Camping in West Virginia: Best Months, Booking and Fire Rules
Across West Virginia's 3 NOAA reference stations, camping weather is mild from April to October, with average highs of 68 to 85 F and lows of 43 to 64 F. Nights at or below freezing show up from October to April, most often in January, when they average 23.7 a month. State park sites are booked through West Virginia State Parks reservations.
Check this weekend’s weather at your campsite
Live from the National Weather Service
The best months for camping in West Virginia
By NOAA's 1991 to 2020 normals, camping weather in West Virginia is mild April to October. Pick the station nearest your campground below; high ground runs colder than any station.
- Jan43° / 24°Freezing nights
- Feb47° / 27°Freezing nights
- Mar56° / 33°Freezing nights
- Apr68° / 43°Freezing nights
- May75° / 51°Mild
- Jun82° / 60°Mild
- Jul85° / 64°Mild
- Aug84° / 62°Mild
- Sep79° / 56°Mild
- Oct68° / 43°Freezing nights
- Nov56° / 34°Freezing nights
- Dec47° / 28°Freezing nights
Each month shows the average high and low across the state’s reference stations, in F. Mild means an average high of 60 to 85 F with lows of 40 F or more. Freezing nights means the stations average one or more nights a month at or below 32 F.
Charlestonelevation 910 ft
| Month | Average high | Average low | Nights at or below 32 F |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 44 F | 26 F | 22.7 |
| February | 48 F | 29 F | 19 |
| March | 57 F | 35 F | 14 |
| April (mild) | 69 F | 45 F | 3.5 |
| May (mild) | 76 F | 53 F | 0.2 |
| June (mild) | 83 F | 62 F | 0 |
| July | 86 F | 66 F | 0 |
| August (mild) | 85 F | 64 F | 0 |
| September (mild) | 80 F | 57 F | 0 |
| October (mild) | 69 F | 45 F | 2.3 |
| November | 57 F | 36 F | 12.8 |
| December | 48 F | 30 F | 19.8 |
Elkinselevation 1,979 ft
| Month | Average high | Average low | Nights at or below 32 F |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 42 F | 20 F | 25.9 |
| February | 45 F | 22 F | 23.4 |
| March | 54 F | 29 F | 20.5 |
| April | 66 F | 37 F | 10.4 |
| May (mild) | 73 F | 47 F | 2.1 |
| June (mild) | 80 F | 56 F | 0 |
| July (mild) | 83 F | 60 F | 0 |
| August (mild) | 82 F | 58 F | 0 |
| September (mild) | 77 F | 52 F | 0.2 |
| October | 66 F | 39 F | 8.6 |
| November | 55 F | 30 F | 19.8 |
| December | 45 F | 24 F | 25.2 |
Huntingtonelevation 824 ft
| Month | Average high | Average low | Nights at or below 32 F |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 43 F | 26 F | 22.4 |
| February | 47 F | 29 F | 18.8 |
| March | 57 F | 36 F | 13 |
| April (mild) | 69 F | 46 F | 2.7 |
| May (mild) | 76 F | 54 F | 0.2 |
| June (mild) | 83 F | 62 F | 0 |
| July | 86 F | 66 F | 0 |
| August | 86 F | 65 F | 0 |
| September (mild) | 80 F | 58 F | 0 |
| October (mild) | 69 F | 46 F | 2 |
| November | 57 F | 37 F | 11.8 |
| December | 47 F | 30 F | 19.3 |
How to book a state park campsite in West Virginia
West Virginia State Parks (Division of Natural Resources) takes reservations through West Virginia State Parks reservations.
Cancellations
Reservations canceled at least 60 days prior to arrival may request a refund for the deposit paid.West Virginia State Parks, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Quoted from West Virginia State Parks (Division of Natural Resources) pages read October 18, 2026. Windows and fees change, so confirm on the booking site.
Campfires when you camp in West Virginia
Campfires in state parks and forests
All fires must be confined to designated grills or areas.West Virginia State Parks, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Whether you need a permit
Burning season prohibitions exclude 1) small fires for the purpose of food preparation, warmth or light around which all grass, brush, stubble or debris has been removed for at least 10 feet from the fireWV Division of Forestry, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
What the quote says: a permit is required in some places or seasons.
Campfires on national forest and BLM land
Within campgrounds and other recreation areas, fires may only be built in fire rings, stoves, grills, or fireplaces provided for that purpose.Monongahela National Forest (USFS), read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Where fire restrictions are posted
Follow all burning season guidelines, which state that between March 1 and May 31 as well as October 1 through December 31, outdoor burning is prohibited during the daytime hours of 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.WV Division of Forestry, read October 18, 2026. Read it at the source
Current restrictions: West Virginia Division of Forestry.
West Virginia camping questions
Camping in other states
Where this page’s facts come from
- State park, forestry and federal land pages (read October 18, 2026). Booking windows, reservation systems, campfire rules, fire restriction sources and rules for camping outside a campground, each quoted word for word with a link to the page it came from.
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991 to 2020 (read October 18, 2026). Average monthly high, low and nights at or below 32 F at 150 reference stations, the same stations the heat season and heating season pages use.
- National Weather Service alerts (live, read in your browser when the page loads). Red Flag Warnings, Fire Weather Watches, Fire Warnings, Freeze Warnings and High Wind Warnings, read live from api.weather.gov.
- National Weather Service 7 day forecast (live, read in your browser when the page loads). The weekend forecast for the ZIP code a visitor enters, read live from api.weather.gov.
Climate figures are NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals at 3 reference stations in West Virginia. Rules are quoted from agency pages and can change.