Best Dispersed Camping near Lewisburg, WV

Dispersed camping near Lewisburg, West Virginia includes several free primitive sites within the surrounding national forests and parks. The New River Gorge National Park and Preserve offers Army Camp, a free dispersed camping area located near Prince, West Virginia. Additional options include Poor Farm Dispersed Recreation Area and Walnut Flats in Virginia, both providing primitive camping experiences on public land. Johns Spring Shelter along the Appalachian National Scenic Trail offers a more remote hike-in option for backcountry campers seeking solitude.

Access roads to these dispersed sites vary considerably in quality and condition. Army Camp is reached via a single-lane paved/gravel road that can be challenging for larger vehicles, though small trailers have successfully navigated the route. Poor Farm Dispersed Recreation Area features gravel access approximately 5-10 minutes off Highway 220, with multiple camping spots situated along a river. Most sites lack drinking water, requiring campers to bring their own supplies or filter from nearby water sources. Pit toilets are available at most locations, but hookups and other amenities are absent. "No cell coverage," notes one camper about Poor Farm, making advance planning essential.

These primitive camping areas provide direct access to natural features and outdoor activities. Army Camp sites are positioned near the New River with "easy access to river, able to hear it from campsite," according to one review. The campground consists of approximately 11 sites with fire rings, picnic tables, and gravel tent pads. Walnut Flats contains about five established sites with fire rings and picnic tables, plus access to hiking trails including the Appalachian Trail across the road. Wildlife sightings are common, with one Army Camp visitor reporting bear sightings on consecutive nights. Most locations fill quickly during peak seasons, with Army Camp particularly popular due to its riverside location and established facilities despite being free. Winter camping is possible but requires additional preparation for potentially challenging conditions.

Best Dispersed Sites Near Lewisburg, West Virginia (4)

    1. Army Camp — New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

    12 Reviews
    Prince, WV
    36 miles
    Website
    +1 (304) 465-0508

    "Spots are shaded. Easy access to river, able to hear it from campsite. Very clean pit toilet bathroom. Road to access is single lane paved/gravel."

    "It has a small loop of campsites near the river."

    2. Johns Spring Shelter — Appalachian National Scenic Trail

    2 Reviews
    Salem, VA
    36 miles
    Website

    "I stayed at this AT shelter when I was doing a section hike with some friends. It's not bad as far as shelters on the AT go. There is not a water source too close to the shelter."

    3. Poor Farm Dispersed Recreation Area

    5 Reviews
    Warm Springs, KY
    44 miles
    Website

    "I pulled in while passing through the area, it was a short ride off the highway and the road in was nice."

    "No signal, so make sure you have a map or know which way you came."

    4. Walnut Flats

    4 Reviews
    Staffordsville, VA
    49 miles

    "Quiet place with plenty of firewood on the ground. Occasional.peiole driving through but a great experience!"

    "There is no internet access but there is enough signal you can get text sometimes. You need to drive about ten minutes to the gas station to get dependable coverage."

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Dispersed Camping Reviews near Lewisburg, WV

23 Reviews of 4 Lewisburg Campgrounds


  • Caroline F.
    Jun. 26, 2022

    Army Camp — New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

    Quiet, nice free campground

    FCFS. Spots are large enough to fit 2 vehicles. Sites are gravel with fire pit, charcoal grill, and picnic table. Spots are shaded. 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.

  • Jim M.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 19, 2024

    Poor Farm Dispersed Recreation Area

    Great "out of the way" spot

    Great camp site!! I pulled in while passing through the area, it was a short ride off the highway and the road in was nice. Quiet spot with a nice grassy level area. will definitely stay here again when I get back up this way.

  • Mikaela K.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 24, 2023

    Poor Farm Dispersed Recreation Area

    Nice spot, even for our conversion van!

    Wasn’t too hard to get there and park in our van. Peaceful for the most part (a few campers were there). No signal, so make sure you have a map or know which way you came.

  • Kristi D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 4, 2023

    Army Camp — New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

    You cant beat free!

    We spent a night here on our way to Ohio. It has a small loop of campsites near the river. It is 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 when a big grater and the park ranger came by. It's very doable. Campsites were mowed and it was a short walk to a really nice spot on the river. No electric/water, so plan to be ready to be off grid. Hard to complain about free!

  • Lucy P.
    Mar. 24, 2024

    Johns Spring Shelter — Appalachian National Scenic Trail

    Cute but very basic

    As far as AT shelters go this is pretty basic, except for the lack of a good water source. However, it's a decent spot to stay the night especially if it's not crowded! There's a few other shelters and stealth sites in the area that are also great options though.

  • Dave V.
    May. 21, 2018

    Army Camp — New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

    RANGER REVIEW: Primus Trailbottle S/S 1.0 liter at Army Camp Campground, WVk

    CAMPGROUND REVIEW: Army Camp Campground, New River Gorge National River, WV

    Army Camp Campground, New River Gorge National River, Prince, WV https://www.nps.gov/neri/learn/historyculture/army-camp.htm

    If you have never treated yourself to the beautiful diversity of the New River Gorge National River, you are truly missing out!

    Rock climbing, mountain biking, whitewater paddling, rafting, hiking, camping, birding?…it’s all here and more. 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.

    There are three very nice, somewhat primitive, free, campgrounds located within six miles of each other right outside Prince, WV. Grandview Sandbar and Glades Creek along one side of the New River and Army Camp across the Rt 41 bridge and downriver.

    Note: vitally important to realize there is no running water at any of these campgrounds. You must bring water or filter it from the New River…which I wouldn’t recommend.

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3QnnaIl-xgE

    Each site has a picnic table, grill, fire pit, dual lantern post and pit latrines. Of the three New River Gorge National River campgrounds in this immediate area, Army Camps pit latrines are maintained but in dire need of paint. Parking and tent pads are gravel…(making tent peg placement laborious). Plenty of hammocking opportunities.

    Army Camp is open for day use fishing and picnicking. The campground consists of one small loop with five sites on the outside perimeter and five on the inner perimeter. Scattered mature trees dot the inner circle with open line of sight. Outside perimeter sites are wooded and offer more privacy. Though all sites are separated by 50 ft or more.

    Army Camp lies in a narrow river valley between steep, wooded 2500-3200 ft mountains offering spectacular views.

    Military history buffs will appreciate the remains of an Army training encampment along the gravel road driving in. Known for equipping soldiers to build floating bridges across rivers to move troops and heavy artillery.

    Though all campground trails are short and directly to the edge of the New River…innumerable trails are a short drive away.

    Caution: Use extreme prudence if choosing to enter the New River itself. This is an incredibly popular whitewater rafting and paddling river…currents are fast, powerful and dangerous.

    At this visit, after a night of rainfall, the New River has swollen beyond its boundaries by 50 feet or more on either shoreline.

    Song birds, robins and crows competed vocally during daylight hours. Interesting insects crawled the river’s sandy shore and a brightly colored Eastern box turtle searched for higher-dryer ground. The powerful drone of the New River never subsides.

    **When breaking camp, it was noted the New River had encroached another 100ft through the woodland, flowing alongside the campground loop gravel drive…30 ft from our tent pad. Even though it had not rained in 18 hours, the New River continued to swell beyond what I thought probable. Exercise greater wisdom than I did.

    Product Review: New Primus Trailbottle S/S 1.0 liter

    The new Primus Trailbottle stainless steel line offers a 0.6L, a 1.0L, a vacuum 0.5L, and a vacuum 0.8L. For purposes of this review, I’m putting the 1.0L S/S Trailbottle through its paces. https://primus.us/products/trailbottle-s-s-1-0l?variant=38421366546

    The Primus Trailbottle 1.0L comes in four (4) color options: black, red, light green and powder blue. Being on the trail or kayak in direct sunlight, I opted to not pursue the black so I could keep fluids cooler. The added bonus of brighter colors decreases the chances of me losing the bottle.

    As a Review Ranger for TheDyrt, these products were provided by Primus https://primus.us/ .

    I have been using various Primus stoves for many years with great success while backpacking and paddling, so I look forward to their new innovative and trustworthy products.

    The new Primus Trailbottle S/S 1.0L appears larger than it is. I was initially surprised by that illusion and feared it wouldn’t fit in my Gregory Baltoro Sidewinder Bottle holster…but fitment was actually easier than most water bottles. The bottom is a full inch smaller in diameter than the shoulder.

    Dimensions:

    •Height: 9” Base to Top of cap

    •O.D. Base: 10.25”/ O.D. Top: 11.25”

    •Weight: 10 grams

    Materials:

    •18/8 Food Grade stainless steel

    •Tritan lid (BPA free)

    One clear benefit of the S/S…it doesn’t possess or retain flavors…you get only what put in it.

    While the Primus Trailbottle S/S version has lightweight, thin walls that can likely dent with misuse…longevity of use sets this apart from the basic plastic or Lexan bottle. The mouth of the bottle is fairly large, making it easier to fill or add ice. Not being double walled, exterior sides sweat with ice cold beverages, but the painted surface has just enough grip texture not to slip when wet. The temperature of the Trailbottle contents will be felt by your hand.

    The screw-on lid has an additional small screw-on tethered cap. Instead of knurling around the sides of both caps, Primus uses a triangle pattern that mimics the cutout pattern on their stove/pot cooking systems Primus states the bottle opening and thread pattern fits some water filtration systems, but not my Katadyn Vario…nor does my Sawyer Mini thread onto the cap, as the threads are located on the inside of the spout..

    The rubber lanyard attaches to the small threaded cap by a recessed ring, then snakes through a bar on the larger bottle screw lid and attaches to that lid via a rubber style pop-rivet. Personally, I would not attach the Primus bottle to my pack by this rubber lanyard, but will run some para cord through the integrated bar on the lid…to carabiner to my pack (if I didn’t have a water bottle pocket).

    When partaking of its contents through the smaller lid opening, it is like any other solid-sided bottle. However, I found it was much easier pouring Trailbottle contents into a cup than a wide-mouth bottle.

    Final Thoughts

    I like it’s distinctiveness, versatility and light weight. I’m looking forward to many years of service from the Primus Trailbottle S/S 1.0 liter.

  • Jean C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Oct. 1, 2021

    Army Camp — New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

    Free camping near, but not on the river

    This is another of the free national park campgrounds in the New River Gorge, with sites that are more developed than many of the others. These are in a small open loop, largely level gravel parking and tent pads. They have picnic tables, fire rings, and lantern poles. No drinking water, so bring your own. No hookups. The river is nearby, but none of the sites are on the river. There’s an accessible site and also accessible trail to a bench along the river. There are latrines.

    If you enjoy fishing, the New River Gorge website offers a lot of specific information about species, bait, and lures

    If you can't find a site at one of the other campgrounds or you have a slightly larger rig, ths may be a better option for you. No cell service, so download your maps. The New River Gorge also offers rafting, and hiking options. Check out some of the mining history at the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine, abuut 30 minutes away, and get up early to catch the sunrise from Grandview Point.

  • R C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Mar. 27, 2025

    Poor Farm Dispersed Recreation Area

    Nice free camp spot(s) next to a river

    Really enjoyed this place. Maybe 5-10 min off of highway 220. There are maybe 5 ish spots to camp next to a river in this mountain valley. I took the one and only site just before the proper camp site (it was the best one IMO). Need to be self sufficient though, only convenience is a toilet house. No cell coverage. Highly recommend for primitive camping.


Guide to Lewisburg

Dispersed camping near Lewisburg, West Virginia offers several primitive sites situated within the Allegheny Mountains and nearby valleys. The region includes over 100,000 acres of public lands across Monongahela National Forest and George Washington National Forest, with most sites at elevations between 2,000-3,500 feet. Winter temperatures can drop below freezing from November through March, requiring additional preparation for cold-weather camping.

What to do

Hiking trails: The Appalachian Trail crosses through the region near Walnut Flats, providing access to day hikes and thru-hiking opportunities. "Trail right through the campground and the Appalachian trail just across the road," notes one camper who stayed at Walnut Flats.

Wildlife observation: Bears are active throughout the area, especially during summer months. When staying at Army Camp, campers should be prepared for potential encounters. One visitor described the diverse wildlife: "Song birds, robins and crows competed vocally during daylight hours. Interesting insects crawled the river's sandy shore and a brightly colored Eastern box turtle searched for higher-dryer ground."

Fishing: The New River provides excellent fishing opportunities with multiple access points. According to a camper, "If you enjoy fishing, the New River Gorge website offers a lot of specific information about species, bait, and lures."

What campers like

Affordable access: Free camping is consistently mentioned as a major benefit in the Lewisburg area. At Poor Farm Dispersed Recreation Area, one visitor shared: "Really enjoyed this place. Maybe 5-10 min off of highway 220. There are maybe 5 ish spots to camp next to a river in this mountain valley."

Privacy between sites: Many dispersed sites offer good separation from neighboring campers. At Army Camp, "Outside perimeter sites are wooded and offer more privacy. Though all sites are separated by 50 ft or more."

Established amenities: Despite being free, several sites have basic infrastructure. A camper at Walnut Flats described the setup: "Nice little free campground with about 5 sites with grill fire rings level gravel drive with tent pad and lantern pole, restrooms but I didn't use them well water pump for drinking water."

What you should know

Cell service limitations: Most dispersed sites have poor or no cellular connectivity. A Poor Farm visitor warned: "No cell coverage," highlighting the need for advance planning and offline maps.

Water availability: Water sources vary greatly between campgrounds. At Johns Spring Shelter along the Appalachian Trail, one hiker noted its "lack of a good water source" and that "The closest one is about 3 miles North."

Early arrival recommended: Due to limited site availability and first-come, first-served policies, arriving early is crucial. "We were lucky and got one of the last spots, there's only 11," a recent Army Camp visitor shared. "If you're planning on coming here, make sure and come early."

Tips for camping with families

Water safety awareness: Rivers in the region can change quickly with rainfall. One Army Camp camper observed: "When breaking camp, it was noted the New River had encroached another 100ft through the woodland, flowing alongside the campground loop gravel drive...30 ft from our tent pad. Even though it had not rained in 18 hours, the New River continued to swell."

Wildlife education opportunities: The diverse ecosystem provides learning experiences for children. "Wildlife sightings are common in the area, particularly birds and small mammals. Some sites offer easier wildlife viewing than others.

Bring entertainment: With limited connectivity, plan offline activities. A visitor at Walnut Flats mentioned the campground was "Very quiet area," making it ideal for family games and nature exploration without digital distractions.

Tips from RVers

Road access considerations: Many dispersed sites have challenging access roads that may be unsuitable for larger vehicles. A camper who stayed at Army Camp noted: "Road to access is single lane paved/gravel. Best for cars/vans, but did see some small pull behinds."

Self-sufficiency requirements: RV campers must be prepared for off-grid stays. "You need to be self sufficient though, only convenience is a toilet house," explains a Poor Farm visitor, emphasizing the need to bring all supplies including sufficient water.

Length limitations: Most dispersed sites cannot accommodate larger RVs. One Army Camp visitor reported: "We got down there with our F250 truck and camper when a big grater and the park ranger came by. It's very doable. Campsites were mowed and it was a short walk to a really nice spot on the river. No electric/water, so plan to be ready to be off grid."

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular dispersed campsite near Lewisburg, WV?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular dispersed campground near Lewisburg, WV is Army Camp — New River Gorge National Park and Preserve with a 4.4-star rating from 12 reviews.

What is the best site to find dispersed camping near Lewisburg, WV?

TheDyrt.com has all 4 dispersed camping locations near Lewisburg, WV, with real photos and reviews from campers.