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Tent Camping near Gilbert, WV

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    Tent campsites in the mountains surrounding Gilbert, West Virginia provide a range of primitive camping experiences. Stone Cliff Campground in New River Gorge National Park and Preserve offers free first-come, first-served tent sites with river access. Plum Orchard Lake Wildlife Management Area features rustic tent sites that require permits from the area manager. Additional tent camping can be found at Chestnut Knob Shelter along the Appalachian Trail, which provides more remote backcountry camping opportunities.

    Most tent sites in the region feature basic amenities with varying access conditions. At Stone Cliff Campground, sites are primarily sandy and located along the river, with most requiring a short walk-in from the parking area. One camper noted that "sites are first come first served, no reservation needed. Plenty of parking with 6+ isolated camp sites, all with view of river." Vault toilets are available at some locations, but campers should bring their own drinking water as potable water is rarely available. Access roads to campgrounds like Stone Cliff can be challenging, with narrow, winding roads requiring careful navigation.

    The tent camping experience in this area often combines natural beauty with rustic conditions. Sites at Plum Orchard Lake WMA sit along a wildlife management area with good fishing access. Tent campers should be prepared for variable terrain, from sandy riverside sites to more rocky forest settings. A visitor to Plum Orchard Lake mentioned that the area has a "long, bumpy dirt road to reach the campsite" but offers "decent sites, heavily wooded" settings. Many locations provide fire rings but lack picnic tables. The New River Gorge area attracts hikers and climbers, with tent sites serving as convenient basecamps for outdoor activities. Proximity to the New River also allows for kayaking, rafting, and fishing opportunities directly from some camping areas.

    Best Tent Campgrounds near Gilbert (9)

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      1. Stone Cliff Campground — New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

      4.2(18)49mi from GilbertTents

      "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. It was a little rocky, but nothing a sleeping pad wouldn't take care of"

      "Tucked away by the river past Thurmond. Great secluded sites. Trailhead for hiking from camp."

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      2. Cavitts Creek Park

      3.7(3)37mi from GilbertTents

      "We camped in the "primitive loop" for a long holiday weekend. Tent sites were spaced a decent distance apart. Most were treed and had some shade during the day."

      "Beautiful lake surrounded by gorgeous mountains, hiking, fishing and boating, amazing staff, very clean shower houses and laundry facility! Very family oriented and pet friendly!"

      from $11 - $79 / night

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      3. Plum Orchard Lake WMA

      3.8(4)43mi from GilbertTents

      "Ok vault toilets. Luckily we had an axe, we had to chop a tree that fell overnight blocking the road out of the campsite."

      "Plum Orchard Lake is a wildlife management area with rustic tent and camper sites. You do need to obtain a permit from the manager."

      from $10 / night

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      4. Chestnut Knob Shelter, Appalachian Trail

      4.5(2)46mi from GilbertTents, Cabins

      "There is a shelter at the top; this location is located along the Appalachian Trail and has wodden bunks and single platforms for pads and sleeping bags."

      "Don’t make the same mistake I did and tent camp outside in a huge storm - just stay inside!"

      5. Goforth Mountain Homestead

      Be the first to review39mi from GilbertTents

      from $25 / night

      6. Pack It In – Pack It Out Campground — Camp Creek State Park

      Be the first to review41mi from GilbertTents
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      7. Double C Horse and Rider Campground — Camp Creek State Park

      Be the first to review41mi from GilbertTents
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      8. Riverside R&R

      Be the first to review42mi from Gilbert1 siteTents

      from $50 - $150 / night

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      9. New & Gauley River Adventures Camping

      Be the first to review48mi from GilbertTents, Cabins

      from $12 - $160 / night

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    Recent Tent Camping Photos near Gilbert, WV

    15 Photos of 9 Gilbert Campgrounds • uploaded by The Dyrt campers

    Tent Camping Reviews near Gilbert, WV

    299 Reviews of 9 Gilbert Campgrounds

    • Dave V.
      May. 26, 2018

      Grandview Sandbar Campground — New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

      Epic River Views and Access steps from your campsite!

      RANGER REIVEW: PRIMUS 4-SEASON STAINLESS STEEL 0.3L MUG AT GRANDVIEW SANDBAR CAMPGROUND, NEW RIVER GORGE NATIONAL RIVER, WV

      CAMPGROUND REVIEW:

      Grandview Sandbar Campground situated along the New River, just outside of Prince, WV off Route 41 offers upclose and personal riverside camping. https://www.nps.gov/neri/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm

      This and the other riverside campgrounds in the New River Gorge National River offer a minimal number of sites, no water, no electric, no modern facilities…however, they are free and its all about location. Site availability is first come, first served. Length of stay is limited to 14 days.

      On the higher, wooded loop to the right as you travel down a very narrow, serpentine gravel road, there are 10 campsites. There are gravel parking pads that could accommodate a small RV/Camper/Pop-up…and a couple Pop-ups were present. How they navigated the winding steep park gravel road, is a mystery to me…the rains were eroding corners causing my truck to scrape.

      The sites do have a picnic table, lantern post and firepit. Depending on thr site you choose, the initial sites to the right are all below the campground roadway you wind down. The pit latrine is a short walking distance and directly next to the host site in the River Access parking lot and boat ramp area.

      The 8 tent sites are located on the far side of the boat ramp parking area and all but the two Handicap sites require a short walk to reach.

      Numbers are on the lantern posts and blend together but are distinguished by the firepit. These are directly on the sand "beach" area of the New River…and as seen in my photos are not only a bit angled, they can be a dangerous choice.

      The two handicap accessible sites are bordered by timbers, leveled and much more desirable, but you must possess a handicap placard/permit. It is not permissible to utilize them as overflow without a placard/permit.

      The walk-up tent area has its own pit latrine. Nothing special…but private.

      There is a river trail that will take you to Glade Creek and additional trails. Within a short drive are several additional nice hiking trails in the New River Gorge and nearby State parks.

      Note: This is a busier campground with the public access boat ramp and very busy on weekends. A very popular spot for locals. While alcohol is prohibited, there was substantial physical evidence to the contrary, mere steps from the dumpster. Also keep in mind, during rains, tributaries flow into the New River causing it to overflow its banks with some regularity in thr spring and early summer.

      Spring weekdays still saw several campers, even with the torrential rains and flooding. Free is a big draw.

      PRODUCT REVIEW:

      PRIMUS 4-SEASON STAINLESS STEEL 0.3L MUG

      https://primus.us/products/four-seasons-mug-35l-stainless-steel?variant=358039683090

      The Primus 4-Season Stainless Steel 0.3L Mug is a great option for the outdoorsperson searching for a do-all cup.

      With it's all stainless steel double wall construction, it offers rust resistance, a clean appearance, the ability to keep contents their desired temperature longer, and remains odorless/tasteless. The mug is lightweight at just under 4 ounces.

      The 0.3L/10 oz. mug is convenient and held single servings of beverage and food. However, I might migrate to Primus' other offering in the 0.2L/8 oz. mug for the volume I prefer.

      The only potential achilles heel, would be the same with any other mug and that is the handle. Though I experienced no issues and don't foresee any…if there were to be one, it's likely with a mug's handle.

      All in all, a great mug choice!

    • 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.

    • Abby M.The Dyrt Pro User
      Dec. 6, 2020

      Glade Creek Campground — New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

      Good spot for the night

      Stopped by on my way up north. Beautiful view of the river, which was high. There’s 5 pull in sites and 5 walk in tent sites. Multiple bathrooms, including ADA friendly, all clean. There were 2 other campers on a Saturday night, which was nice and quiet. It’s about 5 miles down a nice dirt road, easy to drive on. There’s no AT&T service upon arrival. A few spots you could locate a bar to send a message, but that’s it. Lots of trees to hang a hammock. Each site had a fire ring, picnic table and a pole to hang food from. No electricity or water so be sure to bring your own. Overall, enjoyed my stay!

    • Roger W.The Dyrt Pro User
      May. 8, 2023

      Grandview Sandbar Campground — New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

      Only The Noise of Flowing Water

      GLADE CREEK - New River Gorge (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good 70 yr olds in 17’ trailer: Overall Rating: 4.5 Price. Free Usage during visit: Trailer sites usually filled up by the end of the day. Site Privacy: 2. Little understory plants Site 1 is very private. Site Spacing: 5. Very large sotes Site surface: Gravel/ mud Reservations: First come, first serve Campground Noise : 5. Very little Road Noise: 4.5 Glade Rd is behind site 1., but not close. Site 1 is still the best trailer site. Traffic can hardly be seen through the trees. Minimal traffic and minimal noise . Through Traffic: Access to the boat ramp is through the campground. Though, traffic is minimal, folks on the way to the ramp and picnic area often drive pretty fast. Electricity: No Water: River only - bring drinking water. Sewer: No Dump: No Generators: Allowed Bathroom: Nice pit toilet near site 2(a nice handicap site.
      Showers: No Pull Throughs: Most sites Cell Service (Verizon): No Setting: 5. We can hear the river from all sites, which is just a short walk away. Weather: Rain, clouds, sunshine Bugs: None Solar: Minimal and surely less when the trees leaf out more. Site 2 looks to have the best solar for a roof mount. Still minimal . Host: None Rig size: Limited by a narrow one lane . bridge on Glade Rd . A 30’ trailer arrived. There is plenty of room in the 5 trailer sites.
      Access: 20 minute drive from 41 on maintained and pretty smooth gravel road. UPON ARRIVAL, IF PULLING A TRAILER , I SUGGEST THAT YOU OCCUPY THE FIRST SITS YOU SEE. That is because reentry into the campground, while pulling a trailer, requires extra driving away from the campground entry for turn around. Sites: Site 1 is best for a trailer - isolated from the rest . Site 2 is a handicap site, which is not enforced by park service . Sites 3-5 are nice and large but not very private . Site 6, as looping back around, is the absolute best site, right on the river. It is suitable for truck campers, vans, and tents. A small trailer which can be hand maneuvered will also work there. There are some walk-in tent sites I did not evaluate.
      Notes: There are reports from others of safety concerns. I checked with park ranger officers and they said there are no safety concerns, “especially way back here.” We didn’t experience any issues. That said, this issues reported in other reviews took place at the boat ramp, which is in ear shot of the walk-in sites, for sure.

    • HThe Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 6, 2024

      Little Beaver State Park Campground

      Nice stop

      Nice spot to stop for a night on our way north - level private spot for our rooftop tent. Sites 38-45 have the most privacy. Check website as we were there during a fire ban.

    • Roger W.The Dyrt Pro User
      May. 8, 2023

      Grandview Sandbar Campground — New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

      Quiet, Small, and Peaceful

      Sandbar: (Scale 1- bad, 5-Very good (70 yr olds in 17’ trailer) Overall Rating: 4.5 Price: Free Usage during visit: 80% full Site Privacy: 4 Pretty good if you’re backing in a trailer or van Site Spacing: 4.0. Pretty good Reservations: First come - first serve Campground Noise: 5. Very Quiet while there Road Noise: 5. None. May be some boat noise Through Traffic: None. Campground is a circle drive. Electricity: No Water: No Sewer: No Dump: No Generators: Allowed Bathroom: Yes Showers: No Pull Throughs: Most, if not all we’re back-ins. Short pads .
      Cell Service (Verizon): 3 Fair .
      Setting: 4.5 Very nice setting surrounded by deciduous forest. The trailer sites are all on the outer perimeter of a circle drive. Large diameter , so not close to the folks across the way.
      Fixed Roof Solar: A couple sites might be okay Host: None Rig size: Some sites look like they will only accommodate a 20’ - 25’ trailer., Carefully check website There is enough room on the pad to park vehicle next to the trailer.

    • Jean C.The Dyrt Pro User
      Oct. 1, 2021

      Army Camp — New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

      Free camping near, but not on the river

      This is another of the free national park campgrounds in the New River Gorge, with sites that are more developed than many of the others. These are in a small open loop, largely level gravel parking and tent pads. They have picnic tables, fire rings, and lantern poles. No drinking water, so bring your own. No hookups. The river is nearby, but none of the sites are on the river. There’s an accessible site and also accessible trail to a bench along the river. There are latrines.

      If you enjoy fishing, the New River Gorge website offers a lot of specific information about species, bait, and lures. 

      If you can't find a site at one of the other campgrounds or you have a slightly larger rig, ths may be a better option for you. No cell service, so download your maps. The New River Gorge also offers rafting, and hiking options. Check out some of the mining history at the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine, abuut 30 minutes away, and get up early to catch the sunrise from Grandview Point.

    • Gage W.
      Mar. 16, 2020

      Glade Creek Campground — New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

      Nice Campground

      We stayed the weekend of 3/13/20-3/15/20 and had fairly good weather despite the damp mornings. There is five drive-in sites and more walk-in sites on the edge of the camp. The drive-in sites filled and vacated several times throughout the weekend. The tent sites were closer than I thought, but were still nicely equipped with a fire pit, charcoal grill, and picnic table.

      The camp had clean latrines (no running water) and was easily accessible from an offroad-like gravel entrance road. The camp is steps away from the Glade Creek Trail and the New River Gorge. The flowing Gorge can always be heard, the low rumble is peaceful at night. There is not much open space; this only proves to be a problem if your dog loves to fetch as much as mine does.

      Overall, Glade Creek Campground is a nice and somewhat-remote camp that is accessible with a vehicle. The camp is presumably shaded year-round and is completely free.

    Guide to Gilbert

    Tent campsites near Gilbert, West Virginia offer primitive camping experiences within the mountainous terrain of southern West Virginia. The region sits at elevations between 1,200-3,000 feet with a temperate climate that features warm summers and cool nights. Most primitive camping areas require campers to bring their own water and prepare for limited facilities across the various wildlife management areas and national park sites.

    What to do

    Fishing access: At Plum Orchard Lake WMA, campers have excellent fishing opportunities on the wildlife management area's lake. One visitor noted it's a "Great place for kayaking on a beautiful lake nestled in the mountains of Fayette county."

    Hiking nearby trails: The tent sites at Chestnut Knob Shelter provide access to Appalachian Trail sections with significant elevation gains. A camper mentioned, "It is a great shorter hike with great views over Burkes Garden (nicknamed God's Thumbprint)." The shelter area includes wooden bunks with platforms for sleeping pads.

    River activities: The tent sites along New River provide options for water recreation beyond just camping. A reviewer at Stone Cliff Campground described their experience: "I've come here to climb and ended up fishing. I've come to fish and ended up hiking and climbing. There is no wrong turn here!"

    What campers like

    Private riverside settings: Campers appreciate the isolated nature of many tent sites in the region. At Stone Cliff Campground, a visitor mentioned the "Very quiet, sand bottom site areas right on the water," highlighting the peaceful setting along the New River.

    Wildlife viewing: The natural setting provides opportunities to observe local animals. One camper at Plum Orchard Lake reported, "We were able to see deer, raccoons and some nice looking birds," making it ideal for nature photography.

    Natural swimming areas: Several campgrounds offer water access for swimming during warmer months. A Stone Cliff camper reported, "My dog absolutely loved it-the swimming was A+ and the stick selection was up to her standards."

    What you should know

    Access challenges: Many campgrounds in the region have difficult access roads. At Cavitts Creek Park, a motorcyclist warned: "The 'gravel' parking lot from the road to the office and in the RV/electric loop is more like rocks, and you stand a good chance of dropping your bike."

    Limited facilities: Expect basic amenities at most primitive sites. One visitor to Plum Orchard Lake cautioned, "The water at the site is not potable, so plan accordingly. Latrines are provided."

    Weather considerations: The mountain location means weather can change rapidly. A camper at Chestnut Knob noted, "Don't make the same mistake I did and tent camp outside in a huge storm - just stay inside!"

    Tips for camping with families

    Site selection: Choose larger, more accessible sites when camping with children. At Stone Cliff, a camper recommended: "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."

    Natural play areas: Look for campgrounds with sandy beaches for children. A visitor to Goforth Mountain Homestead highlighted that their "private homestead with only one site for a single tent" allows access to "fish the 1 acre pond and hike around the 76 acre land."

    Wildlife encounters: Prepare children for possible wildlife sightings. One camper at Stone Cliff warned, "We saw the largest spider I've ever seen in the hollow of one of the trees at the campsite. If spiders aren't your thing consider another site."

    Tips for RVers

    Site limitations: Most primitive tent areas near Gilbert aren't suitable for RVs. At Cavitts Creek Park, a reviewer observed the stark difference: "We camped in the 'primitive loop' for a long holiday weekend. Tent sites were spaced a decent distance apart. Most were treed and had some shade during the day. The RV parking was a gravel lot with large RVs packed in tight."

    Road conditions: Access roads to many campgrounds are challenging for larger vehicles. One camper at Plum Orchard Lake described the "Long, bumpy dirt road to reach the campsite—it could be fun in the right vehicle."

    Year-round considerations: Some campgrounds have seasonal closures. Cavitts Creek Park operates from "May 1 to September 30," limiting RV camping options during off-season periods.

    Frequently Asked Questions

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

    According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Gilbert, WV is Stone Cliff Campground — New River Gorge National Park and Preserve with a 4.2-star rating from 18 reviews.

    What is the best site to find tent camping near Gilbert, WV?

    TheDyrt.com has all 9 tent camping locations near Gilbert, WV, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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