Best Campgrounds near Meadow Creek, WV
The New River Gorge region surrounding Meadow Creek, West Virginia features a diverse range of camping options within America's newest national park. Meadow Creek Campground provides basic tent camping with pit toilets and trash service but no drinking water or hookups. Within a 30-minute drive, campers can access several free primitive sites in the national park including Glade Creek, Grandview Sandbar, and Army Camp campgrounds. These locations offer varying levels of river access, with some sites positioned directly along the New River. More developed options include Little Beaver State Park Campground with electric hookups, showers, and a dump station, and private facilities like Rifrafters Campground which remains open year-round for RV camping.
Road conditions vary significantly throughout the region, with many campgrounds accessible only via narrow, winding mountain roads that can become challenging after rainfall. As one camper noted, "The camp is steps away from the Glade Creek Trail and the New River Gorge. The flowing Gorge can always be heard, the low rumble is peaceful at night." Spring flooding is common along the New River, with water levels rising rapidly even after rain has stopped. Most primitive sites in the national park operate on a first-come, first-served basis with a 14-day stay limit. Cell service is extremely limited throughout the area, particularly at riverside locations, making advance planning essential.
Riverside camping receives consistently high ratings from visitors who appreciate the proximity to water recreation. The New River offers opportunities for fishing, swimming, and whitewater rafting, while nearby trails provide hiking and mountain biking options. Wildlife sightings are common, with campers reporting encounters with black bears, eastern box turtles, and various bird species. Temperature variations can be significant, with cool nights even during summer months. According to one reviewer at a nearby campground, "The temperature is always ten or so degrees cooler at the campground because you are in the mountains and at the basin next to the cool stream. Packing gear for the hot of the day and the cool of the night is essential even in July." Most primitive sites include fire rings, picnic tables, and pit toilets but require visitors to bring their own water.
