Best Tent Camping near Millville, WV
Tent camping options abound in the mountainous terrain surrounding Millville, West Virginia, with several established sites in nearby Maryland and Virginia. Sky Meadows State Park Campground offers backpacking-style tent sites approximately one mile from the overnight parking area, while Antietam Creek Campground provides walk-in tent sites alongside the Potomac River in the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park. Smith Ridge Harper's Ferry offers additional tent camping options just minutes from Millville.
Most tent campsites in the region require modest walks from parking areas, with surfaces typically consisting of dirt, pea gravel, or forest floor. Many campgrounds provide fire rings, picnic tables, and bear boxes for food storage, though amenities vary significantly between locations. Sites at Sky Meadows feature tent pads with pea gravel, lantern poles, and designated fire rings with cooking grates. One camper noted, "Each site has a bear box, fire ring, picnic table, tent pad with pea gravel, and a lantern pole." Most C&O Canal sites have chemical toilets or vault toilets but no running water, with many offering non-potable water pumps that require filtering or treatment.
The region's tent campgrounds offer varying levels of seclusion and natural experiences. Areas along the C&O Canal provide river views and access to the towpath trail, attracting cyclists and hikers throughout warmer months. Many sites are shaded by mature trees, with some offering hammock posts for alternative sleeping arrangements. A visitor commented that at Sky Meadows, "The hills are fantastic for helping each site feel like a little private oasis. Even if the campground is full, I think most of the sites would still feel shaded and private because of how they're dispersed throughout the hills." Walk-in tent sites typically offer more solitude than drive-in options, though they require carrying all gear from parking areas. Backcountry tent camping is available at Little Crease Shelter and Veach Gap, offering more primitive experiences for those willing to hike further from developed areas.