Tent campsites near Athens, West Virginia range from basic riverside setups to seasonal sites in wildlife management areas, offering options for campers who prefer minimal development and natural surroundings. Bluestone Lake State Park offers several tent camping options, including Old Mill Campground with basic amenities and East Shore Campground which provides boat-in access for tent campers. Nearby Bluestone Lake Wildlife Management Area features Bull Falls Campground and Indian Mills Camping Area, both offering secluded tent sites with seasonal availability from mid-April through mid-October.
Most tent camping areas near Athens have minimal facilities, with many sites featuring only basic amenities like fire rings and picnic tables. Bull Falls Campground provides riverside tent sites but lacks drinking water, showers, and flush toilets. Indian Mills Camping Area offers slightly better facilities with running water available at each site, though the bathroom facilities remain primitive. Many locations operate on a first-come, first-served basis, with some areas like Indian Mills using a simple payment system where campers "tuck a $20 bill in an envelope, drop it in the box and off you go," according to one review.
Areas farther from town provide deeper seclusion for tent campers seeking quiet experiences. The Bluestone Wildlife Management Area campgrounds offer excellent access to water activities, with Bull Falls situated along the western banks of the New River. Tent campers can enjoy fishing, kayaking, and hiking on nearby trails. Sites at Indian Mills are described as having "solid privacy with bushes, shrubs and trees all around you." A camper noted that at Bull Falls, "you'll sleep underneath a clear sky, with the most brilliant stars, silver shining moon and the soft lull of trees swaying in the wind that will rock you to sleep each night." Primitive tent setups in these areas allow campers to experience West Virginia's natural landscape with minimal disturbance from crowds or development.
"West Virginia at its finest! Blue stone state park is right next door to the lake so there are wonderful water activities here."
"Camp ground was clean, bathhouse was clean and neighbors were all spaced out pretty good. Staff was kind and helpful. We enjoyed ourselves and will for sure go back."
"I didn’t camp here, but I took out my kayak at the boat ramp and looked around. Vault M/F toilet, BYOTP. No hookups and I didn’t see a water spigot. Plenty of shade. Closed during flood."
"Beautiful spot on the New River in Giles County, VA located right outside downtown Narrows. There's a Disc Golf Course, Fishing, Camping, and Community Events. Well kept, clean, and perfect."
"You’ve struck gold here at Bull Falls Campground if you’re looking to get away from it all, discover solitude in the heart of West Virginia’s lush, verdant nature garden of Eden."
"site: some shaded sites. some sites along water. semi-private sites. amenities: a few campground options. pretty clean. attractions: near town. fishing. near pool. hiking. nature activities."
"Nice campground outside Bland, VA. The road up needs a 4x4. Nice vault toilets and a hand pump water. There are 5 sites at this location."
"1st: The water pump doesn't work at location. Bring your own water. 2nd: Bring all you need before you camp out. There is one gas station to find resources 2.2 miles from campsite."
"If you’re looking for an out-of-the-way camping spot that comes with supreme quiet, solitude and a close embrace of the best of West Virginia nature as it was meant to be experienced, then make your way"
"No showers but there is a store 10 minutes away where you can pay to take a hot shower. In back of store."
"There is no potable water."
"Cozy little site not too far from the main highway! Checked this out on my way to Tennessee. Primitive camping but has plenty of natural wonders to keep you busy!"
from $5 / night
TravelerGreat access to local crags. Campsites are spacious but can be close to neighbors, so the quietness of your night depends on them. Bathhouse has male and female areas with showers, sinks, flush toilets and mirrors. Creepy crawlies make their way in but overall decent cleanliness.
GuideROAD IN IS QUITE STEEP. DEFINATELY LOTS AND LOTS OF ROOM. VAULTED RESTROOM, VERY CLEAN. DEFINATELY WOULD NOT TRY WITH A BIG TRAILER OR CLASS A. ROAD AT THE END IS VERY NARROW WITH BRANCHES HANGING DOWN, BE CAREFUL.
ScoutI have known tbe owners for 30 years, great folks ,honest caring. We stayed from April 2026 through August 2026 while building our new place. Never any issues .Peaceful quiet setting, we made reservations, although we were a couple days the owners were glad to accommodate. We highly recommend staying here to anyone from tent to toy hauler they can cover your needs.
ScoutShady Rest RV Park — one night, Nov 7–8, 2026
We stayed one night in our 31.5-ft Class C and left early the next morning because we didn't feel safe — and we couldn't sleep.
Getting in was the first warning. The road in narrows to one lane for a long stretch, and it's muddy — I nearly got stuck, and the rig coming the other way nearly went over the drop-off. There's no office and no signs telling you where to check in. I called first and got voicemail; I emailed and it bounced. (The website even says the GPS coordinates are wrong, though our RV-safe navigation brought us right in.)
A kind older woman came out of the trailer at the top of the hill, calling for 'John.' John is the property manager — he's in the blue trailer at the front of the row, landscaping equipment by the porch. The woman is the owner; her husband recently passed away, and he was the one who ran everything. That's clearly why nothing gets answered. I feel for her — truly. But the place is in chaos.
The owner and John argue constantly, in public, and it turned physical more than once while we were there. She told us John would take care of us, then whispered that she's his foster mother and that he has an intellectual disability. She couldn't tell us the rates. Later John knocked on our door with a handwritten note: $50/night, $175/week. We considered the week — we didn't take it, and I'm glad.
This isn't an RV park anymore; it's a run-down trailer park with long-term residents, only about half the trailers occupied. Sites aren't marked — a man just waved us to a spot, and we had to move because it was 50-amp and we need 30-amp. The gravel sites are unlevel and ungroomed. The electric will make you glad you have a surge protector. The water is cold, the sewer is just a hole in the ground, and the 'bathrooms' are glorified outhouses. There's a horde of cats and kittens across the road, and the whole park is their litter box — our dog found every spot. Three trailers I walked past were empty and falling apart. The one next to us had been sitting so long the grass had grown over its sewer hose.
We left at 9 AM after spending half an hour looking for someone to pay. When we finally found John and handed him the $50, the owner stormed out of her trailer demanding to know if we'd paid him, how much, and why — she's the owner, after all. Then she tackled him to get the $50 from him. It was awful to watch.
I have nothing against mom-and-pop campgrounds. But this place is disorganized, unkempt, and — with the constant public fighting — we did not feel safe there, not leaving our dog, and not leaving our whole life in the rig while we went to see the New River Gorge. (Yes, it pained me to skip the Gorge.) The whole time, I swear I could hear the Deliverance banjo.
I don't recommend it. The value just isn't there at $50 a night. It's an old park in a great location that is way past its heyday — and until someone is actually running it, it's not a resting place for RVers.
GuideVery nice camping and mill near by
TravelerShowers themselves are nice but don't have privacy room to dry and get dressed. Spots are fairly close together. $50 for one night seemed kinda high. There is highway noise. You do get a discount on your cave tour.
GuideNeed an overnight stay on 81/77 this is the place. Booked is call them complete the reservation via Campspot app which they use so I had to download it. Place had plenty of sites pull through which I didnt need but they were so accommodating. I had a perfect view of mountains and cow pasture Relaxation and sleep close to bathhouse and office. They also have propane fill for your camper
ScoutWe stayed in Site number 24 which is full hook ups, however, just about all of the sites number is one through 32 are less than desirable either very little room outside your camper or the back in sites are steep hard to level your camper and very little room to set a set of chairs out I would not camp in this area of the campground again.
ScoutFrom check in to our stay, large big rig drive through lot. Quiet and clean park. Even had pizza and delicious wings delivered right to our coach. Next time through we hope to stay again.
Tent camping near Athens, West Virginia centers around several wildlife management areas and state parks within a 30-mile radius. The region sits at elevations ranging from 1,500 to 2,000 feet, creating varied terrain for campers. Summer temperatures average 70-85°F during day with cooler 50-60°F nights, while spring and fall can see significant temperature fluctuations requiring additional preparation.
Fishing opportunities: At Goforth Mountain Homestead, campers can fish in a private 1-acre pond and explore 76 acres of land. According to the manager, "You will have the whole property to yourself to fish the 1 acre pond and hike around the 76 acre land."
Horseback riding: White Cedar Horse Camp accommodates equestrian campers with specialized facilities. As one visitor notes, "Big trees at the campsites, beautiful place to camp with horses, pipe corral. No showers but there is a store 10 minutes away where you can pay to take a hot shower."
Disc golf and river sports: Tent camping options near Athens extend into neighboring Virginia at Camp Success, which features additional recreational facilities. One reviewer mentioned, "There's a Disc Golf Course, Fishing, Camping, and Community Events. Well kept, clean, and perfect."
Peaceful surroundings: Campers consistently mention the quietness of sites in the region. At Walnut Flats Campground, visitors appreciate the natural setting: "Good hikes nearby, nothing too difficult and all are beautiful. The Appalachian Trail is close to the site, find some thru hikers and make some trail magic!"
Water access: The proximity to rivers and lakes draws many tent campers. At East Shore Campground, one camper noted, "If you like hiking and fishing this is the place," while another mentioned "some sites along water" with "semi-private sites."
Night skies: The rural location provides excellent stargazing opportunities. Walnut Flats offers "Lots of wildlife too. Great simple site representative of this part of the country."
Facility conditions: Bathroom facilities vary widely between campgrounds. Recent reviews at Old Mill Campground indicate maintenance issues: "The bathhouse is open air over half of it. Had no soap or toilet paper and the toilets were all plugged up. The sites could also use a little bit of gravel in the parking spaces."
Seasonal closures: Many campgrounds operate seasonally, typically mid-April through mid-October. Walnut Flats Campground operates from "April 1 to December 7," offering a slightly longer season than some other options.
Reservation systems: Payment and reservation procedures vary by location. Some sites require advance booking while others operate informally. Old Mill Campground is listed as reservable, whereas several other campgrounds operate on first-come, first-served basis.
Swimming options: Families appreciate dedicated swimming areas. Old Mill Campground offers pool access as one camper reports: "They had a swimming pool and it was clean. I loved the lake. Big and beautiful. Great time on the water!"
Cleanliness considerations: Family campers should check recent reviews for facility maintenance. A recent visitor noted: "Beautiful campgrounds. Bathrooms something that could use some updating."
Security presence: Some campgrounds have regular patrols which provide added security for families with children. Bluestone Lake State Park staff received positive mentions with one camper noting they were "absolutely the sweetest and extremely helpful."
Access challenges: Many tent camping areas near Athens have limited vehicle access. Walnut Flats Campground requires specific vehicles: "Nice campground outside Bland, VA. The road up needs a 4x4. Nice vault toilets and a hand pump water."
Site spacing: RV campers mention that site privacy varies across campgrounds. At Old Mill Campground, a reviewer mentioned "neighbors were all spaced out pretty good," which indicates reasonable site separation for smaller RVs.
Utility limitations: Most tent-focused campgrounds have minimal to no hookups. Campers staying at Bull Falls should note a reviewer's warning: "This campground is closed and completely removed. It is still a pretty area although overgrown and there is still a boat ramp."
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Athens, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Athens, WV is Old Mill Campground — Bluestone Lake State Park with a 4.0-star rating from 5 reviews.
What is the best site to find tent camping near Athens, WV?
TheDyrt.com has all 31 tent camping locations near Athens, WV, with real photos and reviews from campers.
Keep Exploring
