If you love nature, and the great outdoors in general, then West Virginia is a fantastic recreational playground for you to enjoy.
Boasting almost 50 outstanding state parks, they collectively give you lots of opportunity to reconnect with nature.
Many of these state parks are situated within easy driving distance of Morgantown. Which means you can readily visit them on a day trip adventure, or as somewhere to go camping for a few days of rest and relaxation.
Offering a fabulous mix of landscapes to enjoy, you could choose to go canoeing, kayaking, boating and paddle boarding on sparkling lakes, or down raging rivers, walk or sunbathe on pristine beaches, or venture around mountainous terrain, or through dense forest, on endless miles of hiking trails.
Whether you are looking for a romantic getaway, a shared experience with the family, or some well overdue ‘me’ time, there are a number of terrific state parks in, and around, Morgantown in West Virginia you can check out.
Map of State Parks Near Morgantown VA
Here is a map of the West Virginia state parks covered in this post:
List of State Parks Near Morgantown
Below is a selection of 10 of the top state parks near Morgantown we highly recommend you visit.
1. Mont Chateau State Park
Distance from Morgantown: about 6 miles east of Morgantown (straight-line).
Location: 1 Oak Ridge Drive, Cheat Lake, West Virginia 26508
Mont Chateau State Park was formerly a state park located beside Cheat Lake in Monongalia County, West Virginia, USA.
Highlights associated with Mont Chateau State Park include lake recreation, river access, and mountain scenery.
See our full Mont Chateau State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
2. Coopers Rock State Forest
Distance from Morgantown: about 9 miles east of Morgantown (straight-line).
Location: CR 73/12, West Virginia
Coopers Rock State Forest is a 12,747-acre (52 km2) state forest in Monongalia and Preston counties in the U.S.
Highlights associated with Coopers Rock State Forest include waterfall scenery, lake recreation, and river access.
See our full Coopers Rock State Forest guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
3. Prickett’s Fort State Park
Distance from Morgantown: about 12 miles southwest of Morgantown (straight-line).
Location: Fairmont, WV
Prickett’s Fort State Park is a 188-acre (76.1 ha) West Virginia state park north of Fairmont, near the confluence of Prickett’s Creek and the Monongahela River.
Highlights associated with Prickett’s Fort State Park include waterfall scenery, lake recreation, and river access.
See our full Prickett’s Fort State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
4. Valley Falls State Park
Distance from Morgantown: about 18 miles south of Morgantown (straight-line).
Location: Copperhead Trail, Valley Falls, West Virginia 26556
Valley Falls State Park is a 1,145 acre (4.63 km²) day use facility sited along both banks of the Tygart Valley River.
Highlights associated with Valley Falls State Park include waterfall scenery, lake recreation, and river access.
See our full Valley Falls State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
5. Tygart Lake State Park
Distance from Morgantown: about 23 miles south of Morgantown (straight-line).
Location: 1240 Paul E Malone Rd, Grafton, WV 26354
A little closer to Morgantown, Tygart Lake Start Park is just a 40 minute drive south of the city.
Nestled within the foothills of the scenic Allegheny Mountains, the park boasts a 1750-acre, 10 mile long lake as its centerpiece. Which provides excellent opportunities for water skiing, scuba diving, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, boating and fishing.
Surrounded by stunning mountains, it also has a number of walking and biking trails that lead to a various scenic viewpoints that will take your breath away.
Open from spring all the way to fall – depending on the weather conditions – the campground is situated at the end of the park road, about three miles from its eastern entrance.
Accommodating 36 sites, 10 of which come with 50-amp electric and water hook-ups, there is also a dump station located near the beach area for your convenience as well.
Tygart Lake State Park sits on 391 acres (1.58 km2) along the shores of Tygart Lake in Taylor County near Grafton, West Virginia, United States.
Highlights associated with Tygart Lake State Park include beach access, lake recreation, and mountain scenery.
See our full Tygart Lake State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
6. Fort Necessity State Park
Distance from Morgantown: about 23 miles northeast of Morgantown (straight-line).
Location: 3454 National Pike, Wharton Township, Pennsylvania 15437
Fort Necessity State Park is a state park in Fayette County, Pennsylvania. Established 1961.
Highlights associated with Fort Necessity State Park include wooded landscapes.
See our full Fort Necessity State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
7. Ohiopyle State Park
Distance from Morgantown: about 30 miles northeast of Morgantown (straight-line).
Location: 381 South to Ohiopyle. The drive takes about 1.5 hours. The park address is 124 Main Street, Ohiopyle, PA 15470
Ohiopyle State Park is a Pennsylvania state park situated on 20,500 acres (8,300 ha) between Chestnut Ridge and Laurel Hill in Dunbar, Henry Clay, and Stewart Townships, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, in the United States.
See our full Ohiopyle State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
8. Swallow Falls State Park
Distance from Morgantown: about 30 miles east of Morgantown (straight-line).
Location: 222 Herrington Lane, Oakland, MD 21550
Swallow Falls State Park is a Maryland state park located on the west bank of the Youghiogheny River nine miles (14 km) northwest of Oakland in Garrett County, Maryland, in the United States.
Visitor facilities listed for the park include a campground, rental cabins, hiking trails, and RV sites with hookups.
See our full Swallow Falls State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
9. Cathedral State Park
Distance from Morgantown: about 31 miles southeast of Morgantown (straight-line).
Location: 12 Cathedral Park Drive, Aurora, WV 26705
Cathedral State Park is the largest virgin timber tract remaining in West Virginia.
Highlights associated with Cathedral State Park include old-growth forest, wooded landscapes, and seasonal wildflowers.
Visitor facilities listed for the park include hiking trails.
See our full Cathedral State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
10. Audra State Park
Distance from Morgantown: about 46 miles south of Morgantown (straight-line).
Location: Audra, Buckhannon, WV 26201
Bisected by the Middle Fork River, Audra State Park is a dense woodland area that is located about 75 minutes south of Morgantown.
An ideal destination for families who love the outdoors, the park was set up around an early 19th-century gristmill. It is most notable today for the rocky Alum cave that overhangs the river’s crystal clear water – which creates awesome hiking, picnic and photo opportunities.
The park hosts 65 campsites for overnight stays, 39 of which are set up with electricity. In addition it also has two bathhouses with modern amenities and facilities, as well as a lovely playground for kids to enjoy.
Audra State Park is a West Virginia state park located on 355 acres (1.44 km2) in southwestern Barbour County.
Highlights associated with Audra State Park include waterfall scenery, beach access, and lake recreation.
Visitor facilities listed for the park include a campground, hiking trails, a designated swimming area, and playgrounds.
See our full Audra State Park guide for fees, hours, and what to expect.
