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West Virginia: the New River Gorge – Route Guide

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New River Gorge bridge — West Virginia: the New River Gorge
Photo: JaGa · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

America's newest national park is its best-kept adrenaline secret: a thousand-foot gorge under a bridge so big they close it one day a year to jump off, world-class whitewater below and 1,400 climbing routes on the Endless Wall. Fayetteville is the one-street town that outdoor magazines keep voting best in the country. Pepperoni rolls are the state's love language.

West Virginia: the New River Gorge is a 135 km one-way journey (self-drive). It works best as 2–4 days; the plan below is the 3-day version for October, built from 135 verified places, with real road-routed transit times, opening hours and daylight checked.

2–4
days
135km
distance
3
Stops
135
curated stops

Plan your own version → 2-day plan · 3-day plan · 4-day plan · best time to go

The route

Lewisburg→ 75 kmFayetteville & the Gorge→ 60 kmCharleston

What you'll see

Carnegie Hall
Explore three art galleries and enjoy live music and dance performances.
Lewisburg
Babcock State Park
Enjoy mountain vistas, trout streams, and the historic Glade Creek Grist Mill.
Fayetteville & the Gorge
West Virginia State Capitol
Admire the golden dome and historic statues on the grounds.
Charleston
Moncove Lake State Park
Relax by the lake, fish, or go boating in this peaceful state park.
Lewisburg
Hawks Nest State Park
Take in panoramic views of the Gorge and Hawks Nest Lake from a 31-room lodge.
Fayetteville & the Gorge
Craik-Patton House
You will see preserved Greek Revival architecture and period furnishings in this historic home.
Charleston
North House Museum
Discover early American life in a home built in 1820, filled with historical furnishings.
Lewisburg
New River Gorge Bridge
You will see a towering steel arch spanning the dramatic New River Gorge in the Appalachian Mountains.
Fayetteville & the Gorge

Choose your length

2-day plan12 stops · 4.6 h transit6 stops/day · 2.3 h transit/daySee the full plan →3-day plan17 stops · 5.7 h transit5.7 stops/day · 1.9 h transit/daySee the full plan →4-day plan23 stops · 7.1 h transit5.8 stops/day · 1.8 h transit/daySee the full plan →

When to go

Best months: May, June, July, August, September, October

Rafting season on the New and Gauley — fall's dam releases make the Gauley a world top-ten — and October's Bridge Day closes the span for BASE jumpers.

See the month-by-month breakdown →

Similar journeys

Plan your own version →