rocks. And really enjoyed Smokehole Caverns, with a huge gift shop. We visit Canaan Valley yearly, now in an RV, and we'll be back!

Canaan Valley Resort State Park is a special place in our home state of West Virginia. In this video, we provide a tour of Canaan Valley Resort State Park and show the best campsites. We visit the Canaan Valley Resort lodge, golf course, the Blackwater River Trail, cabin area, recreation center, the Canaan Valley Resort State Park Campground, and the ski lodge.

We reserved the two primitive tent sites towards the entrance of the main campground loop. I was pleasantly surprised how quiet and well equipped the sites were despite being seemingly full and adjacent to an RV loop. We were within walking distance to a playground, bathrooms with laundry, and the main campground store where you can rent bikes, clubs for putt-putt golf, and go up a climbing wall. The fire pits were great, and we even were able to hit the resort pub for pizza on the one night we were rained out and unable to cookout. Definitely planning to return.

A journey driving through West Virginia mountains and tunnels, but what a great location above 3200’ for this Park. We caught the fall foliage which offered stunning views and some colder temps at night, but the sites are well spaced apart. We had FHU/50A, two picnic tables, fire ring and plenty of wide open fields to walk the dog. Roads well paved and our site level. We stayed during the weekday and it was not crowded. Comfort Stations had heaters inside and clean. Park staff friendly, local wildlife (deer) roam near sites and everywhere you drive. Park lodge nearby to eat/drink and offers indoor pool/gym for camping guests at $7 if you wanted. Lots to see and do in area. Took the ski lift about a mile away up to the top (4200’) to catch fantastic views. About a 15 min. ride to top for $7 adults/$5 children. Drove to nearby town of Davis, to view Blackwater Falls in a separate and beautiful State Park. Our first time in West Va. and it certainly has lots of recreational areas for campers even in our big rig.

When we arrived here three days ago there was a inch thick snow cover on the entire campground. That's probably why they don't turn the water on at the campsites until this weekend. There is running water in the bathhouses, showers and laundry area. Just not on the campsites or the dump station.

We used this campground to explore Seneca Rocks and Seneca Caverns, about 25 and 30 miles away respectively.

There was free WiFi at the lodge and there is plenty of seating in the lobby area to set up laptops to get some work done. The breakfast and lunch cafe had a fair selection of food at reasonable prices. The dinner restaurant and lounge was a bit pricey but had wonderful views out over Canaan Valley all the way up to sunset.

We visited this campground from 04/15/19 until 04/18/19.

I've camped at this campground for ten consecutive years. Canaan Valley Resort State Park is located at the head of the Canaan Valley at the headwaters of the Blackwater River. A gravel, well maintained, forest service road (FS 80) provides access to a Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge parking area near the hilltop that leads to the Dolly Sods Wilderness Area, Blackbird Knob Trailhead. Dolly Sods is my favorite place in West Virginia with stunning scenery, rock formations, hardwoods, and alpine landscape alternating atop the Allegheny Plateau. There is easy access to Blackwater Falls State Park via Rt. 32. Hiking and backpacking opportunities in this area are endless.