Best Tent Camping near Fayetteville, WV
Tent campsites in the New River Gorge area near Fayetteville, West Virginia range from established campgrounds to primitive riverside sites. Stone Cliff Campground within New River Gorge National Park and Preserve offers walk-in tent sites along the river, while Chestnut Creek Campground provides wooded tent sites with more amenities. The American Alpine Club's New River Gorge Campground caters specifically to tent campers with wooden platforms designed for level tent setup in the otherwise uneven terrain.
Most primitive tent sites in the New River Gorge require campers to carry gear short distances from parking areas to their campsites. Stone Cliff features sandy, walk-in sites with vault toilets but no drinking water, requiring tent campers to bring their own supply. Chestnut Creek offers more amenities with a bathhouse containing hot showers, though sites remain rustic with just picnic tables and fire rings. Several campgrounds have no reservations system, operating on a first-come, first-served basis, particularly those within the national park boundaries. Vault toilets are standard at most locations, though cleanliness varies significantly based on usage and maintenance schedules.
The riverside tent camping experience at Stone Cliff provides direct water access, though a visitor commented that "there was SO MUCH BROKEN GLASS" on the beach area. Tent platforms at the American Alpine Club campground create level sleeping surfaces in the rocky, uneven terrain typical of the region. Sites in the lower loop are described as "lovely, tucked among boulders and rhodies." Train noise affects several campgrounds, particularly Meadow Creek where "trains are fun to watch but very loud and frequent." Strong winds can challenge tent setups in valley locations, with one camper noting they were "having to restake the corners throughout our stay." Despite these challenges, the tent camping options provide excellent access to climbing areas, hiking trails, and water activities throughout the New River Gorge region.