The Dyrt is here to help plan your best camping near George Washington & Jefferson National Forest. There are tons of hikes and other fun activities to partake in. Experience some of the most stunning views that Virginia camping has to offer. Find the best campgrounds near George Washington & Jefferson National Forest, plus reviews and photos from other campers like you.
$30 - $35 / night
"quiet! Recharge here! Full hook ups, dog friendly, very level gravel site with a stunning view of the pastures."
"We wanted to be near New River Gorge National Park and the interstate. Booking was a little strange, there's no website or confirmation. You pay by check in a lockbox. "
"Army camp is nestled by the new river and has plenty of views of the mountains. None of us had cell phone reception, so if you’re looking for a tech free weekend then this is your spot."
"You can’t beat an established campground (picnic tables, fire pits, bathrooms) in a national park that’s also free! Good amount of spiders and ants but didn’t notice any mosquitoes in mid May."
$35 - $40 / night
"There has been a lot of nice upgrades to the grounds and facilities ad well as things to do at pipestem since my last review a few years ago. "
"We camped at Pipestem in a 37' travel trailer. We love this campground. Quiet, well spaced, nice roads for biking."
"Our site was level. The pool was wonderful. Has everything you need... playgrounds, multiple laundry rooms, putt putt, store, restrooms... Would stay again"
"We spent our time on the Hatfield/McCoy trails which were about 20 minutes from the campground."
"These are full hook up sites, very affordable and great proximity to the mid and lower areas of New River Gorge National Park.
It’s definitely a no frills location."
"This campground is located right outside of Floyd, VA and just minutes from the Blue Ridge Parkway."
"We were a little taken aback when we first arrived at our site but quickly began to appreciate the beautiful field we were camped in with electric and water hook-ups."
$7 - $45 / night
"Right next to river. A bit noisy since the RV sites are next to the road & railway is across from river. Pet friendly & nice size bundles of firewood for $10."
"There were full hook-up sites and tent sites (right on the river). The sites were pretty big and most were shaded."
"There is five drive-in sites and more walk-in sites on the edge of the camp. The drive-in sites filled and vacated several times throughout the weekend."
"In the New River Gorge National Park, you will not find the sprawling campgrounds found in many other national parks."
"We stayed a weekend in one of the many cabins at the Campground; pet friendly! The RV/Tent camping sites were closed."
"Meador CG is up the Bluestone portion of the lake and the backwaters do have a swampy appearance."
$35 - $38 / night
"Fort Chiswell RV park in Virginia is a very clean park beautiful trees paved driveways and a bathroom that is very clean and at the end of the bathrooms actually have tables at Pavilion They have Wi-Fi"
"Highway access to this area is easy for all types of traveler. there are several stores in the area with just about anything you could need or want only moments away from camp and if you are there in late"
LegendAmy and I spent the Labor Day Weekend in Fayetteville, WV. The New River Gorge area is amazing. We camped at Rifrafters Campground. It is family owned and operated. The owners were great and made a point to stop by our site and see how we were doing. The campground is clean, well maintained and conveniently located. It is only about 7 minutes from the New River Bridge welcome center.
There were several long term campers, sites were very small and close together. Fire ring and picnic table ended up under our awning. Water, electric and cable service and a few sites had sewer. Campground WiFi was weak at our site (#27).
While this was a positive stay, we prefer State Parks versus RV campgrounds.
ScoutLittle Beaver State Park is a lovely little park just off Interstate 64 between Beckley and White Sulfur Springs. It has 16 sites with water and 30 sites with both electric and water. Some of the sites are pull throughs which could accommodate big rigs. There is a dump station available. There is a very nice shower house as well. Check out the website for more information.
TravelerMy family stayed in a cabin last week in this state forest and checked out the campground. Our cabin was charming and immaculate! The very large bathroom had amazing white towels all folded and hung over towel bars like a nice hotel. The kitchen was very well equipped. Each bed had sheets, a very soft wool blanket, and a quilt and nice pillows. The cabin had a fireplace for heat (free firewood) and two AC units (bedroom/living room) and a ceiling fan in the LR. The cabin area is so beautiful! While there are 14 cabins, they are spread out enough that you don’t feel like they’re too close. Most are under trees. Each cabin has a grill and a fire pit, and there at least three larger ‘community’ fire pits trough the cabin area. Our cabin and others are pet friendly!!! The only issue with the cabin was the beds. They were both very uncomfortable. One was a new fold out couch.
The campground was very wooded and seemed at first to be more like most rustic campgrounds in appearance, but it does, in fact, have electric at some sites. There are pull through sites, camper/tent sites and tent only sites. It’s beautiful, and I hope to camp there this fall!
There are many hiking trails throughout the park and a nice pool. The cabin and camping areas are pretty far from the pool area. Guests in either area would more than likely drive to the pool.
This state forest is within five minutes or so from a four lane highway (64) and several restaurants (Subway, Wendy’s, McDonald’s and a privately owned one) and gas stations. A Food Lion grocery store is about 15 minutes away in White Sulfur Springs, and there’s a hospital about 15 min away in Lewisburg, recently voted the Coolest Small Town in America! While this forest is very close to convenient amenities, we still felt away from the hustle and bustle of life.
RangerThis was a overnight stop but it was a great find! We were in a full hook up pull through site 20. Gravel pads with a picnic table and fire ring. Sites were open but a decent size, and mostly level. There was a lovely stream that ran along the property with beautiful shade trees and lots of grass. We have 2 dogs and there was plenty of great area to walk them. The bathhouse was very clean but there was no A/C and only a few small windows for ventilation. The whole property was very well kept and beautiful. Will definitely be back as we travel this way each year.
Verizon phone worked good, but not really any TV reception. But we were good with that!
LegendDouthat (Doubt-that) State Park is a campers dream! Level sites with or with out hook ups, well spaced apart, fairly private, and in the middle of a pretty good forest!
Kid and pet friendly, this park has a nice lake for Kayaking/canoeing, multiple hiking trails with views, excellent opportunities for wildlife watching, and great biking trails.
It is off the beaten path so it appears to be less visited than other Virginia State Parks.
LegendSandbar:
(Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good
(70 yr olds in 17’ trailer)
Overall Rating: 4.5
Price: Free
Usage during visit: 80% full
Site Privacy: 4 Pretty good if you’re backing in a trailer or van
Site Spacing: 4.0. Pretty good
Reservations: First come - first serve
Campground Noise: 5. Very Quiet while there
Road Noise: 5. None. May be some boat noise
Through Traffic: None. Campground is a circle drive.
Electricity: No
Water: No
Sewer: No
Dump: No
Generators: Allowed
Bathroom: Yes
Showers: No
Pull Throughs: Most, if not all we’re back-ins. Short pads .
Cell Service (Verizon): 3 Fair .
Setting: 4.5 Very nice setting surrounded by deciduous forest. The trailer sites are all on the outer perimeter of a circle drive. Large diameter , so not close to the folks across the way.
Fixed Roof Solar: A couple sites might be okay
Host: None
Rig size: Some sites look like they will only accommodate a 20’ - 25’ trailer., Carefully check website There is enough room on the pad to park vehicle next to the trailer.
LegendWe were in site #5. It was not level yet nothing in the mountains is level. The electric showed 30 & 50 amp yet the 30 amp was disconnected and that's what we need. We had to use the 50 amp hook up. The electric bo is on the wrong side of the site, most in this loop are on the wrong side. We filled with water this loop you have to fill with water.
The site was nice sized and shaded.
There isn't any cell service yet near the camp loop 2 the loop below ours behind spot #10 as you walk to the lake at a specific spot you can get service.
The lake is beautiful. Our neighbor was catching nice fish out in his boat. Many different kinds of fish and very nice sized brown trout.
There is a swim beach which you can launch a kayak or canoe from the beach.
The Marina is closed yet there is a boat launch near the marina.
They really need to update the campground area's was told it was all closed for a few years too bad they didn't update the campgrounds.
There isn't much around so bring your supplies with you. There is a small general store that sells somethings and gas but it's not a real grocery. They did sell excellent Virginia peanuts there.
favorite campsites are:
Campground 1
sites 9 and 2 were my favorite. Sites 2, 3, 9 & 10 the electric boxes are on the correct side.
Campground 2 sites 44 and 45 are nice with water & electric.
Sites 47, 50, 53, 54, 51 and 55 have no hook ups yet they are waterfront sites.
Campground 3 there is a boat & trailer storage area.
Best sites are 69 and 70 with water & electric.
No hook ups 64, 88 and 89 are waterfront.
They had a problem with the water in our loop so the bath house was closed and they had port o potties in front of the bath house. The day use area is big and was not crowded at all. There were many people camping in our loop it was very quiet.
LegendDixie Caverns is a privately owned campground, slash tourist site ( dixiecaverns.com ) located at the outskirts of Salem, VA.
Warning: In the website, they do state the campground is "directly off I-81," and it is. The fact is, you are surrounded on three sides by roadway...and the actual Dixie Cavern is at the base of a mountain, so all the road traffic is above the campground and the noise reverberates off the mountain and surrounding walls 24/7. Trust me when I say, semi-truck noise is loud during the twilight hours when the din of the day has disappeared.
We spent two different multiple-day stays at Dixie Caverns in the Spring, partly out of necessity and partly because of its close proximity to a desired venue in Salem. So I can attest to the traffic noise never letting up.
The Positive: Dixie Caverns Campground serves a need...a campground close to Salem. The next closest campground is an hour's drive and in heavy traffic...longer. It is also one of the closest campgrounds to several of Virginia's most popular hiking trails (AT) and scenic overlooks (Dragon's Tooth, Tinker Cliffs, etc). So people will use this as a "base camp" of sorts.
The personnel that run the Dixie Cavern Gift Shop, are also those you see to pay for a camping site...and I found them very friendly and helpful.
If you are visiting there to tour the Dixie Caverns...you are a hundred feet away from the mountain doorway.
The campground is tiny, as in footprint, but they have carved out a number of RV/Camper sites along the mountain base and the inner loops...and during our stays very few openings were observed. Water, electric and cable is provided at each of those pull-through sites. They are of adequate size for the largest of RV's, but they are side-by-side the length of the loop. No vegetation exists between or on those sides but some grass and some spaced large trees. Perhaps the RV/Camper clan camp there out of necessity and convenience too. Though there is a limit on the days of your stay, it appears that some are exempt from this rule. Some campers are permanent fixtures...others that were not, were still in the same location from the first visit to the next visit 30 days later. Several employees live full-time on site.
Tent camping is in the grass along the creek that runs down to the Roanoke River across the roadway. During the heavy rains we received, I had concerns that this raging creek would overflow its banks, but it did not. Trash was visible washed along its banks. The sites are marked only by a picnic table and rock fire ring...no other designation, so you chose a side of the fire ring to pitch your tent. Even with the heavy rains, I did not notice low, soggy areas. There is several large hardwood trees that provide a nice canopy, but no foliage between tenting areas...so the entire campground is line of sight. I believe there were only six tent sites (technically), but overflow tent sites are also along the grassy field across from the Gift Shop. Important note: If you are considering a good night's sleep in a tent (not sure of the sound dampening qualities of RV/Campers), ear-plugs are a must!
The showerhouse/restroom are located at the beginning of the campground, which is just the other side of the day use picnic area and the Gift Shop/Attraction parking lot. The doors are locked 24/7 and only campers receive the "push-button" door code (which the code did not change from both visits...not a secure safety protocol). The showerhouse/restroom has running water, flush toilets and several showers, and an electric outlet. It shows its age and looks like a heavily used campground facility. For tent campers, its the only potable water source.
There is both cell service and free wifi...which is amazing! I can count on my one finger how many campgrounds in W.VA and VA that had cell service.
The Negative: You must leave the campground for anything you'd like to do, other than the Caverns...and sitting in your camp chair.
There are no trails or other amenities...and the trails closeby...are still a 20-30 minutes drive on a good day.
Whether or not tenters are in the tent area, this is the dog walking area. They are required to pick up...but it is aggravating...because if it doesn't pour, the smell remains.
Did I mention the truck traffic noise? The overall condition of Dixie Caverns appears dated, a bit run-down, and dirty.
Would I stay there again? Odds are I will spend one more collegiate softball post season and World Series staying at Dixie Caverns Campground next spring, purely out of convenience and necessity.
LegendGLADE CREEK - New River Gorge
(Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good
70 yr olds in 17’ trailer:
Overall Rating: 4.5
Price. Free
Usage during visit: Trailer sites usually filled up by the end of the day.
Site Privacy: 2. Little understory plants Site 1 is very private.
Site Spacing: 5. Very large sotes
Site surface: Gravel/ mud
Reservations: First come, first serve
Campground Noise : 5. Very little
Road Noise: 4.5 Glade Rd is behind site 1., but not close. Site 1 is still the best trailer site. Traffic can hardly be seen through the trees. Minimal traffic and minimal noise .
Through Traffic: Access to the boat ramp is through the campground. Though, traffic is minimal, folks on the way to the ramp and picnic area often drive pretty fast.
Electricity: No
Water: River only - bring drinking water.
Sewer: No
Dump: No
Generators: Allowed
Bathroom: Nice pit toilet near site 2(a nice handicap site.
Showers: No
Pull Throughs: Most sites
Cell Service (Verizon): No
Setting: 5. We can hear the river from all sites, which is just a short walk away.
Weather: Rain, clouds, sunshine
Bugs: None
Solar: Minimal and surely less when the trees leaf out more. Site 2 looks to have the best solar for a roof mount. Still minimal .
Host: None
Rig size: Limited by a narrow one lane . bridge on Glade Rd . A 30’ trailer arrived. There is plenty of room in the 5 trailer sites.
Access: 20 minute drive from 41 on maintained and pretty smooth gravel road. UPON ARRIVAL, IF PULLING A TRAILER , I SUGGEST THAT YOU OCCUPY THE FIRST SITS YOU SEE. That is because reentry into the campground, while pulling a trailer, requires extra driving away from the campground entry for turn around.
Sites: Site 1 is best for a trailer - isolated from the rest . Site 2 is a handicap site, which is not enforced by park service . Sites 3-5 are nice and large but not very private . Site 6, as looping back around, is the absolute best site, right on the river. It is suitable for truck campers, vans, and tents. A small trailer which can be hand maneuvered will also work there. There are some walk-in tent sites I did not evaluate.
Notes: There are reports from others of safety concerns. I checked with park ranger officers and they said there are no safety concerns, “especially way back here.” We didn’t experience any issues. That said, this issues reported in other reviews took place at the boat ramp, which is in ear shot of the walk-in sites, for sure.
RV camping near George Washington & Jefferson National Forest in Virginia offers a blend of natural beauty and convenient amenities, making it an ideal getaway for outdoor enthusiasts.
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