Best Tent Camping near Keslers Cross Lanes, WV
Tent campsites near Keslers Cross Lanes, West Virginia provide access to the scenic New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. Chestnut Creek Campground offers wooded tent sites with picnic tables and fire pits, located minutes from the New River Gorge Bridge. The campground is designed specifically for tent camping, with multiple sites distributed throughout a heavily forested area. Stone Cliff Campground, operated by the National Park Service, provides free primitive tent camping with basic facilities along the river.
Most tent campgrounds in the area feature natural terrain with minimal site development. Chestnut Creek provides wooden tent platforms at some sites, while others are set directly on forest floor. Access varies from drive-in sites to walk-in areas requiring short hikes from parking areas. Bathhouses with flush toilets and hot showers are available at Chestnut Creek, though primitive campgrounds like Stone Cliff offer only vault toilets. According to reviews, Chestnut Creek charges per person rather than per site, at approximately $15 per night. Campgrounds typically provide picnic tables and fire rings, with firewood available for purchase at some locations.
The heavily wooded setting creates natural separation between tent sites, offering privacy not typically found at developed RV campgrounds. "Sites are spacious and fairly isolated with a nice amount of woods around each site," noted one camper about Chestnut Creek. Another review mentioned that "sites are designed for tents or smaller rigs mostly" with a family-friendly atmosphere. Tent campers frequently use these areas as a base for exploring nearby hiking trails, climbing routes, and river activities. Most campgrounds remain open seasonally, with some closing during winter months. Proximity to outdoor recreation makes these tent campgrounds popular with climbers visiting the New River Gorge, with many sites located within minutes of popular climbing areas, hiking trails, and river access points.