Nestled in the Appalachian Mountains, the Hinton area sits at the confluence of the New and Greenbrier Rivers, with elevations ranging from 1,300 to 2,500 feet. Glamping near Hinton, West Virginia provides access to over 70 miles of river shoreline with temperatures averaging 10-15 degrees cooler than surrounding lowlands. The camping season typically runs April through October, with many sites requiring advance reservations during summer weekends.
What to do
River activities: Float trips down Greenbrier River starting at Greenbrier River Campground offer easy paddling suitable for beginners. "We took a day to explore the New River Gorge National Park. Beautiful!" noted a visitor who used the campground as a base for exploration.
Historical exploration: Tour the Glade Creek gristmill at Babcock State Park, where three remaining gristmills from around the state were dismantled and rebuilt into one at the present location over 30 years ago. A camper mentioned, "Trails are everywhere and of every terrain and level of difficulty...over 20 miles of trails total."
Water park adventures: Inflatable obstacle courses at Ace Adventure Resort create a lake-based adventure with mandatory safety equipment. "The main one is the Lake with multiple giant anchored inflatables to play on for all ages. Others include white water rafting, ziplines, mud course, biking and more," explained one visitor.
What campers like
Secluded tent camping: Riverfront sites at Army Camp Campground offer quiet spots with fire rings and picnic tables. "You can't beat free camping right on the river. Got lucky to find a site here after trying both Grandview Sandbar and Glade's Creek on the other side of the road," shared one camper about this popular spot.
Luxury glamping options: Climate-controlled yurts at Kairos Wilderness Resort provide upscale accommodation on 1,500 acres with extensive trail networks. A reviewer noted, "It sits on 1500 acres and has 41+ miles of trails. The only complaint is the campsites are very close but everyone was friendly and respectful."
Budget-friendly options: Free camping at national park sites near the New River Gorge provides basic amenities with stunning locations. A visitor to Grandview Sandbar observed, "It's hard to beat a free campsite right on the river. Tent spots have the best access to and views of the river, which is glorious."
What you should know
Weather considerations: River flooding happens regularly at lower elevation campgrounds, particularly in spring. "When breaking camp, it was noted the New River had encroached another 100ft through the woodland, flowing alongside the campground loop gravel drive…30 ft from our tent pad," warned one camper at Army Camp — New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.
Noise factors: Train tracks run alongside many river campsites. At Grandview Sandbar, a camper reported, "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."
Limited cell service: Many campgrounds have minimal connectivity, with several completely off-grid. At Army Camp, a visitor shared, "No AT&T service so I only stayed two nights (gotta work during the week!)."
Tips for camping with families
Easy-access hiking: Trail systems connect many campgrounds at Little Beaver State Park Campground with moderate difficulty. "Walking trail system connected to camp sites. Cleanest bathrooms and showers I've seen. Daily trash pickup. Beautiful trails. Scenic lake," noted an impressed camper.
Kid-friendly water areas: Safe swimming zones with gradual entry points exist at many river campgrounds. "We loved this park. Had so much fun there. Rented tubes and floated down the river. The staff was great and the grounds well kept," wrote a family who visited Greenbrier River Campground.
Playground facilities: Developed recreation areas at several campgrounds provide entertainment options. A parent noted, "I enjoyed this campground. A nice playground for children. Lots of deer about. The tent sites have water, fire ring, table and nice shade."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Be prepared with blocks at most area campgrounds. A camper at Little Beaver State Park mentioned, "Many sites looked like it may take some work to get level. We were in site 20 with a 23 ft TT and got level fairly easily but a longer rig may have difficulty in that site."
Limited hookup options: Most campgrounds offer electric/water only. At Twin Falls Resort State Park Campground, a visitor noted, "We had electric only hook ups. There was supposed to be community water at the campsite, but unfortunately it was turned off as we were there at the end of their camping season."
Access road considerations: Steep, narrow routes to many glamping spots require careful navigation. "The road getting back to the site is a little sketch but worth the trip in. Just remember you have to make that trip all the way back out if you forget anything at the store," advised a camper who stayed at Army Camp.
