Camping near Daniels, West Virginia offers easy access to New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, with elevations ranging from 1,200 to 3,200 feet throughout the region. The area receives approximately 44 inches of rainfall annually, creating lush forests and seasonal water level changes in the numerous streams and rivers. Campsites in this mountainous terrain often require leveling equipment, particularly for RVs and larger vehicles.
What to do
Hiking trails: Distance ranges from 0.25 to 7.5 miles. Glade Creek Campground in the national park offers direct access to the Glade Creek Trail, which follows an old railroad bed. "The Glade Creek Trail follows an old RR bed with easy terrain. Being early in the spring, there was still some deadfall across parts of the trail that required some maneuvering and even though it is a raised old narrow gauge RR bed, it still got muddy. Several trails break off Glade Creek trail and worth taking," notes one visitor.
Water activities: Lake access with rental options. Little Beaver State Park Campground has a small lake for fishing, swimming, and other water recreation. "This campground is situated in the woods, near Lake. Has a good WFI everywhere, very clean and quiet," shares a camper. Another mentions, "The park has a lot of trails and a lake but we didn't have time to check them out."
Wildlife observation: Best in early morning or evening hours. Campers frequently report deer sightings at multiple campgrounds in the area. At Meador Campground, one visitor noted, "There were also TONS of deer all around (just hanging out eating vegetation) during our short one night stay." Bird watching is also popular in the region, with multiple species of wood-warblers seen during spring migration.
What campers like
Privacy between sites: Varies significantly by campground. At Mash Fork Campground, campers appreciate the thoughtful layout. One reviewer states, "All camper pads are paved, have a generous camper pad length, and most are spread a decent amount of space apart." Similarly, at Stone Cliff Campground, a visitor notes, "There were 2-3 other groups there and it still felt secluded with the sites distance from each other and the wooded area."
Clean facilities: Regularly maintained bathhouses. The attention to detail at Pipestem Resort State Park Campground receives consistent praise. "Shower houses were well maintained daily throughout the week, however not on weekends when it tends to be most crowded. Shower houses had been recently updated which was nice for a state park," shares one camper. Another adds, "They have shower facilities and a laundry room. There is also a place to empty your camper refuse."
Waterfront camping: Limited but highly sought after. At Army Camp, the riverside sites are especially popular. A camper explains, "We had 1 big tent, 2 vehicles and a few dogs and had plenty of room. The road getting back to the site is a little sketch but worth the trip in. The view of the river is absolutely beautiful!!" Meador Campground offers a similar experience, with a visitor noting, "We stayed in Meador site 14, which was the furthest away from the bath house (still only maybe 150 yards), but it was on the water & was the most secluded. It was freshly mowed, had a fire ring, picnic table, & was right on the water with nice views of the lake & mountains."
What you should know
Seasonal availability: Major limitations from November to March. While Pipestem Resort State Park Campground operates year-round, many facilities in the area close during winter months. At Little Beaver State Park, a visitor learned, "Just a quick FYI, there is no camping in the winter. We stopped by for an overnight while enroute to Ohio. I don't always check ahead while road tripping, I see a recreation sign and decide to stop for the night."
Access challenges: Many sites require navigating steep, narrow roads. The terrain around Daniels presents genuine challenges for larger vehicles. At Army Camp, one camper warns, "It's a one lane road to get to the campground and can get tight when other vehicles pass, but we got down there with our F250 truck and camper when a big grater and the park ranger came by. It's very doable." Stone Cliff Campground access has similar issues: "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."
Site reservations: Mix of reservable and first-come, first-served. The National Park Service campgrounds (Army Camp, Glade Creek, Grandview Sandbar, Stone Cliff) operate on a first-come basis with no reservation system. A Glade Creek visitor observed, "The available 5 drive in sites go quick. I was in the campground 3 days and never saw an empty spot." In contrast, state parks and private campgrounds typically offer advance reservations.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Multiple options within state parks. Rifrafters Campground provides family-friendly amenities close to town. "The playground was great for our daughters to burn off some energy. We would stay here again, especially for a weekend to see the area," reports one parent. At Pipestem Resort, a family mentioned, "They also had a nicely updated park for the kids to play. My only complaint is that the camp store did not keep their ice cream stocked."
Swimming options: Indoor and outdoor pools at select locations. Families appreciate having water recreation beyond just lakes and rivers. At Meador Campground, one visitor shares, "There is an outdoor pool within walking distance of campground but the playgrounds need upgraded. Lots of space to run around for the kids. It rained one day we were there and we took a quick drive to Pipestem and swam in the heated, indoor pool that is included in camping fee."
Biking-friendly roads: Best within campground loops. Several campgrounds feature paved roads suitable for younger riders. A Mash Fork Campground visitor notes, "All the roads are paved making it easy for the little ones to ride bikes." At Pipestem Resort State Park, families mention, "Kids loved biking around campground, very safe" and "Plenty of places to bike ride for my family of young kids (4 & 8)."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling: Bring blocks or levelers. Many campgrounds in the mountainous terrain require equipment for leveling. At Little Beaver State Park, an RVer advises, "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." Another visitor adds, "Sites are big and spread out. We had site 19 which is one of the few pull thrus. We have a triple axl, had plenty of room and the site is wooded."
Limited hookups: Plan for self-sufficiency at National Park sites. While most of the best places to camp near Daniels, West Virginia in the national park are free, they lack hookups. As one RVer at Army Camp states, "No electric/water, so plan to be ready to be off grid. Hard to complain about free!" State parks like Mash Fork provide more amenities: "Great park. Nice playgrounds clean lots 30 and 50 amp service as well as boondock sites."
