Campgrounds and RV parks near Athens, WV

Athens sits in Mercer County in southern West Virginia, on a plateau near the Bluestone River Gorge at roughly 2,500 feet of elevation. It is a practical base for RV travelers exploring the state's southern park system, with Interstate 77 just west of town linking most nearby campgrounds within a 30-minute drive. The closest full-service option is Brushcreek Falls RV Resort, located about 1.8 miles off I-77 Exit 14 near Princeton, with paved roads, full hookups, and family amenities including a pool and mini-golf. About 14 miles north of Princeton, Pipestem Resort State Park sits on the border of Mercer and Summers counties on the east rim of the Bluestone River Gorge, roughly 14 miles north of Princeton, and offers a year-round campground with a mix of full-hookup, water-and-electric, and electric-only sites. Pipestem RV Park and Campground operates separately nearby. For a quieter, forested stay, Mash Fork at Camp Creek State Park is two miles off I-77 Exit 20 and offers hookup sites along a creek. Kairos Resort rounds out the closest options for RV travelers based in Athens.

West Virginia state park campsites, including Pipestem Resort State Park and Mash Fork at Camp Creek State Park, are reserved by booking online, calling the West Virginia Call Center, or contacting the park directly, with the campground office also taking bookings seasonally. Sites can be booked up to 12 months in advance, and there is a 14-night maximum stay. At Pipestem, reservations require no less than two consecutive nights on weekends (Friday and Saturday) or one night Sunday through Thursday. At Camp Creek, the two-night weekend minimum runs from the Thursday before Memorial Day through the day after Labor Day. Private parks such as Brushcreek Falls RV Resort, Pipestem RV Park and Campground, and Kairos Resort take reservations directly through their own websites and by phone.