Campgrounds and RV parks near Fort Ashby, WV

The South Branch of the Potomac River is the main draw. Camp Wapocomo has more than 2,000 feet of natural shoreline for swimming, fishing, kayaking, and tubing, and the South Branch has numerous free drop-in access points that make float trips easy to arrange. Millesons Walnut Grove Campground adds boat-in and drive-in river access near Springfield. On land, the Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad from Romney runs through eagle habitat along the river, and Nathaniel Mountain Wildlife Management Area covers 10,675 acres of oak, hickory, and Virginia pine forest with hiking, hunting, and fishing access on Mill Run. Day trips reach Seneca Rocks, Smoke Hole Caverns, Dolly Sods, Canaan Valley, and Blackwater Falls, plus the C&O Canal towpath and Cumberland's C&O Canal visitor center and Western Maryland Scenic Railroad.

The camping season in the Fort Ashby area runs primarily from spring through fall, with summer as peak season for river-based recreation. Camp Wapocomo operates from mid-April through the end of October, Millesons Walnut Grove runs a similar seasonal schedule, and Middle Ridge Campground stays open year-round with a smaller footprint. Nathaniel Mountain WMA's primitive sites remain accessible year-round, though the gravel access roads off Grassy Lick Road are rough and best avoided in winter or after heavy rain. Spring brings wildflowers and cool, wet weather, with May typically the wettest month and the last frost usually falling in mid-to-late April. Summer days reach the mid-to-upper 80s Fahrenheit, with thunderstorms common and river levels good for tubing and paddling. Fall delivers strong foliage through October, and the first frost typically arrives in late October. Winters are cold and snowy, with January averaging highs near freezing. Most private campgrounds close or run limited services, and Spring Gap Campground's hand-pump potable water is shut off from November 1 through April 15.

Expect a mix of full-hookup private campgrounds and rustic public sites. Camp Wapocomo has more than 255 sites across over 100 acres, with 193 full-hookup, 16 water/electric, and 44 primitive spots, plus 20/30/50 amp service, a bath house, camp store, boat ramp, playground, and Wi-Fi. Eagle's Nest offers similar 30/50 amp full hookups on a smaller scale with an on-site restaurant, and Millesons Walnut Grove pairs river access with drive-in and boat-in sites. Spring Gap Campground is primitive, with a 20-foot trailer length limit, pit and portable toilets, seasonal hand-pump water, and no trash service; campers must pack out waste. It sits directly off MD-51 near the rail line, so road and train noise is common. Nathaniel Mountain WMA sites suit small rigs and tent setups; access roads are rough gravel and not suited to low-clearance vehicles or large RVs.