Campgrounds and RV parks near Marmet, WV

Marmet sits on the Kanawha River in Kanawha County, just southeast of Charleston. RV travelers use it as a base for exploring both the Kanawha Valley and the mountain country to the south and east. The town is roughly an hour and a half from New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, and only a short drive from Kanawha State Forest, which puts a wide range of campgrounds within reach of a single trip. Options close to town lean toward small, river-oriented parks. Lazy K's Campground and Canoe Livery and Little Coal River Campground and Cabin sit in the Coal River drainage and cater to paddlers and weekend RVers. Farther out toward the gorge, New River Campground Inc., Rifrafters Campground, and Bear Mountain Cabins & Campgrounds serve travelers heading to Fayetteville and the whitewater corridor. Expect a mix of private campgrounds with hookups and state-managed sites with more limited services. Terrain is hilly, roads are winding, and cell coverage drops off quickly once travelers leave the interstate corridor along the Kanawha River.

State forest and state park sites in West Virginia, including Kanawha State Forest, are reserved through the state parks system online, by phone, or at the campground office. Weekend stays require a two-night minimum on Friday and Saturday, and there is a 14-night maximum. Private campgrounds near Marmet and Fayetteville generally book directly through the operator by phone or website. Campgrounds inside New River Gorge National Park and Preserve are primitive, free, and first-come, first-served, with no hookups, no drinking water, and a 14-day stay limit. Reservations are not accepted at any park campground, so plan to arrive early on summer Fridays and around Bridge Day, and have a backup in mind. For fall foliage weekends and Bridge Day, book private RV parks well in advance.