Best Tent Camping near Winfield, WV

Tent camping near Winfield, West Virginia provides access to several wilderness areas with minimalist camping setups. Chief Cornstalk Wildlife Management Area offers primitive tent sites with basic amenities, while the Wayne National Forest in neighboring Ohio provides more secluded tent camping opportunities at locations like Pine Knob Loop Campground. Most sites are accessible within a 45-minute drive from Winfield, offering varying levels of primitive camping experiences.

Tent campers should prepare for limited facilities at most sites in the region. Chief Cornstalk Wildlife Management Area features concrete picnic tables and fire pits, along with vault toilets that reviews indicate are poorly maintained. Several sites at Timbre Ridge Lake support boat-in tent camping, making them appealing for paddlers seeking waterfront campsites. Most tent areas lack drinking water, with Chief Cornstalk providing a cistern hand pump that may be unreliable. Campers need to pack in their own water and supplies, as few campgrounds offer amenities beyond basic toilet facilities.

The natural setting compensates for the sparse amenities at tent campgrounds near Winfield. Pine Knob Loop Campground in Wayne National Forest offers hiking access and secluded sites. According to a visitor, the trail to Pine Knob is "easy enough for an 8-year-old" while still providing privacy away from crowds. Timbre Ridge Lake provides opportunities for fishing directly from camp, though reviews mention fishermen coming and going throughout the night. Many tent sites remain uncrowded even during peak seasons. Visitors to Chief Cornstalk note the potential for catfishing or day fishing but suggest limiting stays to one or two nights due to the rustic conditions. For tent campers seeking primitive experiences with minimal facilities, these areas offer genuine woodland immersion without the presence of RVs or developed campsites.

Best Tent Sites Near Winfield, West Virginia (11)

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Tent Camping Reviews near Winfield, WV

205 Reviews of 11 Winfield Campgrounds


  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Mark S.The Dyrt PRO User
    Apr. 11, 2024

    Huntington / Fox Fire KOA

    This KOA is a Keeper

    This is a very cozy park tucked in between US60 and I64. We are in site 14 and its not quite level, but they were generous with gravel so the drainage is good! No parking in puddles!The staff is great, friendly, upbeat. The gentleman who led us to the site helped us get positioned, and squared up.The site has a patio, bench, picnic table, fire pit, and a huge gas grill. There is more privacy than usual at KOA, pine trees between sites.Well be back! You do have to watch for the entrance, there is a big KOA sign but its not aligned with the actual turn, so be careful.

  • MiKayla M.
    Aug. 14, 2021

    Oak Hill - Lake Vesuvius

    Well Maintained Sites

    Paved, well maintained sites but a bit close together. Don’t expect privacy if it’s booked. Reservations close 4 days prior, after that it’s first come, first serve. However, surprisingly very quiet during my visit. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring with grill, and water & electric hookups. Cannot comment on the showers because no running water at the time of my visit (water line break, scheduled for repairs).

  • Jackie D.
    Jul. 22, 2019

    Iron Ridge - Lake Vesuvius

    Will return

    Great campground with super easy access to the trail and lake. The sites are spread apart enough so you aren’t right beside someone - and shaded. Well prepared sites with a clearing, fire ring, and a picnic table. Nice host and rangers too! Bathrooms were meh: the walls need cleaned or painted, no where to put your things, and there was no hand soap - no biggie though.

  • Luna L.
    May. 13, 2025

    Krodel Park Campground

    Very hard time finding site

    Pulled in late at night around 9pm, map was slightly confusing and our site number was facing the opposite direction of what you would think. The sites are very tight and hard to pull into, but thankfully someone came out and noticed us having trouble and helped us pull in.

    There also was a wasp nest inside the electric box. Cash only or check is also a bit inconvenient and archaic in 2025.

    But in the morning after the rain, it was a much prettier and the campground and lake really was beautiful.

  • Laura H.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 14, 2020

    Huntington / Fox Fire KOA

    Party Central

    We enjoyed our stay at Huntington/Fox Fire KOA! This is a holiday KOA that offers more amenities for vacationers. It has very close proximity to I-64 in West Virginia, and you can hear the traffic pretty clearly.

    The staff is wonderful, they obviously care very much about their jobs and we enjoyed talking to them. They keep the property very clean which is saying a lot because it’s a very busy park. Each day we watched the park nearly empty and by sundown it was mostly full again. On the weekends it was full to capacity, and it’s occupants were out enjoying their time!

    There is: great cellular for TMobile and AT&T, laundry, dog walk area, storage, cabins, a store, a swimming pond, small beach area, and some sites have fire pits. The picnic tables were pretty dated.

    The hookups are a little strange. You share pedestals in many of the sites. And the arrangement is a little strange but it works.

  • Angelo V.The Dyrt PRO User
    Jul. 13, 2025

    Kanawha State Forest

    A missed opportunity

    I made the rookie mistake of picking a place at the edge of how far I could travel in a day and didnt get in till after quiet hours. I stayed at site 42 near the back. It was a nice plot with electric, water, picnic table, and campfire right with flip over grill. I didnt get to ise more than the electric due to getting in so late. Lessons learned!

    After you get off the high way expect narrow twists and turns to reach the park, the park itself isnt nearly as bad as the stretch between highway and park enterence.

    There is a central bathroom/house with 2 toilets/showers, all disability friendly(I can only speak for the mens side).

    Dont expect to have signal. Im on tmobile and I had an occasional bar. Starlink worked allright if ai aimed it properly through the trees. The area over the road were fairly open.

    Campsites are all close together and you will be able to see 5+ neighbors from any site in this narrow valley camp ground

  • Andrew S.
    Aug. 29, 2021

    Chief Cornstalk Wildlife Management Area

    Not well kept

    So this place is out there a little bit. Right beside the parking lot camp sites there is a nice lake and further up the road there is shooting range. As for the campsites themselves they are very old. The gave fire pits and old concrete picnic tables that have seen better days. No electric, there is a sistern hand water pump (I didn't test it.). There is a place to put trash but no dump station for refuse. There is an out house that looks like something from an 80's horror movie... pics provided. It oughta be bulldozed. All in all the nature part of the Chief cornstalk is ok, but not something I would consider great. Going for a one or two night stay is plenty for catfishing or day fishing. Though you would need to bring everything with you for cooking and using the bathroom. I really don't recommend this place, but I do see a lot of potential with some simple upgrades. Electric, water, a couple bathrooms, new picnic tables and fire pits and a good picnic shelter would make this place worth going to.


Guide to Winfield

Tent campsites near Winfield, West Virginia predominantly offer primitive camping experiences with opportunities for isolation and wildlife encounters. The region includes several remote woodland campsites situated along lakes and creeks within an hour's drive from Winfield. Many locations operate seasonally, with some trailhead campsites closing during winter months or requiring additional preparation during cold weather.

What to do

Fishing at waterfront sites: Riverside R&R provides primitive tent camping with direct river access for anglers. The small campground has only two sites, allowing for quiet fishing opportunities away from larger recreational areas.

Hiking woodland trails: Pine Knob Loop Campground in Wayne National Forest offers multiple hiking options. A camper noted, "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!"

Boat-in camping adventures: Timbre Ridge Lake provides boat-in tent camping sites for paddlers seeking waterfront camping. The lake allows canoe or kayak access to more remote tent sites that cannot be reached by vehicle.

What campers like

Natural seclusion: Dispersed tent sites throughout Wayne National Forest provide opportunities to camp away from crowds. Several trailheads including Bluegrass Trailhead offer starting points for hikers seeking more remote tent camping.

Lake views: Two Point Group Campground includes toilet facilities and lakefront camping without electrical hookups or showers. The campground appeals to groups seeking primitive tent camping with water access.

Minimal development: Chief Cornstalk Wildlife Management Area offers a truly primitive experience. As one visitor observed, "Right beside the parking lot camp sites there is a nice lake and further up the road there is shooting range." The undeveloped nature appeals to campers seeking authentic wilderness experiences.

What you should know

Limited facilities: Most tent sites near Winfield lack running water and electricity. At Timbre Ridge Lake, a camper reported, "The vault toilet had not been cleaned recently, nor had trash been emptied."

Maintenance issues: Toilet facilities at multiple campgrounds receive minimal maintenance. Several locations feature vault toilets only, with no shower facilities available.

Weather considerations: Many tent sites in Wayne National Forest become difficult to access during rainy weather due to unpaved access roads. Fall and spring often bring significant precipitation that affects camping conditions.

Overnight activity: Some lakefront campgrounds experience continuous traffic. At Timbre Ridge Lake, one camper noted, "There were fishermen coming and going several times through the night."

Tips for camping with families

Beginner-friendly options: John's Creek Trailhead provides access to shorter hiking routes suitable for families with young children. The relatively flat terrain allows for easier hiking with camping gear.

Wildlife viewing opportunities: Many campsites near water sources offer opportunities to observe birds and small mammals. Bringing binoculars and wildlife identification guides enhances the experience for children.

Safety considerations: Most tent campsites lack cell service. Families should bring emergency communication devices when camping in more remote areas of Wayne National Forest or Chief Cornstalk Wildlife Management Area.

Tips from RVers

Access limitations: Nearly all tent sites near Winfield cannot accommodate RVs due to narrow access roads and limited parking areas. Balancing Rock Trailhead has a small parking area suitable only for vehicles with tent camping equipment, not large recreational vehicles.

Alternative options: RV campers seeking similar natural settings should consider developed campgrounds within an hour's drive of Winfield that offer hookups while maintaining forest settings. Tent campers have significantly more primitive camping options in the immediate vicinity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most popular tent campsite near Winfield, WV?

According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular tent campground near Winfield, 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 Winfield, WV?

TheDyrt.com has all 11 tent camping locations near Winfield, WV, with real photos and reviews from campers.