Best Tent Camping near Point Pleasant, WV

Tent campers seeking outdoor experiences near Point Pleasant, West Virginia have several options within driving distance, primarily in the surrounding forests and wildlife management areas. Chief Cornstalk Wildlife Management Area offers primitive tent camping with basic amenities, while Zaleski State Forest in Ohio provides more developed backpacking opportunities approximately 50 miles northwest of Point Pleasant. These areas feature varying levels of development and accessibility, with most sites requiring some preparation for a comfortable stay.

Most tent campgrounds in the region feature minimal amenities, with vault toilets being the most common facility. At Chief Cornstalk, campers will find concrete picnic tables and basic fire pits, though these are described as "very old" in visitor feedback. Water access varies significantly between locations - Zaleski State Forest provides potable water at designated backpacking campsites, while other areas may require bringing all water supplies. A camper noted that Chief Cornstalk has "a sistern hand water pump" though its reliability wasn't confirmed. Tent sites typically feature dirt or forest floor surfaces with minimal site preparation, and campers should bring appropriate equipment for primitive conditions.

The tent camping experience in this region offers genuine immersion in Appalachian forests with varying levels of solitude. Zaleski State Forest provides a more developed backpacking experience with designated camping areas along well-marked trails. A recent review described it as having "tons of hiking" with "beautiful winding Ohio roads and landscapes out of this world." For those seeking more seclusion, Timbre Ridge Lake offers dispersed tent camping opportunities in a "beautiful area" though visitors noted occasional nighttime activity from fishermen. Most tent sites in the region are shaded by forest canopy, providing natural shelter during summer months. Backpackers particularly appreciate the trail networks at Zaleski, which feature multiple loop options allowing for weekend or longer excursions through diverse terrain with ridge views and valley passages.

Best Tent Sites Near Point Pleasant, West Virginia (23)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Point Pleasant, WV

509 Reviews of 23 Point Pleasant Campgrounds


  • Eira T.
    Jul. 5, 2015

    Burr Oak Cove Campground

    Quiet campground in Wayne National Forest!

    We enjoyed walk-in site #3 during a holiday weekend. The walk-in sites afford more privacy and tree cover than the drive-up sites, where you can see your neighbors on all sides. No showers or sinks, just several vault toilets. Potable water available throughout the camp. Camp sites are $10 a night.

    Neighbors were fairly quiet, and there is one trail that leads down to Burr Oak lake. The trail is 1 mile, but it seems to link up with some longer yellow and green-blazed trails that go around the lake. The campground is also a short drive from the Wildcat Hollow trail head in the Athens Unit of Wayne National Forest

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Dave V.
    Oct. 31, 2019

    Hocking Hills State Park Campground

    Close proximity to natural attractions

    Hocking Hills State Park, Oh-Site 89. https://thehockinghills.org/

    Hocking Hills State Park offers close proximity to most of the popular natural attractions...Old Man’s Cave, Ash Cave, Cantwell Cliffs, etc....but for a tent camper that prefers solitude and space, I found it unappealing.

    I did arrive late on a Monday evening, mid-October and got one of the last available sites. Packed on a Monday night!

    I found the camping sites a bit cramped both in depth and width. Site 89 and 90 shared the same parking pad. Limited flat locations existed for a tent and my tent footprint is fairly small. You do have a firepit and picnic table with all three in fairly close proximity, so you must be extremely cautious with wind direction when deciding for a fire, else you’ll have embers dotting your tent and picnic table. Even though the neighbors were trying to be respectfully quiet...you heard every conversation and saw their every move.

    No electric, which is fine in my book...the water spigot is centrally located on the loop and happened to be next to my site.

    The restroom/shower facilities were not well cared for upon my visit. The floors were very muddy and trash was piled up in the corner of one stall and out of necessities.

    Construction and dump truck noise started early with a project behind the restrooms.

    The visitor’s center was well-stocked and the employee was pleasant. Cell service is unavailable and even sketchy at the visitor’s center. Wood can be purchased at the visitor’s center.

    Close proximity to local attractions and a swimming pool are likely the big draw.

    Knowing that I prefer solitude and distance when camping, I’ll likely not return but choose nearby Lake Hope State Park for my local visits.

  • A
    Oct. 18, 2020

    Burr Oak State Park Campground

    Nice trails, not so nice campsites

    Most of the sites at this state park campground are very small and don’t have much level ground. Even the sites meant for RVs and trailers are right on top of each other. It’s almost like they took what should have been one site and made it two. There’s a handful of sites that offer a little space and level ground for tent campers. You may or may not have a picnic table and fire ring with a grill at your campsite when you arrive. According to staff, people take the fire rings and I guess there’s nothing they can do. Bathrooms were clean. The lake view trail was nice and accessible from the campground.

  • Lee D.The Dyrt PRO User
    Nov. 4, 2022

    Hocking Hills State Park Campground

    Beautiful scenery!

    General: 172-site state park with a mix of full hook-up, electric, and no hook-ups in separate areas plus a 33-site family hike-in camp, two group camps, and three cabins. All sites need to be reserved – no walk-ins are allowed. There is a beautiful visitor center, and the camp office has a small store as well. There is a very nice coin-operated laundry room. Don’t count on cell service– with a fleeting one bar of Verizon, it was just enough to tease us, but the break was also a welcome respite. 

    Site Quality: Standard issue for state parks with paved driveways, picnic table, and fire ring, however, there are a few things to note: Some sites are decidedly not level (#105 is very sloped). 103 and 101 meet at a V at the back end and this impedes the separation between the sites. Our site (103) had a drop-off between the driveway and the rest of the site that could pose a tripping hazard if you are not careful. All of the restrooms emit a hum, but the wastewater treatment facility is very loud and is located directly behind the first 9-10 full hook-up sites. 

    Bathhouse: The restrooms were clean, but the showers were just adequate (not the worst camp shower but definitely not the best I have experienced) but at least there was hot water. 

    Activities: We came for the hiking, and we were not disappointed. This park is gorgeous! We hiked the Blue trail (Grandma Gatewood Trail) to Cedar Falls, taking in Upper and Lower Falls, and Old Man’s Cave along the way, and returned via the Rim Trail, which was much easier (fewer roots and up and down). We received a color-coded map of the trails upon check-in but had difficulty deciphering it, especially the mileage. We went to the Camp Office before starting our hike to get clarity. Once on the trails, they were well-marked with either signs or blazes. While you could do a long hike (12 miles one-way) from one end of the park to the other), don’t miss Ash Cave – we drove there the next morning before leaving. There are also mountain biking trails, two playgrounds (the one more centrally located is a bit dated and does not look very safe but there is a newer, larger one at the very end of the road (near the lake trail) and there are also horseshoe pits and a volleyball net there. In season, there is a large swimming pool. 

    The campground itself gets 3 stars for some of its flaws but the scenery is so beautiful, 4 stars are merited, in my opinion. I would recommend reserving in one of the “spurs” as there would be less traffic.

  • Ruby W.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 12, 2019

    Zaleski State Forest

    Ranger Review: Banner & Oak Firebiner at Zaleski South Loop

    Campground Review: With a close friend coming to visit from Spain, I wanted to show her a cool backpacking location in Southeastern Ohio. Zaleski State Forest seemed like a good choice for a new backpacker. There are multiple loops to trek, averaging about 10 miles per loop. Overall the trails are well maintained (minus a few dense areas). There was almost an excessive amount of blazes. Campsites are plentiful along the trails. We stayed at Campsite C. Each site has access to communal well-water and a restroom. Each site usually has a small fire ring and logs to sit on. Overall, the campsites were pretty decent and secluded, but nothing special view wise aside from the typical Ohio forest. I would say pretty overall, but nothing quite outstanding.

    Product Review: The Banner & Oak Firebiner is a neat little tool that has some really fun features! Most notable being the fire starter. The Firebiner uses a small spark wheel and replaceable ferro rod to create sparks. The sparks are pretty large for the little tool. I now use my Firebiner to start my MSR stove quickly and with zero plastic waste! I haven’t used it to try to start a straight up fire, but friends have successfully before. Most importantly, the spark wheel is just darn right fun to play with. The device has other little uses like a bottle opener, utility blade, and screwdriver. I absolutely love this device! Only complaint would be that I wish it came in different colors, but who really cares.

    Here is a link to check out the Firebiner yourself: https://bannerandoak.com/products/banner-and-oak-firebiner?variant=9696793034788&currency=USD&gclid=CjwKCAjwnMTqBRAzEiwAEF3ndu9CmerLos5Y1yvjGHJ2L4FG732wg9bMpyPAJRa3m8dxlxffZ6Nt-RoC6LQQAvD_BwE

  • S
    Jun. 17, 2016

    Hocking Hills State Park Campground

    Walk-In Primitive Family Campground

    Walk-in campground provides a nice amount of quiet for the price of carting your gear in (up to a .6 mile, depending on site chosen). Several sites are somewhat hidden from the path while others have little-to-no privacy from your fellow campers . Pit toilets are adequate. Water pump located in the parking lot along with access to biking trails. All sites include picnic table and fire ring.

  • Andrea F.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jun. 21, 2020

    Burr Oak State Park Campground

    EGGS Hike

    I spent my time at the group camp area tent camping. I was there for a Buckeye Trail Association event called EGGS hike. It’s a 20 mile hike around the backpacking trail. We have 12 hours to complete the challenge. The group camp area only has pit toilets and no showers but the fields are mowed and level so it’s easy to set up camp.


Guide to Point Pleasant

Tent camping near Point Pleasant, West Virginia typically occurs in forested terrain at elevations between 600-1,000 feet. The region experiences distinct seasons with humid summers reaching 80-90°F and winter temperatures that can drop below freezing. Most primitive camping areas in this region sit along ridgelines or near small lakes and streams with mixed hardwood forests providing natural shade for campers.

What to do

Hiking trail networks: At Zaleski State Forest, backpackers can access nearly 20 miles of interconnected trails with significant elevation changes. "I'm a backpacker and this was tough. There is clear trails and a lot of rocks to climb on top of. The trial was about 19 miles and was definitely worth it because of the views," notes Kevin T.

Mountain biking: The region contains dedicated mountain biking trails approximately 40-55 miles from Point Pleasant. Benton's on the Baileys provides direct access to the Baileys Trail System. "This campsite is near the Baileys Bike System," confirms Keith B., making it convenient for cyclists.

Fishing opportunities: Several camping locations offer fishing access. At Timbre Ridge Lake, campers can fish directly from shore. "There were fishermen coming and going several times through the night," reports Kenda A., indicating the popularity of night fishing at this location.

What campers like

Secluded camping spots: Baileys Trail Tent Camping offers private sites despite having multiple campers. "We drove for about 3 hours to get from where we are. Nice wide open space surrounded by woods. There were other campers but very friendly and had plenty of space to ourselves," shares Alex A.

Trail diversity: The trail systems near camping areas offer varied terrain. At Zaleski State Forest, a camper notes: "The terrain has many climbs and descents and takes you along ridges, through valleys, and along forest floors." This variety creates opportunities for different skill levels and interests.

Clean facilities: Several tent camping locations near Point Pleasant provide basic but well-maintained facilities. "The bathrooms are down the hill too, but very clean and private. There are showers too," reports Emily M. about Benton's on the Baileys, contrasting with more primitive options in the region.

What you should know

Water availability varies: Potable water access differs significantly between campgrounds. At Pine Knob Loop Campground in Wayne National Forest, no drinking water is provided, while Zaleski offers water at designated sites. "All campsites have an outhouse and potable water all within easy reach from all camping areas," reports one Zaleski camper.

Primitive toilet facilities: Most tent camping areas offer basic toilet facilities that require preparation. At Chief Cornstalk Wildlife Management Area, facilities are extremely basic. Even at improved campgrounds, campers should bring their own supplies. One Zaleski visitor advises: "Latrine available (bring toilet paper)."

Campsite competition: Popular backpacking campsites fill quickly, especially on weekends. "Campsites fill up quickly & areas will be shared. Not all have fire rings," notes a Zaleski visitor. Arriving early, especially at non-reservation sites, is recommended during peak seasons (May-October).

Tips for camping with families

Choose appropriate trail difficulty: When tent camping with children near Point Pleasant, select appropriate hiking distances. Camp Rotan offers shorter trails suitable for quick family hikes. "Short trail in a residential area but definitely pretty! I love running up to this area and jumping on the trail real quick to soak in some natural beauty," mentions Lucille W.

Look for natural features: Seek out camping locations with interesting natural elements that engage children. Pine Knob Loop Campground offers accessibility with natural interest. "We hiked in at this point near Lake Vesuvius in the Wayne National Forest. Found a secluded spot up the trail. Lots of fun and a good hike- easy enough for an 8 year old!" reports Carri D.

Pack for varying conditions: Prepare for temperature fluctuations and insect activity, particularly in spring and summer months. "It can get a little humid and buggy there," notes Nick M. about Zaleski State Forest. Bug spray, proper clothing layers, and adequate water are essential for family comfort.

Tips from RVers

Limited RV options: True RV camping options are scarce near Point Pleasant. Most sites are primitive tent locations without hookups or designated parking. Camp Rotan allows some RV camping but with minimal amenities. "It's quite overgrown and unmaintained. Not many amenities, and is near residential housing," reports Ruby W.

Consider walk-in requirements: Several tent camping areas near Point Pleasant require walking to reach sites. "You have to walk to the site, up a steep hill, but it is very private and quiet," notes Emily M. about Benton's on the Baileys, making it unsuitable for traditional RV camping but possible for van campers willing to separate from their vehicle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Point Pleasant, WV?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Point Pleasant, WV is Chief Cornstalk Wildlife Management Area with a 1-star rating from 1 review.

What is the best site to find tent camping near Point Pleasant, WV?

TheDyrt.com has all 23 tent camping locations near Point Pleasant, WV, with real photos and reviews from campers.