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The mountainous terrain surrounding Winona, West Virginia features diverse camping options within the New River Gorge region, with sites ranging from primitive to full-service. Babcock State Park Campground, located about 15 miles southwest in Danese, offers 52 sites with both electric and non-electric options in a forested setting. The New River Gorge National Park and Preserve maintains several free primitive campgrounds including Stone Cliff and Grandview Sandbar, providing basic amenities like picnic tables and fire rings. Private operations such as Rifrafters Campground in Fayetteville and Adventures on the Gorge in nearby Mill Creek cater to visitors seeking more amenities, with options for tent camping, RV hookups, cabins, and glamping accommodations.
Narrow, winding mountain roads throughout the region can challenge larger vehicles, particularly after rainfall when conditions deteriorate. As one camper noted about Babcock State Park, "The road in off the highway isn't too long, but it seemed long, winding, and up and down...especially as night fell." Most developed campgrounds operate seasonally from April through October, with limited winter camping available. Cell service remains spotty throughout the area, with many primitive sites offering no connectivity. Temperature variations can be significant, with frost possible even in May at higher elevations. Bear activity necessitates proper food storage at all sites, particularly in more remote locations. Reservations are strongly recommended for summer weekends and fall color season when the area's popularity peaks.
Waterfront camping receives consistently high ratings from visitors exploring the New River Gorge area. Riverside sites at Grandview Sandbar provide direct access to the New River, though campers should note these areas can flood rapidly after heavy rain. According to one visitor at Army Camp Campground, "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." The region's abundant recreational opportunities include whitewater rafting, rock climbing, mountain biking, and hiking. Fishing is particularly popular, with trout streams and bass fishing in the larger rivers. Wildlife viewing opportunities abound, with campers frequently reporting sightings of deer, wild turkey, and various bird species. The historic grist mill at Babcock State Park serves as a popular photography destination.
"Some really great beer places close by as well. Nice a shady too. I’d like to go back and do some exploring around the area. Just be careful with what gps app you use."
"They walked us to our site and helped us back into our spot. Everything worked well with all of the hookups. It was a quiet and clean campground."
from $15 - $50 / night
Check Availability"The most photographed place in west Virginia is the grist mill. Awesome trails all around."
"Babcock State Park, located in the thriving megapolis of Clifton, West Virginia is postcard perfect!"
from $33 / night
Check Availability"Great tent campground very near the New River gorge and close by Summerville Lake and the Gulley River. Multiple campsites in heavily forested area. Drive up to the sites."
"They have showers and clean bathrooms just a short walk from any site. All sites are big and you can pick from any available. The host is just a text or call away and he replies very quickly."
from $10 - $11 / night
Check Availability"Great campground adjacent to New River Gorge National Park. Within a short walk/bike to multiple biking and hiking trailheads. Close enough to bike into Fayetteville (a cool little town)."
"Good amenities plenty of space, and walking distance from some of the best views in the park!"
from $10 - $85 / night
Check Availability"Nearby are showers and restrooms. They have individual rooms that can be locked that has the restroom in with the shower stall. Lots of biking and equestrian trails available."
"We were able to go whitewater rafting one day and then explored the surrounding area on another day. The resort is awesome. They have cabins and they have hot tubs."
from $15 - $600 / night
Check Availability"Tucked away by the river past Thurmond. Great secluded sites. Trailhead for hiking from camp."
"We put our tent a few feet away from the water facing the river and our canopy further up in the woods by the firepit."
"New River, just outside of Prince, WV off Route 41 offers upclose and personal riverside camping."
"Through Traffic: Access to the boat ramp is through the campground. Though, traffic is minimal, folks on the way to the ramp and picnic area often drive pretty fast."
"This spot was a short drive away from awesome rock climbing in the New River Gorge."
"The white water rafting was incredible and the staff all around was FANTASTIC. The only downside would be the campsites (tent camping) being very close to one another."
from $7 - $69 / night
Check Availability"Whether it's weekend camping with friends/ family or some where to crash after a long day on the lake/ river you won't regret staying in beautiful West Virginia."
"The restroom & shower facilities were easily within walking distance. The facilities could use a deep clean but overall were fine."
from $24 - $40 / night
Check Availability"There is five drive-in sites and more walk-in sites on the edge of the camp. The drive-in sites filled and vacated several times throughout the weekend."
"the campsite is pretty far back into the gorge at the end of a dead end road, which inherently gives it a little bit of an advantage for those who wish to be not just off grid but away from"the madding"
TravelerThis is a core engineer built Park sites are fairly level. Bath houses are old but clean. Electric only at sites. There’s water and a dump station at the entrance of the park. Which makes a little difficult if you here more than a few days and need water, you have to store everything in your motorhome pull in the electric cord, drive out and fill up with water and then come back and get leveled again.
GuideFull hookup. $55 per night. Possibly to enter after office working hours. Bathrooms. Very friendly staff
TravelerIt is full service campground with store, restaurant, swimming pool, paintball, and cabin.
ScoutMy family and I had an absolute blast at Battle Run! The campsite offered an incredible view of the lake, and if boating is your passion, you can even secure your boat right at your campsite! Although the weather was a bit rainy, the temperature remained comfortably in the 70s. We’re already planning our return next summer.
RangerThe second time I stayed was in site 36, which was far preferable to 41 as it was a larger site, but still moderately unlevel. Fun hiking trails down the creek and close proximity to New River Gorge.
RangerI ended up enjoying the park more than expected—disc golf was a nice surprise! However I found that loop 2 wasn’t nearly as nice or spacious as the other camping areas. The sites were small and unlevel, but the bathrooms were nice enough for a state park. I enjoyed walks around the lake (lots of fun fungi and fish to spy) but the main draw for me was the proximity to New River Gorge—only a 20-25 min drive.
ScoutI camp at beaver creek campground yearly and have for the past 5 years. This past year they have built new family bathroom facilities, and a new playground. The nature, beauty and stars at night are unmatched.
ScoutMy fiance booked our stay at Tawney Farms back in May for the two of us plus her parents. When her parents arrived to the camp they were already checked in when we first arrived. My my inlaws proceeded to our camp site. Once they got to the site theywere greeted by the male owner speeding up the trail in his truck almost hitting his own wife and began yelling at my inlaws stating theybhad no business being on their property and to get off. My inlaws tried explaining to them that they were with us and they we had paid for them. The male owner continued yelling at them aggressively and swearing at them to the point both of my inlaws were concerned that owner was going to do something physical. My inlaws ultimately left and called us and told us what happened. We dropped what we were doing and drove back to the property in hopes to resolve the confusion. My fiance and I showed them the reservation recipt showing that they were paid for. They maintained that they are being kicked out stating that they did not stop at the shack that no one was at. They were already checked in so there was no reason to need that. in fact it wasnt necessary last year then stated that they were drunk which they were not. They had just finished a 4 hour drive from PA after working their shift. They would not listed to reason. They then went into a shack to look at their paperwork and realized once again that theybare wrong and rather than a simple appology they maintained kicking them out and stated they were going to "let us go". At this point its about 10pm and we had to pack up our campsite and find an alternative short notice on july 3rd... $500 later for a hotel room we got lucky. They almost cost us our vacation because of their inability to reason or even listen.
ScoutWe scheduled our stay two months in advance for our Fourth of July weekend. My fiance and myself were scheduled one night earlier than my parents were supposed to arrive. We paid for everyone in our party and checked everyone in. We had been coming up to place to camp for five summers now, but this most recent experience was more than enough for us to NEVER come back. My fiancé and I were out off the campground to get ice when my mother called me to tell my the owners of the farm CHASED them out the campground, the husband almost running over his wife, insisting they were not welcome and had no business being at the farm when I prepaid everyone’s stay. My parents were terrified this man was going to pull a gun on them. The owners belittled my parents after they drove four hours from PA to spend time with us, screaming over them that they were drunk, speeding, and that my parents didn’t “stop” at the vacant building that they are supposed to be at to greet people. The owners would not even bother to check to verify my parents stay. When we got back to the site to try to reconcile the situation they still would not allow my parents to stay even after seeing that we did pay for my family to be there and were even hesitant to let us stay when we did NOTHING wrong. We had to pay an extra $500 to book a last minute stay at a hotel in Summersville when I already paid near $300 to stay at Tawny Farm. My fiance and I had to pack up our entire campsite in the dark because they would not let us stay over my parents being confused about where they were at. I still have not received any emails regarding a refund for the unwarranted behavior towards my parents. I would not bring your loved ones onto this property. The owners are unstable, unsafe, and unwilling to care about their customers.
The New River Gorge region surrounding Winona, West Virginia sits at elevations ranging from 1,400 to 2,400 feet, creating significant temperature variations between riverside campsites and mountain accommodations. The terrain's steep topography results in narrow access roads that often require high-clearance vehicles, especially at primitive sites. Many campgrounds in this area offer direct trail connections to the extensive New River Gorge trail system.
Fish at Grandview Sandbar: This free riverside campground provides direct access to prime fishing spots along the New River. "Lots of parking with 6+ isolated camp sites, all with view of river. There is a great trail nearby that runs along the river. Trash bins and restroom located nearby," notes one camper at Grandview Sandbar Campground.
Disc golf near campsite: Chestnut Creek Campground features a disc golf course on the property. A reviewer mentioned, "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. Has a Frisbee/Disc Golf Course."
Mountain biking from your tent: The Arrowhead Bike Farm combines camping with direct trail access. One visitor explains, "Great campground near New River Gorge National Park. Mt biking from the campground - a bike shop, food and beverages, showers, and goats! Great for families, too."
Secluded beach camping: Stone Cliff Campground offers sandy riverside sites with privacy. "I loved the experience I had at stone cliff. The camp sites are well marked and maintained. There are some right on the river and a couple more set back closer to the trail. Great spot to set up a hammock, go swimming, or walk on the nearby trails if you aren't climbing," shares a visitor at Stone Cliff Campground.
Quiet backcountry sites: Campers appreciate the wooded sites at Chestnut Creek Campground near Lansing. "This is a very nice little campground set up for tents, hammock campers and some car campers. No hook-ups. Definitely not for RVs or Camper trailers. All the sites are wooded and they allow you to use fallen trees/branches for your fires."
Hot showers after adventure days: The facilities at Arrowhead Bike Farm stand out to visitors. "Stayed three nights here, was the only one on site camping for the first few days, but still pretty empty and peaceful when others arrived. Showers run on one minute increments but aside from that it's extremely accessible to trails and attractions around the area and staff was beyond helpful and super friendly!!"
Train noise impacts sleep: Several campgrounds along the river have nearby train tracks. At Grandview Sandbar, a camper warns: "The really bad thing is that there is a train station directly across the river. And 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."
Winter access varies: While most campgrounds close seasonally, Rifrafters Campground remains open year-round for RVs. "We stopped in one night on our way back to Pennsylvania. We had a lovely stay and the hosts were so hospitable. We purchased firewood and they walked it to our campsite. Our site was plenty large and the concrete pad was perfectly level."
Site reservation systems differ: Chestnut Creek Campground uses a text-based booking system. "We didn't have reservations but the manager told us to text him when we arrived after hours. Charge was per person not per site, but reasonable at $15. This seams to be common practice in the area."
Look for platforms at wooded sites: The elevated tent platforms at New River Gorge Campground keep kids dry during rain. "We were lucky to get campsite 23, which had a tent platform high up on a boulder. The campsite was fairly quiet and cozy!"
Playgrounds for rainy days: Babcock State Park Campground offers a central play area near shower facilities. "The campground was quiet, family-friendly, and clean. A fairly new playground sits right next to the bathhouse. All the equipment was well-maintained and freshly mulched."
Consider waterpark resorts: For families seeking both camping and structured activities, Adventures on the Gorge offers comprehensive options. "This was one of the best place to spend a long weekend with your Friends & Family. The park has so much to do including trails, swimming, and an awesome water park."
Secluded back section sites: At Rifrafters Campground, the rear area offers more privacy for RVs. "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. Ken and staff are good. We were here in a travel trailer," shares a visitor at Rifrafters Campground.
Check road conditions before booking: The narrow mountain roads can challenge larger rigs, especially at Babcock State Park. "Electric back in site. Water and bathhouse available across the road in the other part of the camp ground. Unusual set up."
Prioritize level sites: Many RV sites in the region sit on sloped terrain. At Arrowhead Bike Farm, a camper noted: "Great spot and very close to the national park, but site 5 was very un-level."
Frequently Asked Questions
What camping is available near Winona, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, Winona, WV offers a wide range of camping options, with 130 campgrounds and RV parks near Winona, WV and 1 free dispersed camping spot.
Which is the most popular campground near Winona, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, the most popular campground near Winona, WV is Rifrafters Campground with a 4.5-star rating from 32 reviews.
Where can I find free dispersed camping near Winona, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, there is 1 free dispersed camping spot near Winona, WV.
What parks are near Winona, WV?
According to TheDyrt.com, there are 27 parks near Winona, WV that allow camping, notably New River Gorge National River and Summersville Lake.
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