Camping at New River Gorge: 9 NPS Campgrounds Open Year-Round

By David Sanchez · Data: National Park Service · ← Complete guide New River Gorge

The short version: The NPS runs 9 campgrounds in the park, with 80 sites in all. They're all open year-round. Most operate on a first-come, first-served basis and have no published fees. Burnwood Group Campsite is the only exception, with a $75 fee. Dispersed backcountry camping is allowed with a free permit.

Campgrounds in the park (9)

• Campground Stone Cliff first come, first served · 7 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Army Camp first come, first served · 11 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Burnwood Group Campsite see NPS · 1 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Brooklyn Campground first come, first served · 5 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Grandview Sandbar first come, first served · 16 sites Directions ↗
• Campground War Ridge/Backus Mountain Campground first come, first served · 8 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Glade Creek Campground first come, first served · 11 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Thayer Campground first come, first served · 4 sites Directions ↗
• Campground Meadow Creek Campground first come, first served · 17 sites Directions ↗

Show interactive map Base map © OpenStreetMap · © CARTO

Can you camp inside New River Gorge?

Yes. The NPS offers 9 campgrounds across the park, with 80 sites in all. They're open year-round, with no seasonal closures. Almost all are first-come, first-served, so there's no reservation to manage, but there's no guarantee of a site during busy periods either.

Dispersed backcountry camping is also allowed across most of the park, with a free permit required. The park is open 24 hours a day, which gives you some flexibility if you arrive late.

Spontaneous camping outside an assigned site isn't allowed in developed areas.

Campgrounds in the park

Glade Creek Campground

Glade Creek Campground has 11 sites, including 6 tent-only sites. It's first-come, first-served, with no published fee, and accepts vehicles up to 31 feet long. Amenities include restrooms and cell service. The campground is open year-round.

It isn't the largest campground in the park, but it's one of the better options for vehicle campers in this section of the gorge.

Other areas

The park has 8 other campgrounds spread across several distinct areas.

Meadow Creek Campground is the park's largest, with 17 sites. It's first-come, first-served, with no published fee. Amenities include restrooms and cell service. The NPS doesn't publish a vehicle-length restriction for this site.

Grandview Sandbar has 16 sites, including 6 tent-only sites. RVs up to 31 feet are allowed. It's first-come, first-served, with no published fee.

Army Camp has 11 sites and allows RVs up to 31 feet. It's first-come, first-served, with no published fee.

War Ridge/Backus Mountain Campground has 8 sites and a stricter length limit. RVs can be up to 25 feet. It's first-come, first-served.

Stone Cliff (7 sites, tents only), Brooklyn Campground (5 sites, tents only), and Thayer Campground (4 sites, tents only) round out the options for campers without motorized vehicles.

Burnwood Group Campsite is the park's only reservable site. It has one group site at $75 per night, with restrooms, drinking water, and cell service. It's the only option that guarantees you a site in advance.

RV or tent: which site should you choose?

The park's NPS campgrounds have no electric, water, or sewer hookups. Several sites are tent-only (Stone Cliff, Brooklyn, and Thayer), while others have length limits: 25 feet at War Ridge/Backus Mountain, and 31 feet at Grandview Sandbar, Army Camp, and Glade Creek. Large RVs that need hookups will be better served by private campgrounds around the park.

Tent campers have plenty of choices: 8 of the 9 campgrounds allow tents, including several tent-only sites. For RVs under 31 feet that don't need hookups, Grandview Sandbar (16 sites) and Army Camp (11 sites) are practical year-round options.

The New River Gorge RV camping guide lists RV parks with hookups in the area.

Camping nearby: private campgrounds outside the park

There are plenty of private campgrounds around the park, especially near Fayetteville.

American Alpine Club Campground: This campground has long been popular with the climbing community. It offers private tent sites, vehicle sites, and a communal camping area, with a bathhouse on-site. It's a well-established choice for climbers staying several days.

Adventures on the Gorge: An adventure resort overlooking the gorge, with RV and camping sites. The practical advantage is direct access to the rafting and climbing operators on-site.

For lodges and hotels, the New River Gorge lodging guide covers all the options.

Dispersed and backcountry camping (permit required)

The NPS allows dispersed camping across most of the park. A free permit is required. Pick one up at a visitor center (Canyon Rim or Sandstone, open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) or get one online through the NPS website before you leave.

Follow these rules:

• Camp at least 330 feet from any waterway, trail, or road.
• Campfires are not allowed outside designated areas.
• Follow Leave No Trace principles strictly. Everything you bring into the park must leave with you.

The New River Gorge hiking guide details backcountry routes and the areas best suited to self-sufficient camping.

How and when to reserve a campsite at New River Gorge

Only one NPS campground takes reservations: Burnwood Group Campsite, at $75 per night through Recreation.gov. The other 8 campgrounds are first-come, first-served, with no reservations available.

For these open campgrounds, arrive early during busy periods. The April and May weekends during climbing season, along with September and October, draw most of the crowds. Bridge Day Festival, held on the third Saturday in October, brings tens of thousands of visitors to the New River Gorge Bridge. If you're planning to be there that weekend, arrive the day before and give yourself plenty of extra time.

On weekdays and in the off-season (January and February), the campgrounds are usually quiet.

Rates: how much does a night of camping at New River Gorge cost?

Nearly all of the park's NPS campgrounds have no published rate, and camping may be free. The only known exception is Burnwood Group Campsite, which costs $75 per night for the group site and requires a reservation.

The park doesn't charge an entrance fee, so if you're visiting only to camp, your night may cost nothing outside of Burnwood.

For entrance fees and annual passes, see the National Parks fees and passes page.

Camping safety and best practices

Appalachian weather changes fast. July is the hottest and wettest month, and severe thunderstorms can develop in the late afternoon without warning. Always pack a rain jacket, even when the morning starts clear.

Black bears: They're present in the park. ALWAYS store food in a bear canister or in your locked car trunk. Never in your tent, and never where a bear can reach it. The same rule applies to toiletries, toothpaste, and deodorant.

River: The New River may look calm, but its current can be deceptive, especially after rain. Don't ford it without checking the water level with the visitor center first.

Snakes: Timber rattlesnakes frequent rocky areas and gorge slopes. Watch where you put your hands and feet when descending to the campgrounds.

Which campground is right for you?

For the best seasonal window, the When to visit New River Gorge guide highlights the periods that work best for different itineraries. And to plan your entire trip, our complete New River Gorge guide is the place to start.

Frequently asked questions