Best Tent Camping in West Virginia

Recent Tent Reviews in West Virginia

1270 Reviews of 60 West Virginia Campgrounds

• 

  Lee D.

  Legend

  

  Feb. 15, 2025

  Robert W. Craig - Jennings Randolph Lake

  CoE campgrounds are a great value!

  General: Smallish (68 sites) campground near Jennings Randolph Lake, which is not directly accessible from the campground (you need to drive there). Roads and camper pads are all paved, and the sites are in two loops– the Front Loop (Sites 1-30) and the Back Loop (Sites 31-68). All sites have electric hookups, and have a picnic table, fire ring, and lantern ring. There are multiple hosts in each loop. 

  Site Quality: All camper pads are paved, and most appeared to be level. They are of varying lengths with 53, 55, and 64-68 having the longest pads. The sites are generous in size and are spaced a reasonable distance apart; there are varying degrees of foliage to provide privacy between sites. You would be hard-pressed to pick a “bad” site; perhaps Site 31 would be the least desirable as it is near the intersection of the two loops. 

  Bath/Shower: There is a bathhouse in each loop; although the building itself appeared somewhat dated, the toilets and sinks have been updated to be automatic. The showers looked a bit sketchy, but I didn’t use them. 

  Activities/Amenities: There are several short-distance hiking trails; the trail heads are very well marked and, once on the trail, the blazes are very easy to spot. I hiked the Sunset Trail, and it was shorter than advertised but the bench swing at the overlook was a very nice surprise. There is also archery, basketball, fishing, and a boat launch for the small lake. There is a playground in each loop. There is also a camper store in the Front loop that sells ice, firewood, and basic sundries; it is run by volunteers, so the hours are different each day based on availability. Kalbaugh Pond is ADA-accessible for catch-and-release fishing. Shaw Beach has swimming access. There was movie night on Saturday night and a ranger talk on Saturday morning. 

  We generally shy away from campgrounds on weekends, especially in the summer months but surprisingly, the campground was only about ¾ full on a Friday in June. The volunteers make this park shine. We were greeted by Alma, who was very welcoming and said all of the volunteers are proud of “their” little campground. Of note: We approached the campground from the southeast through the town of Keyser. DO NOT do this if you have a large RV. There are multiple signs saying that the road was not safe for large trucks; although our 18-foot camper van had no problems, the road was narrow, hilly, and winding.

• 

  Lee D.

  Legend

  

  Feb. 15, 2025

  Mash Fork Campground — Camp Creek State Park

  Nice small state park

  General: Mash Fork is one of three campgrounds at Camp Creek State Park and is the developed one. It is small (18 sites) with a mix of 30-amp, 30-amp with water, 50-amp with water and electric, and FHU sites. 

  Site Quality: All camper pads are paved, have a generous camper pad length, and most are spread a decent amount of space apart. 

  Bath/Shower House: was very clean. Instant hot water was appreciated at the tap (it was in the 30s when we were there in mid-October) Hooks and shelves for toiletries were appreciated. Did not use the shower.

  Activities/Amenities: Playground, basketball, volleyball, laundry (but there was water on the floor so not sure if there was a leak), several hiking trails including trails to two waterfalls, and an ADA-accessible short trail. The waterfalls were very sparse when we were there so not sure about other times of the year. There is an office with a small store. 

  This was only an overnight stay for us but very enjoyable. We'd definitely come back.

• 

  Moody B.

  Traveler

  

  Feb. 3, 2025

  Big Bend Campground

  100% Love it here!

  Very clean and peaceful campground! The couple that was there running it were very helpful and welcoming. My husband and I along with our little dog were on the 2nd lvl in a tent. Very peaceful at night great place to unwind under the stars. Nice wildlife too seen a lot of deer and birds

• R

  Richard W.

  Scout

  

  Jan. 19, 2025

  Stuart NF Campground

  It was the best of times, it was the worst of times

  I camped out there for 5 days in my tent, which included a Friday and Saturday night. During the weekdays, it was quiet and lovely. Sure, the occasional dog barking, though typically from a distant farm.

  But then came the weekend crowd .... It immediately became a very unpleasant experience. In spite of the posted rules about the number of vehicles/people per site, and in spite of the rules about being quiet after a certain reasonable hour (I can't remember if it said 9 PM or 10 PM), the place turned into party central with one of the sites within 50 feet of my own campsite suddenly blasting music, lots of loud yelling and laughter, at least 6 vehicles. Even with earplugs, I could not make it quiet enough to sleep.

  What annoyed me is that there is in fact an on-site camp host who surely would have heard the same unruly volume, but did nothing to tell them to stop or be quiet or even to disperse since they were above the limit per campsite. 

  So if I ever return here, I will NEVER do so on a weekend. The spots are just too close together if the camp host isn't going to do anything about party-central campers.

• 

  Jadon B.

  Guide

  

  Jan. 15, 2025

  Dispersed camping at Mower Basin

  Abundant beauty

  We strolled up the mountain in our 39ft skoolie. It snowed and we had a really good time!

• 

  Kaley A.

  Traveler

  

  Jan. 8, 2025

  Babcock State Park Campground

  Beautiful Park

  Absolutely loved this park! We camped near the end of October for 5 days, so there weren’t a ton of other people, but the park was clean and quiet. The bath house was pretty nice and had three showers. The water had some issues while we were there (as in the sink was so hot it physically hurt to wash your hands) but seemed to be a fluke and was fixed by the time we left. We camped at site 21, which was the middle of a loop and it was space and flat. It had another site next to it but it was further apart than other sites. Some of the edge site, like 19 had some sloping issues Roads through the park from the campground to the main part of the park are really narrow and seem like you aren’t supposed to be there but are well maintained. Hiking was great and my young children hiked all of it with us. Overall, highly recommended.

• 

  Benjamin L.

  Guide

  

  Dec. 10, 2024

  Jess Judy

  Jess Judy is in a beautiful area, with no phone service or ammenities.

  Every year we my family does a "friends and family" camping trip.  We always try to stay somewhere where there are a lot of activities and the campsites are spaced far apart.  (My family tends to be loud).   Jess Judy fits this build.

  We have camped at Jess Judy at least a half dozen times and I aways enjoy it.  We normally go in August so that we can swim, fish, hike, go tubing, rock climbing or just go exploring.  Our last trip was in late September and even though it rained the entire time, it was still a nice trip.  

  Jess Judy is:

  Remote - Jess Judy is in the middle of nowhere, in order to get to the campsites you have to drive 3 miles down a gravel road that tends to wash out into the river.   In addition to the access road, there is no cell service with in a 20 min drive.

  Small - Jess Judy only has 3 group camp sites and there isn't too much separating them from each other. 

  Primitive Sites - Jess Judy doesn't offer any running water, or other amenities besides two latrines that may or may not be clean.  Be prepared to bring in all of you water and be ready to clean a latrine. 

  Tent Camping Only - Jess Judy only offers tent camping for groups, works for us but not for everyone.

  Lots of Activities - Jess Judy offers a lot of outdoor activities including fishing, hiking, kayaking, rafting, river swimming, star gazing, rock climbing, etc.

  In short, we love Jess Judy, but I know that it really isn't for most people.

• 

  Doc M.

  Scout

  

  Nov. 21, 2024

  Sleepy Creek Wildlife Management Area

  Well Managed and Nice

  Not bad for a long or short trip. Only problem is you need to book in person.

• 

  Bob M.

  Ranger

  

  Nov. 19, 2024

  East Fork (WV)

  Decent Place

  We camped here for 6 nights just before Halloween, enjoyed it. Not a lot to do unless you have a boat, but it's a scenic area. Ended up here because we had to avoid our original plans due to Hurricane Helene.

• 

  Bob M.

  Ranger

  

  Nov. 19, 2024

  Camp Creek State Park Campground

  Peaceful, scenic

  We stayed 3 nights here, enjoyed it very much even though the power was out due to Hurricane Helene's wrath. Two nice waterfalls to walk or bike to, the campsites are spread out fairly well, and it's quiet. Pinnacle Rock SP & Pipestem SP not too far away. Just a good place to kick back & relax.

• 

  Benjy B.

  Traveler

  

  Nov. 14, 2024

  The Outpost at New River Gourge

  Loved it here!

  As a car camper I was initially hesitant about paying for a partial hookup RV spot knowing that I wouldn’t be fully utilizing what I was paying for, but man am I glad I chose to stay here.

  The location is great for getting in and out of town and the park alike, and it was the ideal location for a hike base. In terms of the campground itself, I think it set a new standard for me that’ll be pretty hard to beat. The bathrooms were incredible, and the shower was so good that it was almost annoying (I’m jealous and want it at home now too).

  Checking in and out was easy, and the staff was very kind in accommodating me extending my stay another day on two separate occasions. I’d been most in and out in the dark, but finally on the last day got to check out the rest of the place and it really is super nice with a great aesthetic to match.

  The big kicker for me was the lodge/Wi-Fi situation. As someone camping in a Prius, it can get pretty tight at times, so having a nice big space with great internet to get some work done was a huge bonus. Even in my car, the WiFi was plenty good enough to use, albeit not quite as snappy fast as the lodge.

  All in all, I’d happily come back here again and again if I were to find myself back in the area. Could not more highly recommend.

• 

  licia S.

  Guide

  

  Nov. 14, 2024

  Meadow Creek Campground — New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

  Calm Tent-Only Campground- with Trains

  I’ve stayed here several times. It’s always been a great visit. There are around 12 sites with tables, grills, and fire rings. Pit toilet and dumpster. The place is monitored via videocamera as signed. No RVs- that is enforced. 1 bar of unboosted cell service with ATT with some drop off if raining, but fine for streaming videos. The coal trains run through at all hours of the night- and blow their horns (earplugs). Open year round- a no hunting campsite.

• 

  Kim L.

  Ranger

  

  Nov. 5, 2024

  Rifrafters Campground

  Nearest CG to New River Gorge bridge and visitor center

  Very comfortable and quiet campground. Camp hosts (owners?) and staff are very friendly and helpful. Close to local towns for services. The full hook up RV sites seem crowded, but the electric only sites were spacious and shady. I had a little deck with a picnic table. Even though the land is hilly, almost every site was level. The area where I camped had a single porta potty, but the main service area had clean showers and reasonably priced laundry. Short hiking trails are nearby. A children’s area is available but looked little used.

• 

  Molly R.

  Scout

  

  Nov. 1, 2024

  Rifrafters Campground

  Well managed everything you need.

  Beautiful area, close to New River National Park. Very accommodating staff. Includes wifi, PBS TV, small dog run, small playground, picnic shelter, laundry, bathhouse, firewood, ice,etc. Clean, friendly without all the fancy extras. Reasonably priced.

• 

  Anna S.

  Ranger

  

  Oct. 29, 2024

  Blue Jay Campground — Camp Creek State Park

  Simple but sufficient - great location with miles of trails!

  All 12 non-electric sites appeared to have fire ring, picnic table, trash can, flat parking area. They did vary a bit in size. I was there on Friday and Saturday and there were no more than 4 other sites occupied. I was surprised that the bathrooms had running water! Overall, everything was quiet and relaxing. Some traffic from people driving by, but not bad at this time of year. It was delightful falling asleep and waking up to the sound of the creek! There are miles and miles of trails, I hiked 16 and only encountered 1 couple. The other campgrounds in the park have more amenities, too.

• 

  Heather

  Ranger

  

  Oct. 28, 2024

  Lazy A Campground

  Pretty WV countryside

  This campground is small but the sites are spacious- the ones by the creek are. The bathouse is quite a ways from the sites by the creek but they provide a port-a-potty, which was quite full when I was there- thank goodness the days weren’t hot. The bathhouse needs updating- stalls are small and water from the showers go everywhere. Only saw a worker once and I’m not sure he was a worker? It was a weird stay.

• R

  Rhys R.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 24, 2024

  Army Camp — New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

  Very relaxing spot

  Very nice spot, right by the river with plenty of spaces to hammock down by there. We were lucky and got one of the last spots, there’s only 11. Fire rings with grill, and bench at each site. The ground is great for tents, no rocks. If you’re planning on coming here, make sure and come early. Pit toilets also available.

• 

  Dane J.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 22, 2024

  Glade Creek Campground — New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

  Large isolated sites

  Great place along the river. Low traffic, spots are large and spread out, there is s nice trail (5.6miles). Down side, no tmobile cell service, and a train runs on the other side if the river every few hours

• 

  Lee D.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 18, 2024

  Blue Jay Campground — Camp Creek State Park

  Peaceful now but....

  One of three campgrounds in Camp Creek State Park; this is the primitive one (the other two are a horse camp and a developed one with hookups). Most sites are on the creek, but the road runs right past them. On a weekday in the fall, the road was very quiet, but I imagine that in the summer when carloads of people head to Campbell Falls, it would be a different story and would take away from the peacefulness of the campground. 

  This campground would not be suitable for large RVs, but our campervan fit just fine in the mostly level (but rooty) sites, Obviously, good for tents. 

  There are two vault toilets – one for women and one for men. They were in reasonably clean condition. 

  Campbell Falls is just down the road from the campground and there is access to many hiking trails.

  No one other than us was there on a weekday in mid-October so it was very peaceful and quiet.

• 

  Kevin C.

  Ranger

  

  Oct. 16, 2024

  Abrams Creek Campground and Retreat Center

  Scenic and secluded

  Tented a cabin for two nights to hide from bad weather. Cabin had electric service, a microwave, electric heater, refrigerator and lights. The campground had no other guests during our stay.

  The campground is long and narrow bordering on Abrams Creek. We took daily walks to the end of the campground and enjoyed the scenic views.

  The campsite has port-a-potties for each cabin and for groups of campsites. Water was clean and had no oder.

  The only concern noted was the bath house. It was poorly lighted and made of what looked like left over materials.

  The gentleman that checked us in was a wealth of knowledge. He told us all about the campground and told us they offer an outdoor shower. Their were two outdoor shower stalls which were shower curtains next to the shower house.

• 

  Patrick C.

  Scout

  

  Oct. 15, 2024

  Mash Fork Campground — Camp Creek State Park

  Great Stay

  Stopped here for a quick overnight and this beautiful campground had us wishing we could stay longer.

• 

  Kevin C.

  Ranger

  

  Oct. 9, 2024

  Squirrel Hollow Road Camping

  Convenient off the road boondocking

  Sites are located less than a mile from the paved highway. We found 5 spots just off the road. All were easily accessible by cat or with a small teardrop trailer.

  True boondocking, haul it in, pack it out. Evidence of a cat hole in the site we picked

  Sites were quiet at night. Some traffic related to logging activity. Looks like a popular weekend camp spot for locals.

  We camped during the week and had nobody else camping on weekdays.

• 

  Casey L.

  Ranger

  

  Oct. 7, 2024

  Meadow Creek Campground — New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

  Spacious Sites with No Shade

  Nice NPS campground. There are 17 sites, all free FCFS tent only sites. We thought we’d have a hard time finding a spot on a Friday night but it was less than half full the whole 4 nights we were there. Only one vault toilet was open. Sites are flat, large and spaced out. However the trees are very newly planted so they provide no shade or privacy. Quick access to 64 and Sandstone Visitor Center. The biggest con to this is the multi-track railroad right next to the campground. They go by pretty frequently at all hours of day and night and are so loud you can feel the vibrations. But otherwise was a good base camp for exploring New River Gorge.

• 

  Ioan P.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 7, 2024

  Little Beaver State Park Campground

  Super nice

  This campground is situated in the woods, near Lake. Has a good WFI everywhere, very clean and quiet.

• 

  Snezana H.

  Traveler

  

  Oct. 7, 2024

  Camp Cacapon

  One of the best camps ever!

  We chose Sullivan’s Camp Cacapon for our first “glamping” trip, and we are so glad we did that! The camp is quiet and immaculately maintained, and it is situated in a lovely area along the river. We stayed in two brand new, enormous glamping tents. Each tent had two comfy queen-size beds, a heater, a fan, and two lamps with USB ports (a touch of luxury). The wi-fi in the camp worked very well for us, and we used it to exchange photos taken while hiking in the nearby Cacapon Resort State Park. The owners thought of everything—they even provided carts to transport your belongings to the site. The pavilion was nice and spacious, and it protected us from rain during dinner. The camp hosts were warm and friendly. We highly recommend this camp, and will be returning for sure!

• H

  Heather E.

  Guide

  

  Oct. 6, 2024

  Little Beaver State Park Campground

  Nice stop

  Nice spot to stop for a night on our way north - level private spot for our rooftop tent. Sites 38-45 have the most privacy. Check website as we were there during a fire ban.

• 

  Ioan P.

  Legend

  

  Oct. 4, 2024

  Falling Waters Campsite

  Very nice and clean

  This campground is nice, convenient for one 🌙 night, but is very tight and almost no privacy . The staff here are very friendly and nice.