Best Tent Camping near Riverton, WV

Recent Tent Reviews near Riverton, West Virginia

541 Reviews of 25 Riverton Campgrounds

• 

  TNWoodsman

  Traveler

  

  May. 18, 2023

  Audra State Park Campground

  Moto Camping

  Review from the perspective of a motorcycle traveler tent camping. Tent sites are along a stream on one side and campsite access road on the other. Clean and well maintained with super nice staff.

• 

  Brian W.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 22, 2019

  Spruce Knob Lake Campground

  WORDS CANT DESCRIBE

  This place is amazing!!!. If your into primitive camping at it's best this place is it. This is where me and wife went on are first tent camping trip and ever since we compare every other tent site to Spruce Knob. As of know nothing has compared.

• 

  Jennifer B.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 29, 2019

  Spruce Knob Lake Campground

  Huge Sites At A Remote, Primitive Campground

  The Spruce Knob Lake Campground offers extra-large camp sites with lots of shade and so much undergrowth I only saw my neighbors when I took a walk to check out the campground. There are 45 campsites, with pit toilets and a solar-powered pump house for drinking water. No electric or sewer hook-ups, but you’ll find free apples growing at some of the sites. Sites#31 through 41 are walk-in sites for extra privacy if you’re tent camping. 

  This is bear country, so don’t leave any food sitting out. Dogs are allowed as long as they’re kept on a leash. 

  Spruce Knob Lake is less than a mile away and a great spot to kayak, fish, and star gaze because you won't have any city lights to interfere and trees won’t block your view. There’s a boat dock and wheelchair accessible fishing pier with the lake stocked with trout several times a year. Electric motors only; No swimming allowed. 

  There are at least 60-miles of trails in the surrounding Monongahela National Forest, including the very pleasant, 1-mile, Big Bend River Trail accessible from the campground.

  If you’re up for a hardy hike, you can walk 8-miles east to Spruce Knob, the highest place in the State of West Virginia at 4,863-feet. There’s a cool lookout tower at Spruce Knob where you can get a good view of the rugged mountain ridges where the red spruce get so hammered by the wind and rough weather, one side of the tree is missing. The plant life is pretty unique too, with reindeer moss visible along the Whispering Spruce Trail. 

  The drive to the Spruce Knob Lake Campground is on a combination of narrow, winding, mostly unpaved roads. Go slow because there are plenty of blind curves. My A/C was out on the day I arrived, so I ate a fair amount of dust with my window partially open… Lol…. 

  Directions from the Recreation.gov website: 

  From Riverton, WV, take U.S. Route 33 south 2 miles to Briery Gap Road(County Road 33/4). Turn right onto Briery Gap Road. Go 2 miles to Forest Road 112, turn right and continue for 13.5 miles. Turn right on Forest Road 1. The campground is 1/2 mile on the right. From Elkins, WV, take U.S. Route 33 to State Route 29, which is 1 mile west of Harman. Turn right onto SR 29, go south 18.6 miles and tum left onto Forest Road 1. Follow FR 1 for 2.5 miles.

  Note:  Seneca Rocks is less than an hour away and well-worth a visit!

• 

  Marianne S.

  Traveler

  

  Jun. 3, 2021

  Spruce Knob Lake Campground

  more remote and primitive for car camping

  A great, quiet campground with fewer sites than most.  It is about 5 miles from the summit of Spruce Knob (highest peak in West Virginia).  Tow campers smaller in size can certainly make it, although mostly tent camping which I like.  Some drive up, some drive, park, and walk up.  There is a single water source and I'd highly recommend boiling first.  H20 does NOT taste good at all.  There are a couple of outhouses, and no shower facilities.

• 

  Dave V.

  Legend

  

  Aug. 27, 2017

  Seneca Shadows

  Seneca Rocks Cast Their Shadow

  West Virginia is packed with some of the best hiking, climbing, rafting, biking, canyons, mountains, rivers, valleys, and forests in the U.S...and the beauty is few people take advantage of it.

  Wanting to spend the a few days midweek in and around Seneca Rocks and Spruce Knob, we chose Seneca Shadows Campground as our basecamp. Aptly named, as views of Seneca Rocks can enjoyed from your tent site.

  Smack dab in the middle of the Monongahela National Forest, Seneca Shadows Campground is part of the U.S. Forest Service, so if you are planning a weekend or popular vacation time stay, log onto (https://www.recreation.gov/camping/mapof_Seneca_Shadows/r/campgroundMap.do?page=map&search=site&contractCode=NRSO&parkId=70322 ) and reserve your site.

  If you are driving a big RV or hauling a Camper, you'll be parking on one of the 38 sites designed specifically for that purpose. There are a few large group tent sites on the same side of the park roadway before you reach the individual tent sites. Be astute, some have electric and some do not.

  Forgive me for saying, but the tent sites appear designed by someone only interested in allowing as many tenters as possible, without regard for privacy...more like cattle in a feed lot (with the exception of 50-53). These are considered "walk to" sites. So I would not camp here during a weekend or holiday. Fortunately, weekdays see few tenters and we had it all to ourselves. Staying on somewhat of an elevated site (50) with some encompassing foliage. However, a roadway runs along the campground to the north, so we heard truck traffic early morning and late. Water and restrooms are located by the parking lot and adequate.

  The views of Seneca Rocks were welcomed, when it wasn't raining (a common occurance is WV)...and only one mile from entrance to entrance with the Seneca Rocks Discovery Center (https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mnf/recreation/recarea/?recid=7050)...and 14.3 miles/Half hour drive to Spruce Knob, West Virginia's highest peak at 4,862 (https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mnf/recarea/?recid=7053). At the crossroads a mile away are a couple restaurants and a country store (with ice cream shop) for last minute needs.

  While I prefer more isolated campgrounds and sites, this filled the need.

• 

  Dave V.

  Legend

  

  Sep. 4, 2020

  Canaan Valley Resort State Park Campground

  A State Park for all Seasons

  Campground Review: Canaan Valley State Park and Resort, Davis, West Virginia

  The Canaan Valley State Park and Resort is situated in a very popular outdoor activity area...for every season. Winter brings copious snowfall and the skiing here draws thousands...downhill and XC. The summer sees backpackers, hikers, mountain bikers, gravel grinders, car-campers and RVers. Not only do you have hiking trails here on the State Park location...you can drive up to the nearby Dolly Sods Wilderness Area for camping, day-hikes or multi-day backcountry trips; Blackwater Falls (10 miles north) offers memorable falls, great hikes with long gorge views (Lindy Point a favorite). Even Seneca Rocks and Spruce Knob are only 30 minutes or so away. Possibilities are endless in this neck of the woods. This very weekend was to be the Mountainbike Festival, but due to Covid-19, well you know the rest of that story. The Abe Run Trail was a pleasant trail leaving from the campground.

  The campground portion is not expansive but 34 sites are situated in three small loops (see photo of campground map). Primitive tent sites don't have water or electric and parking is roadside but you are within 100 yards of the "Comfort Station." The three "tent only" sites have only been around for a couple years...but sites 1 and 2 are in a nice grassy area away from the RV loop 2. Always verify current rates, but June 18, 2020...mid $30's nightly for nonresidents (WV residents get 30% off). Primitive tent sites were $17 a night.

  The Resort Lodge, Golf course, swimming pool and a covered ice skating rink (obviously the last three mentioned being seasonal) were further up the windy park roadway. (See rates on park website).

  The campground "Comfort Station," is a restroom/shower/laundry and soda machine building. The gender specific restroom/shower rooms each have two wooden stalled modern facility stools, two shower stalls (men's are separated by a shower curtain, women's by a wall); a separate unisex ADA restroom/shower sits adjacent to the men's and appears newer.

  The grounds are well-maintained and manicured as are all WV State Parks. Trails are scattered throughout the park. some are foot traffic only, others permit bicycles. The Back Hollow Trail was predominantly a mown grass trail but occasional wooded sections were rocky two-track. This is Wet Virginia, so expect to experience rain and bring foul weather gear in the summer months. I have mastered the fine art of campsite tarping due to West Virginia camping. It also still gets chilly in these mountains during the early summer months.

  Deer meander through the primitive tent sites with their fawns each morning and evening. A kid's playground is situated beside (separated by a field) primitive tent sites 1 & 2.

  We spent three days in June and experienced afternoon rain showers daily, but arranged our hikes and bikes around them.

• K

  Kaleigh

  Traveler

  

  Apr. 24, 2022

  Shenandoah Valley Campground

  Beautiful river access tent sites

  Beautiful river access directly from tent site! Lots of amenities from hot tubs, fishing pond and a heated pool. Staff was friendly and site was well maintained. Bathrooms were clean. Only complaint is that tent sites are really close together.

• 

  Mark S.

  Traveler

  

  May. 29, 2022

  Tygart Lake State Park Campground

  Tent Camping

  Tent camping is congested on hilly sites. FACILITIES ARE GREAT! Clean.

• 

  Bobbie B.

  Scout

  

  Sep. 10, 2020

  Audra State Park Campground

  Quit and very Covid specious

  My parents took me and my sister to Audra every summer and wks at a time and camping in a tent,it was the best memories i have as a child and yes im now 42,fulltime grandma of 4yr old axel w austism, i have worked m.j y butt off w him 2yrs straight to get his fits calmed down..yes he has had 1since last oct and that is because i figured out what was triggering them but so proud of him..i him..I wanted to take grandson sonewhere where ppl are friendly and say hi to axel where felt cummy and not get upset and hide...my neice  ended uo going last mth,she invited us up to test axel out because this b a huge thing for him to do..oh my Aurda was still beautiful, clean, ppl so nice,there was no camp site available so we stayed till 7pm and went home..def a place to take kids w disabilities, ppl understand, do not stare and its alot of fun for kids,quit,gorgeous place to camp..wish they had a site open and it be kool to win a few days of camping..

• 

  Kassie F.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 17, 2020

  Seneca Shadows

  Great location!

  Great location for fly fishing & hiking. The tent camping area has a view of Seneca Rocks while the camper trailer/RV sites are wooded.

• M

  Mark B.

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 11, 2020

  Riverside Cabins and RV Park

  Really a nice place!

  We stayed here in October 2020. Nice family campground with cabins, tent sights and RV slots. We tent camped and Steve (owner) took us down to the bank of the south branch of the Potomac. Perfect!

• 

  Amber

  Traveler

  

  Jun. 22, 2018

  Wolf Gap

  Great hiking

  Great place to go tent camping and hiking. The sites are free and are first come first serve. Highly recommended you bring your own water or container to fill at the spring down the road.

• 

  Julia A.

  Scout

  

  May. 13, 2019

  Harrisonburg - Shenandoah Valley KOA

  For glamping not camping

  Hot clean showers, all the tent sites platforms were covered with mushrooms and map is labeled completely wrong. 3 stars for the high quality amenities available but needs site maintenance.

• 

  Ashley F.

  Legend

  

  Jan. 13, 2023

  Kiss the Earth

  Very Private Site

  Ashley here with The Dyrt. I want to welcome this partner to our platform. This is private land where you will be camping in the woods. Site is level and perfect for car or tent camping. Pack it in, pack it out. Book your stay today and leave them some love!

• 

  Ryan Z.

  Scout

  

  Feb. 2, 2021

  Shenandoah Valley Campground

  Bunnies everywhere!

  Great campground with lots to do with the family. My kids loved all the bunnies, the river, pool and putt-putt. The one problem is the camper section is very tight, whereas the tent sites look more roomy.

• 

  Ed M.

  Scout

  

  Sep. 1, 2018

  Bear Heaven Campground

  Quiet and clean Campground

  Nice campground that is seldom full. About ten tent sites with firepit, picnic table, clean concrete vault toilt. No running water or showers. Close to Elkins and half hour from Davis. Very nice area and primitive campsites to base your outdoor adventures from!

• D

  David

  Scout

  

  Oct. 18, 2021

  Harrisonburg - Shenandoah Valley KOA

  Typical KOA Primitive camping expensive

  Nice tightly packed campground including tent camping. We sent up camp D22. Very tight spacing. Noisy neighbors with no consideration for other campers. No water/electricity. Over $100 for 2 nights. Nice staff. Bathrooms ok and clean. Camp store nice with decent pizza delivery possible. We mountain biked at Bryce ski resort 40 minutes away.

• 

  Kenneth K.

  Guide

  

  Nov. 19, 2018

  Kumbrabow State Forest

  Peaceful creekside

  Beautiful tent sites along the creek! I was there in late summer, but I plan to return in late spring when the rhododendrons would be in bloom. Access is by about 6 miles of dirt/rock road. There are many trails at all hiking levels.

• 

  Dusty R.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 22, 2019

  Tygart Lake State Park Campground

  Nice Campground with Lake Access

  My girlfriend and I stayed at tent site 21 July 26th and 27th and was a good experience overall. We both agreed that we will only camp there if this particular site is open though. It is the tent site with the most privacy and it is the only one on that side of the road which made it nice. Along with the privacy it is also was right beside a trail that went directly to the lake but it is about 200 yards downhill. We took our kayaks along but opted to drive to the boat launch instead of carrying our kayaks down the trail. It is an option though. The park staff was very friendly and the bath house was pretty clean. Our only complaint is that some of the other campers where throwing food in the woods which attracted raccoons but that isn't the campgrounds fault.

• 

  Bradley B.

  Guide

  

  Sep. 8, 2020

  Harrisonburg - Shenandoah Valley KOA

  Family Friendly

  This Koa was fantastic. Spent my Labor Day weekend here and loved it. The staff handled the crowd great and they had loads of activities for kids. Everything was very clean and kept up really nice. The tent sites were pretty close together but we had great neighbors.

• 

  Meredith Y.

  Scout

  

  Jun. 11, 2020

  Harrisonburg - Shenandoah Valley KOA

  Very Clean Campsite convenient to I 80

  This campground has incredibly clean bathroom and shower facilities along with an immaculate site. Each tent site is fairly large and has a flat mulch covered spot for a large tent with a picnic table and fire pit next to it. The site is about 8 minutes off the highway and makes a great stopping point. Would definitely stay here again.

• L

  Liz U.

  Traveler

  

  Jul. 29, 2020

  Harrisonburg - Shenandoah Valley KOA

  Great Time!

  We really enjoyed camping here. Took a great hike to Fridley’s Gap and went swimming in the water hole. The tent site was big and clean and the staff was super friendly. They have chickens and ducks roaming around and Our dog got to chase a chicken off the site. She loved that! Will definitely so back!

• 

  RL

  Legend

  

  Aug. 30, 2019

  Shenandoah Valley Campground

  Close to Skydiving!

  Have stayed here twice when skydiving at Skydive Shenandoah. I will say the tent sites aren’t super desirable. Not private and gravel. The cabins though - perfect for one or two people, has a fire ring. Both times we had a nice stay, both times in a cabin. Lots of antiquing and flea marketing in the area.

• M

  Marty T.

  Traveler

  

  Aug. 21, 2024

  Bennie’s Beach Campground

  Cool spot by the creek

  Bennies has a cool spot by the creek for tent camping.  I was the only one there - after having driven through the aging RV neighborhood.  Check-in was mystical, but finally reached the groundskeeper by phone and left money in a mailbox.  "$40 cash money..."  Way overpriced considering the unsanitary (gross) showers and restrooms.  I think I felt cleaner before the shower.  If you don't need a shower and don't mind dropping $40 for a place to pitch your tent then Bennies may be for you.

• C

  Christina

  Scout

  

  Oct. 26, 2021

  Seneca Shadows

  Great campsite after a hike up Seneca Rock

  Very nice campground. The facilities were conveniently located and clean. The car Camp sites were spacious and well separated from other camp sites. If you don’t need your vehicle at your campsite I would highly recommend the walk-in tent sites because the view of Seneca Rocks is incredible. Less privacy than the vehicle sites from other campers but a really beautiful open space.

• 

  Dave V.

  Legend

  

  Aug. 26, 2017

  Five River Campground

  Hidden Oasis at the edge of town

  Five River Campground, Parsons WV...a hidden oasis!

  John and Joyce, are wonderful owners, caretakers and hosts (and have travelled to many an interesting and exciting destination themselves if you can get them to sharing).

  Interestingly, they bought this parcel of land 14 years ago purely to host Bluegrass festivals...(which, by the way, they do quite successfully... nominated this year of "2017" as one of the five finalists as the best Bluegrass Festivals in the world, not yet decided at the time of this review).

  If you are a BG fan, you can join thousands of attendees here at Five River Campground from over ten countries (seriously! Like Tahiti, Sweden, Germany, Holland and such), if not, choose a different week to visit...because they jam 24/7. Over 3500 festival attendees, 1500 camped at this campground.

  We visited two weeks after said festival and were one of two tent campers along Shavers Fork River (one of the feeders that comprise the Cheat River).

  The Five River Campground is not huge, nor comprised of vast acreage but appears visually large. If you are a tent camper, it's perfect on slow days and weekends. My thought is, with so many big name sensational campgrounds in WV to chose from and absent advertising, Five River Campground rarely gets a second look.

  It sets at the end of a side street (Walnut St) at the edge of town (Parsons). A small, quaint mountain town. As we made the turn off 219, a group of townsfolk were involved in a cakewalk outside a historic community building. Gotta love close, small town community.

  There are no actual designated tent sites which is part of its beauty. You simply locate a spot of your choosing along a half mile grassy stretch of river and set up camp, give Joyce a call and they come to you. At this writing, tent sites are $15 nightly. They drop off a fire ring and grate...and firewood ($5 a bundle) should you desire).

  with our tent sitting five feet off a gurgling river with mountains as your backdrop, well...it just doesn't get much better or tranquil.

  The RV/Camper section is separate and two rolling knolls away so you neither see nor hear them if you are camped on the river.

  A meticulously clean showerhouse/restroom/laundry building is centrally located and closer to the RV/Camper sites. RV/Camper sites have power and water. Tent sites do not. In fact, tent sites might be considered primitive, possessing no picnic table...perfect for me! Water spigot and outside dish washing sink are also located by the shower house.

  We chose a small cluster of trees beside the river so I could string a tarp and hammocks (it does seem to shower quite a bit in WV).

  It should be noted, the tent sites along the river do not offer much privacy from each other in the way of foliage or natural visual barriers...distance is your privacy.

  We visited on a weekend and there was only one other tent camper, quite a distance away in the other cluster of trees.

  The river melody is loud enough to drown out most other distant noises. Our stay was peaceful and serene.

  Fishing on the river is popular (and successful) with a WV license. The Shavers Fork river (a Cheat River tributary) is also ideal for rafting, tubing and paddling. Most will take out 11 miles downriver before class 3 rapids (and higher) begin.

  Five River Campground was the ideal choice for a weekend stay before venturing to Dolly Sods Wilderness for a long backpacking trip. Plus it is one of the only campgrounds in all of WV where you have cell service...and wifi!

  A campground I will definitely look forward to returning to.

• R

  RALPH P.

  Scout

  

  Jul. 5, 2023

  Hawk Nest Mushroom Farm

  A unique campsite setting not to far of the beaten path

  The camp host Orv has a very unique campsite setup not too far from the house/mushroom farm area. We got a nice tour of the mushrooms currently growing at the farm. The camp area sits under a canopy of cedar trees. If you are tent camping or have a camper van the area is fine. Large RV will have a difficult time setting up in the camp area.  The camp area is quiet and there is plenty of firewood for use.