Open for the 2026 season from approximately April 10 through October 31. River Loop and double sites are reservable; Upper Loop sites 13-30 are first-come, first-served. Access road is subject to flash flooding that may make it temporarily impassable.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 21 at 6:45PM EDT until July 21 at 7:45PM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
SVRLWX The National Weather Service in Sterling Virginia has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Northeastern Highland County in western Virginia... Pendleton County in eastern West Virginia... Southeastern Grant County in eastern West Virginia... * Until 745 PM EDT. * At 644 PM EDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from near Davis to 14 miles east of Elkins to near Mill Creek, moving southeast at 30 mph. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Damaging winds will cause some trees and large branches to fall. This could injure those outdoors, as well as damage homes and vehicles. Roadways may become blocked by downed trees. Localized power outages are possible. Unsecured light objects may become projectiles. * Locations impacted include... Petersburg, Franklin, Rough Run, Brandywine, Upper Tract, Landes, Arthur, Doe Hill, Brushy Run, Riverton, Deer Run, Seymourville, Circleville, Masonville, Ruddle, Cabins, Hopeville, Oak Flat, Dorcas, and Kline Gap.
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued July 21 at 2:47PM EDT until July 21 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS ISSUED SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 509 IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR THE FOLLOWING AREAS THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA IN MARYLAND THIS WATCH INCLUDES 16 COUNTIES IN CENTRAL MARYLAND ANNE ARUNDEL HOWARD MONTGOMERY PRINCE GEORGES IN NORTH CENTRAL MARYLAND CARROLL FREDERICK WASHINGTON IN NORTHEAST MARYLAND CECIL IN NORTHERN MARYLAND BALTIMORE BALTIMORE CITY HARFORD IN SOUTHERN MARYLAND CALVERT CHARLES ST. MARYS IN WESTERN MARYLAND ALLEGANY GARRETT IN VIRGINIA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 34 COUNTIES IN CENTRAL VIRGINIA ALBEMARLE CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY OF FREDERICKSBURG GREENE KING GEORGE NELSON ORANGE SPOTSYLVANIA IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA ARLINGTON CITY OF ALEXANDRIA CITY OF FAIRFAX CITY OF FALLS CHURCH CITY OF MANASSAS CITY OF MANASSAS PARK CULPEPER FAIRFAX FAUQUIER LOUDOUN PRINCE WILLIAM STAFFORD IN NORTHWEST VIRGINIA CITY OF WINCHESTER CLARKE FREDERICK MADISON PAGE RAPPAHANNOCK SHENANDOAH WARREN IN WESTERN VIRGINIA AUGUSTA CITY OF HARRISONBURG CITY OF STAUNTON CITY OF WAYNESBORO HIGHLAND ROCKINGHAM IN WEST VIRGINIA THIS WATCH INCLUDES 8 COUNTIES IN EASTERN WEST VIRGINIA GRANT HAMPSHIRE HARDY MINERAL PENDLETON IN PANHANDLE WEST VIRGINIA BERKELEY JEFFERSON MORGAN THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF ABERDEEN, ABINGDON, ADAMS MORGAN, ADEN, AIRLIE, ALBIN, ALEXANDRIA, ALONZAVILLE, ALSOP, ANDORA, ANNANDALE, ANNAPOLIS, ANTIOCH, APPLETON, ARCO, ARKENDALE, ARLINGTON, ARNOLD, BAKERTON, BALLENGER CREEK, BALLSTON, BALTIMORE, BARCROFT, BARKSDALE, BAY VIEW, BEAN SETTLEMENT, BENTONVILLE, BERKELEY SPGS, BERRYVILLE, BERRYVILLE, BETHEL, BETHESDA, BLAKE, BLOOMERY, BOHEMIAS MILLS, BOWIE, BOYDS, BRADY, BRAKE, BRANDYWINE, BRANTWOOD, BROKENBURG, BROOKFIELD, BROOMES ISLAND, BUCKEYSTOWN, BUCKTON, BURKE, BURR HILL, BYNUM, CABINS, CALIFORNIA, CALLAWAY, CARDOVA, CATALPA, CATONSVILLE, CEDAR GROVE, CEDARVILLE, CHANTILLY, CHARLES TOWN, CHARLOTTESVILLE, CHERRYDALE, CHESAPEAKE BEACH, CHESTER GAP, CHRISTIAN, CHURCHVILLE, CLARKSVILLE, CLARY, CLINTON, CLOVER CREEK, COLLEGE PARK, COLUMBIA, COMPTON, COUNTRYSIDE, COVE POINT, CULPEPER, CUMBERLAND, DAHLGREN, DALE CITY, DAMERON, DRUM POINT, DULLES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, DUNDALK, DUNKIRK, EDGEWOOD, ELDERSBURG, ELLERSLIE, ESSEX, EVERONA, FAIRFAX, FAIRFAX STATION, FAIRVIEW, FALLS CHURCH, FALMOUTH, FELLS POINT, FISHER, FIVE FORKS, FORDSVILLE, FORT ASHBY, FOUR CORNERS, FRANKLIN, FREDERICK, FREDERICKSBURG, FRENCHBURG, FRONT ROYAL, FROSTBURG, GAINESBORO, GAITHERSBURG, GAMBER, GARRISONVILLE, GATEWOOD, GERMANTOWN, GLEEDSVILLE, GLEN BURNIE, GLEN ECHO, GLENDIE, GLENMONT, GRANTSVILLE, GREENBELT, GREENFIELD, HAGERSTOWN, HALFWAY, HAMBURG, HANCOCK, HARFORD FURNACE, HARRISONBURG, HAWKINSTOWN, HEADSVILLE, HICKORY, HIGHTOWN, HISTORIC ELLICOTT CITY, HOWELLSVILLE, INDEPENDENT HILL, KEYSER, KIMBALL, KLINE GAP, LAHORE, LAKE RIDGE, LANDES, LANGLEY, LEESBURG, LEXINGTON PARK, LIBERTY, LINVILLE, LONG BEACH, LUCKETTS, LURAY, MADISON MILLS, MADISON RUN, MAGNOLIA, MAGNOLIA, MANASSAS, MANASSAS PARK, MARTINSBURG, MASONVILLE, MASSAPONAX, MCCOOLE, MCDOWELL, MCLEAN, MCNEILL, MIDDLEWAY, MILL GAP, MILLVILLE, MONTCLAIR, MONTEBELLO, MONTEREY, MONTPELIER, MOOREFIELD, MOUNT CLIFTON, MOUNT HARMONY, MOUNT JACKSON, MOUNTAIN LAKE PARK, MUSTOE, NASONS, NEW CREEK, OAK FLAT, OAK GROVE, OAKLAND, ORANGE, OVERTON, PARK HEIGHTS, PARK MILLS, PARKVILLE, PARTLOW, PAW PAW, PETERSBURG, PINEY POINT, POINTS, POST OAK, PURGITSVILLE, RANDALLSTOWN, RANSON, RAPIDAN, RAWLINGS, REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT, RESTON, REVA, RIDGE, RIDGEVILLE, RIDGEWAY, RILEYVILLE, RIVERCREST, RIVERTON, ROLLINS FORK, ROMNEY, ROSSLYN, RUDDLE, RUSSELLDALE, SEVERN, SEVERNA PARK, SEYMOURVILLE, SHADY GROVE, SHADY GROVE, SHENANDOAH JUNCTION, SHILOH, SILVER SPRING, SIMPSONVILLE, SKYLAND, SMITH CROSSROADS, SOTTERLEY, SOUTH GATE, SPOTSYLVANIA COURT, SPOTTSWOOD, SPRINGFIELD, ST. CHARLES, STAUNTON, STERLING PARK, STEVENSBURG, STRASBURG, STRINGTOWN, STUARTS DRAFT, SUGAR GROVE, SUITLAND-SILVER HILL, TANTALLON, THREE CHURCHES, TOWSON, TURNBULL, TWYMANS MILL, UNIONVILLE, WALDORF, WAPOCOMO, WARRENTON, WASHINGTON, WAYNESBORO, WELTON, WESTMINSTER, WIDEWATER, WINCHESTER, WINSTON, WOODBRIDGE, WOODLAWN, WOODSTOCK, AND WOODSTOCK.
About
Big Bend Campground occupies a prime location on a bend of the South Branch Potomac River as it flows through the dramatic Smoke Hole Canyon. The canyon's name may derive from Native Americans using its caves to smoke meat, or from the mist that rises from the river resembling smoke. The campground serves as a recreation hub with excellent river access for fishing, swimming, tubing, and kayaking. The campground contains 46 standard non-electric sites spread across two loops. Each site includes a fire ring, lantern post, picnic table, and paved spur. Facilities include both flush toilets and vault toilets, four showers, potable water, an RV dump station, and trash dumpsters in each loop. River Loop sites and double sites are reservable through Recreation.gov, while Upper Loop sites 13-30 operate first-come, first-served. The one-mile Big Bend Loop Trail circles the campground along the river, providing an easy nature walk. More ambitious hikers can access 60 miles of backcountry trails in the nearby Seneca Creek Backcountry and additional trails throughout Smoke Hole Canyon. The surrounding Monongahela National Forest features old-growth trees that display vibrant fall colors.
Directions
From Petersburg, WV, follow US 28/55 west for 8 miles. Turn left onto Smoke Hole Road (Route 28/11) and travel 13 miles to County Route 2. Turn left onto County Route 2 and follow for approximately 3 miles to Big Bend Campground.
Amenities
| Water | Yes |
| Fires Allowed | Yes |
| Toilets | Yes |
| Dump Station | Yes |
| Wifi | — |
| Pets Allowed | Yes |
| Showers | Yes |
| Electric Hookups | — |
| Water Hookups | — |
| Sewer Hookups | — |
| Camp Store | — |
| Price | $43 |
Vehicle
| Max RV Length | 30ft |
| Max Trailer Length | 30ft |
| Big Rig Friendly | — |
| Pull Through Sites | No |
Contact
| Help.Monongahela.Potomac@AmericanLL.com | |
| Phone | +1 (304) 358-3253 |
Cell Service
| AT&T | None |
| Verizon | None |
| T-Mobile | None |
Availability
Photos
Community Posts
No posts yet. Be the first to share your experience!