D
Deborah A.
Traveler
TravelerRifrafters Campground
Beautiful campground
We are here off season so there aren’t a lot of other campers but it is beautiful, quiet and very well kept.
Camping near New River Gorge National River
New River Gorge National Park and Preserve offers free primitive camping along its riverbanks at multiple campgrounds throughout the park. These campgrounds include Grandview Sandbar, Glade Creek, Army Camp, and Stone Cliff, each providing rustic riverside sites with basic amenities. Most campgrounds feature pit toilets, picnic tables, and fire rings but lack running water, electric hookups, and shower facilities. The park's camping areas accommodate both drive-in and walk-in tent sites, with limited options for small RVs and trailers at certain locations. Outside the national park boundaries, more developed options include Rifrafters Campground near Fayetteville and Babcock State Park, which offer full hookups, cabins, and modern facilities.
Access roads to riverside campgrounds can be challenging, particularly after rain. A visitor noted, "The drive down the valley to it is relatively steep - our sprinter van still made it." First-come, first-served availability means arriving early is essential, especially during summer weekends when sites fill quickly. Flooding is a seasonal concern for waterfront sites, particularly in spring and early summer when tributary waters can cause the New River to overflow its banks. Cell service is minimal to non-existent in most camping areas, with several reviews mentioning weak to no signal. Campgrounds like Grandview Sandbar have a 14-day stay limit and are regularly maintained, though amenities remain basic.
Riverside camping provides immediate water access for fishing, swimming, kayaking, and rafting. Many tent sites at Grandview Sandbar sit directly on sandy beaches along the New River, offering unobstructed views and water sounds. According to one camper, "The sandbar was fun to explore. The walk-in campsites were very nice all on the river." Nighttime noise from trains passing through the gorge is commonly mentioned in reviews, with some finding it disruptive and others describing it as "oddly soothing." Some campgrounds experience weekend crowding from locals, which can impact the experience. Stone Cliff Campground is noted for being more secluded and quieter, described as "a hidden gem" despite being a bit farther from main park attractions. Wildlife encounters, including bears, have been reported, making proper food storage essential.
Best Camping Sites Near New River Gorge National River (119)
1. Grandview Sandbar Campground — New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
23 ReviewsPrince, WV3 milesWebsite+1 (304) 465-0508"RANGER REIVEW: PRIMUS 4-SEASON STAINLESS STEEL 0.3L MUG AT GRANDVIEW SANDBAR CAMPGROUND, NEW RIVER GORGE NATIONAL RIVER, WV CAMPGROUND REVIEW:
Grandview Sandbar Campground situated along the"
"Through Traffic: Access to the boat ramp is through the campground. Though, traffic is minimal, folks on the way to the ramp and picnic area often drive pretty fast."
2. Rifrafters Campground
31 ReviewsFayetteville, WV11 milesWebsite+1 (304) 564-1065$15 - $50 / night
"Some really great beer places close by as well. Nice a shady too. I’d like to go back and do some exploring around the area. Just be careful with what gps app you use."
"They walked us to our site and helped us back into our spot. Everything worked well with all of the hookups. It was a quiet and clean campground."
3. Glade Creek Campground — New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
20 ReviewsPrince, WV5 milesWebsite+1 (304) 465-0508"Campground…and is also part of the New River Gorge National River."
"There is five drive-in sites and more walk-in sites on the edge of the camp. The drive-in sites filled and vacated several times throughout the weekend."
4. Babcock State Park Campground
25 ReviewsWinona, WV10 milesWebsite+1 (304) 438-3004$33 / night
"The most photographed place in west Virginia is the grist mill. Awesome trails all around."
"Babcock State Park, located in the thriving megapolis of Clifton, West Virginia is postcard perfect!"
5. Stone Cliff Campground — New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
17 ReviewsThurmond, WV3 milesWebsite+1 (304) 465-0508"Tucked away by the river past Thurmond. Great secluded sites. Trailhead for hiking from camp."
"We put our tent a few feet away from the water facing the river and our canopy further up in the woods by the firepit."
6. Ace Adventure Resort
15 ReviewsThurmond, WV6 milesWebsite+1 (800) 787-3982$15 - $600 / night
"Nearby are showers and restrooms. They have individual rooms that can be locked that has the restroom in with the shower stall. Lots of biking and equestrian trails available."
"We were able to go whitewater rafting one day and then explored the surrounding area on another day. The resort is awesome. They have cabins and they have hot tubs."
7. Little Beaver State Park Campground
19 ReviewsDaniels, WV10 milesWebsite+1 (304) 763-2494$35 - $40 / night
"This CCC State Park is very picturesque and has several hiking trails and the man-made lake is small but offers plenty of recreation possibilities. I found the layout a little strange."
"This campground is situated in the woods, near Lake. Has a good WFI everywhere, very clean and quiet."
8. Chestnut Creek Campground
21 ReviewsLansing, WV12 milesWebsite$10 - $11 / night
"Great tent campground very near the New River gorge and close by Summerville Lake and the Gulley River. Multiple campsites in heavily forested area. Drive up to the sites."
"They have showers and clean bathrooms just a short walk from any site. All sites are big and you can pick from any available. The host is just a text or call away and he replies very quickly."
9. Army Camp — New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
12 ReviewsPrince, WV3 milesWebsite+1 (304) 465-0508"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"
"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."
10. Arrowhead Bike Farm
12 ReviewsFayetteville, WV10 milesWebsite+1 (304) 900-5501$10 - $85 / night
"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)."
"Good amenities plenty of space, and walking distance from some of the best views in the park!"
Recent Camping Photos near New River Gorge National River
212 Photos of 119 New River Gorge National River Campgrounds
Brittany S.
Grandview Sandbar Campground — New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
John R.
Stone Cliff Campground — New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
Dave V.
Army Camp — New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
Tim M.
War Ridge / Backus Mountain Campground — New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
Zayne W.
Glade Creek Campground — New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
Emma T.
Ace Adventure Resort
The Dyrt
Brooklyn Campground — New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
Patrick W.
Plum Orchard Lake WMA
Keith B.
Babcock State Park Campground
Micah B.
Plum Orchard Lake Wildlife Management Area — Plum Orchard Wildlife Management Area
Adam and Suzanne B.
Little Beaver State Park Campground
Casey L.
Meadow Creek Campground — New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
Recent Reviews near New River Gorge National River
553 Reviews of 119 New River Gorge National River Campgrounds
Travis L.
ScoutWalnut Flats
Closed nov to April.
Drove here to find it closed.
- DDeborah A.Traveler
Four Fillies Lodge
Cabins with 3 RV sites
This is a lovely little cabin resort with 3 RV sites. We are here just 1 night enroute. It is beautiful and well maintained. I would definitely come back.
- KKerri B.Scout
Blue Jay Campground — Camp Creek State Park
Cozy
Nice even sites with firepits and picnic table. You're not super secluded and you will hear your neighbors. Overall a great place if you wanna just have a cozy night or two camping. Beautiful creek access too.
Camp With Me
LegendCranberry River Sites NF Campground
Another amazing place to camp in West Virginia
Cranberry River dispersed camping along Forest Road 76 offers quiet, scenic, riverside primitive campsites with excellent fishing and easy access to the surrounding wilderness. We stayed a couple of nights at Site 8 and had great river access with only a small amount of road traffic. There were campers at about five other sites during our stay, but it still felt peaceful and spread out. With inexpensive sites spaced along roughly five miles of road, this is a great area to camp. Roads like this in West Virginia are home to some of my favorite campsites, and we will definitely be back.
Check out all the sites with GPS locations in our video.
https://youtu.be/q6G3fhvmfoY
- Camp With MeLegend
Summit Lake Campground
Mountain Campground with a lake
Summit Lake Campground is a quiet, clean campground in the Monongahela National Forest. I stayed one night and really enjoyed the fishing on the lake. The campground wasn’t busy, the sites were well maintained, and it was a relaxing place to spend the night surrounded by nature.
Check out the 360° Drive through showing all the sites.
https://youtu.be/GxE0sj5xZ98
- Camp With MeLegend
Cranberry Campground
Typical National Forest Campground
We stayed at Cranberry Campground for one night and really enjoyed how quiet and peaceful it was. There were only a couple of other campers in the campground, and we were able to get a site in the back away from them, which made it feel like we had the place to ourselves. The campground is spacious, well kept, and surrounded by forest, making it a great spot to relax and unwind. If you’re looking for a quiet National Forest campground with plenty of room and a secluded feel, this is a great place to stay.
Check out our 360° video that shows all campground and sites.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlTOJ_YkSKg
- Camp With MeLegend
Bishop Knob Campground
Rustic National Forest Campground
We stayed at Bishop Knob Campground for two nights in July and absolutely loved it. During our entire stay there was only one other camper, which made the campground feel quiet, peaceful, and almost private. Even better, the sites were only$8 a night, making this an incredible value for a national forest campground.
We stayed in the last site on the loop Site 33, which looks to be the old camp host site. It’s a great spot with flowers and plants planted around the site entrance, and the wooded area behind the site has been cleared out, giving it a more open and usable feel than many of the other sites.
One really interesting feature of this campground is that the second loop appears to have been closed for years. You can still walk through the old loop, and it was neat to see the overgrown sites and roads slowly being reclaimed by the forest. It adds to the sense that this campground doesn’t get a lot of use.
We walked around and checked the site tags left behind in the open loop, and many of them were dated several months earlier, which really shows how lightly used this campground is. If you’re looking for a quiet, uncrowded, back-to-nature camping experience in the Monongahela National Forest, Bishop Knob is a great place to stay. We would absolutely camp here again.
Check out our 360° drive through the campground, see all the sites and get a real feel for the campground.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DI3qYdYxGzo
Janet R.LegendThe Outpost at New River Gourge
Outpost with the mostest
This is a popular multi-level campround, from basic tent sites to cabins to really upscale glamping. The tent platforms or basic camper cabins are probably midling. The regular tent sites that you can drive in to are a bit crowded, but there are more secluded walk-in tent sites. The tent platforms are also walk-in but provide more space and shelter, which is nice as it did seem to rain a lot when we were there. The prices are all more than you would pay at a state or national park campground, but there is a lot going on here like concerts and other events, and a little of well kept amenities like bathrooms, and also equipment to rent to get out into the gorge. The Outpost is near the iconic gorge bridge as well as the Canyon Rim NPS visitor center which has a lot of good educational displays about the geology, geography and history of that part of the gorge, so the proximity is nice.
Overall the campground is a luxury set up for camping. I just reduced it by one stat because the price, the crowdedness, and the distance from the south end of the gorge where the Sandstone Falls and Sandstone Visitor. I do appreciate that they are dog friendly though!
Guide to New River Gorge National River
New River Gorge National River campsites sit within a deeply carved river valley where the ancient New River cuts through the Appalachian Plateau. The area's elevation ranges from 1,400 feet along the river to over 2,000 feet at the canyon rim, creating distinct microclimates and diverse camping conditions. Train tracks run along portions of the river, with passing trains creating background noise that varies depending on campground location.
What to do
Paddling the river system: Access the New River from Army Camp Campground for kayaking and fishing trips. "Great area for people to swim in the river or fish," notes Billy C., highlighting multiple water-based activities available directly from camp.
Biking nearby trails: Mountain bikers can access trail networks from Arrowhead Bike Farm, which connects to numerous park routes. "Within a short walk/bike to multiple biking and hiking trailheads. Close enough to bike into Fayetteville (a cool little town)," explains Charles C., emphasizing the location's convenience for cyclists.
Wildlife watching: Bring binoculars as the gorge hosts diverse bird species and wildlife. "The powerful drone of the New River never subsides. 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," reports one visitor to Army Camp.
What campers like
Secluded spots: For privacy seekers, Stone Cliff Campground offers more isolation than other park campgrounds. "There are 4 nice spots down on the beach and two up a small hill close to the parking lot and trailhead. We stayed at #6. Had plenty of space and were far enough away to not hear our neighbors," reports Kaylee F.
Budget-friendly options: Free camping is available at multiple riverside locations, offering basic amenities without cost. "Hard to beat a free campsite right on the river," notes Tucker B. about Army Camp, while Jeremy H. describes Stone Cliff as a "secluded riverside campsite" that's "tucked away by the river past Thurmond. Great secluded sites. Trailhead for hiking from camp."
Natural water features: Many visitors appreciate direct water access for cooling off. "Great spots with a big beach area to play in the water so perfect for my dog and kid. Boat ramp for anyone wanting to kayak," shares Aly E. about Glade Creek Campground, highlighting the family-friendly water access.
What you should know
Access road challenges: Roads to riverside campgrounds can be difficult to navigate with certain vehicles. About Stone Cliff, Zac R. cautions, "We had no idea there was a steep gravel decline to get to the camp site. My wife and I had brought our hatchback instead of our SUV- so our fault."
Seasonal water levels: The New River rises significantly after rainfall, potentially flooding riverbank sites. "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," reported a visitor at Army Camp.
Limited amenities: Chestnut Creek Campground and other sites require self-sufficiency. "This is a primitive campground so don't come looking to hook up to electricity," advises jay F., while another camper notes, "No drinking water, so bring your own."
Tips for camping with families
Playgrounds and activities: Little Beaver State Park Campground offers structured activities for children. "A nice playground for children. Lots of deer about," mentions Michelle W., noting that kids can enjoy wildlife viewing and play areas.
Beach access locations: Choose river campsites with gradual water entry for safe swimming. "Big beach area to play in the water so perfect for my dog and kid," says Aly E. about Glade Creek, highlighting the family-friendly shoreline.
Wildlife warnings: Prepare for nature encounters beyond bears. "We were hanging some hammock straps up on our last evening and saw the largest spider I've ever seen in the hollow of one of the trees at the campsite. If spiders aren't your thing consider another site," warns Kaylee F. about Stone Cliff.
Tips from RVers
Site selection for leveling: Many New River Gorge camping areas have uneven terrain. "Many sites looked like it may take some work to get level. We were in site 20 with a 23 ft TT and got level fairly easily but a longer rig may have difficulty in that site," advises Adam and Suzanne B. at Little Beaver State Park.
Length restrictions: Babcock State Park Campground has sites for smaller RVs but access can be challenging. "The road in off the highway isn't too long, but it seemed long, winding, and up and down...especially as night fell," notes Dave V., adding that "There is plenty of gravel parking pad for large RV/Campers at all the sites and are angled for trailer back-in."
Limited hookup availability: Most riverside National Park campsites lack RV facilities. Heather H. recommends Little Beaver for convenience: "Just stayed for one night passing through and we were sad we couldn't stay longer. Only downside for longer term stays is no sewer hookup, but they do have a very convenient dump spot at entry."
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best campgrounds in New River Gorge National Park?
What are the best campgrounds in New River Gorge National Park?
New River Gorge offers several exceptional campgrounds within the park boundaries. Grandview Sandbar Campground provides riverside camping with direct access to the New River, perfect for those seeking waterfront sites. Glade Creek Campground offers a more secluded experience further down Glade Creek Road. Both campgrounds are primitive but feature vault toilets and provide an authentic outdoor experience. For those wanting more amenities, nearby Babcock State Park Campground is highly rated for its spectacular surroundings, including the famous grist mill, plus excellent hiking trails. All these options provide unique ways to experience the natural beauty of New River Gorge.
Are there RV camping facilities at New River Gorge?
Are there RV camping facilities at New River Gorge?
Yes, RV camping is available near New River Gorge, though options within the national park are limited. Summer Wind RV Park offers RV sites with mountain views and pastoral settings, including 30-amp hookups. It's known for its hospitality and reasonable prices. River Expeditions Campsites provides RV sites as part of their all-in-one adventure resort near Oak Hill, combining camping amenities with outdoor activities. For those seeking additional options, Rifrafters Campground near Fayetteville is big-rig friendly with water and toilet facilities. Most RV campgrounds in the area require reservations, especially during peak summer months and fall foliage season.
What camping options are available within New River Gorge National Park and Preserve?
What camping options are available within New River Gorge National Park and Preserve?
New River Gorge National Park and Preserve offers several primitive camping options managed by the National Park Service. The park has three main campgrounds: Grandview Sandbar, Glade Creek, and Army Camp. These sites are primitive with vault toilets but no running water or hookups. Most operate on a first-come, first-served basis and have modest fees. For those seeking alternatives with more amenities, Greenbrier State Forest offers additional camping not far from the park. Ace Adventure Resort provides a range of camping options from tent sites to cabins, plus guided activities. The camping season generally runs April through October, with limited winter camping. Visitors should bring their own drinking water and be prepared for basic conditions within the park's boundaries.
Where can I find tent camping sites near New River Gorge National Park?
Where can I find tent camping sites near New River Gorge National Park?
Tent campers have excellent options at New River Gorge. Army Camp Campground offers a primitive tent camping experience with riverside sites in a dispersed setting. This campground provides basic facilities while maintaining a natural feel along the New River. For those seeking more amenities while still enjoying nature, Battle Run near Summersville Lake is ideal for tent campers who enjoy water activities like fishing, swimming, and paddleboarding. Arrowhead Bike Farm near Fayetteville provides tent sites with the added benefit of being close to mountain biking trails. Most tent sites in the area are available on a first-come, first-served basis, so arriving early during peak seasons is recommended.
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