Best Tent Camping near Sandstone, WV
Tent campsites near Sandstone, West Virginia offer natural riverside settings within the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. The Meadow Creek Campground, located just off Highway 64, provides free first-come, first-served tent-only sites with direct access to the New River. Stone Cliff Campground, another tent-focused option within the park, offers sandy riverside sites accessible by a short walk from the parking area. Both campgrounds serve as gateways to the diverse terrain and recreational opportunities throughout the New River Gorge region.
Most tent sites feature basic amenities suited for self-sufficient camping. Meadow Creek Campground provides metal picnic tables and BBQ pits at each site with vault toilets nearby, but no running water or electricity. Visitors should bring all necessary water supplies. A recent review mentioned, "There are 17 sites, all free FCFS tent only sites... Sites are flat, large and spaced out. However the trees are very newly planted so they provide no shade or privacy." Several campgrounds have active railroad tracks nearby, with trains passing frequently throughout day and night. Stone Cliff sites require carrying gear down stairs or short trails, with most sites positioned directly on sandy beaches along the river.
Tent campers benefit from proximity to water activities and hiking trails unavailable to vehicle-based camping. Stone Cliff provides direct river access for swimming and fishing, plus connections to hiking trails that follow the river. According to one visitor, "There are fire rings near the water... There is also a bridge really close and railroad track right across the river." Walk-in tent sites at Stone Cliff offer more seclusion than drive-in options, with site #7 noted as particularly private. The tent-only restriction at Meadow Creek resulted from safety concerns with RVs crossing railroad tracks, creating a quieter experience for tent campers despite the lack of shade. Both campgrounds remain open year-round, though spring visitors should prepare for potentially cold mornings and summer campers should bring bug protection.