I had three days for New River Gorge national park because I visited in the spring and wanted extra time in case the weather didn’t cooperate. But I found that it’s very easy to fill the days, especially once you combine some excellent nearby state parks, not all of which I even had time for!

How to Get There

I flew in and out of Charlotte, NC, which is about 3 hours away. It is not the closest airport but it made sense for my itinerary, since I had combined this trip with visiting friends and a conference in Atlanta, GA. I also I prefer non-stop flights, and this was the closest I could get to the park without a layover. If you don’t mind switching planes or you live closer, you can fly into Charleston or Beckley, both in West Virginia.

Where to Stay

I stayed in Beckley. It’s about a half-hour to the most popular part of the park. If you want to be closer to that, you can stay in Fayetteville. But given the length of the park and the location of the state parks around it, I don’t think it makes much of a difference where you stay. Beckley is bigger and will have more choices for lodging and food.

When to Go

The most popular times to visit are:

• September/October for cooler temps, changing leaves and the annual Bridge Day on the 3rd Saturday of October.
• June/August for water sports and hiking, although it can be hot and muggy
• April/May for wildflowers and higher water levels if you are whitewater rafting.

I went in mid-April and the weather was unseasonably cold, with lows in the upper 30s and highs barely in the 40s on one of the days. If you visit in Spring, plan for this variability and add extra days like I did!

3-Day Itinerary

Day 1 – Sandstone Falls and Grandview areas

This was my first day in the park and the first half of it was taken up by the drive from Charlotte. But you only need a half-day to cover this area. Start with Sandstone Falls, the widest waterfall on the New River. There is a boardwalk that takes you closer to the falls. Plan for about 30 minutes here.

On your way out, stop by the historic town of Hinton. It was established in the early 1870s as a railroad town for the Chesapeake & Ohio (C&O) railway. Its downtown was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

Your next stop will be the Sandstone Visitor Center. It opened in 2003 in what was a former schoolhouse building. You can learn about the natural and cultural history of the New River and its watershed through interactive interpretive exhibits and the 12-minute video.

Your last stop will be the Grandview area of the park. There is a visitor center here, but it’s only open seasonally from Memorial to Labor Day. There is a magnificent overlook here that providers one of the best views of the park. Don’t miss the Castle Rock Trail (1 mile, ~30 min) for its rock walls and more views of the New River. I also wanted to do the Tunnel trail (0.8 miles, ~30 min) but fog descended on the park while I was there and I skipped it.

Day 2 – Beckley, Fayette Station Road Scenic Drive, Hawk’s Nest and Babcock State Park

This is a great way to spend a day where the weather is not the best. I was dealing with very cold temperatures that day, so I decided on an indoor activity to start with. The Exhibition Coal Mine in Beckley is an excellent choice. The mine was 20 degrees warmer than the outside, and I got to learn a lot about mining and its history in the area.

Grab lunch at Tamarack Marketplace, then head to the Canyon Rim area of the park. You’ll get your first views of the New River Gorge bridge. Be sure to take the stairs for some additional viewpoints.

Drive Fayette Station Road, which was how locals crossed the New River before the bridge was built. Continue on to Hawk’s Nest State Park with stops at the visitor center and Cathedral Falls.

If you have time and stamina, add a stop at Babcock State Park and its Glade Creek Crist Mill, a replica of the mill that stood there. You can add it to day 3 if it’s too much on this already pretty packed day.

Day 3 – Bridge Walk & Hiking in the Canyon Rim area

This was the day with the best weather on my trip, and I took advantage of it!

Start you day with a walk under the New River Gorge bridge! This unique activity is not for those who are afraid of heights, but I highly recommend it for everyone else!

Afterwards, hike the two most popular hikes in the park: Endless Wall (5.5 miles, ~2 hrs) and Long Point (3 miles, ~1 hr). They start on opposite sides of the gorge.

In-between, grab lunch at Cathedral Cafe in Fayetteville. Its in a former church and the stained glass windows are amazing (and so is the food).

If you have time and didn’t go Babcock State Park the day before, now is your chance!