Tent campsites near Hinton, West Virginia offer access to both the New River and Bluestone Lake watersheds with elevations ranging from 1,400 to 2,500 feet. The region's camping season typically runs from April through October, with July temperatures averaging 85°F during the day and cooling to 65°F at night. Most primitive sites in the area require campers to pack in their own water and navigate varying terrain conditions.
What to do
Fishing access points: At Bull Falls Campground, visitors can experience diverse fishing opportunities. "You've struck gold here at Bull Falls Campground if you're looking to get away from it all, discover solitude in the heart of West Virginia's lush, verdant nature garden of Eden," notes Stuart K., who recommends bringing "lures for all the different types of bass – they have them all here!"
Hiking opportunities: Several campgrounds connect directly to trail systems. Near Chestnut Creek Campground, campers can access popular trails within minutes. As Linda L. explains, "We hiked Endless Wall Trail and Glade Creek Trail to Kate's Falls," making this location convenient for day hikes without driving.
Water activities: The Bluestone Lake area provides multiple water recreation options. At East Shore Campground, Craig B. notes, "If you like hiking and fishing this is the place." Benjamin C. adds that attractions include being "near town, fishing, near pool, hiking, nature activities."
What campers like
Riverside tent sites: Stone Cliff Campground offers unique camping directly on the New River. James A. describes it as a "Beautiful isolated campsite" with "6+ isolated camp sites, all with view of river." Dillon adds, "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 campfire resources: At Chestnut Creek Campground, Lisa K. appreciates that "All the sites are wooded and they allow you to use fallen trees/branches for your fires." This feature saves campers from purchasing firewood and adds to the authentic outdoor experience.
Seclusion and privacy: Many campers value the quiet atmosphere at these campgrounds. At Brooklyn Campground, visitors enjoy riverside isolation despite occasional train noise. Brittany S. notes it's "a quite secluded campground! And who can beat the price!" referring to the free camping available.
What you should know
Train noise: Several campgrounds near Hinton sit close to active rail lines. At Meadow Creek Campground, licia S. warns, "The coal trains run through at all hours of the night- and blow their horns (earplugs)." Casey L. confirms this, noting trains "go by pretty frequently at all hours of day and night and are so loud you can feel the vibrations."
Bathroom conditions: Facilities vary widely across campgrounds. At Old Mill Campground, Jeff E. found "The bathhouse is open air over half of it. Had no soap or toilet paper and the toilets were all plugged up." Conversely, Katie M. reports Chestnut Creek's "bathrooms are clean and spacious to accommodate the number of campers."
Access challenges: Some tent sites require physical effort to reach. At Stone Cliff, Zac R. discovered "a steep gravel decline to get to the camp site" which prevented access with a hatchback car. Thomas M. clarifies, "You walk down a set a stairs to the sites."
Tips for camping with families
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Families often encounter interesting wildlife at these campgrounds. Kaylee F. shared a memorable experience at Stone Cliff: "We were hanging some hammock stapes up on our last evening and 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."
Site selection strategy: For families wanting privacy, choose sites strategically. At Brooklyn Campground, Cody T. explains, "The 4 sites by the river have a parking lot and you walk (not very far at all, 10 - 50 yards) to them." However, Brittany S. cautions, "Setup is four sites in one line, so to get to the pot-o-potty or parking lot, you walk through other sites."
Child-friendly amenities: Several locations provide specific facilities for children. Mike T. describes Bluestone State Park: "There is a marina where we got to rent a boat and the catfish were plentiful... They had a swimming pool and it was clean. I loved the lake. Big and beautiful."
Tips from RVers
Site limitations: Most campgrounds near Hinton have restrictions on RV access. David notes that Meadow Creek Campground policy changed after "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."
Alternative options: RV campers seeking primitive sites should consider Chestnut Creek Campground. Lisa K. describes it as "a very nice little campground set up for tents, hammock campers and some car campers. No hook-ups. Definitely not for RVs or Camper trailers." Cathy D. adds it has "Mostly tent sites in wooded area" but is reasonably priced at "$15 per person not per site."
