The Greenbrier River Trail offers multiple tent campsites near Caldwell, West Virginia along its 78-mile path through Pocahontas and Greenbrier counties. The trail follows the former Chesapeake and Ohio Railway and maintains an easy grade of less than 1% throughout its length, making it accessible for campers arriving by bicycle. The area typically experiences mild summers with temperatures averaging 75-85°F during daylight hours but can drop to 55-65°F overnight, requiring campers to pack layers for comfortable sleeping.
What to do
Explore the Greenbrier River Trail: The rail-trail offers camping access to excellent fishing spots. At Greenbrier River Trail Mile Post 28.5 Primitive Campsite, one reviewer noted, "Swimming and fishing are permitted in the Greenbrier River (Fishing: if you have a WV Fishing License). In late June, temperatures were still quite cool, so while the river looked inviting, we did not take the plunge."
Visit nearby attractions: Make time to explore the surrounding area's historic sites. From CB Ranch, a camper shared, "The farm is 4 miles from a quaint small town with shops and great restaurants. Lots of local attractions from State parks, Greenbrier rails to tails (77 miles long), Greenbrier river (Kayaking) and a couple caves to explore."
Watch trains pass: The active rail lines near camping areas provide unique experiences. At Meadow Creek Campground, a camper observed, "The trains are fun to watch but very loud and frequent." Another camper mentioned, "The coal trains run through at all hours of the night—and blow their horns (earplugs)."
What campers like
Adirondack-style shelters: Several tent camping locations offer covered structures. A reviewer at Greenbrier River Trail Mile Post 9.5 Primitive Campsite explained, "The Shelter is so new its not even noted on any but the newest Trail Map. It appears that individuals or families have either constructed or donated for the construction of both shelters and several protected bench areas."
Riverside camping spots: Campers appreciate sites positioned along the water. At Stone Cliff Campground, a reviewer noted, "Location was amazing. Sites are first come first served, no reservation needed. Plenty of parking with 6+ isolated camp sites, all with view of river. There is a great trail nearby that runs along the river."
Site privacy and spacing: Many tent campsites near Caldwell provide good separation between sites. At Chestnut Creek Campground, a visitor observed, "Most sites are simple with just a picnic table and fire pit. There are lots of trees in between many of the sites for great privacy."
What you should know
Water availability varies: Many campgrounds have unreliable water sources. A camper at Greenbrier River Trail Mile Post 28.5 noted, "Hand-pump well water" as a pro, while at Mile Post 9.5 another camper reported, "Hand pump well water was inoperable during our late June 2020 visit."
Train noise: Railway traffic affects multiple campgrounds. A reviewer at Meadow Creek Campground stated, "The biggest con to this is the multi-track railroad right next to the campground. They go by pretty frequently at all hours of day and night and are so loud you can feel the vibrations."
Wind conditions: Valley locations can experience strong gusts. A camper at Meadow Creek Campground warned, "The wind here is also very strong and without strong anchors could easily pull up your tent. We were having to restake the corners throughout our stay and thought we might loose our rain fly a few times."
Cell service limitations: Connectivity varies significantly. A camper at Shirleys' River Retreat mentioned, "1 bar of unboosted cell service with ATT with some drop off if raining, but fine for streaming videos." At Mile Post 28.5, another camper listed "No cell service" as both a pro and con.
Tips for camping with families
Consider private campgrounds: Some offer unique experiences for children. At CB Ranch, a family camper shared, "We loved every moment of our stay from the fire pit to the beautiful tails on the property to seeing the farm animals. The constant songs of the birds is a reminder that we belong in nature."
Check tent pad sizes: Some sites accommodate multiple tents for family groups. At Stone Cliff Beach, a camper noted, "There was plenty of room for 4 tents right along the river. It was a little rocky, but nothing a sleeping pad wouldn't take care of."
Look for campgrounds with wildlife viewing: Families can enjoy nature observation opportunities. At Chestnut Creek Campground, a visitor reported, "We had a great couple days with rain at times. Site was large with lots of trees. We hiked Endless Wall Trail and Glade Creek Trail to Kate's Falls."
Tips from RVers
Know site restrictions: Some previously RV-friendly areas have changed policies. A visitor to Meadow Creek Campground warned, "The ranger informed us someone who stayed here in a rv had a close call crossing the train tracks and now they have decided to make this campground a tent only place. Which is very unfortunate since this place is beautiful and the sites were big enough for rv and tent use."
Research access roads: Not all campgrounds have suitable approach routes. One visitor to Stone Cliff noted, "So we had no idea there was a steep gravel decline to get to the camp site. My wife and I had brought our hatchback instead of our SUV- so our fault, but if this had been mentioned somewhere then we would have known."
Consider private options for RVs: Some campgrounds near Caldwell offer both tent and RV accommodations. At CB Ranch, offerings include "alcohol-allowed, fires-allowed, firewood, reservable, showers, toilets" and accommodations for both tents and cabins.
