Campgrounds and RV parks near East Bank, WV

Whitewater rafting is the headline activity. The New River Gorge is a whitewater paddling and rock climbing paradise, with the Lower Gorge featuring large, challenging Class IV and V rapids on the north end of the river, and the Upper New offering calmer Class I through III water suitable for families. Livery operators along the corridor, including Lazy K's Campground and Canoe Livery, run guided trips and shuttle service. Climbers come for the sandstone cliffs above the gorge, and Fayetteville serves as the trailhead town. Mountain biking, hiking to overlooks such as Long Point and Endless Wall, and photo stops at the New River Gorge Bridge, which spans the canyon as the western hemisphere's longest steel span and rises 876 feet, are all within a short drive. Anglers target smallmouth and largemouth bass, walleye, and catfish on the New and Kanawha. A West Virginia fishing license is required and can be purchased short-term for visitors.

The camping season in this part of West Virginia runs roughly mid April through late October at most developed sites. The Babcock State Park campground, for example, is open from the third Friday in April through the fourth Monday in October, weather permitting. Spring brings cool temperatures and new growth to the gorge, campgrounds are generally quiet aside from spring break and Memorial Day crowds, and high water on the New River creates strong whitewater and impressive waterfall displays. Expect muddy trails and swollen creeks in April and May. Summer is peak season. Weekends fill quickly at private parks near Fayetteville, and campsites in the park are first-come, first-served and can fill by afternoon, especially on summer Fridays or holiday weekends. Book private sites well in advance for Memorial Day, July 4, and Labor Day. Fall is prime time for RV travelers: leaf color peaks in mid to late October, and Bridge Day, held on the third Saturday in October, draws large crowds and closes the New River Gorge Bridge to vehicle traffic. Winter camping is possible but sparse. Nights can drop near 20 degrees Fahrenheit, so any winter trip needs ample warm gear and a reliable heat source.

Terrain is steep and wooded. Many roads into gorge-rim campgrounds are narrow with tight switchbacks, and the park recommends smaller rigs for its own sites. Army Camp, for instance, has 11 tent and RV sites suitable for smaller RVs under 25 feet, with no amenities. Large fifth-wheels and Class A motorhomes are better suited to private parks with pull-through sites. Cell service is absent at most park campgrounds, and with no lights around, nights are very dark, so bring a good flashlight or headlamp. Download offline maps before arriving, and expect a short drive from most campgrounds to the nearest full grocery store in Fayetteville, Oak Hill, or Beckley. Wildlife includes black bear, so store food in hard-sided vehicles or bear boxes. Ticks and biting insects are active from late spring through early fall.