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Best Tent Camping near St. Albans, WV

323 Reviews

Tent campers near St. Albans, West Virginia can find several established sites within 40-60 miles of the city. Chestnut Creek Campground provides tent-specific sites in a wooded setting, while New River Gorge Campground offers wooden platforms for tent setup. Both campgrounds provide access to the outdoor recreation areas around the New River Gorge National Park, with tent-only sites that accommodate various camping styles.

Most tent campgrounds in the region feature basic amenities without RV hookups. Chestnut Creek offers clean restrooms and hot showers, with sites situated among trees that provide natural privacy and shade. New River Gorge Campground includes wooden platforms (10'x10') specifically designed for tent camping, picnic tables, and a communal fire pit rather than individual fire rings. Plum Orchard Lake Wildlife Management Area provides more primitive tent camping opportunities with rustic sites that include picnic tables and fire pits, though the access roads can be challenging. According to one visitor, there's a "long, bumpy dirt road to reach the campsite—it could be fun in the right vehicle."

The tent camping experience in this region offers varying levels of solitude depending on location. Sites at Chestnut Creek are described as "spacious and fairly isolated" with "a nice amount of woods around each site." Tent platforms at New River Gorge Campground are sometimes built on boulders, creating unique camping spots. Some campgrounds primarily serve the climbing community, with facilities like communal gathering areas and convenient access to popular climbing areas. A camper noted that Chestnut Creek Campground is a "tent-focused" operation that's "much more laid back, quiet" than nearby alternatives. For more remote experiences, campers can consider Wildlife Management Areas like Plum Orchard Lake, which offers a more secluded tent camping setting around a mountain lake.

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Best Tent Sites Near St. Albans, West Virginia (13)

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Recent Tent Camping Photos near St. Albans, WV

21 Photos of 13 St. Albans Campgrounds

Tent Camping Reviews near St. Albans, WV

323 Reviews of 13 St. Albans Campgrounds

  • B
    Oct. 23, 2021

    Forked Run State Park Campground

    Bad for tents

    Went there in October. No attendance around and not many campers. Sites are very bad for tent camping and not the bet for RV’s. Back ins are sort and most sites have no level ground even for the picnic table or fire ring. Showers were clean but cold. Vault toilets only and stuck to high Heaven. Not serviced well at all. Hiked the lake view trail, poorly maintained. The upper loop from the beach end is very hard to find and not marked at all. Even more disappointing than Hope Lake which has its own site problems for tents.

  • Alex M.
    Jul. 20, 2022

    Krodel Park Campground

    Nice park, awful bathrooms

    This is a strange campground, but not a bad one. It is minutes away from downtown Point Pleasant. I had spent the afternoon exploring the town and didn't feel like driving further. There aren't many campgrounds nearby, so this place came to the rescue.

    The park's main feature is a lake that looks to be artificial. Maybe an old gravel quarry? The terrain around the lake is nicely landscaped. There is a paved path along the shore, along with picnic tables and shelters. Kayak rentals are available and the lake is stocked with fish.

    Most of the campground is RV focused, but I stayed at a primitive tent site. These are located closer to the entrance. There are no site numbers. Just pull your car up onto the grass and set up wherever. A few picnic tables and electrical outlets are spaced out along the road. There were a few other campers here when I visited, but there was enough room for us to maintain good separation. No shade trees or shrubs for privacy, though.

    This is not a particularly quiet or restful campground. The day use area around the lake was hopping, with people coming and going well into the night. No closing time, or just not enforced? Not sure. Having so much traffic was a little uncomfortable from a safety standpoint, but nothing untoward happened while I was there. There was also quite a bit of noise from the nearby road and railroad.

    The biggest problem with this campground was the bathroom. It was one of the worst I've seen. It may very well have been cleaned recently, but it was so dark and dingy that I couldn't tell. No windows and just a single bare incandescent bulb for illumination. Reminded me of a gas station toilet. The sink barely drained, the toilet barely flushed, and the urinal looked like it was about to fall off the wall. I have used vault toilets that were much, much nicer than this. I found myself wishing for one of those. Gross.

    There is only one other bathroom located closer to the RV area, and this looked to be just as bad. To be clear, there are only two single occupancy men's rooms for the ENTIRE campground. Yes, there are a few porta potties scattered around as well, but this is ridiculous. This place needs to invest in better facilities.

  • Cody M.
    Jun. 7, 2022

    New River Gorge Campground - American Alpine Club

    I chose poorly…

    Low review based only on my poor site selection. I was right by the communal shelter. Quiet hours were courteously observed by fellow campers and the lights turned off automatically shortly after 10, but outside of those times there was no quiet or privacy. The sites on the lower loop, say low 20’s and up, looked lovely, tucked among boulders and rhodies. Each site had a picnic table and tent pad(s). Fires are limited to a large communal fire pit that was well stocked with wood. Clean restrooms. Coin-operated showers. Definitely can tell it’s a climber’s campground. Had a very Miguel’s-like vibe to it.

    Definitely check out the Burrito Bar tucked into the woods on the other side of 19. Great beer, good food, and chill atmosphere.

  • Dave V.
    Aug. 27, 2017

    Rifrafters Campground

    Convenient Location

    With impending storms, we chose to rent a cabin midweek at Riftrafters Campground in Fayetteville, WV.(riftrafters.com) rather than set up the tent in the rain.

    Riftrafters Campground is centrally located in Fayetteville right of Rt.19, close to The New River Gorge, rafting, climbing, hiking, biking and some good eateries.

    We stayed in Cabin 5, which offered a few wooden bunkbeds, one table, four chairs, one door and two windows...that's all you get in a camper cabin. Other cabins offer different bed options. No water or restroom/showers in the Cabins. Pricing is based on occupancy, much like tent camping. Which actually places it close to local hotel/motel lodging. Note: Do not anticipate spotless cabins or odor free, comfortable mattress...without heat or AC things tend to get musty.

    Riftrafters Campground offers RV/Camper sites (13) which have water and electric, Cabins (8) no water, but has electric, and several tent areas which are rated primitive. I recommend securing reservations by telephone.

    There is a covered picnic shelter and the showerhouse/restroom is clean, well-maintained and centrally located.

    Within two miles you can enjoy breakfast at Tudor's and lunch/dinner at the Secret Sandwich Society...both of which we frequented. For outdoor equipment needs, I prefer Waterstone Outdoors (waterstoneoutdoors.com), but there is another new business that recently opened between Tudor's and Secret Sandwich Society (secretsandwichsociety.com).

    Obviously, you will search the web for whatever activities you want to engage in, but I recommend paying a visit to The New River Gorge Canyon Rim Visitor Center on the NE corner of The New River Bridge. Rangers there know most of the best trails to hike and how to get there. The Park is 70,000 acres, after all. I'd also recommend Class VI River Runners if you plan on hitting the New or Gauley Rivers...(class-vi.com). Hint: If you really are looking for an experience...run the Gauley in spring or fall during the dam release.

    There is really so much to do in this area that a week is just too short. I gave Riftrafters 4 stars based on their proximity to local activities, but believe they could do much to spruce up the cabins.

  • Mark S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 11, 2024

    Huntington / Fox Fire KOA

    This KOA is a Keeper

    This is a very cozy park tucked in between US60 and I64. We are in site 14 and its not quite level, but they were generous with gravel so the drainage is good! No parking in puddles!The staff is great, friendly, upbeat. The gentleman who led us to the site helped us get positioned, and squared up.The site has a patio, bench, picnic table, fire pit, and a huge gas grill. There is more privacy than usual at KOA, pine trees between sites.Well be back! You do have to watch for the entrance, there is a big KOA sign but its not aligned with the actual turn, so be careful.

  • MiKayla M.
    Aug. 14, 2021

    Oak Hill - Lake Vesuvius

    Well Maintained Sites

    Paved, well maintained sites but a bit close together. Don’t expect privacy if it’s booked. Reservations close 4 days prior, after that it’s first come, first serve. However, surprisingly very quiet during my visit. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring with grill, and water & electric hookups. Cannot comment on the showers because no running water at the time of my visit (water line break, scheduled for repairs).

  • Jackie D.
    Jul. 22, 2019

    Iron Ridge - Lake Vesuvius

    Will return

    Great campground with super easy access to the trail and lake. The sites are spread apart enough so you aren’t right beside someone - and shaded. Well prepared sites with a clearing, fire ring, and a picnic table. Nice host and rangers too! Bathrooms were meh: the walls need cleaned or painted, no where to put your things, and there was no hand soap - no biggie though.

  • Charles C.The Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 17, 2025

    Arrowhead Bike Farm

    Great spot for National Park Access

    Great campground adjacent to New River Gorge National Park. Within a short walk/bike to multiple biking and hiking trailheads. Close enough to bike into Fayetteville (a cool little town). Onsite bike shop with rentals and repairs, restaurant, and bar. A handful of full hookup sites and open field camping for rv/van/car/tents. $11 for the field and $50 for hookup when I was here last n September 2025. Easy online or in person booking and checkin. Friendly, helpful staff. Peaceful place to stay a few nights if you want to hike or bike in the park or check out Fayetteville.

  • J
    Apr. 27, 2021

    Chestnut Creek Campground

    Beautiful Family Run Campground

    Small primitive, family run campground in the heart of the gorgeous new river gorge area. Owner was super nice,helpful, and welcoming. Sites are designed for tents or smaller rigs mostly but we managed to squeeze our 35ft TT into site 17. There is no water, sewer or electric so you must be self contained as it was designed for primitive camping. There is a bathhouse with restrooms and showers. There is also a disc golf course or you can watch the free roaming chickens. We highly recommend this campground if you're looking for friendly owners who make you feel welcome and sites that bring you back to nature and the great outdoors. Just minutes away from all kinds of trails and touristy stuff, this campground gets 5 stars from us. We will be back anytime we visit this area!

Guide to St. Albans

Tent camping near St. Albans, West Virginia, offers a variety of scenic locations and amenities for outdoor enthusiasts. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat or an adventure-filled getaway, there are several options to explore.

Tips for tent camping near St. Albans

  • Riverside R&R provides a cozy atmosphere with features like picnic tables and firewood, perfect for a relaxing camping experience.
  • At the Chief Cornstalk Wildlife Management Area, campers can enjoy a rustic setting, but should be prepared for basic amenities and bring their own supplies.
  • Chestnut Creek Campground is well-reviewed for its spacious sites and friendly owner, making it an excellent choice for families and groups.

Tent campers appreciate these amenities

  • New River Gorge Campground - American Alpine Club offers clean facilities and a communal fire pit, ideal for socializing with fellow campers.
  • Plum Orchard Lake WMA features heavily wooded sites and access to fishing, making it a great spot for nature lovers.
  • Timbre Ridge Lake provides a beautiful area for dispersal camping, with vault toilets available for convenience.

Specific local activities

  • Chestnut Creek Campground is close to New River Gorge, perfect for hiking and exploring the stunning landscapes of the area.
  • Riverside R&R allows for boat-in access, making it a unique spot for those looking to combine camping with water activities.
  • At Plum Orchard Lake WMA, visitors can enjoy kayaking and fishing on the serene lake, surrounded by picturesque mountain views.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near St. Albans, WV?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near St. Albans, WV is Riverside R&R with a 0-star rating from 0 reviews.

What is the best site to find tent camping near St. Albans, WV?

TheDyrt.com has all 13 tent camping locations near St. Albans, WV, with real photos and reviews from campers.

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