New River Gorge offers camping options from 2,400-3,200 feet in elevation across steep, wooded terrain. The area experiences frequent fluctuations in river levels during spring and early summer, often causing shoreline campsites to flood. Train tracks run near several campgrounds with trains passing regularly throughout day and night.
What to do
Hiking nearby trails: Babcock State Park features over 20 miles of trails with varying difficulty levels. "Trails are wonderful throughout the park if you enjoy hiking as we do. As a bonus, there was a cancelled bluegrass festival that week in Clifftop, WV, so we had a lot of local bluegrass going on throughout the campground given many of the musicians did not cancel their campsite reservations," notes a visitor to Babcock State Park Campground.
Mountain biking: The Arrowhead Bike Farm has miles of bike trails directly accessible from the campground. "They have a big field for you to set up tents on along with RV camping areas and a place with individual sites in the back. It's also a bike shop and restaurant. They have goats and miles of bike trails," shares one camper at Arrowhead Bike Farm.
Fishing opportunities: Little Beaver State Park offers lake fishing with well-stocked waters. "Scenic lake. Must see this little secret gem!" says a camper. The park also has "several nice walking trails directly from the campground" making it easy to combine activities.
Visit abandoned mining towns: The historic town of Thurmond is accessible from Stone Cliff Campground. "The campground is very close to the abandoned town of Thurmond (very cool site to see) and is within earshot of the train tracks," reports a camper who stayed at Stone Cliff Campground.
What campers like
Riverside camping: Army Camp offers direct access to the New River. "Very nice spot, right by the river with plenty of spaces to hammock down by there. Fire rings with grill, and bench at each site. The ground is great for tents, no rocks," says a camper at Army Camp.
Free camping options: Grandview Sandbar provides no-cost camping with river views. "This is an exceptionally well maintained camping area. There are 2 separate pit toilet bathrooms with dumpsters, one by the dispersed camping and one by the main parking area," notes a camper. "There was a man in an official forestry truck cleaning and restocking the bathrooms everyday, including the weekends."
Resort amenities: For those wanting more facilities, Adventures on the Gorge offers extensive services. "Sites are big, a few are un-level but ours in site 15 was great. Clean facilities. Great pool and restaurants. Activities offered are awesome. Great place to vacation!" says a recent visitor to the campground.
Private, wooded sites: Chestnut Creek Campground provides secluded camping areas. "This is a quiet campground, with lots of space and site options, run independently by a family. Most sites are simple with just a picnic table and fire pit. There are lots of trees in between many of the sites for great privacy," explains a camper at Chestnut Creek Campground.
What you should know
Water access limitations: Many primitive campgrounds lack drinking water. "Note: vitally important to realize there is no running water at any of these campgrounds. You must bring water or filter it from the New River," advises a ranger review.
Train noise disruptions: Railways run near multiple campsites. "Trains passing in the night are oddly soothing," says one camper, but another notes, "trains will and do pull through every couple of hours 24/7. That includes during the night, yes. Ear plugs only did so much for me."
Weather considerations: Spring camping means potential flooding. "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."
Campsite availability: Free campgrounds fill quickly during peak season. "We were lucky and got one of the last spots, there's only 11," reports a camper at Grandview Sandbar Campground.
Tips for camping with families
Look for established playgrounds: Rifrafters Campground provides family-friendly facilities. "The playground was great for our daughters to burn off some energy. They have nice sites, providing a picnic table and fire ring," shares a visitor to Rifrafters Campground.
Consider water activities: Adventures on the Gorge offers recreation options for all ages. "This was one of the best place to spend a long weekend with your Friends & Family. They have plenty of activities to do including River Rafting," says a reviewer.
Check bathroom facilities: Bathhouse access varies significantly between campgrounds. "The bathhouse was fairly clean but well-used and includes flush toilets, showers, and hot water. A fairly new playground sits right next to the bathhouse," notes a camper at Babcock State Park.
Wildlife awareness: Multiple dog-friendly campgrounds near Thurmond require pet supervision. "Wildlife encounters are possible throughout the gorge area, so keeping dogs properly leashed and supervised remains essential for their safety," advises a local ranger.
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Little Beaver State Park has terrain considerations. "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," explains an RVer.
Hookup availability: Rifrafters offers various connection options. "Up front is a regular campground but we are in the back, secluded and peaceful. Site 34. There are about 8 nice sites out back with water and electricity," shares an RV camper.
Road access limitations: Several dog-friendly camping areas near Thurmond have challenging approaches. "The road to access is single lane paved/gravel. Best for cars/vans, but did see some small pull behinds," notes a visitor to Army Camp.
Dump station locations: Know where to empty tanks. "Only downside for longer term stays is no sewer hookup, but they do have a very convenient dump spot at entry," reports an RV owner at Little Beaver State Park.
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