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Best Tent Camping near Duck, WV

419 Reviews

Tent campsites in the New River Gorge area near Duck, West Virginia offer a mix of primitive and established options for outdoor enthusiasts. Stone Cliff Campground within New River Gorge National Park and Preserve provides walk-in tent sites along the river, while Chestnut Creek Campground offers a family-run tent camping experience with wooded sites just minutes from popular hiking trails and climbing areas. The American Alpine Club's New River Gorge Campground caters specifically to climbers with wooden tent platforms designed for the uneven terrain.

Most tent sites in the region feature basic amenities like fire rings, though picnic tables aren't guaranteed at all locations. Stone Cliff's riverside tent sites require a short walk from the parking area, with some sites accessible via stairs leading down to a sandy beach area. Vault toilets are common at the national park campgrounds, while Chestnut Creek provides shower facilities with hot water. Campers should bring their own drinking water to most locations, as potable water isn't widely available. The camping season generally runs from spring through fall, with some sites closing during winter months due to weather conditions.

The tent camping experience near Duck offers varied terrain and privacy levels depending on location. Sites at Stone Cliff provide direct river access with some tent spots just feet from the water, though campers note the presence of broken glass on the beach areas. The wooded sites at Chestnut Creek offer more privacy between campsites with plenty of trees for hammock camping. The American Alpine Club campground features unique tent platforms built on and around boulders, creating distinctive camping spots. According to one visitor, "Sites are designed for tents or smaller rigs mostly... There is a bathhouse with restrooms and showers. There is also a disc golf course or you can watch the free roaming chickens."

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Best Tent Sites Near Duck, West Virginia (8)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Duck, WV

419 Reviews of 8 Duck Campgrounds

  • H. K.
    Jun. 26, 2022

    Stone Cliff Campground — New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

    Free, centrally located & meh

    Stone Cliff campground is a sandy, walk in campground. There is one site that you can park beside which I think is supposed to be ADA accessible. The rest of the sites require a short walk in or down about a flight of steps.

    We camped right below the stairs. There was a pole for a lantern but no picnic table (although there are some near the parking area), no fire ring (previous campers had made one out of stone that we used), and no flat tent pad area. We pitched our tent in the flattest spot and it was acceptable.

    There are vault toilets up the stairs and across the parking lot. They smelled awful and needed to be cleaned. Although it didn't seem like Stone Cliff was a busy campground (we only had a couple neighbors) the rafting companies put in right there and bring bus loads of rafters who use the vault toilets so they are used by lots of people.

    You have to bring your own water. There are garbage cans in the parking area above.

    It is right on the New River on a sand bar which is nice except there was SO MUCH BROKEN GLASS. Honestly it was the most broken glass I've seen on a beach. There was also quite a lot of litter which is obnoxious.

    Overall it was fine. It was free and it was close to the Visitor's Center and most of the trails I wanted to hike. But it wasn't a beautiful or serene nature setting.

  • Heather P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 9, 2022

    Babcock State Park Campground

    Choose your site wisely

    My suggestion is take a good look at the sites before setting up camp.

    With 51 sites, maybe 20 were populated.  

    While we had no rain, you could tell some sites could easily be washed out or have

    a nice stream that would run through your site with heavy rains.

    Picnic table and fire ring in sites.  Firewood can be purchased from the check in building.

    NO Alcohol allowed in campground!

    Restrooms and the campground was well maintained.

    Checking out the Glade Creek Grist Mill is a MUST!!

  • Christy M.
    Jul. 21, 2020

    Day Run Campground

    Spent 4 days here July 17-20

    Nice size sites for tents and/or RV. All come with Lantern pole, fire ring with grate for cooking on, and picnic table. There are 2 restrooms located in this camping area with vault toilets only. Take your own toilet paper if campground isn’t busy because it doesn’t get maintained daily and we ran out. Trash cans are in fencing for bear proofing. Self pay.

  • Janet R.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 1, 2026

    The Outpost at New River Gourge

    Outpost with the mostest

    This is a popular multi-level campround, from basic tent sites to cabins to really upscale glamping. The tent platforms or basic camper cabins are probably midling. The regular tent sites that you can drive in to are a bit crowded, but there are more secluded walk-in tent sites. The tent platforms are also walk-in but provide more space and shelter, which is nice as it did seem to rain a lot when we were there. The prices are all more than you would pay at a state or national park campground, but there is a lot going on here like concerts and other events, and a little of well kept amenities like bathrooms, and also equipment to rent to get out into the gorge. The Outpost is near the iconic gorge bridge as well as the Canyon Rim NPS visitor center which has a lot of good educational displays about the geology, geography and history of that part of the gorge, so the proximity is nice.

    Overall the campground is a luxury set up for camping. I just reduced it by one stat because the price, the crowdedness, and the distance from the south end of the gorge where the Sandstone Falls and Sandstone Visitor. I do appreciate that they are dog friendly though!

  • Camp With Me The Dyrt PRO User
    Dec. 21, 2025

    Williams River Sites

    Amazing Cheap Camping by the River in West Virginia

    The coordinates for this are site #19.

    We explored the Williams River Campsites nestled in the heart of Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia! There are 30 peaceful,**first-come, first-serve rustic campsites  scattered along across 19 miles on Williams River Road(Forest Roads 86& 216), many right beside the scenic Williams River— a favorite spot for fishing, hiking, and wildlife viewing. These campsites offer basic amenities like picnic tables, campfire rings, and lantern posts, but no hookups or potable water, so come prepared for a true back-to-nature experience. There are pit toilets between some sites. The area sits near the Cranberry Wilderness off the Highland Scenic Highway, providing outdoor adventure opportunities like river swimming, mountain biking, and trail exploration. Perfect for anglers, hikers, and anyone looking to unplug in wild West Virginia!

    Check out all 30 sites in our video, GPS locations for all sites are in the video description. 

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pz0xR0B2UYQ

  • Dave V.
    Aug. 27, 2017

    River Run Campground — North Bend State Park

    Deer Heaven

    North Bend State Park is about 10 miles south on Rt 16 off of Rt 50...east of Parkersburg, WV.

    When you slowly wind your way along twisty backcountry roads, through a small town, you'll ultimately find yourself entering North Bend State Park.

    Immediately to the right is Cokely Campground. Initially, you don't see it...you must drive up and over a roller. At the top of the hill, you observe a handful of picnic tables and fire rings, a porta-potty and a small woodshed with a water spigot alongside. Very little delineation from site to site and more of a mown field. Only the top two locations are the only quasi-level sites along a narrow tree line. No electric. These sites are $16 nightly.

    Traveling over the hill and turning to the right you see the main Cokely Campground with newer showerhouse/restroom building and playground. Campsites are blacktop with water and electric, apparently for large RV/Campers. These sites are $28 nightly.

    If you were to bypass the RV/Camper location, you would continue down the side road to the boat ramp and lake.

    The grounds and restrooms were clean, maincured and well maintained. Midweek the RV sites were already filled.

    We decided against Cokely Campground and returned to the main park road deeper into the State Park to River Run Campground.

    You pass the Lodge/Restaurant and the huge "L" shaped outdoor pool on your right as you descend (Note: the pool is seasonal and with college aga lifeguards that exit for school early, it was closed mid-August).

    Winding down to River Run, deer in abundance were lining the the roadway, so use care. River Run Campground runs along a river...imagine that!

    Tent sites are situated between the roadway and the river on the left...then additional tent sites are around a small half acre pond on the right. Most the roadside tent sites are level, but sit at a lower level, so when it rains (and it does in WV)...it gets soggy. No visible distinction or foliage between tent sites. One porta-potty sits at the crossroads across from the office.

    Saturday it was quiet with only one other tent camper, but rain was forecasted...although a pumphouse, located at the entrance to River Run, kicks on periodically with a low, annoying droning. Being at site 45, it was quite noticeable, as I imagine with all sites in the 40's. The tent specific sites are non-electric with central water spigots ($22 nightly). As you pass the tent sites and the office, you enter a loop of paved RV/Camper sites with blacktop drives, water and electric ($28 nightly). The Showerhouse/restrooms are located in the center of this area...and are very clean and maintained. The coveted RV/Camper sites are along the bank of the river and offer more distance between neighbors. On the inner ring, a split rail fence separates neighbors.

    While the sun didn't shine during our visit, it appears the thick forest canopy keeps all river sites shaded. The grounds and facilities are neat at clean.

    All the trails bisect this campground, some foot only, others multipurpose. River Run also has a nice playground for the kids. Trails have difficulty drying out, so rocks and roots were muddy and slick, but still enjoyable.

    Note: Mountainbike races are often held here, so campgrounds can get crazy and packed. Additionally, because of the pool, this is a very busy campground. Be forewarned that the pool is 58 steps up from the parking lot to the pool area.

    There were a lot of trails I did not get to travel, and I'll bring my bike next time for the Rails-to-Trail. Nice but popular campground,

  • Camp With Me The Dyrt PRO User
    Jan. 8, 2026

    Tea Creek Campground

    Well Spaced out National Forest Campground

    This was a nice, secluded National Forest campground tucked away at the intersection of Tea Creek and the Williams River. The 28 sites are well spaced, giving you plenty of privacy, and most are flat, with the creekside sites being especially nice.

    Each campsite includes a picnic table, fire ring with grill, waste receptacle, and lantern hook. The campground was clean, with vault toilets on each loop and bear-proof trash cages throughout. I noticed four trailheads at the campground. There is no cell service. Camping is $10 per night or $5 with a discount, making this a great, affordable place to stay in the Monongahela National Forest.

    Check out our 360° drive though of the campground, it will help you get a good sense of the place.

    https://youtu.be/FlOco2p8T2Q

  • Dave V.
    Sep. 1, 2017

    Babcock State Park Campground

    Drop Dead Gorgeous!

    Babcock State Park, located in the thriving megapolis of Clifton, West Virginia is postcard perfect! https://wvstateparks.com/park/babcock-state-park/

    The road in off the highway isn't too long, but it seemed long, winding, and up and down...especially as night fell. Driving backcountry roads in West Virginia, at night, is not my idea of fun, as I had several near misses with Bambi and her roving gang of miscreants...having no regard for traffic laws...and one knock down, drag out with minimal vehicle damage.

    One of the beauties of West Virginia...it is a sparsely populated state with open, unchoked roads that lead to some of the most amazing sights. You must be willing to explore, but you will be richly rewarded.

    In the dark, I did pass the campground signs without seeing them and turned into the State Park entrance...wound around past rental cabins to the park office, so I had to backtrack to the campground, which is located in a different area altogether. Driven during daylight hours, the signs are very apparent...so I'm blaming it on the deer.

    We arrived midweek, the first of May, so we did not reserve a site. The campground has 52 sites, so I thought we would have a good shot as a walk-in. No worries...we shared the campground with two other campers. Our campsite (site 32) was on the inner loop of the main campground loop at sits around 2450 ft elevation. The temperature got down to 30 degrees and frost covered everything. Twenty eight sites have electric hook-ups ($28) and twenty four do not ($25). The inner loop has some mature trees but is wide open and close cut grass...every camper has a view of the other. Even the outside sites on the main loop are visible. The smaller loop to the right as you enter and a few sites to the left sit in slightly more wooded sites...but there is no foliage separating sites. There is also sites on the opposite side of the roadway when you enter the campground, but seem more like overflow sites...and a fair distance to trek for the showerhouse/restroom/laundry which is situated on the bottom of the main loop.

    There is plenty of gravel parking pad for large RV/Campers at all the sites and are angled for trailer back-in. Tent pads are not define and grassy (or a muddy mix depending on weather and usage). Each site has a picnic table and fire ring.

    The showerhouse/restroom is located at the front of the loop and was spotless and maintained at the time of our stay...but not climate controlled...as in, not heated. The ladies that keep the park facilities clean worked tirelessly. A very nice activity area for kids sat along the inner portion o the main loop.

    The main entrance to the park offers several cabin rental, from economy to 4 bedroom, the park office/visitor's center/gift shop sit along the river. The park office staff were very helpful, friendly and wear many hats...like most state parks.

    This building and surrounding stone structures, retaining walls, and staircases were built by the CCC and are magnificent and in great shape. The beautiful gift shop was once a former park restaurant of a bygone era.

    Ranger Cochrane was a wealth of information about the park, it's history and neighboring parks. He graciously spent time answering my barrage of questions. Ranger Cochrane was yet another tribute to the fine personnel that WV parks have in place.

    The park office is also the best location for postcard perfect pictures of the raging whitewater and gristmill. While not the original gristmill from this location, three remaining gristmills from around the state were dismantled and rebuilt into one at the present location over 30 years ago. The gristmill was very photogenic in the early Spring, but I can only imagine the splendor when the fall leaves change color.

    Whitewater kayakers were readying to put in on the rain swollen and boulder strewn river that feeds into the New River below.

    Boley Lake, a short drive up the mountain is picturesque and well-stoked with fish. You can paddle the 19 acre lake with personal paddle craft or rent paddleboats, canoes or rowboats from the Boley Lake Marina. Fishing is permitted, but you must have proper licensing...which can be purchased online.

    Trails are everywhere and of every terrain and level of difficulty...over 20 miles of trails total. Babcock State Park is 4,127 acres, so there is plenty to see and do. Bicycling can be done on all park paved and gravel roads (no off-road trails), as well as along the Narrow Gauge Trail. And of course, being not too far from The New River and Gauley River...whitewater rafting is close.

Guide to Duck

Tent camping near Duck, West Virginia places visitors in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains where elevations range from 1,400 to 2,500 feet. The region experiences distinct seasons with warm summers reaching 75-85°F and cool evenings dropping into the 60s. Most campsites in this area are situated within forested terrain featuring oak, maple, and hickory trees that provide natural shade and hammock options during the May through October camping season.

What to do

Trail access for hikers: Stone Cliff Campground offers direct access to riverside hiking trails. According to camper James A., "There is a great trail nearby that runs along the river. Sites are first come first served, no reservation needed. Plenty of parking with 6+ isolated camp sites, all with view of river."

Disc golf courses: Chestnut Creek Campground features an on-site disc golf course for campers seeking recreational activities between hikes. One visitor noted, "Has a Frisbee/Disc Golf Course. Close to rivers, climbing and hiking activities. Cell reception was great all throughout this area."

Climbing proximity: New River Gorge Campground - American Alpine Club serves as a strategic base for rock climbers. As reviewer Eric K. explains, "This campground is well maintained and located in the heart of the New. It's a quick walk to the Junkyard Wall or a short drive to many other classic crags."

Fishing opportunities: Plum Orchard Lake WMA offers fishing access with boat launches for anglers. A visitor reported, "Just past the campground spur is a boat launch area with a small dock. Many people were out fishing."

What campers like

Secluded riverside sites: Stone Cliff Campground — New River Gorge National Park and Preserve provides waterfront camping with privacy. Camper Gracey L. shared, "We stayed at site 7 which was definitely the most private, the only downside being people walking on the trail walk right by your camp. The second most private campsite was 6."

Unique tent platforms: At New River Gorge Campground, campers appreciate the specially designed platforms. As Bansi D. describes, "We were lucky to get campsite 23, which had a tent platform high up on a boulder. The campsite was fairly quiet and cozy!"

Clean facilities: Chestnut Creek Campground maintains quality shower facilities. According to Sienna L., "They have showers and clean bathrooms just a short walk from any site. All sites are big and you can pick from any available."

Communal spaces: Brooklyn Campground offers riverside camping with scenic views. Cody T. noted, "There is 1 handicap site and 4 sites by the river. The handicap site is the only one that you can drive directly up to. The 4 sites by the river have a parking lot and you walk to them. The view of the river is beautiful."

What you should know

Payment systems: Different campgrounds have varying payment methods. At Chestnut Creek, "Charge was per person not per site, but reasonable at $15. This seams to be common practice in the area," according to Cathy D.

Train noise: Several riverside campsites experience periodic train activity. At Brooklyn Campground — New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, camper Brittany S. warns, "There is an active railroad across the river and there were probably 5-10 trains the Wednesday night that we stayed."

Water availability: Bring your own drinking water to most sites. At Plum Orchard Lake WMA, "The water at the site is not potable, so plan accordingly. Latrines are provided," advises Jean C.

Seasonal considerations: Many campgrounds operate seasonally. As Cathy D. explains about Chestnut Creek Campground, "Our visit was the first full weekend in November and many other campgrounds were closed for the winter."

Tips for camping with families

Kid-friendly amenities: Plum Orchard Lake WMA offers activities for children. "Plum Orchard Lake is good for swimming but you're welcome to bring your boat, kayak or canoe too. We were able to see deer, raccoons and some nice looking birds," notes Elaine L.

Wildlife viewing opportunities: Families enjoy animal sightings at Chestnut Creek Campground. One visitor mentioned, "There is also a disc golf course or you can watch the free roaming chickens."

Camp selection tips: Choose sites based on access needs with children. At Stone Cliff Campground, "There are 4 nice spots down on the beach and two up a small hill close to the parking lot and trailhead," reports Kaylee F.

Family-run operations: Chestnut Creek offers personalized family camping. Katie M. shares, "This place is run by the family that lives there and has been my go to spot for stays at the New. The bathrooms are clean and spacious to accommodate the number of campers."

Tips from RVers

Access limitations: Most tent sites near Duck have limited RV access. About Day Run Campground, Christy M. notes, "Nice size sites for tents and/or RV. All come with Lantern pole, fire ring with grate for cooking on, and picnic table."

Road conditions: Access roads vary significantly between sites. At Plum Orchard Lake WMA, Patrick W. cautions, "Long, bumpy dirt road to reach the campsite—it could be fun in the right vehicle. Luckily we had an axe, we had to chop a tree that fell overnight blocking the road."

Site restrictions: Many campgrounds explicitly limit or prohibit larger RVs. Lisa K. explains about Chestnut Creek Campground, "This is a very nice little campground set up for tents, hammock campers and some car campers. No hook-ups. Definitely not for RVs or Camper trailers."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Duck, WV?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Duck, WV is Chestnut Creek Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 21 reviews.

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