Best Tent Camping near Hinton, WV
New River Gorge National Park and Preserve offers several tent-only camping areas within 30 miles of Hinton, West Virginia. Meadow Creek Campground provides 17 free, first-come-first-served tent-only sites with spacious, flat areas for pitching tents. Stone Cliff Campground features walk-in tent sites along the New River with direct water access, though campers must navigate stairs from the parking area to reach most sites. Bluestone Lake State Park maintains multiple tent camping options including Old Mill Campground with basic amenities and Tent Area Campground designed specifically for tent campers. Indian Mills Camping Area in the Bluestone Lake Wildlife Management Area offers primitive tent camping with basic facilities from mid-April through mid-October.
Most tent campgrounds in the region provide vault toilets but limited additional amenities. Stone Cliff's sites require campers to bring their own water, with no potable water available on-site. At Meadow Creek, the tent-only designation means spacious sites but no shade from newly planted trees that haven't matured. Ground conditions vary significantly, with some areas featuring sandy riverbanks and others rocky soil that requires sturdy tent stakes. Vault toilets are standard at most locations, though maintenance quality varies seasonally. Bull Falls Campground in Bluestone Wildlife Management Area offers boat-in tent camping access only, creating a more secluded experience for those willing to paddle to their campsite.
According to recent visitors, Meadow Creek Campground remains less than half full even on summer weekends, though railroad noise can be disruptive as trains pass frequently day and night. One camper noted that Stone Cliff sites are "well marked and maintained" with some positioned right on the river and others set back closer to the trail. At Stone Cliff, a reviewer mentioned carrying gear up three flights of stairs from the parking area, which can be challenging for those with heavy equipment. Chestnut Creek Campground, while primarily designed for tent camping, receives praise for its wooded sites where campers can use fallen branches for fires. The primitive tent camping experience in this region typically means trading conveniences for direct access to hiking trails, fishing spots, and the natural beauty of the New River watershed.
