Camping near Hernshaw, West Virginia spans forested mountain settings within easy reach of Charleston, ranging from developed campgrounds with full hookups to primitive riverside sites. The area features several campgrounds including Kanawha State Forest, located just 7 miles south of Charleston, which provides both tent and RV camping in a densely wooded environment. Little Coal River Campground and New River Campground offer riverside camping with varying levels of amenities. According to campers, Kanawha State Forest stands out for its natural beauty: "Tucked away in the middle of the mountains, surrounded by the constant reminder of wildlife around," with trails that exceed visitor expectations.
Most campgrounds in the region operate seasonally, with Kanawha State Forest open from April 1 through the first Saturday in December. Winter camping options are limited, as several reviewers note seasonal closures at various parks. Mountain roads throughout the area can be challenging, particularly after rain when gravel surfaces may erode. Cell service varies significantly by location, with many forest campgrounds having limited or no connectivity. Campers should bring adequate water supplies, as some primitive sites along rivers have no potable water available. Fire restrictions are common during dry periods, particularly in late summer and early fall.
The variety of campsites across the region runs from developed sites with full hookups to primitive riverside locations. RV campers will find suitable accommodations at Saint Albans Roadside Park, which offers electric hookups but prohibits tent camping, and at Huntington/Fox Fire KOA, which provides year-round service. For those seeking more natural settings, the New River Gorge area offers free primitive camping at several locations, though these fill quickly during summer weekends and have basic vault toilets only. Family-friendly options include campgrounds with playgrounds and swimming areas, while adventure seekers can find sites near whitewater rafting, rock climbing, and extensive hiking trail networks.
$35 - $40 / night
"Tucked away in the middle of the mountains, surrounded by the constant reminder of wildlife around. I stayed for the very start of spring. The world was covered in the brightest green moss."
"Kanawha state forest is nestled in the mountainous Hills of West by God Virginia right on the outskirts of Charleston. There is plenty of hiking in Kanawha state forest."
"Albans roadside park is for pull behind campers only. No tents allowed. About 6-7 sites for campers."
"The City of Saint Albans has a roadside park with three RV sites where you can camp for 2-days max in a 14-day period. The sites are first-come, first-serve, with donations encouraged. "
$15 - $50 / night
"Some really great beer places close by as well. Nice a shady too. I’d like to go back and do some exploring around the area. Just be careful with what gps app you use."
"They walked us to our site and helped us back into our spot. Everything worked well with all of the hookups. It was a quiet and clean campground."
$30 - $40 / night
"I told them I did not have these capabilities in my rig and they gave me sole access to the handicapped shower."
"The owner goes around the campground at 430p offering firewood for $5/bundle. The view from our full hookup campsite is hands down amazing!! We're situated directly on the New River in Gauley Bridge."
$20 - $110 / night
"This is across the main highway from the water ways water park. Others camp here to be close to the Hatfield McCoy ATV trail system."
$10 - $11 / night
"Great tent campground very near the New River gorge and close by Summerville Lake and the Gulley River. Multiple campsites in heavily forested area. Drive up to the sites."
"They have showers and clean bathrooms just a short walk from any site. All sites are big and you can pick from any available. The host is just a text or call away and he replies very quickly."
$55 - $155 / night
"We tent camp, but walking around, the camping trailers did not appear to be crowded together. For us this is a fantastic place to overnight and will return again when traveling through the area!!"
"We had a pull thru site by the lake, it had to be about 100 yards long and nicely graveled."
"It has very close proximity to I-64 in West Virginia, and you can hear the traffic pretty clearly."
"This is a very cozy park tucked in between US60 and I64. We are in site 14 and its not quite level, but they were generous with gravel so the drainage is good! No parking in puddles!"
$15 - $600 / night
"Nearby are showers and restrooms. They have individual rooms that can be locked that has the restroom in with the shower stall. Lots of biking and equestrian trails available."
"We were able to go whitewater rafting one day and then explored the surrounding area on another day. The resort is awesome. They have cabins and they have hot tubs."
$10 - $85 / night
"Great campground adjacent to New River Gorge National Park. Within a short walk/bike to multiple biking and hiking trailheads. Close enough to bike into Fayetteville (a cool little town)."
"Good amenities plenty of space, and walking distance from some of the best views in the park!"
ScoutI love this campground as the nostalgia is strong for me. The family has been camping here for years and years but now it's my turn to take my little family camping and I'm so thankful to give them the same memories I was able to have!
East fork is always clean, polite, well maintained and kid friendly. We are very thankful to live just about an hour away for impromptu camping trips!
ScoutThis was our first time staying at riftrafters. Would recommend it to anyone visiting the new river george. The owners were friendly and helpful and campground was clean and well maintained. We stayed at site 32 and it was very peaceful.
TravelerMy husband and I were looking for cheap places to park with no reservations with a dog and ended up in the sandstone visitor center after hours, the sign there said “no rv access” NOT TRUE. yes, it is on a thin dead end and you can only access it by crossing over 4 railroad tracks at once, ITS WORTH IT. Firewood is available and bathrooms too with no running water or electric makes for a beautiful dark night under the stars filled with only the sounds of nature and the occasional CSX train. And yes it’s free, a park ranger came around once to patrol but aside from that it’s a first come first serve bring your things and take-em with you. Kroger is 20 minutes away, dollar general is 15, and gas is about 10 minutes. All worth it.
TravelerBabcock SP is a nice out of the way park. Great base to explore New River Gorge with plenty of local history it could be a trip on its own.
Bathrooms were remodeled a few years ago and very clean, and they have laundry facilities.
TravelerThis was one of the quietest campgrounds I've ever been to. I heard owls and coyotes overnight which was nice! Super clean bathhouse too. The tent sites are a little small and some are on a slope, especially the ones on the outer loop. 18 was good, just a bit small and in a bend of a road which made me feel a little exposed. All in all, not a bad place to camp for a day or two.
ScoutVery nice, clean and spacious. This free boondocking campground does not have any hookups or utilities, but the beauty of the surounding mountans, the view down the valley and the songs of the birds makes this campsite priceless. The vault toilets were clean and stocked. Each site has a picnic table, standing grill and a firepit. Looking forward to seeing the stars this evening in this shielded valley.
ScoutSpent a night here, everything needed for tent camping (although there was plenty of room for RVs), easily collectible wood in the surrounding area. This campground is off the main train tracts so I didn't hear any trains throughout the night.
TravelerWe are here off season so there aren’t a lot of other campers but it is beautiful, quiet and very well kept.
ScoutThe spots are pretty close, but expected from what the map showed when we booked. While they are close there is enough room to make yourself at home. Nice new picnic tables and clean fire pits! It rained while we camped and there was some water pooling in areas.
Camping sites near Hernshaw, West Virginia sit within the Appalachian Mountains at elevations ranging from 600 to 1,500 feet. The region experiences distinct seasons with summer temperatures typically between 70-85°F and winter temperatures often dropping below freezing. Fall camping conditions provide comfortable daytime temperatures and cool nights, while spring brings frequent rainfall that can create muddy campsites and challenging trail conditions.
Kayaking along the New River: Visit New River Campground for direct water access. "Beautiful night along the New River! Waterfront tent site with access to clean, personal bathrooms/showers assigned to each site. I love bringing my kayak here to paddle around!" according to Kenneth K.
Disc golf at mountain elevation: Ace Adventure Resort offers on-site disc golf courses among other activities. "On the campground there is disc golf and then a lake for swimming that has the huge inflatable courses on it (think like the game show wipeout) you can buy a day pass for a reasonable price to play on them all day," notes Renee G.
Hiking to waterfalls: Explore falls near various campgrounds. "There is a waterfall across the street and a nicer one just down the road," reports Thomas H. about New River Campground. Many trails connect to water features throughout the region.
Rock climbing excursions: The New River Gorge area provides world-class climbing opportunities. "This spot was a short drive away from awesome rock climbing in the New River Gorge," shares Les R. from Adventures on the Gorge.
Private wooded sites: Chestnut Creek Campground offers secluded tent camping. "There are lots of trees in between many of the sites for great privacy. There is only one bath house and it can be a short hike depending on the location of your site," explains Debra W.
Riverside camping: Many campers appreciate sites directly on waterways. "From bumper of my TT to the river was about 30ft. Shade trees and a light morning mist on the river made a beautiful sunrise," describes Chris S. about their experience at New River Campground.
Clean bathhouse facilities: "The bathrooms are clean and well maintained," reports Sabrina B. from Kanawha State Forest. Multiple campgrounds in the region have updated their facilities in recent years, with several offering private shower rooms.
Lake activities: Several campgrounds feature swimming areas. "They have a nice picnic shelter and a small wedding chapel for weddings. Beside the lake is a nice shelter for having gatherings," notes Andrew S. about Rippling Waters Campground.
Mountain road challenges: Roads leading to campgrounds often include steep grades and sharp turns. "The drive from Rt 19 to the campground is 8% grades both uphill and down, with twists, turns, and practical uturns with my 35ft. Fun for me, not for my wife lol," warns Chris S. about accessing New River Campground.
Limited connectivity: Cell service varies significantly by carrier. "I would describe the view, but wouldn't do it justice. The site was fairly level, had to use a few blocks on the driver side. There is no Wi-Fi or cable and the cell signal with Verizon was one bar at best," reports Larry about Rippling Waters.
Water quality concerns: Some campgrounds have heavily chlorinated water systems. "Water also had a strong odor of chlorine. After showers I felt like I was just getting out of a pool. So keep that in mind, might want a filter besides the typical blue filters," advises Larry at Rippling Waters.
Seasonal availability: Many tent camping areas close during winter months. "Our visit was the first full weekend in November and many other campgrounds were closed for the winter," shares Cathy D. about Chestnut Creek Campground, one of the few open later in the season.
Playgrounds and recreation areas: Several campgrounds offer dedicated facilities for children. "They have a nice playground, banana bikes, and more. They showed a movie at 9pm on a big inflatable movie screen outside. Lots of other families there to hang out with," says Zach H. about his stay at Huntington/Fox Fire KOA.
Swimming options: Look for campgrounds with swimming facilities. "The kids absolutely loved it all. The pool, views, food were all amazing," describes Fred R. about Adventures on the Gorge.
Adequate site spacing: For family comfort, choose campgrounds with well-defined spaces. "The sites are all located along a winding road that parallels a river. Some sites are better than others! Our site was very hilly and the picnic table and fire pit were a bit treacherous to get to," warns Jacqueline K. about her experience at Kanawha State Forest.
Educational opportunities: The region offers learning experiences for children. "We spent the Labor Day Weekend in Fayetteville, WV. The New River Gorge area is amazing. It is only about 7 minutes from the New River Bridge welcome center," notes Kevin A. from Rifrafters Campground.
Site levelness varies: Be prepared for uneven terrain. "The site was fairly level, had to use a few blocks on the driver side," reports Larry about Rippling Waters. Many campgrounds are built into hillsides requiring leveling equipment.
Hookup limitations: Check what utilities are available. "RV sites are limited, but they're very nice. I wish they had water, and sewer would be an added bonus," advises Dustin N. about Adventures on the Gorge.
Roadside camping options: For quick overnight stops, consider Saint Albans Roadside Park. "Free electricity (30 amp). 3 spots available, first come first serve, no reservation. 2 nights max," explains Andrea W. This location provides convenient access to resupply options.
Generator restrictions: Several campgrounds restrict generator use. Check regulations before arrival as most campgrounds that offer electric hookups don't allow generators, which can impact boondocking capabilities during power outages.
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Hernshaw, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, Hernshaw, WV offers a wide range of camping options, with 86 campgrounds and RV parks near Hernshaw, WV and 1 free dispersed camping spot.
Which is the most popular campground near Hernshaw, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Hernshaw, WV is Kanawha State Forest with a 4.2-star rating from 27 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Hernshaw, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Hernshaw, WV.
What parks are near Hernshaw, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 26 parks near Hernshaw, WV that allow camping, notably New River Gorge National River and Summersville Lake.
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