Campgrounds and RV parks near Belle, WV

The Kanawha and Coal rivers support flatwater paddling, tubing, and bass fishing close to town. Lazy K's Campground and Canoe Livery pairs sites with an on-site canoe livery, which shortens the logistics for a paddle day. Kanawha State Forest, a short drive from Belle, offers an extensive network of hiking and mountain-biking trails, a public swimming pool, and fishing on Middle Fork Creek and a stocked pond. Southeast of Belle, New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is the region's main draw. Whitewater rafting on the Lower Gorge covers Class IV and V rapids, and the main commercial river season runs spring through fall. Hiking, rock climbing, and views from the Canyon Rim Visitor Center round out a typical trip. Babcock, Little Beaver, and Pipestem Resort state parks add developed day-use areas.

Belle has a humid subtropical climate with warm, humid summers and cold winters that can bring snow at higher elevations nearby. Summer daytime highs typically sit in the mid-80s Fahrenheit, with afternoon thunderstorms common. Spring and fall are milder and generally the most comfortable stretches for RV camping, with cooler nights and lower humidity than midsummer. Operating seasons vary by campground and land manager. Kanawha State Forest's campground is open April through December, weather permitting, and closes in the coldest months. Many private campgrounds in the New River Gorge area operate on a similar spring-to-late-fall window. The primitive campgrounds inside New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, including Army Camp, Stone Cliff, Grandview Sandbar, Glade Creek, and War Ridge, remain open year-round on a first-come, first-served basis. Peak demand runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day, with additional pressure during fall foliage in October and around Bridge Day. Reserve well in advance for summer weekends and holiday periods, particularly at campgrounds near the New River Gorge Bridge.

Terrain around Belle is hilly and heavily wooded, and many campground access roads are narrow, gravel, or steep. Confirm road conditions and site length before arriving with a longer motorhome or trailer. Kanawha State Forest limits sites to rigs of about 26 feet or less, and the primitive campgrounds in New River Gorge National Park and Preserve generally accommodate small RVs and trailers under 25 feet. Hookup availability varies. Kanawha State Forest offers electricity and water at 25 of its 46 sites, with no sewer hookups on site but a dump station available. National park campgrounds have no hookups, and most have vault or composting toilets and no potable water, so bring your own. Full-hookup sites are more common at private campgrounds in the region. Cell service is inconsistent in the gorge and side hollows. Download maps and reservation confirmations before leaving town.