Best Tent Camping near Hillsboro, WV

Tent campsites dot the mountainous landscape near Hillsboro, West Virginia, with multiple options along the Greenbrier River Trail offering primitive camping experiences for outdoor enthusiasts. Greenbrier River Trail Mile Post 28.5 Primitive Campsite and Mile Post 49.3 Primitive Campsite provide established tent-only areas within the Monongahela National Forest region, both featuring riverside access and basic amenities for backcountry tent camping. Additional tent campgrounds can be found at Stone Cliff Campground within New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, approximately 20 miles from Hillsboro.

Surface details vary significantly among these tent sites, with most primitive campgrounds featuring raised tent pads filled with pea gravel for drainage. Walk-in and hike-in access is common for Greenbrier River Trail campsites, while Stone Cliff requires a short walk down stairs from the parking area to reach riverside tent sites. Many locations offer vault toilets, though campers should verify water availability as some hand pumps may be inoperable seasonally. Fire rings are typically provided at established sites, though fire restrictions may apply during dry periods. Bears are present throughout the region, requiring proper food storage in containers or bear bags at all tent campgrounds.

The tent camping experience near Hillsboro provides exceptional access to wilderness areas with minimal crowds. Sites along the Greenbrier River Trail offer both wooded and open riverside camping, with Adirondack-style shelters available at some locations for tent campers seeking additional weather protection. Many campsites provide direct water access for swimming or fishing opportunities. Trail connectivity is extensive, making these tent sites ideal basecamps for day hikes or longer backpacking trips. Wildlife sightings are common, particularly at dawn and dusk. A camper who stayed at Mile Post 28.5 noted, "Surrounded by wild and often very remote wilderness, abundant wildlife, a century old trail, a picturesque river, great camping...ticks all the boxes!"

Best Tent Sites Near Hillsboro, West Virginia (29)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Hillsboro, WV

546 Reviews of 29 Hillsboro 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • D
    Apr. 5, 2022

    Meadow Creek Campground — New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

    Beautiful Spot but Now Tent ONLY

    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. You have to cross train tracks to get here and it’s 4 sets of tracks all are very active with trains coming as often as every 20 minutes and they do not stop. The have a vault style toilet one for men and one for women. No water and no electric. There is a river nearby but it has a very strong current. The trains are fun to watch but very loud and frequent. 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. The wind just seemed to come out of nowhere being in a small valley the storms were very strong. We have Verizon and had 1-2 bars of service while here. It’s a shame they felt they had to close it to all rv and trailer use because of one careless act but that is what happens.

  • Dave V.
    Sep. 12, 2020

    Greenbrier River Trail Mile Post 49.3 Primitive Campsite

    A Welcomed Reststop along the Trail

    Greenbrier River Trail Mile Post 49.3 Primitive Campsite, Watoga, WV

    West Virginia's **Greenbrier River Trail  (GRT) **stretches from its Northern Terminus at the Cass Railroad Station, Stumptown 78-80 miles (depending on what resource you read) to it's Southern Terminus in North Caldwell. The Greenbrier River Trail is a Rails-to-Trails initiative, so being a former track bed, the surface is predominantly ballast, though there are some black-topped areas. Some locations of the trail that either see more sunlight or less traffic have seen grass overtake the trail to form a "two-track" or at times a mown grass trail. Most parts drain well and easy to navigate, while some heavily wooded areas adjacent to rocky cliffs see more puddling and thus muddier...but all navigable. 

    Because of it's relative remoteness and light traffic, wildlife flourishes along the GRT. This is bear country so I would recommend utilizing a bear bag or bear canister for your food and toiletries. I used a BearVault BV500 that I strapped to the Salsa EXP Anything Cradle attached to my handlebars...worked great. Eliminated concerns about losing food items and attracting Yogi and Boo-Boo. A Father/Daughter duo trailing us observed a juvenile bear not far off the trail mid-day. But bears aside, raccoons, chipmunks and other rodents can wreak havoc on panniers or backpacks containing food and fragrant toiletries. 

    At the time of our visit there were 15 Primitive or Rustic Campsites along the Greenbrier River Trail. Each person traveling the Greenbrier River Trail will determine which primitive campsite they prefer for a night's rest. 

    All the primitive campsites positioned along the Greenbrier River Trail (GRT) are free, first-come, first-served. Note that some offer more amenities than others, so those will likely be the sought after locations.

    Traveling West Virginia's Greenbrier River Trail is a highlight whatever mode of travel permitted, whether on foot, horseback, bicycling or even paddlecraft...no motorized vehicles are permited. The Greenbrier River Trail was chosen by Backpacker Magazine as one of the top ten best hikes in the U.S. of A. That's quite the billing to live up to.

    I will add that we chose to bikepack the GRT, so I felt we did not stop at all the available sites, cascades, waterfalls, bridges, etc purely because we were a little spread out and by the time you past by a special site, the others were too far down the trail. While I absolutely loved our entire GRT trip...had I been on foot...more exploring would have taken place.

    PROS:

    • Raised fine gravel tent pad
    • Nice, clean, maintained and stocked pit latrine
    • Picnic table
    • Metal fire ring
    • Metal Bear-proof trash receptacle
    • No cell service

    CONS:

    • No water pump
    • No cell service
    • Tent pad located very close to elevated trail

    NEARBY HIGHLIGHTS:

    • Town of Marlinton
    • Watoga State Park
    • Greenbrier Resort
    • Snowshoe Mountain Resort
    • Cass Railroad
    • Seneca State Forest
    • Seneca Rocks
    • Spruce Knob (WV highest elevation)
    • The Wild Bean Cafe and Thunderbird Taco (Lewisburg)  (Suggestion: Order the Guacadilla!...thank me later)

    The GRT Mile Post 49.3 Primitive Campsite does not offer a well water, so fill up before you get there. Although, if you utilize a filter, you can draw water from the river or the tributary down the trail several hundred feet. Even though Mile Post 49.3 tent pad is directly alongside the trail, traffic is so light that it is really a non-issue. There is not a large clearing and with dense vegetation...pack your bug juice.

    This is West Virginia, so even in populated areas cell service can be spotty...but on the trail, I would not count on it. This is both a blessing and a curse. However, for safety purposes, I do carry a Garmin InReach Explorer + in case of emergencies.

    The GRT Mile Post 49.3 Primitive Campsite makes for a great overnighter from either Marlinton or a nice out-and-back from Cass Railroad from the north or from North Caldwell from the South...eliminating the need for a shuttle.

    Final Thoughts: Whether you chose to spend the night at Mile Post 49.3 or not, is not the point...all the primitive campsites along the Greenbrier River Trail are great choices...the point is, mark your calendars, plan this trip and travel West Virginia's Greenbrier River Trail!

  • Lacey L.
    Jul. 7, 2020

    Island Campground

    Decent

    Island campground is okay. They only have 1 drive in campsite next to the creek but it was by far the nicest. Luckily we were the only people there and were able to grab it that day. There were 2-3 other campsites that would be decent (being flat and good setup between the picnic table and fire pit). The other sites were not the most level and hardly had any room/flat areas. Only enough flat area for the picnic table and fire ring. There were about 4 walk in campsites. 2 that were probably about 60ft from the parking area. One of those was next to 2 streams and they seemed nice and level with plenty of room. The other 2 were up a little incline and you had to go through one to get to the other. It did have a clean vault toilet that was stocked with tp. No water though. There were only 2 other campers there so not crowded. I guess it depends which site you get.


Guide to Hillsboro

Tent campsites near Hillsboro, West Virginia lie within the Monongahela National Forest region, which spans over 919,000 acres and ranges in elevation from 1,000 to 4,863 feet. The area experiences significant seasonal temperature variations, with summer nights often dropping into the 50s even when daytime temperatures reach the 80s. Primitive camping areas along the Greenbrier River Trail feature distinctive Adirondack-style shelters at several sites, providing alternatives to tent camping during unexpected weather changes.

What to do

Wildlife observation opportunities: The Greenbrier River Trail camping areas offer excellent wildlife viewing, particularly at Greenbrier River Trail MP 69.6 where visitors can watch animals at dawn and dusk. A camper noted, "The amount of wildlife we saw throughout the day was incredible while biking the trail. Mostly deer, rabbit, chipmunks and Eastern Box Turtles sharing the trail...but we did see a few turkey, fox and bobcat."

Stargazing after dark: The Monongahela area offers rare dark sky viewing for eastern United States. As one visitor to Meadow Creek Camping Area explained, "There are very few places in the Eastern United States that get dark enough to view the Milky Way. If you're in the Monongahela area and you've never seen it before, definitely head up to Spruce Knob on a clear night."

Water activities: Many river-adjacent sites provide swimming access during warmer months. The McClintic Point Primitive Campground offers lake access for paddlers, with one camper stating, "There is access to the lake for canoes/kayaks."

Bikepacking adventures: The 80-mile Greenbrier River Trail with its gentle 1% downgrade makes an excellent multi-day trip for all skill levels. Most primitive campsites along the trail are strategically placed for bikepackers, though shuttle service is necessary for one-way journeys.

What campers like

Privacy and solitude: Many tent sites in this region offer significant separation from neighboring campers. A visitor to McClintic Point Primitive Campground shared, "No neighbors. Maybe we just got lucky. I encourage."

Well-maintained facilities: Despite being primitive, many sites receive regular maintenance. One camper at Greenbrier River Trail Milepost 63.8 Primitive Campsite appreciated, "The WV State Park system is fantastic and the State Park employees take incredible pride in keeping all their parks beautifully maintained despite poor budgets to work with."

Free camping options: Most primitive sites along the Greenbrier River Trail don't charge fees. A camper noted, "All the primitive campsites positioned along the Greenbrier River Trail (GRT) are free, first-come, first-served."

Unique shelter options: Several sites feature Adirondack-style shelters that provide protection from rain. These structures are particularly valued during summer thunderstorms when tents might not provide adequate protection.

What you should know

Bear safety requirements: This region has active black bear populations requiring proper food storage. At Greenbrier River Trail Mile Post 49.3 Primitive Campsite, a camper advised, "This is bear country so I would recommend utilizing a bear bag or bear canister for your food and toiletries. I used a BearVault BV500 that I strapped to the Salsa EXP Anything Cradle attached to my handlebars."

Limited cell service: Most camping areas have no cellular connectivity. One camper listed this as both a pro and con, noting, "No cell service" in both categories, suggesting it's both a blessing for disconnection and a safety consideration.

Water availability varies: While some sites have hand pumps, others require filtering river water. For Mile Post 49.3, "The GRT Mile Post 49.3 Primitive Campsite does not offer a well water, so fill up before you get there. Although, if you utilize a filter, you can draw water from the river or the tributary down the trail several hundred feet."

Weather preparation: West Virginia's mountain climate can bring sudden storms and temperature changes. Pack rain gear even for short trips, as one camper noted, "This is called 'Wet Virginia' for good reason...pack a rain jacket."

Tips for camping with families

Beginner-friendly trails: The Greenbrier River Trail's gentle grade makes it suitable for family biking trips. One visitor stated, "The Greenbrier River Trail is a delightful bikepacking excursion. Very doable for all ages."

Spacious tent sites: Some campgrounds feature tent pads large enough for multiple tents. A camper at Pine Run Camping Area shared, "Tent pad is big enough to fit 2 large tents (that is us)."

Pack toilet paper: Facilities may not be regularly stocked during less busy periods. A visitor to Day Run Campground advised, "Take your own toilet paper if campground isn't busy because it doesn't get maintained daily and we ran out."

Wildlife viewing opportunities: Morning and evening animal sightings make memorable experiences for children. Trail areas with water access are particularly good for seeing diverse wildlife.

Tips from RVers

Site limitations for larger vehicles: Most primitive sites near Hillsboro are tent-only with no accommodations for RVs or trailers. Many locations require walk-in or hike-in access only.

Pack-in, pack-out requirements: Limited trash facilities mean planning ahead for waste management. Bearproof trash receptacles are available at some sites but not all.

Boat-in camping alternatives: For a unique experience, Greenwood Point Campground offers sites accessible only by water. One camper described their experience: "Beautiful quiet lake, not heavily trafficked. Campsite is only accessible via water, so we packed our gear up on paddle boards to get there. It's a private little cove, sites are first come first serve."

Trail access considerations: For those with small trailers who want proximity to trails, look for parking areas near the Greenbrier River Trail access points. This allows day-use of the trails while maintaining a home base with more amenities.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Hillsboro, WV is Greenbrier River Trail Mile Post 49.3 Primitive Campsite with a 4-star rating from 1 review.

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

TheDyrt.com has all 29 tent camping locations near Hillsboro, WV, with real photos and reviews from campers.