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Best Campgrounds near Charleston, WV

451 Reviews

Within an hour's drive from Charleston, West Virginia, you'll find several good camping spots that range from basic to well-equipped. The American Alpine Club Patrick W. campground sits close to the New River Gorge National Park and has the basics you need while giving you quick access to hiking trails. New River National Park camping includes good spots for fishing and kayaking with nice views of the surrounding landscape. You should check on current fire restrictions and get any required permits before you head out to camp. Some camping areas have rough roads, and you might need a vehicle with higher clearance to reach them. The campground near New River Gorge National Park makes a great base if you want to spend time exploring the park. It's smart to book ahead during busy times since the best spots fill up fast. Weather around Charleston can change quickly, with big temperature swings sometimes happening in a single day. Keep these things in mind when planning your trip to the Charleston area.

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Best Camping Sites Near Charleston, West Virginia (83)

    1. Kanawha State Forest

    26 Reviews
    Hernshaw, WV
    7 miles
    Website
    +1 (304) 558-3500

    $35 - $40 / night

    "Kanawha state forest is nestled in the mountainous Hills of West by God Virginia right on the outskirts of Charleston. There is plenty of hiking in Kanawha state forest."

    "This place is about a 10 minute drive from downtown Charleston, some really beautiful trails and great for mountain biking. Decent amenities as well."

    2. Saint Albans Roadside Park

    11 Reviews
    St. Albans, WV
    11 miles
    Website
    +1 (304) 722-4625

    "The City of Saint Albans has a roadside park with three RV sites where you can camp for 2-days max in a 14-day period.  The sites are first-come, first-serve, with donations encouraged. "

    "Albans roadside park is for pull behind campers only. No tents allowed. About 6-7 sites for campers."

    3. Rippling Waters Church of God Campgrounds

    5 Reviews
    Victor, WV
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (304) 988-2607

    $55 - $155 / night

    "We tent camp, but walking around, the camping trailers did not appear to be crowded together. For us this is a fantastic place to overnight and will return again when traveling through the area!!"

    "We had a pull thru site by the lake, it had to be about 100 yards long and nicely graveled."

    4. New River Campground

    14 Reviews
    Gauley Bridge, WV
    27 miles
    Website
    +1 (304) 632-9821

    $30 - $40 / night

    "I told them I did not have these capabilities in my rig and they gave me sole access to the handicapped shower."

    "The owner goes around the campground at 430p offering firewood for $5/bundle. The view from our full hookup campsite is hands down amazing!! We're situated directly on the New River in Gauley Bridge."

    5. Huntington / Fox Fire KOA

    19 Reviews
    Ona, WV
    30 miles
    Website
    +1 (304) 743-5622

    "It has very close proximity to I-64 in West Virginia, and you can hear the traffic pretty clearly."

    "The area is safe and right near the nicest little towns (barboursville and hurricane) which have all the restaurants and shopping you’d need."

    6. Rifrafters Campground

    30 Reviews
    Fayetteville, WV
    35 miles
    Website
    +1 (304) 564-1065

    $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."

    7. Little Coal River Campground

    1 Review
    Alum Creek, WV
    16 miles
    Website
    +1 (304) 369-1951

    $20 - $110 / night

    "This is across the main highway from the water ways water park. Others camp here to be close to the Hatfield McCoy ATV trail system."

    8. FMC Sportsman's Club

    2 Reviews
    Winfield, WV
    19 miles
    Website
    +1 (304) 757-1165

    "We Stayed on a temporary tent site right beside the bigger lake on the property. There are three lakes total."

    9. Christenberry's Campground

    Be the first to review!
    Victor, WV
    10 miles

    10. Chestnut Creek Campground

    20 Reviews
    Lansing, WV
    36 miles
    Website

    $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."

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Recent Camping Photos near Charleston, WV

159 Photos of 83 Charleston Campgrounds

Recent Reviews near Charleston, WV

451 Reviews of 83 Charleston Campgrounds

  • TThe Dyrt PRO User
    Sep. 6, 2025

    Kanawha State Forest

    Beautiful surroundings

    Had an overnight stay here on our way to Red River Gorge. This was a nice stop. Fairly quiet with the exception of an annoying dog that barked incessantly and the campers across from us that had to jump in their car and drive full speed to nowhere every 20 minutes. All night long…. Pick up your firewood elsewhere unless you prefer absurdly small bundles at $8.49 per. We had site 31. Some sites are on the small side. Big rigs beware. All in all, a good spot to rest and enjoy some tree therapy.

  • Renee N.
    Aug. 18, 2025

    The Outpost at New River Gourge

    The Outpost New River Gorge

    First the good: Reservation with Map and Site assignment easy pick up. Bathrooms clean and extremely modern. Quiet and very few mosquitos. Then, the not so great. Sites really tight, all large gravel, clean but really ugly. Right on road. Some Sites no shade.

  • MThe Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 16, 2025

    Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine Campground

    Off The Beaten Path!

    Small city RV park adjacent to the Coal Mine museum. Nothing fancy, but quiet, full hookups, paved sites with trees & lots of shade, picnic table, fire pit & grill. Property was well maintained. You drive through an older neighborhood on a narrow road. Lots of bigger rigs there so not really an issue. Called & made reservations through the museum gift shop the day of on a Friday in August & they had plenty of spaces. The ladies in the gift shop were friendly & very helpful. The museum was very interesting & they have tours that go into the mine along with houses & buildings of the era. Definitely would stay again.

  • Cassondra P.The Dyrt PRO User
    Aug. 5, 2025

    Rifrafters Campground

    Great Campground

    We stopped for 2 nights as part of a big cross country trip

    The campground is clean and well maintained

    It is very much built into a big hill- I was a little worried our Avion (similar to airstream) that had low clearance would bottom out as we came in and out of entrance hill to road but we had no issue

    The bathrooms were clean and well maintained

    We stayed on site 9 which we liked - very easy to get in and out of

    Staff were friendly

    Area was gorgeous!

  • A
    Aug. 2, 2025

    Gauley Tailwaters Campground — Gauley River National Recreation Area

    Camp ground

    This place provides an amazing view of the gauley river just below the dam! You can hike trails to the river, even to a beautiful swimming spot just below the dam and camping sites! The views are beautiful anywhere you go and there is a gave located right above the campsites that’s beautiful to view from outside! Unknown safety on air quality or safety do not prefer going in! A park a little drive up the road right along with a swimming spot off from the beach at the lake that is perfect for kids and families! Everyone is very kind and welcoming and very helpful! If you are a beginning camper this will be an amazing spot to camp

  • Sienna L.
    Jul. 24, 2025

    Chestnut Creek Campground

    Wonderful Hidden Gem

    This campground was perfect for what we needed for a 2 night stay. It was 15 dollars per person per night. 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. It was quiet with just faint noise from the highway, but not very noticeable. This campground is less than a mile from the Canyon Rim Visitor Center and the Bridge and only 15 minutes from Summerville Lake! We would definitely stay here again!

  • Nick C.
    Jul. 23, 2025

    Mountain Lake Campground and Cabins

    Great spot with Kids

    We took site 269 for the proximity to one of the little playgrounds and easy walk to bathrooms. We had a great time and it was easy to let our 3 year old play while we setup. Nice little trail near bath house gets you down to the beach.

  • A
    Jul. 21, 2025

    Saint Albans Roadside Park

    Sweet spot!

    Wonderful overnight stop. Free electricity (30 amp). 3 spots available, first come first serve, no reservation. 2 nights max.

Guide to Charleston

Camping near Charleston, West Virginia, offers a mix of beautiful scenery and outdoor activities. Whether you're looking for a family-friendly spot or a quiet getaway, there are several campgrounds to choose from.

What to do:

  • Explore New River Gorge National Park: This park is a must-visit for hiking and whitewater rafting. One camper mentioned, “Rifrafters is a wonderful family-run campground that was the perfect location for us to explore New River Gorge NP and the surrounding area.”
  • Hiking Trails: Many campgrounds, like Kanawha State Forest, have trails popular with mountain bikers. A visitor noted, “This state forest is expansive with lots of trails popular with mountain bikers.”
  • Visit Historic Towns: Check out the nearby town of Thurmond, known for its rich history. One camper shared, “Thurmond is a great little historical train town with a nice visitor's center.”

What campers like:

  • Clean Facilities: Campers appreciate well-maintained restrooms and showers. A review for Babcock State Park stated, “The bathhouse is centrally located and there is a very nice playground area.”
  • Friendly Staff: Many campgrounds have helpful staff. A visitor at Chestnut Creek Campground said, “Owner is nice and helpful. He gave me good advice on what to see and cool uncommon attractions.”
  • Secluded Sites: Campers enjoy the privacy offered by many sites. One review for Little Beaver State Park mentioned, “We chose a shaded pull-thru spot that had a gravel pad with 30 amp electric and water.”

What you should know:

  • Limited Amenities: Some campgrounds, like Grandview Sandbar, do not have drinking water or electric hookups. A camper noted, “Campground is free, but you have to bring your own water.”
  • Road Conditions: Access roads can be narrow and winding. A visitor at Kanawha State Forest mentioned, “It is a bit challenging to reach with a large(ish) van like ours.”
  • First-Come, First-Serve: Many sites operate on a first-come, first-serve basis. A camper at Glade Creek Campground advised, “Get there early to make sure you get a spot.”

Tips for camping with families:

  • Kid-Friendly Activities: Look for campgrounds with playgrounds and hiking trails. A review for Babcock State Park highlighted, “The staff are also friendly and attentive. We enjoyed several of the hiking trails and other features like the historic Grist Mill.”
  • Pack Snacks: Bring plenty of snacks and drinks, especially if you're heading to remote campgrounds. One camper at Forked Run State Park mentioned, “Not many sites are level. Most patrons seem to be local - weekends full of loud music and drinking.”
  • Plan for Quiet Time: Some campgrounds can get noisy, so plan activities that allow for downtime. A visitor at Rifrafters Campground noted, “It was very peaceful and quiet at night.”

Tips from RVers:

  • Check Site Sizes: Make sure your RV fits the site before booking. A camper at Forked Run State Park warned, “Ensure your rig can fit into your selected site prior to booking as sites can be small and hilly.”
  • Use Electric Hookups: Look for campgrounds with electric hookups for convenience. A review for Huntington / Fox Fire KOA mentioned, “The sites have great electric and water.”
  • Be Prepared for Noise: Some campgrounds are near highways or railroads. A visitor at Huntington / Fox Fire KOA noted, “There is car and truck noise all day long and all night too.”

Camping around Charleston, WV, has something for everyone, from families to RV enthusiasts. Just remember to plan ahead and enjoy the great outdoors!

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there good tent camping options around Charleston, West Virginia?

Tent campers have several excellent options near Charleston. Babcock State Park Campground offers fantastic tent sites with soft ground and good tree coverage, making it ideal for tent camping. The park is known for its spectacular trails and famous grist mill. For a more unique experience, Tawney Farm provides primitive camping on farmland with proximity to the Gauley River, making it perfect for tent campers who enjoy a more rustic setting. Both locations offer scenic surroundings and outdoor recreation opportunities within reasonable driving distance from Charleston.

What state parks with camping are located near Charleston, WV?

Several state parks with camping facilities are located within driving distance of Charleston. Beech Fork State Park offers both primitive and RV sites through its Moxley Branch Campground, providing a reliable camping destination that has pleased visitors for years. Cabwaylingo State Forest, though off the beaten path, is worth the drive as one of West Virginia's oldest state parks, built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Other state park options include Kanawha State Forest just outside Charleston and Babcock State Park, all offering varied camping experiences with hiking trails and recreational activities.

Where are the best campgrounds near Charleston, WV?

Charleston offers several excellent camping options within easy driving distance. Kanawha State Forest sits right on the outskirts of Charleston and features plenty of hiking trails and an Olympic-sized outdoor swimming pool during summer months. For those willing to venture a bit farther, Huntington / Fox Fire KOA provides more amenities for vacationers with close proximity to I-64. Additional options include Rippling Waters Church of God Campgrounds near Kenna and New River Campground near Gauley Bridge, both offering various facilities and accessibility options for different camping styles.

Can I find lakeside camping near Charleston, West Virginia?

Yes, there are excellent lakeside camping options within driving distance of Charleston. Battle Run on Summersville Lake offers camping with easy access to water activities including hiking, fishing, swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, and white water rafting. This campground is perfect for water enthusiasts looking for adventure. Mountain Lake Campground and Cabins also provides camping near Summersville Lake, known for its clear waters and stunning visual features. While Summersville Lake Shelters doesn't offer camping directly, these nearby options make lake camping accessible for those traveling from Charleston.

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