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.
$15 - $50 / night
"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."
$33 / night
"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!"
$10 - $11 / night
"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."
$15 - $600 / night
"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."
"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."
$10 - $85 / night
"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!"
"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."
$7 - $69 / night
"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."
"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"
$8 - $30 / night
"this campground is well maintained and located in the heart of the New. It's a quick walk to the Junkyard Wall or a short drive to many other classic crags."
"There aren't group sites available, but whoever in our group was organizing managed to get multiple sites next to each other, which was nice."
ScoutSpent a night here, everything needed for tent camping (although there was plenty of room for RVs), easily collectible wood in the surrounding area. This campground is off the main train tracts so I didn't hear any trains throughout the night.
TravelerWe are here off season so there aren’t a lot of other campers but it is beautiful, quiet and very well kept.
TravelerThis is a lovely little cabin resort with 3 RV sites. We are here just 1 night enroute. It is beautiful and well maintained. I would definitely come back.
ScoutNice even sites with firepits and picnic table. You're not super secluded and you will hear your neighbors. Overall a great place if you wanna just have a cozy night or two camping. Beautiful creek access too.
LegendCranberry River dispersed camping along Forest Road 76 offers quiet, scenic, riverside primitive campsites with excellent fishing and easy access to the surrounding wilderness. We stayed a couple of nights at Site 8 and had great river access with only a small amount of road traffic. There were campers at about five other sites during our stay, but it still felt peaceful and spread out. With inexpensive sites spaced along roughly five miles of road, this is a great area to camp. Roads like this in West Virginia are home to some of my favorite campsites, and we will definitely be back.
Check out all the sites with GPS locations in our video.
https://youtu.be/q6G3fhvmfoY
LegendSummit Lake Campground is a quiet, clean campground in the Monongahela National Forest. I stayed one night and really enjoyed the fishing on the lake. The campground wasn’t busy, the sites were well maintained, and it was a relaxing place to spend the night surrounded by nature.
Check out the 360° Drive through showing all the sites.
https://youtu.be/GxE0sj5xZ98
LegendWe stayed at Cranberry Campground for one night and really enjoyed how quiet and peaceful it was. There were only a couple of other campers in the campground, and we were able to get a site in the back away from them, which made it feel like we had the place to ourselves. The campground is spacious, well kept, and surrounded by forest, making it a great spot to relax and unwind. If you’re looking for a quiet National Forest campground with plenty of room and a secluded feel, this is a great place to stay.
Check out our 360° video that shows all campground and sites.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlTOJ_YkSKg
LegendWe stayed at Bishop Knob Campground for two nights in July and absolutely loved it. During our entire stay there was only one other camper, which made the campground feel quiet, peaceful, and almost private. Even better, the sites were only$8 a night, making this an incredible value for a national forest campground.
We stayed in the last site on the loop Site 33, which looks to be the old camp host site. It’s a great spot with flowers and plants planted around the site entrance, and the wooded area behind the site has been cleared out, giving it a more open and usable feel than many of the other sites.
One really interesting feature of this campground is that the second loop appears to have been closed for years. You can still walk through the old loop, and it was neat to see the overgrown sites and roads slowly being reclaimed by the forest. It adds to the sense that this campground doesn’t get a lot of use.
We walked around and checked the site tags left behind in the open loop, and many of them were dated several months earlier, which really shows how lightly used this campground is. If you’re looking for a quiet, uncrowded, back-to-nature camping experience in the Monongahela National Forest, Bishop Knob is a great place to stay. We would absolutely camp here again.
Check out our 360° drive through the campground, see all the sites and get a real feel for the campground.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DI3qYdYxGzo
LegendThis was a nice, secluded National Forest campground tucked away at the intersection of Tea Creek and the Williams River. The 28 sites are well spaced, giving you plenty of privacy, and most are flat, with the creekside sites being especially nice.
Each campsite includes a picnic table, fire ring with grill, waste receptacle, and lantern hook. The campground was clean, with vault toilets on each loop and bear-proof trash cages throughout. I noticed four trailheads at the campground. There is no cell service. Camping is $10 per night or $5 with a discount, making this a great, affordable place to stay in the Monongahela National Forest.
Check out our 360° drive though of the campground, it will help you get a good sense of the place.
https://youtu.be/FlOco2p8T2Q
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 124 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 31 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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