Visiting New River Gorge With an RV

Canyon Rim Visitor Center has dedicated RV parking for all sizes of RVs and buses.

NPS / Ruth Hammes

Recreational vehicles are a great way to travel the country and visit the national parks. At New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, we have limited RV friendly facilities. Depending on your RV's class and length, you may not be able to visit all park locations. But that won't stop you from being able to experience the park. From amazing views to beautiful hikes, there are many places you can go on your next RV adventure!

At New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, RVs are defined by their size rather than just their length and class. Check out our definitions below to learn what size RV you have so you know where you can go.

• Small RV - Anything less than 25 feet in total length.
• Medium RV - Anything less than 31.5 feet in total length.
• Large RV - Anything over 31.5 feet in total length, especially Class A RVs.

 

The beautiful views at Grandview are accessible for RV visitors.

NPS

Visitor Centers

• Canyon Rim Visitor Center - Located next to the New River Gorge Bridge, Canyon Rim Visitor Center offers dedicated RV parking for all sizes of RVs and buses. From four overlooks, visitors can enjoy beautiful views of the New River Gorge Bridge and the New River. Three overlooks are accessible and one requires walking down 178 wooden steps.The visitor center offers a free 11 minute park orientation film, a small museum, and a bookstore.

• Grandview Visitor Center - Grandview has several large overflow parking lots for all sizes of RVs, but no dedicated RV parking. The visitor center is only open seasonally and offers a small exhibit area and a bookstore. From the parking lot visitors can access multiple hiking trails that lead to overlooks, geologic formations, and forest solitude. Grandview also has several picnic shelters, grills, playgrounds, and more. Theater West Virginia offers evening drama productions during the summer at the ampitheater.

• Sandstone Visitor Center - At the southern end of the park, Sandstone Visitor Center has limited space for all sizes of RVs, but no dedicated RV parking. Medium and large RVs will find parking in the lower lot. There is a native plant garden next to the visitor center that attacts a variety of local wildlife. The visitor center offers a free 12 minute film about the New River watershed, a watershed floor mosaic, an exhibit area, and a bookstore.

• Thurmond Depot - The historic train town of Thurmond is located at the end of a narrow, winding road. Medium and large RVs are not recommended on this road. There is no place to turn around large vehicles at the depot or in town. RVs of any size should not drive across the bridge to Thurmond. Small RVs will be able to park across the river from Thurmond at the Southside parking lot. Visitors can easily walk across the bridge to access the depot and town. The depot is open seasonally and has a museum and bookstore. There is a short, 0.5 mile roundtrip walk through the historic town. A self-guided tour is available year-round on the NPS App. Physical copies are available at other visitors centers or in the dispenser outside the depot. During the summer, rangers lead daily guided walking tours at 11:00 AM.

 

Hiking

Almost all trailheads at New River Gorge National Park and Preserve have no RV parking for medium or large RVs. Small RVs may have trouble at many trailheads due to small size of the parking lots. Endless Wall, Kaymoor, and Long Point trailheads do not have any RV parking. Some Class B RVs that are no larger than an average minivan or pickup truck may be able to find parking.

The best trails that have RV parking are located in the Grandview area of the park. These trails have beautiful views of the gorge from the highest point in the park. There are 7 trails in the Grandview area ranging from easy walks through the woods to more challenging steep hikes below the sandstone cliffs of the gorge. Three of these trails are more popular and offer excellent views of the gorge and the geology of the area.

• Grandview Rim Trail
• Castle Rock Trail
• Tunnel Trail

Visitors that wish to hike other trails may considering bringing a seperate vehicle. Some nearby shuttle services may take hikers to the trailheads from their campgrounds or visitor center parking lots. RVs or trailers that are left at visitor centers must be parked outside any gates and must be returned to before dark.

 

Places like Army Camp campground can accommodate all classes of small and medium RVs.

NPS / Ruth Hammes

Camping

Primitive Campgrounds

All campgrounds are primitve with no hook-ups, electricity, potable water, flush facilities, or dump stations. There are no fees for campsites. All campsites are first-come, first-serve with no reservations available. For more information, check out our camping information page.

There are 4 campgrounds in the national park with drive-in campsites for small and medium RVs. Large RVs are not recommended at any campsite. RVs are only permitted at drive-in campsites. Camping in any day use, river access, trailhead, or walk-in campsite parking lot is prohibited.

• Army Camp
• Glade Creek
• Grandview Sandbar
• War Ridge

Campgrounds fill up very quickly, especially during the summer and on weekends. It is recommended to have a back-up plan in case there are no available campsites during your stay. Additional primitive drive-in campsites with the National Park Service are available at Gauley River National Recreation Area.

• Gauley Tailwaters

Developed Campgrounds

There are many options for developed campgrounds located near New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. These campgrounds may offer a variety of amenities including hook-ups, showers, dump stations, WiFi, and more. Size of campsites, price, and availability may vary. Check out the links below for more information.

• Visit Southern West Virginia
• New River Gorge Convention and Visitors Bureau.
• West Virginia State Parks
• Army Corp of Engineers Summersville Lake Battle Run Campground

 

Some small RVs may enjoy driving the scenic Fayette Station Road.

NPS

Driving

Major roads including highways and interstates are used to access most popular areas in the park. Some park destinations will require driving on narrow, winding roads, some of which are not paved. These destinations do not accomodate all RV sizes. Visitors in RVs may consider bringing a second vehicle or scheduling a shuttle service if possible.

• African American Heritage Tour - Some locations on this tour are accessible to small and medium RVs, but others require driving on winding backroads.

• Fayette Station Road Scenic Driving Tour - Any RV over 12 feet in height may not drive Fayette Station Road due to a low clearance bridge. The sharp curves may cause trouble for some small RVs. Medium to large RVs are not recommended.

• Nuttallburg - Keeney's Creek Road is a narrow, one-lane, two-way traffice part gravel part paved road. This road is not recommended for any RVs.

• Sandstone Falls - The final portion of River Road to Sandstone Falls is narrow with no yellow line and limited passing space. Parking at the falls is limited and unable to accomodate most RVs. Only small RVs are recommended at Sandstone Falls. Medium and Large RVs are not recommended.

• Thurmond - Thurmond Road is narrow and winding with no yellow line for the final portion. There is no RV parking at the depot and town. Medium and large RVs are not recommended. The bridge across the New River is narrow and there is no place to turn around large vehicles at the depot or in town. RVs of any size should not drive across this bridge. Small RVs will be able to park across the river from Thurmond at the Southside parking lot. Visitors can easily walk across the bridge to access the depot and town.

 

• 

  Canyon Rim Visitor Center

  Canyon Rim Visitor Center sits on the edge of the gorge by the New River Gorge Bridge.

• 

  Grandview Visitor Center

  The Grandview Visitor Center overlooks the deepest part of the gorge.

• 

  Grandview Area Trails

  Grandview area trails offer spectacular views, rock formations, and woodlands.