D
Deborah A.
Traveler
TravelerFour Fillies Lodge
Cabins with 3 RV sites
This is a lovely little cabin resort with 3 RV sites. We are here just 1 night enroute. It is beautiful and well maintained. I would definitely come back.
Best Campgrounds near Lansing, WV
Lansing, West Virginia serves as a gateway to some of the region's most sought-after camping destinations, particularly those within New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. Chestnut Creek Campground, located directly in Lansing, provides tent-focused accommodations with basic amenities including drinking water, fire rings, and picnic tables. Within a short drive, visitors can access the American Alpine Club's New River Gorge Campground, which operates seasonally from March through early December, weather permitting. The surrounding area features a mix of established campgrounds like Rifrafters in nearby Fayetteville and more adventure-oriented options such as Adventures on the Gorge and Arrowhead Bike Farm, which cater to outdoor enthusiasts with tent sites, RV hookups, and glamping accommodations.
Road conditions throughout the New River Gorge region vary considerably, with many campgrounds accessible via winding mountain roads that can be challenging after dark or during inclement weather. As one camper noted, "Driving backcountry roads in West Virginia at night is not my idea of fun," referring to encounters with wildlife and limited visibility on curving routes. Cell service remains spotty or nonexistent at many locations, particularly at primitive sites within the national park. Weather patterns in this mountainous region can change rapidly, with significant temperature variations between day and night even in summer months. Many campgrounds operate seasonally, typically from April through October, though some RV-friendly locations remain open year-round.
The proximity to water features prominently in camper experiences throughout the area. "The river is beautiful, the hiking excellent, and the fantastic rail trail is right there," reported one visitor to nearby Watoga State Park. Riverside camping options range from developed sites with hookups to primitive national park campgrounds like Stone Cliff and Grandview Sandbar. Wildlife sightings are common, with several reviewers mentioning encounters with black bears, necessitating proper food storage. The region's topography creates distinct microclimates, with riverside locations often experiencing morning fog and cooler temperatures. Campers consistently praise the area's natural beauty but note that bathhouse facilities vary widely in quality and availability, with primitive sites offering only basic pit toilets and no running water.
Best Camping Sites Near Lansing, West Virginia (123)
1. Rifrafters Campground
30 ReviewsFayetteville, WV4 milesWebsite+1 (304) 564-1065$15 - $50 / night
"Some really great beer places close by as well. Nice a shady too. I’d like to go back and do some exploring around the area. Just be careful with what gps app you use."
"They walked us to our site and helped us back into our spot. Everything worked well with all of the hookups. It was a quiet and clean campground."
2. Chestnut Creek Campground
21 ReviewsLansing, WV0 milesWebsite$10 - $11 / night
"Great tent campground very near the New River gorge and close by Summerville Lake and the Gulley River. Multiple campsites in heavily forested area. Drive up to the sites."
"They have showers and clean bathrooms just a short walk from any site. All sites are big and you can pick from any available. The host is just a text or call away and he replies very quickly."
3. Babcock State Park Campground
25 ReviewsWinona, WV8 milesWebsite+1 (304) 438-3004$33 / night
"The most photographed place in west Virginia is the grist mill. Awesome trails all around."
"Babcock State Park, located in the thriving megapolis of Clifton, West Virginia is postcard perfect!"
4. Ace Adventure Resort
15 ReviewsThurmond, WV7 milesWebsite+1 (800) 787-3982$15 - $600 / night
"Nearby are showers and restrooms. They have individual rooms that can be locked that has the restroom in with the shower stall. Lots of biking and equestrian trails available."
"We were able to go whitewater rafting one day and then explored the surrounding area on another day. The resort is awesome. They have cabins and they have hot tubs."
5. Arrowhead Bike Farm
12 ReviewsFayetteville, WV2 milesWebsite+1 (304) 900-5501$10 - $85 / night
"Great campground adjacent to New River Gorge National Park. Within a short walk/bike to multiple biking and hiking trailheads. Close enough to bike into Fayetteville (a cool little town)."
"Good amenities plenty of space, and walking distance from some of the best views in the park!"
6. Stone Cliff Campground — New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
17 ReviewsThurmond, WV10 milesWebsite+1 (304) 465-0508"Tucked away by the river past Thurmond. Great secluded sites. Trailhead for hiking from camp."
"We put our tent a few feet away from the water facing the river and our canopy further up in the woods by the firepit."
7. New River Campground
14 ReviewsGauley Bridge, WV9 milesWebsite+1 (304) 632-9821$30 - $40 / night
"I told them I did not have these capabilities in my rig and they gave me sole access to the handicapped shower."
"The owner goes around the campground at 430p offering firewood for $5/bundle. The view from our full hookup campsite is hands down amazing!! We're situated directly on the New River in Gauley Bridge."
8. Adventures on the Gorge - Mill Creek
9 ReviewsLansing, WV1 mileWebsite+1 (855) 379-8738$7 - $69 / night
"This spot was a short drive away from awesome rock climbing in the New River Gorge."
"The white water rafting was incredible and the staff all around was FANTASTIC. The only downside would be the campsites (tent camping) being very close to one another."
9. Grandview Sandbar Campground — New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
23 ReviewsPrince, WV15 milesWebsite+1 (304) 465-0508"New River, just outside of Prince, WV off Route 41 offers upclose and personal riverside camping."
"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."
10. New River Gorge Campground - American Alpine Club
9 ReviewsLansing, WV1 mileWebsite+1 (304) 693-2667$8 - $30 / night
"this campground is well maintained and located in the heart of the New. It's a quick walk to the Junkyard Wall or a short drive to many other classic crags."
"There aren't group sites available, but whoever in our group was organizing managed to get multiple sites next to each other, which was nice."
Recent Camping Photos near Lansing, WV
217 Photos of 123 Lansing Campgrounds
Scott B.
Adventures on the Gorge - Mill Creek
Emily C.
New River Gorge Campground - American Alpine Club
Georgina
Chestnut Creek Campground
Michael B.
Rifrafters Campground
Tyler H.
Rays Campground
Brittany S.
Brooklyn Campground — New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
Emma T.
Ace Adventure Resort
Keith B.
Babcock State Park Campground
Thomas H.
New River Campground
John R.
Stone Cliff Campground — New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
Patrick W.
Plum Orchard Lake WMA
Jennifer B.
Tawney Farm
Recent Reviews near Lansing, WV
589 Reviews of 123 Lansing Campgrounds
- KKerri B.
ScoutBlue Jay Campground — Camp Creek State Park
Cozy
Nice even sites with firepits and picnic table. You're not super secluded and you will hear your neighbors. Overall a great place if you wanna just have a cozy night or two camping. Beautiful creek access too.
Camp With Me
LegendCranberry River Sites NF Campground
Another amazing place to camp in West Virginia
Cranberry River dispersed camping along Forest Road 76 offers quiet, scenic, riverside primitive campsites with excellent fishing and easy access to the surrounding wilderness. We stayed a couple of nights at Site 8 and had great river access with only a small amount of road traffic. There were campers at about five other sites during our stay, but it still felt peaceful and spread out. With inexpensive sites spaced along roughly five miles of road, this is a great area to camp. Roads like this in West Virginia are home to some of my favorite campsites, and we will definitely be back.
Check out all the sites with GPS locations in our video.
https://youtu.be/q6G3fhvmfoY
- Camp With MeLegend
Summit Lake Campground
Mountain Campground with a lake
Summit Lake Campground is a quiet, clean campground in the Monongahela National Forest. I stayed one night and really enjoyed the fishing on the lake. The campground wasn’t busy, the sites were well maintained, and it was a relaxing place to spend the night surrounded by nature.
Check out the 360° Drive through showing all the sites.
https://youtu.be/GxE0sj5xZ98
- Camp With MeLegend
Cranberry Campground
Typical National Forest Campground
We stayed at Cranberry Campground for one night and really enjoyed how quiet and peaceful it was. There were only a couple of other campers in the campground, and we were able to get a site in the back away from them, which made it feel like we had the place to ourselves. The campground is spacious, well kept, and surrounded by forest, making it a great spot to relax and unwind. If you’re looking for a quiet National Forest campground with plenty of room and a secluded feel, this is a great place to stay.
Check out our 360° video that shows all campground and sites.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlTOJ_YkSKg
- Camp With MeLegend
Bishop Knob Campground
Rustic National Forest Campground
We stayed at Bishop Knob Campground for two nights in July and absolutely loved it. During our entire stay there was only one other camper, which made the campground feel quiet, peaceful, and almost private. Even better, the sites were only$8 a night, making this an incredible value for a national forest campground.
We stayed in the last site on the loop Site 33, which looks to be the old camp host site. It’s a great spot with flowers and plants planted around the site entrance, and the wooded area behind the site has been cleared out, giving it a more open and usable feel than many of the other sites.
One really interesting feature of this campground is that the second loop appears to have been closed for years. You can still walk through the old loop, and it was neat to see the overgrown sites and roads slowly being reclaimed by the forest. It adds to the sense that this campground doesn’t get a lot of use.
We walked around and checked the site tags left behind in the open loop, and many of them were dated several months earlier, which really shows how lightly used this campground is. If you’re looking for a quiet, uncrowded, back-to-nature camping experience in the Monongahela National Forest, Bishop Knob is a great place to stay. We would absolutely camp here again.
Check out our 360° drive through the campground, see all the sites and get a real feel for the campground.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DI3qYdYxGzo
- Camp With MeLegend
Tea Creek Campground
Well Spaced out National Forest Campground
This was a nice, secluded National Forest campground tucked away at the intersection of Tea Creek and the Williams River. The 28 sites are well spaced, giving you plenty of privacy, and most are flat, with the creekside sites being especially nice.
Each campsite includes a picnic table, fire ring with grill, waste receptacle, and lantern hook. The campground was clean, with vault toilets on each loop and bear-proof trash cages throughout. I noticed four trailheads at the campground. There is no cell service. Camping is $10 per night or $5 with a discount, making this a great, affordable place to stay in the Monongahela National Forest.
Check out our 360° drive though of the campground, it will help you get a good sense of the place.
https://youtu.be/FlOco2p8T2Q
Janet R.LegendThe Outpost at New River Gourge
Outpost with the mostest
This is a popular multi-level campround, from basic tent sites to cabins to really upscale glamping. The tent platforms or basic camper cabins are probably midling. The regular tent sites that you can drive in to are a bit crowded, but there are more secluded walk-in tent sites. The tent platforms are also walk-in but provide more space and shelter, which is nice as it did seem to rain a lot when we were there. The prices are all more than you would pay at a state or national park campground, but there is a lot going on here like concerts and other events, and a little of well kept amenities like bathrooms, and also equipment to rent to get out into the gorge. The Outpost is near the iconic gorge bridge as well as the Canyon Rim NPS visitor center which has a lot of good educational displays about the geology, geography and history of that part of the gorge, so the proximity is nice.
Overall the campground is a luxury set up for camping. I just reduced it by one stat because the price, the crowdedness, and the distance from the south end of the gorge where the Sandstone Falls and Sandstone Visitor. I do appreciate that they are dog friendly though!
- Camp With MeLegend
Day Run Campground
National Forest Campground near the Highland Scenic Hwy
Stayed one night at Day Run Campground and overall it was a solid experience. Nothing fancy, but for$8 a night it’s a good deal. The campground is quiet, simple, and easy to access, with sites spread out it feels private. It is along the Williams River. The river is nice to walk along and check out, and the sound of the water adds to the relaxed atmosphere. There are also plenty of nearby trails and scenic stops along the Highland Scenic Highway, which makes this a good base for hiking and exploring the area. If you’re looking for a basic, affordable place to camp in a scenic location, Day Run fits the bill.
Check out all of the sites in our video.
https://youtu.be/HmvLiWtx7H0
Guide to Lansing
Camping near Lansing, West Virginia positions visitors at the gateway to New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, with access to whitewater, climbing, and hiking opportunities throughout the 70,000-acre protected area. The region sits at elevations between 1,400 and 2,500 feet, creating distinct temperature differences between river valleys and ridge tops. Seasonal transitions happen quickly, with spring and fall often seeing temperature swings of 30+ degrees within a 24-hour period.
What to do
Hiking through abandoned towns: The region's industrial history is accessible via trails near Stone Cliff Campground, where visitors can explore remnants of mining communities. "The campground is very close to the abandoned town of Thurmond (very cool site to see) and is within earshot of the train tracks," notes one camper.
Mountain biking from your campsite: Dedicated bike trails connect directly to Arrowhead Bike Farm, allowing riders immediate trail access without driving. "Great campground adjacent to New River Gorge National Park. Within a short walk/bike to multiple biking and hiking trailheads. Close enough to bike into Fayetteville (a cool little town)," shares a visitor.
Winter activities: While many campgrounds close seasonally, winter camping options exist for cold-weather adventurers. A visitor to Adventures on the Gorge reports, "We stayed in one of the cabins for Christmas. We were one of a handful of visitors staying at that time of year. The staff were accommodating of our late-night arrival. The cabins are heated, which kept us plenty warm in the middle of winter."
What campers like
Uncrowded weekday camping: Many campgrounds experience significant visitor differences between weekends and weekdays. At Chestnut Creek Campground, one camper noted, "We went in the middle of the week, on a Tuesday. It had been raining a lot the days before but did not rain at all the three days we stayed. It was incredibly private, we were the only ones staying overnight."
Early morning river views: Riverside sites provide unique dawn experiences due to the gorge's geography. At New River Campground, a visitor observed, "Shade trees and a light morning mist on the river made a beautiful sunrise."
Climbing access: The area attracts rock climbers with specialized accommodations. A visitor to New River Gorge Campground described, "We were lucky to get campsite 23, which had a tent platform high up on a boulder. The campsite was fairly quiet and cozy!"
What you should know
Train noise impacts river sites: Railroad tracks parallel the New River, creating noise considerations at waterfront campgrounds. As one camper at Grandview Sandbar Campground explains, "The really bad thing is that there is a train station directly across the river. And trains will and do pull through every couple of hours 24/7."
Shower facilities vary widely: Campground shower setups range from modern to minimal. One camper notes, "They have individual rooms that can be locked that has the restroom in with the shower stall," while another mentioned, "Showers run on 1 minute increments," at different facilities.
Flash flooding risk at river sites: Riverside camping areas can flood during heavy rain. A Grandview Sandbar visitor cautions, "This was a peaceful, nice area but when there is a lot of rain there is definitely the chance it'll flood."
Tips for camping with families
Animal encounters as education: Several campgrounds feature farm animals or wildlife viewing opportunities. At Arrowhead Bike Farm, a visitor shares, "They have goat pens. They are very loving and go by any name you can think to name them."
Playground access: Some campgrounds offer dedicated play areas for children. A Rifrafters visitor noted, "The playground was great for our daughters to burn off some energy."
Kid-friendly water features: Water activities suitable for various ages are available. An Ace Adventure Resort visitor explains, "We had a fabulous stay here. We camped in our tent for 2 nights on the mountaintop. The park has so much to do including trails, swimming, and an awesome water park."
Tips from RVers
Steep access roads: RV drivers should prepare for challenging mountain roads. At Babcock State Park, a camper warns, "Limited large rig sites and roadways are very narrow."
Site leveling challenges: The mountainous terrain creates uneven campsites. An Arrowhead Bike Farm visitor noted, "Great spot and very close to the national park, but site 5 was very un-level."
Seasonal utility limitations: Full hookups are not universal, with some campgrounds offering only partial connections. At Adventures on the Gorge, a camper advised, "Be prepared to dry camp as there are no water hookups. That would be the only negative for us."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping amenities are available near Lansing, WV?
What camping amenities are available near Lansing, WV?
Campgrounds near Lansing offer a range of amenities to suit different camping preferences. Summer Wind RV Park provides stunning mountain views, reasonable prices, and 30-amp electric service, making it perfect for RV travelers. For those seeking a more rustic experience, Chestnut Creek Campground offers basic amenities including water and toilets. Other nearby campgrounds feature facilities like showers, fire rings, picnic tables, and dump stations. Several locations also provide access to recreational amenities including hiking trails, swimming areas, fishing spots, and boat launches.
Where are the best camping spots in Lansing, West Virginia?
Where are the best camping spots in Lansing, West Virginia?
Lansing and the surrounding area offer excellent camping options for outdoor enthusiasts. New River Gorge Campground is conveniently located in Lansing itself, providing easy access to nearby attractions. For those seeking riverside experiences, Battle Run is a fantastic option with opportunities for hiking, rock climbing, fishing, swimming, and water sports. The campground serves as an ideal base for exploring the area's natural beauty, whether you're planning a weekend family trip or need somewhere to stay after a day on the water.
When is the best time of year to camp in Lansing, West Virginia?
When is the best time of year to camp in Lansing, West Virginia?
The optimal camping season in Lansing runs from late spring through early fall (May-October), with each period offering unique advantages. Summer (June-August) delivers warm temperatures perfect for water activities at locations like Summersville Lake Shelters. Fall (September-October) transforms the area with spectacular foliage, making Babcock State Park Campground especially scenic with its famous grist mill. Late spring (May) offers comfortable temperatures and blooming wildflowers. While some campgrounds remain open year-round, many reduce services or close during winter months when temperatures can drop significantly and snow is possible.
Keep Exploring