Looking for the best Buckeye tent camping? Find the best information on tent camping near Buckeye, including sites, reviews, and tips for getting the most out of your camping experience. Would you prefer a quiet dispersed site or an established camgpround with amenities? Either way, The Dyrt makes it easy to find the perfect place to pitch your tent.
Hiking and fishing opportunities are abundant at Poor Farm Dispersed Recreation Area. Enjoy hiking trails that meander along the Jackson River, or break out that rod and reel as the trout stocked waters are popular amongst fly and traditional fishermen alike.
Located just off the Highland Scenic Highway this small developed campground is a perfect getaway for fisherman and hikers. Many of the 12 camping sites boarder the upper scenic Williams River and__ the campground is within walking distance of many popular trails. Each site is equipped with a wooden picnic table, lantern post, and fire ring. Several campsites also have a tent pad, although all sites are suitable for tent or trailer camping.
With a convenient location just off State Route 92 this campground is great for families and outdoor enthusiasts. Two Lick Trailhead is located within the campground and providing easy and accessible access. Also each campsite is furnished with a fire ring, picnic table, and lantern ring.
Traveler
I’ve stayed here at least a dozen times over the years. Nice sites for tent camping. Clear skies and a decent bathhouse.
Scout
This campground is situated on gorgeous Summersville Lake! It has all you could ask for in a campground including RV and tent sites, bathhouses with showers, dump facilities for RVs, and the most beautiful clear lake water!!! No loud noises after 10pm makes it ideal! We had a tent site with a fire pit and picnic table on a point of land surrounded by water! We didn't fish much but the swimming was incredible!
Guide
Tent sites on the river, RV sites, RV and cabin rentals and float trips. Lots of space for kids to play.
Scout
This is a great place for pull-type campers or tent camping. Campground is always clean and access is directly off the scenic highway. Several hiking trails nearby. First photo is 100 yards from the campground.
Traveler
Great family friendly camper and tent sites overlooking Moncove Lake. Electric hookups and water spickets available. Fishing and swimming and hiking trails.
LegendThis Army Corps of Engineers campground provides a larger number of RV and tent sites with electic near a lake. There are also a few walk-in tent sites that offer wooded seclusion. I was here in April, so this was not yet open and the lake level was still low (the Gauley Tailwaters campground offered a primitive alternative.
Sites are grassy with gravel, generally level parking pads, some shade, a large playground. Boat ramp available. Popular spot, so make reservations early.
The New River Gorge National Park is nearby with a number of hiking, fishing, and rafting opportunities, but there is plenty to keep you occupied here.
Traveler
Site 4 was great for tent camping for some privacy. It is a somewhat isolated site. They have many sites that are buddy sites to others. Would be a great experience with a group utilizing the buddy sites. The bathhouse on site in clean and pretty nice & not a far walk from any site
Guide
Beautiful tent sites along the creek! I was there in late summer, but I plan to return in late spring when the rhododendrons would be in bloom. Access is by about 6 miles of dirt/rock road. There are many trails at all hiking levels.
Traveler
Love this place. Only wish is that the tent sites were more wooded for shade. And to hang lights and hammocks.
The staff were great, bathrooms super clean. Love all the hiking trails and just the beauty of the are. Will be returning soon.
RangerSummerville Lake is surrounded by cliffs topped by trees. Perfect for exploring by boat. Lots of wildlife, nice beach. Tent sites spaced well, privacy varies site to site. Some sites are at the edge of the lake so you can dock your boat just 10 feet from your tent. Get reservations in summer but not very busy late spring.
GuideOverall the campground (tent camping) was very private and clean. The restroom & shower facilities were easily within walking distance. The facilities could use a deep clean but overall were fine. The only issue was the late check in (5pm) which caused vehicles to backup at the entrance. The lake is very nice and the New River Gorge and rafting is 20 minutes away.
Guide
Normally we camp with our tent, but we decided to make the trip to check out Natural Bridge State Park at the end of December. Never quite sure what the weather is like we were able to get a one room camping cabin. It was perfect for our family of three plus two dogs. Our toddler was throughout entertained by exploring everything around us and we would have visits by a black cat. Can't wait to go back and check out their tent sites.
ScoutThere are full hookups tent sites and Electric sites. There is 2 shower houses. There is a playground and a boat dock. This campground does not take reservations first come first serve. Bakers run is a family friendly campground pets were allowed last time I was there, just remember you have to clean up after your pet. I gave 4 stars because of the road to get to the campground otherwise it would be 5 stars.
GuideI grew up on this campground. It was my home away from home during the summer for Years. I knew the original owner/creator of this campground. I visit here and it brings back so many memories.
It’s a great campground with kayak and canoe trips. Lots of fishing and swimming available. Tubing is the best trip from Ronceverte to the Campground on the Greenbrier River if you have a full day to just unplug and take in all the sites, sounds and smells around you.
Just ignore the train that runs through across the River.
Lots to do here with tent camping, RV, cabin rentals and even some nostalgic RV rentals.
RangerThe Greenbrier River RV Park campground was fine. It was right on the Greenbrier River and you could do float, kayak and canoe trips from the campground. There were full hook-up sites and tent sites (right on the river). The sites were pretty big and most were shaded. It was close (less than 15 minutes) to Lewisburg and to the Greenbrier River Trailhead in Caldwell. There were no walking paths or bike paths in the campground which was my only issue. Some people didn't like the trains that passed by periodically, but I like trains so no complaints here. We took a day to explore the New River Gorge National Park. Beautiful!
Guide
Good campground, we came over Memorial Day weekend and was surprised that it didn't feel too crowded or packed even though each site was reserved. Our camp site #54 was big enough for a large 8-man tent plus a pop up camper. No electrical hookups are provided at the tent sites and drinking water pipped near the bathrooms only. The groundskeeper was great, gave us advice on where to take our dogs to at Moomaw Lake. They had ice and fire wood readily available. Bathrooms were a little run down, but not bad, two toilets and one single shower. This site is also heavily populated with cicada bugs, so you might take a few home with you! They look big and sound scary, but harmless.
The campsite's proximity to Moomaw Lake, river, and dam make it an ideal spot to stay for fishing and boating, highly recommended! Also, the site has a small bike/hike trail that takes you down to the lake and links up with another trail system. It's not that well kept with old markings and high brush, I also couldn't locate a map so I didn't venture too far from the campground. Enjoy!
TravelerWe stayed here for 4 days at the end of July. The bathrooms were cleaned twice a day for the COVID and the showers had good pressure. Like all campgrounds, some sites are better than others. We tent camp and for us, site 19, was one of the better sites. I would not camp on this site with a RV of any type but for tent campers its heaven. Plenty of room and space between us and the other campers. The trails are wonderful throughout the park if you enjoy hiking as we do. As a bonus, there was a cancelled bluegrass festival that week in Clifftop, WV, so we had a lot of local bluegrass going on throughout the campground given many of the musicians did not cancel their campsite reservations. The only con, as this was our first time camping in WV, was the no alcohol rule and the fact that no passes are given for vehicles indicating they were staying on site. I would think that it could become a security issue if they can't identify who is actually staying onsite. Otherwise, great campground!
***One last note. The last couple miles of road getting here are rough…if you have an SUV you should be fine but i have a sportier suspension and it was not fun. Also, if you are pulling a trailer, some turns are tight so be prepared.
RangerThis campground is mainly for RVs, tent camping here is not the best. With that being said it is one of the only campgrounds that is actually on Summersville lake which makes it nice for easy access to the lake and cliffs. It is also a super popular campground so reserve ahead of time to make sure you’re guaranteed a spot at one of the 110 campsites. They also have seven walk-in primitive camping sites that are nice but still fill up quickly on weekends. They have a bath house with flush toilets, water spigots, laundry, and a dumping station. Because this is on the lake you can dock your boat at their own docks right off of your site- which is also convenient.
While the lake does allow power boating, kayaks and paddle boarding are still very popular as this is an immense 2790-acre lake. It is one of the clearest lakes in the east, so scuba diving is also very popular here. Rock climbing is also a great use of these cliffs that surround the lake as well as cliff jumping, this is at your own risk as there are large rocks/boulders in the water below. However, you will notice most locals know where the best swimming and jumping are. Overall, great place to come and explore.
LegendWe picked this state park for a week long stay while we were in the area exploring the New River Gorge National Park. Since we were traveling in the summer and brought our dogs along, we needed a spot where we could leave our doggos in a safe and air conditioned space while we explored. We stayed in cabin 14 which is one of two Vacation Cabins. It had four bedrooms and two full baths along with a nice living/dining area and kitchen. There was also a lovely covered front porch as well as a simple charcoal standup campground grill and picnic table in the yard. The cabin was incredibly clean and well maintained.
The grounds are also quite large and lovely. The staff are also friendly and attentive. We enjoyed several of the hiking trails and other features like the historic Grist Mill. There were many other amenities that we did not utilize but were well kept. There was a playground, group picnic area, tennis courts and a-plethora of other lodging options. From tent sites to RV hookups and other types of cabins varying in luxury. The campground also has a coin operated laundry facility that we used during our stay.
For some reason I totally forgot to take pictures of the actual cabin! OOPS!
Legend
Greenbrier River Trail Milepost 63.8 Primitive Campsite, Located between Clover Lick and Clawson, WV (south of Sharp's Tunnel)
The Greenbrier River Trail is one of the most beautiful and often most remote trail I have had the privilege of bikepacking. If you aren't familiar with camping in West Virginia, you are in for a treat. The WV State Park system is fantastic and the State Park employees take incredible pride in keeping all their parks beautifully maintained despite poor budgets to work with.
GRT MP 63.8 Primitive Campsite is close to 17 miles south of the Cass Railroad Station. Trail conditions were wonderful, typical Railroad ballast, crushed gravel...at times it was wide like they recently removed the track, and other sections grass has grown down the middle to make it two track. All flat with a gentle one percent downhill grade from Stumptown to North Caldwell. Frankly, it wasn't discernible...but I'll take it.
Wildlife and songbirds were abundant and as shocked to see you as you were them. Oftentimes, the deer would run the trail ahead of you for 200 yards before cutting off onto their sidetrail.
The trail itself is recorded at differing lengths depending on what you read, but we started at MP 80…at Cass Railroad Station...traveling south to North Caldwell.
PROS:
CONS:
NEARBY HIGHLIGHTS:
*Note in the video, I initially thought the steel containers were bear proof storage, but I was incorrect and they are bear proof trash receptacles.
This is bear country, so we kept all our food items and toiletries in a bear cannister during our trip. We did not experience any encounters or sightings, but fellow cyclists traveling in the same direction, observed a juvenile bear during the day along the trail.
In fact, WV has an abundant wildlife population and it is evident along the Greenbrier River Trail, which set this trail apart from other bikepacking trails I've traveled.
You will see in a couple photos that a certain slithering resident was unwilling to give up his claim on this Adirondack Shelter, we attempted to dissuade him, we even gently relocated him, but he was neither afraid of our presence nor was he about to pass up a roof over his head. So we acquiesced and moved to the raised tent pad 100' down the trail. He was a very curious character.
In June, you can anticipate random, short afternoon or evening cloudbursts...but they can be gully-washers. Nights were cool and most mornings I wore a long-sleeve Merino shirt.
Riding and camping along the picture-perfect Greenbrier River offers fantastic views and opportunities to cool off...bring your swimwear.
RangerQuiet small campground. Couldn't ask for much more. Most sites do kind of pair up so if you need more privacy then reserve the pair of sites. Otherwise most are pretty sizable. We reserved 35&36. 35 was pretty sloped but the gravel driveway wasn't too terribly unlevel. Only real issue was where our steps came out right into a sloped area and was hard to set them right and had to be careful coming in and out. Also it made the awning much lower over our heads but we are both pretty short so no big deal there....except my husband did smack his head pretty good on the awning arm lol no worries he's ok! One night we did have some loud drunken adult neighbors just making strange noises and screaming a whole bunch but seems they didnt stay up too late thankfully. Hosts are friendly and helpful if they are around. A couple bathrooms with shower, utility sinks behind bathroom, water spigots throughout and a playground. Bathrooms were pretty clean but overrun by spiders so I definitely didn't spend any time in there. Firewood and ice available. Water fill and dump station with a lone basketball hoop. Cell service (at&t) was a little spotty but for the most part we usually had about 2 bars and were even able to watch a little netflix on the one rainy day. Lake moomaw is very pretty and just a few miles away to check out the dam, beach and boat ramps. Fishing seems very popular at this lake. Beach was small but pretty. Theres a large bathroom, a volleyball net, picnic tables and I believe a few tent camping spots as well. We visited 4 different campgrounds on this trip and this was definitely one of the top 2 favorites.
Traveler
My 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.
Legend
The Cranberry Campground is a semi-primitive campground located next to the Cranberry River which gets high-use during the trout stocking season in the spring and summer. It's first-come, first-serve, so there's often more demand than supply during the peak season.
Each campsite has a picnic table, fire ring and lamp-hanging post. There are a couple hand-pumps to access well water, and some self-ventilating pit toilets which are surprising odor-free.
The Cranberry Campground can accommodate tent campers as well as RV's and 5th-wheelers up to 40-feet long. There are 28-single campsites, plus 2 double campsites in 2-separate loops. No electricity, or hook-ups. There's a dump station for an extra$5 fee.
If you're in a tent, there are 2 campsites across a bridge in a heavily-wooded area for more privacy. There are also good tent camping sites along the Cranberry River and more sites in the Bishop Knob campground, plus free shelters for backpackers long the 16-mile Cranberry Wilderness Trail, if you want to avoid a bunch of RV campers.
No firewood for sale, but you're welcome to gather whatever limbs, logs, etc. that you find on the ground and in the surrounding forest. This is bear-country, so food needs to be kept out of reach of black bears. Dogs are allowed, but must be kept on a leash at all times.
I camped in mid-September and only saw one other couple my entire stay. This is a great camping spot for easy access to numerous trails in the Cranberry Wilderness and Cranberry Backcountry. It's also a great location to access the Cranberry Glades Boardwalk, Cranberry Mountain Nature Center and the Highland Scenic Highway.
If you drive the Highland Scenic Highway, I recommend a stop at the Falls of Hills Creek. The trail can be difficult, with dozens of steep stairs, but worth the effort to see the 45-foot middle falls and the 65-foot lower falls. Beautiful, even though the water was low during my visit.
The water was too low for kayaking during my visit, but when it's up, the middle Cranberry River has Class-III and Class-IV rapids.
Directions from Richwood: Drive one mile east on State Route 39/55, then 12.5 miles north on Forest Road 76.
You can get a good maps here:
Gauley Ranger District Office: 932 North Fork Cherry Road Richwood, WV 26261 Cranberry Mountain Nature Center near the junction of WV 150& WV 39. It's closed mid-week, but I was able to get a map from the outside literature rack.
Legend
I selected this site. because it was near Natural Bridge and all that it has to offer. There were not a lot of options in the area so I bit the bullet and paid $30 for a site for the evening. While the facility was typical of a KOA I was not entirely impressed by the overall price to amenity ratio, especially after seeing other campgrounds in Virginia along this trip and their price being so vastly different.
Let me just give a full disclosure on this…. There are tent sites which cost less here, BUT there are only 5 of them in the entire campground so if you end up there on a weekend don't count on them being open at all. I even checked just for a reference of how booked they are and even checking some 2 weeks in advance on a random week day the same results appeared, NO BOOKINGS.
During summertime I can see how this place would attract a lot of people with the pool and various options, but in my opinion that does not offset the price point. And RV sites, which are more costly looked hard to get into with larger units.
My site was even and pretty basic despite having electricity. It was just across from the deluxe cabins and close to the restroom which I liked. Everything seemed well lit at night.
This campground being my hub only I did enjoy that it was very close to the town of Lexington itself as well as Natural Bridge, which is a pretty cool site with a lot of interesting history as well.
TIPS:
LegendBattle Run Campground at Summersville Lake, WV (https://www.recreation.gov/camping/battle-run/r/campgroundDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&parkId=73075 ) offers a unique camping experience. Of the 114 campsites available, a large percentage are waterfront, which is what most that camp here desire. In fact, most campers will have their powerboats moored at their site. Claims of the acreage of Summersville Lake vary between 2700-3000 acres, but most agree on around 60 miles of shoreline, making this the largest lake in WV. Summerville Lake is man-made, built in the early 1960's…but it is clean, clear and deep!
Cliffs line much of the lake, which lends itself to daredevils plunging off into the water..but know what lies below. Because this is a man-made lake, they flooded it over the existing wooded areas…so when water levels are low, you could be impaling yourself. Locals know the best spots.
For obvious reasons, this is boater heaven…and Battle Run Campground is always packed. Want to go…reserve your site 6 months in advance or better. There are also 7 walk-in tent sites along the shoreline. Just know, there is little privacy. Also take note: No Pets! Scuba divers love this lake, as it goes as deep as 327 feet…and there are the remnants of the town Gad at the Lake's bottom that once called this area home.
Battle Run Campground basically looks like the outline of an oak leaf, with a series of half loops lined with camp sites. While sites are electric, water is centrally located as is the two showerhouse/restroom facilities. Basketball and volleyball courts are in the center of the campground, as is a horseshoe pit…and kids activity area. The campground beach and boat ramp are located down the road.
Several marina's in the area offer various boat rentals and boat ramp fees. Battle Run Boat Ramp Day Use fees are minimal at a few bucks. Local dive shops also have scuba rentals.
Summerville Lake Dam feeds the Gauley River, so if whitewater rafting is your thing, you've come to the right spot. Spring and Fall releases brings the wildest rides, but the Gauley has Class V rapids all year. Having done the Gauley at both Spring and Fall, both are fast and fun!
If you are looking for quiet, wooded solitude…its right around the corner. So if you camp at Battle Run, don't despair…Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park (https://wvstateparks.com/park/carnifex-ferry-battlefield-state-park/)) is about 5 minutes away, where the trails offer that solitude and great views…surrounded by history. Carnifex Ferry Battlefield was a pivotal Civil War victory for the Union, turning the Confederate Army from the Virginias. Cool stuff! Numerous other trails dot this area too.
Definitely visit the Custard Stand on your way too and from Rt.19…you'll thank me later.
Guide
I’ve stayed here in a tent and a camper. I’ve also stayed in the cabins. We love this park so much. The river is beautiful, the hiking excellent, and the fantastic rail trail is right there. The area has so much to offer - Bear Town, Cranberry, Falls - it’s all wild wonderful West Virginia!!
Guide
Camp Holly is a beautiful campground in the mountains of West Virginia.. Off grid but they do offer Wifi.
You can choose between hammock, tent, cabin or RV camping, I would recommend tenting it down by the beautiful rivers. The owners are super sweet and more than accommodating.
This campground has a shop where you can buy necessities you may have forgotten, ice, snacks and fishing gear are also available. The bathrooms are the cleanest and well kept camp bath houses I have ever seen.
The location is near quite a few waterfalls and about an hour away from the National Forest.. some small towns are nearby as well and worth the visit. Definitely give it a shot! We can't wait to go back!
We did have some GPS issues on Google Maps, so I would recommend a Garmin or calling for directions before getting lost like we did. It wasn't actually hard to find, but GPS messed with us..
Nestled in the scenic beauty of West Virginia, Buckeye offers a variety of tent camping options that cater to outdoor enthusiasts seeking adventure and tranquility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the most popular tent campsite near Buckeye, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Buckeye, WV is Poor Farm Dispersed Recreation Area with a 4.5-star rating from 4 reviews.
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