Huntington – West Virginia’s second-largest city and home of Marshall University – sits on the Ohio River in the state’s western corner, with a state-park lake just minutes away and several more Corps reservoirs within an hour. This guide rounds up the best lakes near Huntington, WV, for bass and crappie fishing, camping and family days out. Each links to our full lake guide. This page is part of our West Virginia Lakes Database.
Best lakes near Huntington, by drive time
- Beech Fork Lake (~20 min S). Huntington’s home lake, with Beech Fork State Park’s large campground, a beach area and easy largemouth bass, crappie and catfish fishing minutes from the city.
- East Lynn Lake (~45 min S). A quiet Wayne County Corps reservoir with bass, crappie and catfish, a wildlife management area and campground in the wooded hills.
- Upper Mud River Lake (~45 min E). A 306-acre Lincoln County lake with a swimming beach, largemouth bass, muskie, crappie and catfish.
- R.D. Bailey Lake (~1.5 hr SE). A scenic, deep Guyandotte River reservoir with a marina, campground and bass, crappie and catfish fishing – worth the drive for a weekend.
What to do on the lakes near Huntington
For a quick trip, Beech Fork Lake is right there with a big state-park campground, beach and bass fishing. For quieter water, head south to East Lynn Lake, or east to Upper Mud River Lake for a swimming beach and muskie. For a bigger adventure, R.D. Bailey Lake offers deep, scenic water and a marina. A West Virginia fishing license is required at all of them.
Frequently asked questions
What is the closest lake to Huntington, WV?
Beech Fork Lake, about 20 minutes south, is the closest – a state-park lake with a campground, beach and good bass and crappie fishing.
Where can you camp on a lake near Huntington?
Beech Fork State Park has the largest nearby lakeside campground, and East Lynn and R.D. Bailey lakes also offer Corps campgrounds within about an hour or so.
Where can you swim on a lake near Huntington?
Beech Fork Lake has a beach area minutes from the city, and Upper Mud River Lake (about 45 minutes east) has a swimming beach with a bath house.
Related: see the best bass lakes in West Virginia, the best lakes in West Virginia, or head back to the West Virginia Lakes Database.
