2020 brought us many things: grocery deliveries, pantsless Zooming, and a sense of impending doom that led to an uptick in wine subscriptions and a run on toilet paper. Fortunately, outdoor activities continued in a normal fashion. But as the air in restaurants became dangerous and rental cabins every other weekend got expensive, my family wondered how we could travel around West Virginia safely and affordably.

Then I stumbled across an ad for a used pop-up camper.

“Wouldn’t that be cool?” I mused to my husband. He agreed it would be nice to give his lumbar spine a break from tent camping.

“But we don’t know anything about campers,” he said.

“We’ll figure it out,” I said, unaware that everybody else was having the same thoughts. In 2020, annual RV sales shot through the roof. Campgrounds were booked solid with people trying to escape the virus. Enter the Covid campers.

The Best State Parks

West Virginia’s state park system is second to none. Both the parks and the Forest Service work hard to make the campground experience a good one. Reservations are best made through wvstateparks.com, where you can read a description of each campsite. You’ll find most campgrounds to be clean, friendly, and, if you’re lucky, there may be free coffee in the office. (This is essential for those of us who get up early to curse at the campfire when it won’t light.) We found all of West Virginia’s campgrounds to be safe and secure. Our campsites were always just as we left them after a day of hiking or swimming.

Most state park campgrounds have several sections—areas for tents, dog owners, and electrical RV sites. There are central bathhouses with hot showers, and most sites are shaded by the forest canopy.

You Do You

There are many ways to camp and endless ways to argue about which one is best. Tent campers get to lie in the bosom of Mother Earth. Set up and take down is easy. If it starts raining, they pull up stakes and head out while the chumps with the camper are trying to fold their outdoor rug in the downpour. (No, fold it horizontally first, then vertically. No, I said horizontally. You’re doing it wrong. Stop crying!)

On the other hand, nobody in the camper wakes up with a rock in their left butt cheek. The trailer campers are sprawled on soft mattresses with electric blankets and their own toilet. It’s a trade-off. Camp in the way that works best for your family.

Things We Learned the First Year

Backing up will damage your relationship. No matter how much your family loves each other, someone has to back the camper up and someone has to shout directions like, “I said left! Other left! You just hit a squirrel!” It’ll take several craft beers and maybe a cheese plate to soothe bruised feelings. I bought a pillow that says Sorry for what I said when I was backing up the camper.

“That won’t happen,” my husband said, but it did. Loudly. Several times. There were bad words.

Camp somewhere without cell service. This is easy in the Mountain State. You’ll focus on each other. The kids’ necks will straighten out as they look around the real world. Instead of fighting with strangers on the internet, you’ll bicker with your own family about who used the last of the mustard and who left their underwear in the camper sink. It’ll be great. However…

You will break something.

First and foremost, familiarize yourself with road safety. Know your rig’s weight. Expect flat tires. Know how long it’ll take to stop and how to avoid trailer sway. Never exceed the speed limit. Camping isn’t as much fun when you’re dead.

Expect some chaos. While closing our popup at Seneca Shadows Campground in Pendleton County, we both got on the end of the bunk and shoved it in as hard as we could, unaware that our son was sitting inside, and we bashed his skull. I’ve forgotten the cooler. We’ve smelled leaking gas. Once, a nest of ants fell out of the curtains into the beds. We all do dumb things, even after years of experience. Fortunately…

You can learn anything on YouTube. How much does my vehicle tow? Why does the fan sound like a donkey in heat? What exactly is a shoilet? Ask YouTube. People like to share what they’ve learned with others. You may find your answers. Then again, you may make the problem worse. That’s when you can…

Trust in the kindness of West Virginians.

Fellow campers have helped us hitch up, grabbed our escaping dogs, given our kids glow sticks, and shared their vegetarian chili. Fear not in times of stress: Someone will show up with a wrench or a tire jack or extra firewood, just as you will for someone else. It’s what we do, here. Go with faith that Mountaineers will have your back.

One Year Later

Some Covid campers are throwing in the towel and selling their travel trailers. It’s a lot of work and not for everyone, but kudos to those who were brave enough to try. I think we’re going to hang onto our little pop-up. We love campfires and swimming holes and hooting owls. And despite what we said when we were backing up the camper, we’re the best family we can be when we’re out there.

*Find West Virginia state park campgrounds here. Click here for a list of campgrounds in the Monongahela National Forest.