Big Bend (Wv)

Monongahela National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hiking

Location: Cabins, WV, WV

Price: From $27 per night

Price range: $27–$50 per night

Rating: 4.7 out of 5 (211 reviews)

Season: May through October

Big Bend is located in the Smoke Hole Canyon Smoke Hole Canyon next to the South Branch of the Potomac River at the end of County Route 2. Located 10 miles south west of Petersburg, West Virginia. The river is located 200 feet from campground and is open for fishing and non-motorized boat use.

Cell coverage (FCC estimate): none signal. Actual signal may vary in remote areas.

Amenities: Fire Rings, Picnic Tables, Vault Toilets, Drinking Water, Showers, Dump Station, Electric Hookups, Camp Host, Fishing

Availability alerts: Set a free cancellation alert at camperwatch.org/campground/big-bend-wv to be notified when sites open up.

Big Bend sits directly on the South Branch of the Potomac River (200 feet away) with immediate access to fishing, and offers 60 miles of backcountry trails in the nearby Seneca Creek Backcountry plus local hiking options.

Wildlife alert: North American Porcupines observed in the area—keep food secured and maintain distance.

Insider tips for Big Bend (Wv): Book early—this is a federal campground with limited sites (46 total) and seasonal operation. Most sites have no hookups but electric hookups are available at some sites; verify hookup availability when booking if you need them. The one-mile loop trail at the campground is accessible for day hiking without venturing into backcountry.

Skip Big Bend (Wv) if: You need full RV hookups—most sites lack them and only self-contained RVs are suitable.. You need camping outside May-October—the campground closes seasonally..

Best time to visit Big Bend (Wv): May through October — Campground operates seasonally during this window only, as stated by the operator..

Nearby campgrounds: Jess Judy (Cabins, WV), Seneca Shadows (Seneca Rocks, WV), Spruce Knob Lake (RIVERTON, WV), Brandywine Campground (Brandywine, WV).

Cell Phone Coverage at Big Bend (Wv)

Cell signal at Big Bend (Wv) (Cabins, WV): none overall signal based on FCC broadband data.

Coverage data source: FCC Broadband Data Collection (BDC). Actual signal may vary due to terrain, tree cover, and distance from towers. Camper reports are more reliable than coverage maps in remote areas.

CamperWatch
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Monongahela National Forest — lakeside, fishing, hikingLive availability via Recreation.gov· synced every 30 min

Big Bend (Wv)

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Cabins, WV, WV★ 4.7 (211 reviews)From $27/nightFederal campground · book on Recreation.gov
On this page ↓OverviewConditionsPlan Your TripCommunity

Big Bend is located in the Smoke Hole Canyon Smoke Hole Canyon next to the South Branch of the Potomac River at the end of County Route 2. Located 10 miles south west of Petersburg, West Virginia. The river is located 200 feet from campground and is open for fishing and non-motorized boat use.

Best for:AnglersHikersBoatersFamiliesSites:TentRV
LIVE · weather + fire + AQI + availability + wildlife

Verified facts

RIDB / Recreation.gov official database
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
SeasonMay through October
Stay limit14 days
Max RV30 ft
HookupsNo hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
PetsAllowed
Max/site6 people

Amenities

RIDB /facilities /campsites · owner-verified
Essentials
Fire RingsDrinking WaterElectric Hookups
Recreation
Picnic TablesShowersCamp Host
Family & Pets
Vault ToiletsDump StationFishing

Straight talk

CamperWatch intel · curated from camper reports

Known issues, each with the workaround. Read before you book.

Known issuesFederal campground — book early. No hookups at most sites. Seasonal operations.
Skip it if:✕ You need full RV hookups—most sites lack them and only self-contained RVs are suitable.✕ You need camping outside May-October—the campground closes seasonally.

Insider tips & when to go

CamperWatch intel · hand-curated entry

Book early

this is a federal campground with limited sites (46 total) and seasonal operation.

Most sites have no hookups but electric hookups are available at some sites; verify hookup availability when booking if you need them.

The one-mile loop trail at the campground is accessible for day hiking without venturing into backcountry.

Best: May through October

Campground operates seasonally during this window only, as stated by the operator.

Things to do nearby

RIDB /activities /recareas + intel

Conditions today

Live
at campground coordinates

Cell signal

FCC BDC · quarterly dataset
T-Mobile
4G · 0%
Verizon
4G · 0%
AT&T
4G · 0%

FCC maps are theoretical — camper reports confirm signal.

Wildlife nearby

iNaturalist · research-grade · 8 km
Alert: North American Porcupines observed in the area—keep food secured and maintain distance.

Location

Leaflet · OpenStreetMap tiles
Open in OpenStreetMap ↗
304-358-3253· Monongahela National Forest
Getting there →

Follow 28/55 from Petersburg, West Virginia, for 8 miles. Turn left onto Smoke Hole Road, Route 28/11, and travel for 13 miles to County Route 2. Turn left onto the Smoke Hole Road, County Route 2, and follow for approximately 3 miles to Big Bend Campground.

Campground entrance

Google Maps API

Community

#community · posts, photos & Q&A · AI-moderated (Claude Vision)

Pro tips

  • Book on recreation.gov exactly 6 months ahead at 10am ET — Monongahela National Forest fills fast in peak season.
  • Check current road conditions at Monongahela National Forest before arrival — seasonal closures common.
  • Bear country — store all food in bear boxes or locked vehicle at all times.

Frequently asked questions

RIDB facts + intel · FAQPage schema, speakable
How much does Big Bend (Wv) cost per night?+
Big Bend (Wv) costs $27–$50 per night. Hookup options: No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What season is Big Bend (Wv) open?+
Big Bend (Wv) is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.
Does Big Bend (Wv) have hookups?+
No hookups. Suitable for self-contained RVs.
What is the maximum RV length at Big Bend (Wv)?+
Big Bend (Wv) can accommodate RVs up to 30 feet.
How do I make reservations at Big Bend (Wv)?+
Big Bend (Wv) is a federal campground — book 6 months ahead at Recreation.gov. Set a free CamperWatch cancellation alert to be notified the moment a site opens.
What is the cell service like at Big Bend (Wv)?+
According to FCC coverage maps, cell signal at Big Bend (Wv) is rated none. FCC maps show theoretical coverage — actual signal in remote or heavily forested areas may be weaker.
What season is Big Bend (Wv) open, and what are check-in times?+
Big Bend (Wv) is open May through October. Check-in is 2:00 PM, check-out is 12:00 PM.

Official resources

Print Facility MapForest Service Concessionaire
Compare campgroundsPlan a multi-stop trip
●Data sources on this page
Recreation.gov — Live site availability — updated every 30 min
recreation.gov · RIDB API
National Weather Service — Live hourly forecast + active alerts
api.weather.gov · open-meteo.com
Google Air Quality API — Live AQI at exact campground coordinates
airquality.googleapis.com
iNaturalist — Research-grade wildlife within 8km
api.inaturalist.org
Google Pollen API — Today’s tree, grass & weed pollen forecast
pollen.googleapis.com
FCC Broadband Map — Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile 4G/5G coverage data
broadbandmap.fcc.gov · quarterly
Sunrise-Sunset.org — Sunrise, sunset & golden hour for today
api.sunrise-sunset.org
Google Street View — Campground entrance & access road imagery
maps.googleapis.com
RIDB — ADA sites, hookups, toilets, pets, campfire rules, bear boxes, max RV, activities, contact, directions
ridb.recreation.gov · /facilities /campsites /activities /links /recareas

CamperWatch never fabricates data. Where data is unavailable, it is not shown.

$27 /night★ 4.7 (211)
SeasonMay through October
Check-in2:00 PM
Check-out12:00 PM
Reserve on Recreation.gov ↗
Dates full? Get an availability alert
FAQ
How much does Big Bend (Wv) cost per night?+
What season is Big Bend (Wv) open?+
Does Big Bend (Wv) have hookups?+
All 7 questions →

Nearby Campgrounds

Jess Judy

Cabins, WV

From $50/night

Seneca Shadows

Seneca Rocks, WV

From $17/night

Spruce Knob Lake

RIVERTON, WV

From $15/night

Brandywine Campground

Brandywine, WV

From $20/night

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