Best Campgrounds near Sandstone, WV
Sandstone, West Virginia serves as a gateway to numerous camping opportunities within the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. Meadow Creek Campground offers tent-only camping with 17 free first-come, first-served sites, while Army Camp provides free dispersed camping for tents and RVs. The region includes multiple National Park Service campgrounds such as Glade Creek and Grandview Sandbar, plus nearby state park options like Little Beaver State Park with cabins and RV hookups. Most National Park campgrounds are primitive with vault toilets and no water sources.
Road conditions vary significantly when accessing remote camping areas. Glade Creek Campground requires crossing a narrow one-lane bridge on a gravel road, while War Ridge Campground involves a "1 mile curvy mountain climb" that may challenge larger vehicles. Several campgrounds feature active railroad tracks nearby, with Meadow Creek experiencing trains "at all hours of day and night" that are "so loud you can feel the vibrations." Cell service ranges from spotty to non-existent at most primitive sites, though some campers report having 1-2 bars of service. "The camp is presumably shaded year-round and is completely free," noted one visitor about Glade Creek Campground.
Camping along the New River ranks highly among visitors for scenery and accessibility. Tent sites at Meadow Creek are described as "flat, large and spaced out," though newer trees provide minimal shade or privacy. Several visitors mentioned abundant wildlife viewing opportunities, particularly at Glade Creek where one camper reported hearing barred owls at night. Waterfront access represents a common feature across multiple campgrounds, with sites at Berry's Campground occupying "prime riverfront location." Winter camping remains possible at some locations, with one visitor noting Meadow Creek Campground is "open year round - a no hunting campsite." Campers consistently note the value of free National Park Service campgrounds, though they recommend arriving early on weekends as the limited sites fill quickly.