Bluestone Lake State Park serves as a focal point for camping near Jumping Branch, West Virginia, with multiple campground areas including Meador and Old Mill campgrounds providing a range of accommodations. The area features a mix of state park facilities and federally managed lands within the nearby New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. Camping options span from fully developed sites with water and electric hookups to primitive tent-only areas along waterways. Pipestem Resort State Park, located approximately 8 miles from Jumping Branch, offers additional camping opportunities with RV sites, cabin rentals, and access to both hiking trails and water recreation.
The camping season varies significantly by location, with many campgrounds operating from April through October, while some areas like Pipestem Resort State Park remain open year-round. Roads to most established campgrounds are paved and accessible for standard vehicles, though some primitive areas may require higher clearance. A recent review noted, "The views from the roads are incredible. The campgrounds are great for biking and hiking trails." Water access represents a significant draw in this region, with several campgrounds situated along Bluestone Lake or the New River. Permit requirements vary by location, with reservations strongly recommended for developed sites during summer weekends and holidays, while dispersed camping in areas like Army Camp in New River Gorge often operates on a first-come basis.
Waterfront camping receives consistently positive feedback, with numerous reviews highlighting the proximity to fishing, swimming, and boating opportunities. "We stayed in Meador site 14, which was the furthest away from the bath house, but it was on the water and was the most secluded," wrote one camper, emphasizing the premium value of lakefront sites. Wildlife sightings, particularly deer, are commonly mentioned in visitor reports. Bathroom facilities vary widely across the region, with some campers noting clean, well-maintained bathhouses at sites like Little Beaver State Park, while others report more basic amenities at primitive locations. Families appreciate the mix of water-based recreation and hiking opportunities, with several trail systems accessible directly from campground areas. Most established campgrounds offer picnic tables and fire rings, with firewood available for purchase at many locations.
$35 - $40 / night
"This CCC State Park is very picturesque and has several hiking trails and the man-made lake is small but offers plenty of recreation possibilities. I found the layout a little strange."
"This campground is situated in the woods, near Lake. Has a good WFI everywhere, very clean and quiet."
"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 campsite is pretty far back into the gorge at the end of a dead end road, which inherently gives it a little bit of an advantage for those who wish to be not just off grid but away from"the madding"
"Pipestem Resort State Park Southern West Virginia. We spent 4 nights here. Used this park as a base camp for New River Gorge NP. There's many other State Parks we visited too.
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"There is plenty to do within walking distance or a short drive. There is hiking all around the Pipestem area. There is a lake to fish and boat on."
"New River, just outside of Prince, WV off Route 41 offers upclose and personal riverside camping."
"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."
"This campground rests by Bluestone Lake, which is where the Bluestone River runs runs into the New River."
"We stayed in Meador site 14, which was the furthest away from the bath house (still only maybe 150 yards), but it was on the water & was the most secluded (just meaning it's at the end of the row not"
"This was a convienent campground right off the highway, easy to get to, small but has a few full hookup sites."
"Both CGs have a large creek running adjacent to the CG. Trout fishing was very popular though I didn’t catch any. They do restock this time of year."
"West Virginia at its finest! Blue stone state park is right next door to the lake so there are wonderful water activities here."
"We enjoyed hiking the trails, swimming in the lake and sitting by our campfire. The ladies working at the check-in office were absolutely the sweetest and extremely helpful."
"I’ve spent over 150 days camping and hiking in West Virginia n the past four years and keep finding new, wonderful places to enjoy."
"Easy access to river, able to hear it from campsite. Very clean pit toilet bathroom. Road to access is single lane paved/gravel. Best for cars/vans, but did see some small pull behinds."
$55 - $65 / night
"Besides the aforementioned site hookups there are a lot of new activities to do at pipestem close to the campground on the Pipestem park property such as ziplining and swimming on the lake with inflatables"
"Short drive to Sandstone Falls, which are stunning."
"Tucked away by the river past Thurmond. Great secluded sites. Trailhead for hiking from camp."
"We put our tent a few feet away from the water facing the river and our canopy further up in the woods by the firepit."
TravelerEasily accessible, stopped here for the night when we couldn’t find an open spot in Alabama Hills. Equipped with potable water, bathrooms and a fire pit at each site. Approx 80+ sites that are decently spaced and level. Beautiful views of the sierras and easy to get to in the dark
ScoutIt is a wonderful place to camp. However, it is $15 a night not five. There is a $50 deposit to get a key to the gate. There is no potable water.
ScoutHad a great time for our first trip out in our new-to-us pop-up! Brought the dogs and had a great time.
Guide1st: The water pump doesn't work at location. Bring your own water. 2nd: Bring all you need before you camp out. There is one gas station to find resources 2.2 miles from campsite. If its not open you have 20-30mins drive to get to resources needed. There is 5 campsites close to each other. Constant 4 wheeling and horseback riding through sites. Your really never alone. To each their own , on privacy. Some want it, some dont mind it. Very scenic! Love the Dismal waterfalls!! Love walking trails but truly a busy site during holidays. We arrived Friday morning and sites was filled by noon. Arrive early as you can to find a camp spot. Truly well kept, trash bins and latrine is in walking distance.
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.
TravelerDrove here to find it closed.
Guidethe host is easy to deal with. If you arrive late, pay in the morning. My wife said the restrooms were old but were in excellent condition and clean. In fact, she raved about them.
TravelerThis is a lovely little cabin resort with 3 RV sites. We are here just 1 night enroute. It is beautiful and well maintained. I would definitely come back.
Camping spots near Jumping Branch, West Virginia provide access to the Bluestone River drainage system at elevations ranging from 1,400 to 2,800 feet. The area experiences relatively mild summers with average highs around 82°F in July and August. Many local campgrounds remain operational despite frequent early spring flooding, especially at river-adjacent sites where water levels can rise rapidly after rainfall.
Hiking trails at Little Beaver State Park: The park offers multiple trails directly accessible from campsites. "There are several nice walking trails and a lake but we didn't have time to check them out," notes one visitor to Little Beaver State Park Campground, while another mentions "Walking trails all over."
Boat access at Glade Creek: For water enthusiasts, the New River access points offer boat launching facilities. "This place has trails that are to die for. An old railroad runs by glade creek and it is incredible," reports a camper at Glade Creek Campground, which sits at the confluence of Glade Creek and the New River.
Rock climbing near Stone Cliff: The area attracts climbers from across the Eastern US. A visitor to Stone Cliff Campground shares, "There are so many things to come for and so many things to stay for! I've come here to climb and ended up fishing. I've come to fish and ended up hiking and climbing."
Water recreation at Pipestem: The resort offers multiple water-based activities throughout the summer. A visitor notes they "enjoyed many of the parks amenities including horseback ride on the trails, the giant inflatables at the lake, the nature center & hiking."
River views from secluded sites: Campers appreciate waterfront locations with privacy. "We were in site 1 which was the furthest away from the bath house, but it was on the water and was the most secluded," reports a visitor to Meador Campground, highlighting the value of lakefront sites.
Budget-friendly options: Free camping sites provide excellent value. One Army Camp visitor shares, "It's hard to beat a free campsite right on the river," while another notes "You can't beat an established campground (picnic tables, fire pits, bathrooms) in a national park that's also free!"
Proximity to multiple outdoor activities: Several campgrounds offer diverse recreation opportunities within walking distance. A visitor to Pipestem mentions "We love this campground. Quiet, well spaced, nice roads for biking. We enjoyed lots of the amenities, including the horseback riding, nature center and giant water inflatables."
Clean facilities at Camp Creek: Multiple reviews praise the well-maintained bathrooms. "Showers were the best of any campground I've seen- water gets as hot as you'd like, with great water pressure and plenty of hooks and towel racks," reports a visitor to Mash Fork Campground.
Flooding risk at riverside sites: Spring and early summer can bring high water. At Grandview Sandbar Campground, a camper warns, "This was a peaceful, nice area but when there is a lot of rain there is definitely the chance it'll flood."
Limited connectivity: Cell service varies dramatically across the region. One visitor to Army Camp notes "No AT&T service so I only stayed two nights (gotta work during the week!)," while another at Glade Creek reports "Had AT&T cell signal down by the river but no Sprint Signal."
Water supply challenges: Many sites lack potable water sources. A visitor to Army Camp emphasizes "No drinking water, so plan to be ready to be off grid," while a Glade Creek camper noted "No sources of freshwater available @ the campground. The nearest convenient store is some miles away."
Noise considerations: Train tracks run near several campgrounds. A Stone Cliff visitor mentions "Trains would go by every few hours, it didn't bother us much but it could be annoying to some people," while another at Grandview Sandbar notes "Ear plugs only did so much for me, as I am a tent camper with an inflatable sleeping mat."
Playground access: Several campgrounds offer dedicated play areas. At Pipestem Resort State Park, a visitor notes they "enjoyed many of the park's amenities including a horseback ride on the trails, the giant inflatables at the lake, the nature center & hiking."
Biking opportunities: Paved campground roads provide safe cycling spaces. "Kids loved biking around campground, very safe," reports a Pipestem visitor, while a Meador camper noted "All the roads are paved making it easy for the little ones to ride bikes."
Wildlife viewing options: Animal sightings enhance family experiences. At Old Mill Campground, a visitor shared "The lake. Big and beautiful. Great time on the water!" while a Meador camper noted "There were also TONS of deer all around (just hanging out eating vegetation) during our short one night stay."
Multi-activity options: Several locations offer diverse recreation. A camper at Pipestem mentions, "They have ziplining, axe throwing, disc shooting and archery, play grounds and splash water park."
Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds require effort to level larger rigs. At Little Beaver, a camper with a 23-foot travel trailer noted, "Many sites looked like it may take some work to get level. We were in site 20 with a 23 ft TT and got level fairly easily but a longer rig may have difficulty in that site."
Access road considerations: Some campgrounds have challenging approach roads. One Army Camp visitor explains, "It's a one lane road to get to the campground and can get tight when other vehicles pass, but we got down there with our F250 truck and camper."
Hookup locations: Utility connections aren't always ideally positioned. At Pipestem, a camper noted "Electrical hook up was on the opposite side of where they should be and in the middle of the small area."
Size restrictions: Not all campgrounds accommodate larger RVs. A visitor to Mash Fork mentioned their campground "has a mix of 30-amp, 30-amp with water, 50-amp with water and electric, and FHU sites" with "a generous camper pad length."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Jumping Branch, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, Jumping Branch, WV offers a wide range of camping options, with 126 campgrounds and RV parks near Jumping Branch, WV and 2 free dispersed camping spots.
Which is the most popular campground near Jumping Branch, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Jumping Branch, WV is Little Beaver State Park Campground with a 4.3-star rating from 19 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Jumping Branch, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 2 free dispersed camping spots near Jumping Branch, WV.
What parks are near Jumping Branch, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 25 parks near Jumping Branch, WV that allow camping, notably Bluestone Lake and New River Gorge National River.
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