Camping sites near Hinton, West Virginia sit at elevations ranging from 1,400 to 2,500 feet, creating distinct microclimates throughout the region. Summer temperatures typically range from 75-85°F during the day, dropping into the 50s at night. Flash flooding can occur after heavy rains, with campgrounds along the New River particularly susceptible to rapid water level changes.
What to do
Hiking to waterfalls: 3.5 miles of maintained trails near Camp Creek State Park lead to several cascades. "The hiking is difficult in some areas but spectacularly beautiful. The campground staff was very friendly, and the amenities were clean and kept up," notes a visitor about their October experience.
Paddling Bluestone Lake: Rentals available at multiple locations with calm water suitable for beginners. "This campground rests by Bluestone Lake, which is where the Bluestone River runs into the New River. Meador CG is up the Bluestone portion of the lake and the backwaters do have a swampy appearance," explains a camper from Meador Campground.
Mountain biking on converted rail beds: Several miles of flat, wide paths ideal for families. "Plenty of trails. A nice trailhead right nearby," reports a visitor who stayed at Meador site 14, mentioning the convenient access from campgrounds.
Year-round activities: Pipestem Resort State Park offers recreation regardless of season. "Beautiful property, well maintained, with lots to do. We enjoyed many of the parks amenities including a horseback ride on the trails, the giant inflatables at the lake, the nature center & hiking," shares a family who stayed in site 21.
What campers like
Wildlife viewing: Deer commonly approach campsites in early mornings and evenings. "There were also TONS of deer all around (just hanging out eating vegetation) during our short one night stay," reports a visitor to Meador Campground.
Firefly displays: Late May through June offers spectacular natural light shows. "Watched a cluster of fireflies that looked like a lightning storm," describes a camper at Meadow Creek Campground, noting the experience despite being "just off the highway."
River access: Multiple sandy areas for wading and swimming during summer months. "Quick access to 64 and Sandstone Visitor Center. The biggest con to this is the multi-track railroad right next to the campground," explains a camper who spent 4 nights at Meadow Creek Campground.
Smaller crowds at dispersed sites: First-come, first-served locations often have availability even on weekends. "Friday night and there was only a few campers. If it's full glade creek is four miles up the road and our personal favorite. So plenty of options and both great spots!" shares a visitor at Grandview Sandbar Campground.
What you should know
Railroad noise affects several campgrounds: Trains run 24 hours at some locations. "The trains run by pretty frequently at all hours of day and night and are so loud you can feel the vibrations," warns a camper who spent 4 nights at Meadow Creek Campground.
Limited cell service: Verizon works best but expect 1-2 bars at most sites. "Had AT&T cell signal down by the river but no Sprint Signal," notes a visitor at Glade Creek Campground, adding that service was sufficient for "streaming videos."
Uneven bathhouse quality: Facilities vary dramatically between parks. "Bathhouse is open air over half of it. Had no soap or toilet paper and the toilets were all plugged up," reports a visitor at Old Mill Campground in July.
Flash flooding concerns: River levels can rise rapidly after rain. "When there is a lot of rain there is definitely the chance it'll flood," cautions a camper about Grandview Sandbar Campground.
Tent-only restrictions at some sites: Meadow Creek no longer permits RVs. "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," explains a visitor.
Tips for camping with families
Pool access: Several parks offer swimming options with varying fees. "Little Beaver State Park is situated in the woods, near Lake. Has good WFI everywhere, very clean and quiet," notes a visitor to Little Beaver State Park, where swimming facilities are available.
Playgrounds and open spaces: Look for campgrounds with recreational areas. "A nice playground for children. Lots of deer about. The tent sites have water, fire ring, table and nice shade. Lots of lovely trails to explore," shares a visitor to Little Beaver State Park.
Reservations recommended for summer weekends: Many established campgrounds fill by Thursday. "We spent 4 nights here. Used this park as a base camp for New River Gorge NP. There's many other State Parks we visited too," advises a camper who stayed at Pipestem Resort State Park.
Weather preparation: Significant temperature drops at night require extra blankets even in summer. "The temperature got down to 30 degrees and frost covered everything," reports a May visitor to Babcock State Park.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds require blocks or levelers. "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," notes a visitor to Little Beaver State Park.
Access road considerations: Several campgrounds have narrow, winding roads unsuitable for larger rigs. "The facilities were clean and well maintained. Limited large rig sites and roadways are very narrow," advises an RVer who visited Babcock State Park.
Hookup placement issues: Expect unusual utility locations at older parks. "Electrical hook up was on the opposite side of where they should be and in the middle of the small area," reports a camper who spent 8 days at Pipestem Resort State Park, adding that "Overall the full hookup sites, though were not horrible they are very outdated for the newer larger rigs."
Dump station locations: Plan waste management carefully. "Dump site was a little different. Had to make a uturn to get in to dump," shares a visitor to Little Beaver State Park about the somewhat awkward arrangement.
