Tent camping near Gauley Bridge, West Virginia provides access to elevations ranging from 600 to 1,500 feet along the confluence of the Gauley and New rivers. The region experiences moderate rainfall of approximately 45 inches annually, with summer temperatures averaging 75-85°F during peak camping season. Local campgrounds often fill quickly during the fall gauley season when controlled releases from Summersville Dam create world-class whitewater conditions.
What to do
Whitewater rafting access: New & Gauley River Adventures offers camping adjacent to prime rafting put-in locations. The proximity to both rivers makes it convenient for early morning departures during scheduled dam releases.
Rock climbing practice: New River Gorge Campground caters specifically to climbers with unique features. "This is a very well thought out campground and is a great option for climbers visiting the area. Each site has a wooden tent platform (10'x10') to set up on, which is a huge plus since the ground is so uneven throughout," notes one reviewer who appreciated the climbing-friendly design.
Hiking to abandoned towns: Brooklyn Campground provides direct access to historical exploration opportunities. A camper reports, "South side junction trail is right there and leads to thurmond; an almost abandoned coal mining town."
Fishing access: Plum Orchard Lake WMA offers multiple water-based activities beyond the gorge area. "Plum Orchard Lake is a wildlife management area with rustic tent and camper sites. You do need to obtain a permit from the manager. This is a beautiful area with plenty of fishing and hiking areas within a 20 mile radius or so," shares one visitor who enjoyed the diverse recreational options.
What campers like
Sandy riverside sites: Tent campers at Stone Cliff Campground appreciate the direct river access and natural beach areas. "I used one of the walk in sites about half a mile into the trail. There was plenty of room for 4 tents right along the river," reports one camper who enjoyed the spacious tent setup areas.
Privacy between sites: The wooded setting at Chestnut Creek Campground creates natural separation. "This is a quiet campground, with lots of space and site options, run independently by a family. 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," notes a reviewer who valued the secluded feel.
Clean facilities: Bathhouses at tent-focused campgrounds receive regular maintenance. One Chestnut Creek visitor mentioned, "The bathrooms are clean and spacious to accommodate the number of campers. It can be a little old school in that you have to text to get in touch with them and make reservations but they are always willing to make things work."
Nature watching opportunities: Wildlife viewing enhances the tent camping experience. "The trees are a beautiful array of color - greens, reds and yellows. The lake is good for swimming but you're welcome to bring your boat, kayak or canoe too. We took a couple day trips around too. We were able to see deer, raccoons and some nice looking birds," shared a Plum Orchard Lake visitor.
What you should know
Train noise affects sleep: Several campgrounds near Gauley Bridge sit close to active rail lines. At Meadow Creek Campground, "The trains run through at all hours of the night- and blow their horns (earplugs). Open year round- a no hunting campsite," warns a regular visitor who still rated the experience positively despite the noise.
Cell service variability: Connectivity differs significantly between locations. At Meadow Creek, "We have Verizon and had 1-2 bars of service while here," while another camper at the same location reported "1 bar of unboosted cell service with ATT with some drop off if raining, but fine for streaming videos."
Site reservation systems differ: Many campgrounds operate on first-come, first-served basis with no advance booking options. Brooklyn Campground operates informally: "There is no check in. You just arrive and pick a site. We came out of regular camping season so we couldn't find anywhere near by that sold firewood."
Weather considerations: The mountain terrain creates unpredictable conditions. One tent camper at Meadow Creek noted, "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."
Tips for camping with families
Bug preparation essential: Even in cooler months, insects can be problematic at lower elevations. A Meadow Creek visitor advised, "The gnats were out even in early April, so be sure you have bug protection."
Water access points: Swimming areas vary in safety and accessibility. At Old Mill Campground, families enjoyed "hiking the trails, swimming in the lake and sitting by our campfire. The ladies working at the check-in office were absolutely the sweetest and extremely helpful."
Site selection for kids: Choose locations with natural play features. A Stone Cliff visitor mentioned, "Very quiet, sand bottom site areas right on the water," which provides natural play spaces for children.
Off-season advantages: Visiting during shoulder seasons reduces crowds. One Brooklyn Campground reviewer noted, "We arrived after dark. There is no check in. You just arrive and pick a site. We came out of regular camping season."
Tips from RVers
Access limitations: Many tent-focused campgrounds have recently restricted RV access. A recent change at Meadow Creek Campground affects vehicle camping: "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."
Road conditions: Unpaved access roads challenge larger vehicles. Plum Orchard Lake visitors warned about "Long, bumpy dirt road to reach the campsite—it could be fun in the right vehicle. Decent sites, heavily wooded. Ok vault toilets."
Narrow entry points: Steep terrain creates challenging approach angles. A potential Stone Cliff camper explained their difficulty: "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."
