New River Gorge RV Trip Planner

One of those RV destinations that seems easy until you begin to plan the actual drive is New River Gorge. Fayetteville is in the vicinity of US-19. The New River Gorge Bridge is right there. The map of the park indicates visitor centers, overlooks, river access, trailheads, and campgrounds, in what seems a relatively simple loop.

Then the RV details emerge; primitive in-park campgrounds, narrow gorge roads, limited parking at trailheads, gravel roads, low clearance issues, and a well-known scenic drive that is no simple big rig road, as well as gateway towns that might be more convenient for base camping than the park itself.

This New River Gorge RV trip planner revolves around the most important aspect of the trip: where the rig sleeps and where it shouldn’t sleep. The gorge is definitely worth the drive in a motorhome, travel trailer, fifth wheel, camper van or truck camper. But, the best New River Gorge RV route is not always the first one suggested by a car-map app. The basecamp is planned, you know your true length and height, you leave scenic roads optional, and you allow yourself daylight for each unknown approach.

Use this guide along with RoadReviewer’s RV-safe route planning guide if you’re planning a longer trip along the Appalachian route.

Is New River Gorge RV Friendly?

Best short answer by rig size

Yes, New River Gorge can be RV friendly, but it’s a rapidly changing landscape, depending on size.

The smallest RVs (those less than 25 feet) are the most versatile. There are more parking areas available for campervans, truck campers, short Class B rigs and compact Class C motorhomes to use, and some drive-in primitive campsites which larger rigs should avoid.

Medium-sized RVs (those less than 31.5 feet) can certainly still make a strong trip, but there’s a catch – they’ll have to be selective. Options that may work are Canyon Rim Visitor Center, Grandview, private RV parks and a few primitive campgrounds; caution is advised for many trailheads and river access roads.

A basecamp-first plan is recommended for large RVs (those larger than 31.5 feet), particularly for those with Class A motorhomes, long fifth wheels, or travel-trailers. Traveling with a big rig to every overlook, trailhead, river access and scenic road is not something to be expected. If you own a big rig, RV camping near New River Gorge National Park is easier from one of the private campgrounds or RV parks in Fayetteville, Oak Hill, Beckley, Summersville or other gateway communities.

The number of importance is the total length, not just the model name. 28 feet of trailer behind a pickup is not a 28 foot setup on a tight gorge road. If you’re towing, determine the total length of the combination and the loaded weight. Check load, tow, braking confidence and everything else before making long, steep Appalachian grades and narrow access roads.

Why the gorge is not a simple car-map destination

Slow is the key to planning this RV trip, since New River Gorge is located along a deep river corridor. A short map distance may include grades, curves, narrow pavement, minimal shoulders, gravel or dirt campground roads and parking lots that were never designed for a long trailer.

The largest planning pitfalls are well known:

• Assuming that the visitor center, trailhead and river access point are all treated the same, with regard to RV parking.

• Expecting the primitive New River Gorge National Park to be a developed RV resort.
• Allowing a scenic-drive list to persuade you to go down Fayette Station Road without determining the height, length, curves and trailer handling.
• Arriving after dark on a remote campground road with low tanks, no water plan, and no backup.

The gorge is RV friendly. It is just honest. Which version of the trip makes sense is up to your rig.

Choose the basecamp first, then the viewpoint

Work out from the overnight plan. First determine where the RV will be able to sleep, dump, refill and park safely. Next, pick the bridge views, hikes, rafting, Fayetteville meals, Grandview, Sandstone Falls, Thurmond and scenic drives around that base.

That’s the discipline that applies to any eastern mountain area, whether it’s navigating the Blue Ridge Parkway RV trip planner, pacing the overlook in Shenandoah National Park RV trip planner, or planning tighter roads through the Appalachian Mountains like the Great Smoky Mountains RV trip planner.

Best New River Gorge RV Basecamps

In-park primitive campgrounds are not RV resorts, they are good for the right rig

New River Gorge National Park campgrounds are considered primitive camping, unless otherwise stated in the current official guidance. According to current NPS camping information, the park campgrounds are primitive, meaning no drinking water, no hookups, no electricity and limited restroom facilities, no developed campgrounds in the park, and sites are first come, first-served. The park also mentions that campgrounds are located on maintained gravel or dirt roads and are somewhat remote from gas stations, groceries and markets, several miles away.

That’s not to say that New River Gorge primitive camping is a bad thing. It can be a fun experience for the right campervan, truck camper, or small to medium RV, with great tank capacity, that arrives in daylight. That error is believing that a national park campground implies paved loops, hookups, dump stations, potable water, bathhouses, campground reservations, and a large rig that can be easily maneuvered.

Drive-in campsites for RVs are the only ones to consider. Avoid using trailhead lots, day use areas, river access lots, walk-in camp site parking and visitor center parking as makeshift overnight parking. When seeking New River Gorge campgrounds RV access, please check the particular campground, road approach, type of site, and NPS rules before driving on Park roads.

Fayetteville and Oak Hill RV parks

Many travelers prefer the cleanest default: Fayetteville WV RV camping or private camping in the Oak Hill area. This is the perfect area for access to the bridges, Canyon Rim Visitor Center, rafting, restaurants, groceries, dump access, showers, and laundry, and a realistic New River Gorge family RV trip.

Private New River Gorge RV parks and campground operators might provide hookups, showers, dump stations, wifi, laundry, cabins, rafting packages, and better check-in procedures. Each operator has different specific details, so please check your specific site, hookups, length fit, parking for tow vehicle, cancellation policy, and arrival window with them prior to booking. Not all “campgrounds” close to the gorge are full-service RV parks, nor are all full-service RV parks equipped to accommodate all types and lengths of configurations.

Fayetteville and Oak Hill are particularly convenient for those who wish to leave the RV and use a smaller vehicle, shuttle or outfitter for trails and river access. That one decision will cut the stress in half on the trip.

Basecamp in Beckley, Summersville, and throughout gateway areas

For those of you with larger rigs, or traveling who wants more services in town, or RVers who are traveling on I-64 and I-77, then Beckley makes sense. It’s more distant from the bridge area, but maybe it’s a more familiar travel day reset, chain hotels for guests, repairs, and groceries, and easier fueling.

Summersville is good for a trip involving Summersville Lake, Gauley River country or a northern approach. It’s also a great alternative wide basecamp for larger RVs if you’re at an RV location where space is limited during summer weekends in Fayetteville.

Not all the basecamps are the same, and often the closest point on a map is not the best option. It’s the location at which your rig fits, your services are performed and your day journeys are viable.

Decide whether to camp using primitive facilities or full hookups

Before you commit, follow this decision framework:

• If your RV is small, your tanks are full, you’re able to arrive in daylight, you don’t require any hookups, and you have another plan in place in case first-come sites are full, then you should select primitive in-park camping.
• If you require air conditioning, pets require consistent cooling, laundry facilities, showers, traveling with children, dump station or a large rig, select a private RV park.
• If you are building a West Virginia RV trip planner route via I-64, I-77, US-19, Summersville Lake, or another Appalachian destination, select a larger gateway basecamp.

I’d prefer to see a safe private basecamp with relaxed use of the park days rather than a forced primitive site where every tank and every road and parking choice is a hassle for first time visitors.

New River Gorge Roads, Size Limits and RV Cautions

New River Gorge RV length restrictions start with knowing the size class of your RV

The NPS RV guidance for New River Gorge categorizes RVs based on total length: small RVs are less than 25 feet; medium RVs are less than 31.5 feet; and large RVs are greater than 31.5 feet, particularly Class A motorhomes.

This definition is important because it is consistent with the way the park acts. Sometimes small RVs can function like super-sized cars. There is a need for parking discipline in medium RVs. Don’t drive a large RV onto the road at trailheads or rivers just because they’re paved.

An additional check is required for towables. Record the length of the trailer, length of the truck, length of combination, height, width and loaded weight. Swing, backing and turn radius can all play a factor in a long truck and trailer being more difficult than a shorter motorhome.

Fayette Station Road RV caution

Fayette Station Road is the “scenic drive” that everyone inquires about. It is historic, dramatic, and tempting, for this drops down from the bridge area to the level of the river, goes across the gorge, and rises back out. Current NPS information states it is an 8 mile one way road (about 30-45 minutes), with pullouts and views of the New River Gorge Bridge.

It’s also the only road that RV discipline is really necessary. A low-clearance railroad bridge precludes the ability of vehicles taller than 12 feet to traverse it to complete the tour, NPS says. Trailers are not recommended and the same NPS advisory states that trailers may have some trouble with railroad tracks and hairpin curves.

That should set the tone of your plan: Fayette Station Road RV travel is not something that you need to check off with a large rig. If you are interested in driving, check with Canyon Rim Visitor Center on restrictions, determine your actual height, and ride in a smaller vehicle when possible. Not every New River Gorge scenic drive RV idea is safe for the rig.

Access roads and trailhead parking for rivers

Not all New River Gorge trailheads and river access locations are suitable for large-RVs. NPS RV guidance indicates that almost all trailheads are without medium or large RV parking, and small RV parking may be difficult due to small lots. Endless Wall, Kaymoor, and Long Point are mentioned explicitly as being No RV parking, although minivan/classb pickup size rigs may fit in spot when space is available.

Thurmond is another weakness. The road is narrow, has a twist and turn at the depot and town and is not suitable for large vehicles, including RVs, which should not drive across the bridge to Thurmond. Sandstone Falls isn’t easy to care for either; the last stretch of the road is small and has few passing spots, and there isn’t enough room for most RVs to park at the falls.

The practical plan is simple. Please park the RV where it is supposed to be parked. Tight trailheads and river access via tow vehicle, passenger car, shuttle, outfitter or smaller van.

The approach routes are I-64, I-77, US-19 and Fayetteville

US-19 is the primary pathway and spine for many visitors to the bridge area, with I-64 and I-77 extending to the Beckley area and the greater southern West Virginia corridor. Make it not a blind GPS exercise. Before leaving for your trip, call NPS for alerts, state road conditions, campground directions, and construction.

Take care of gas, groceries, propane and dumping before leaving the larger corridors. Once you begin to seek a river access point, a primitive campground or a scenic road, there are very few choices.

New River Gorge Campgrounds and RV Services

Check the following before you book or drive in

Please check prior to making any New River Gorge RV camping reservation:

• Total site length and total combination length.

Back-in vs. pull-through layout.

• Road surface and Campground Access Grades.

Electric, water, sewer, dump station and potable water. Generator rules, quiet hours and fire restrictions. Availability of bathroom, laundry and trash. Tow Vehicle parking and Additional Vehicle Rules.

• Pet policy and heating and cooling schedule.
• Check-in window, late-arrival process and cancellation policy.
• Current closures, alerts and season restrictions.

For in-park sites, presume lack of services until information from the NPS can be found. For private campgrounds, check the specific campground type, not the campground name.

Hookups, water, dump stations and tank strategy

New River Gorge camping with hookups is usually off the park, at private campgrounds or state/private facilities within the area. Primitive camping inside the Park is a matter of tank discipline. Come with fresh water, empty waste tanks, charged batteries and a trash plan, food storage plan, and toilet plan.

If you are staying more than one night without services, record your true range of your tank. Families, four-legged friends, sweltering temps, dirty gear, and rafting days can consume a lot of water! What might work for one van may not work for a family trailer without a dump/refill strategy.

Gas, groceries, propane, repairs and cell phone service

Make the gateway communities like Fayetteville, Oak Hill, Beckley, Summersville, etc. service stops, not service ends. Fill up gas before smaller roads. Have the groceries purchased prior to entering remote campground areas. If your furnace, fridge or tow setup is marginal, make sure to have propane and repair options confirmed before a weekend.

Cell coverage along the river corridor and in Appalachian features can vary. Download offline maps, campground reservations, NPS information and operator contact information before you head down to the gorge.

Best Time to Visit New River Gorge in an RV

Spring and fall weather and crowd control are the best

For many RVers, their best months of the year are the spring and fall. Temperatures are typically more pleasant than during the hottest parts of the summer, hikes are more enjoyable, and shoulder-season camping puts less strain on air conditioning and generators. Busy weekends, less daylight and packed campgrounds, but fall color can make the gorge spectacular.

Spring or fall provide your family with the best chance to enjoy a comfortable night’s rest, an easier hike, and less pressure from pets on a first New River Gorge RV trip.

Summer is the time of rafting energy, humidity and busy weekends

If rafting is a big part of the trip, summer is a good time to consider. It is also a time when humidity, thunderstorms, full campgrounds and weekend crowds are more important. Primitive camping may not be the necessary solution when you are looking for air conditioning for pets, children or sleep; a private RV park with verified power may be a better fit.

Be early, don’t haul a big RV to crowded trailheads, allow extra time for rafting matters and wet gear.

If you’re traveling during the winter or early spring, keep an eye on road conditions

Services, weather, road conditions and daylight are more important in winter and early spring, when they can be quiet and beautiful. Cold weather, icy roads, icy campgrounds and shorter hours can shift the mood of the trip in an instant.

When traveling in winter, play safe: arrive during the daylight hours; confirm availability of campgrounds; check NPS alerts; and have a contingency plan to stay out of the park overnight.

A Practical 2-4 Day New River Gorge RV Itinerary

Day 1: arrival, rig setup and visit Canyon Rim

Intentionally make the first day BORING. Filling up, grocery shopping, dumping if necessary, checking in, leveling, road checks, and daylight time to check in with the area.

Stop at Canyon Rim Visitor Center for bridge views, if time permits. Canyon Rim has special RV/bus parking, according to current NPS RV guidance. At the overlook and boardwalks, listen and seek out the advice of today’s rangers; if you are interested in Fayette Station Road ask for specific information.

Day 2 is all about bridge views, Fayetteville and a rig-safe scenic plan

On the second day, highlight the bridge area, Fayetteville, short hikes as appropriate to parking location and a realistic scenic plan. Fayette Station Road may be considered if conditions are favorable and you have a smaller vehicle. If you only have a large motorhome or trailer, leave it alone and do not get your rig in trouble.

This also is a suitable day for rafting arrangements, food, the bridge walk zone (if it’s of interest to you), and a less stressful return to camp before dark.

The 3rd day is a river, rafting, Grandview, or Sandstone day

Select one predominant direction. Don’t attempt to squeeze all the gorges into one RV day!

NPS notes several large overflow parking lots for all sizes of RVs, which is often the most RV usable hiking/overlook area. Medium and large RVs will need more care when traveling through Sandstone and Sandstone Falls. Small vehicle and careful current guidance is best used for handling Thurmond.

Choose the outfitter day if you want to focus on rafting. Allow for drying the gear, showers, food, quiet evening.

Day 4: buffer day or clean exit

The fourth day can be used for weather, laundry, dump, rafting backup, a stop in the bridge area, or a clean exit along the Blue Ridge Parkway, Shenandoah, Great Smoky Mountains or another Appalachian path. The time in the gorge isn’t wasted: it’s a buffer day. This is what makes a good RV trip not be a rushed towing day.

Common New River Gorge RV Planning Mistakes

Treating Fayette Station Road as a normal scenic drive

This is the primary one. Fayette Station Road is a scenic historic narrow curvy road and it is height restricted and not suggested for large vehicles, RVs, and trailers. If you’re not sure about your rig, you’re not in the right car for that road.

Assuming in-park camping means hookups

Unless otherwise noted in the current official guidance New River Gorge National Park RV Camping is primitive. Be ready for “no hookups,” “no potable water,” “no dump station,” limited restrooms and “first come first served.”

Moving the RV for each overlook and trailhead

This is normally basecamp and selective day movement which is the better trip. Sleep and travel days in the RV. Choose a smaller car, shuttle or outfitter to fit in tight spots.

Trailer length isn’t sufficient Be familiar with the truck, the hitch, the trailer, the rear rack, the bikes, and the turning radius as one combination.

Arriving after dark on an unknown gorge road

Bad turnarounds, low branches, camp entrances, grades, and shoulders become hidden at night. Try to arrive during daylight hours, particularly for first come, first served campgrounds and primitive sites.

New River Gorge RV-Safe Checklist

• Measure true height, length, width and total combination length.

Check loaded weight, braking confidence, tire pressure and tow set-up.

• Check turn radius, length of campground and access road to the campground.

Verify connections for hookups, potable water, dump, generator regulations and tank ranges.

• Be aware of current NPS alerts, road closures, trail closures and construction.
• Check for any restrictions or low clearance warnings for Fayette Station Road.
• Craft a trailhead and overlook parking plan prior to camp departure.

Fuel up and do groceries, propane and repairs before smaller roads. Save offline maps and contacts for campgrounds.

• Be prepared for weather, daylight, and an alternate camp.

FAQ

Is it possible to camp in an RV in New River Gorge National Park?

Yes but only in the appropriate spots and only with the right expectations. According to current NPS guidance, the park offers primitive campgrounds, some drive-in small and medium size RV sites and no developed camp sites. No RVs are allowed at walk-in campsite lots, day use areas, river access lots or trailhead parking areas. There are no campsites for which the current NPS RV guidance recommends large RVs.

Do New River Gorge National Park campgrounds have hookups?

According to currently available NPS data, campgrounds within the park are primitive, lacking hookups, electricity, potable water, flush facilities or dump stations. For New River Gorge camping with hookups, consider campgrounds outside the park that are private RV parks, but check with the operator to see what facilities are available on the exact location.

Is Fayette Station Road safe for RVs?

According to the current NPS guidance, no – there is a low clearance railroad bridge that many RVs cannot make it over, railroad tracks and hairpin turns may be difficult for trailers, and large vehicles, RVs and trailers are not recommended. Even with small RVs, it’s recommended to check conditions and consult a ranger if in doubt.

Where to stay near New River Gorge for larger RVs?

In most cases, the best place to begin a tour of the larger RVs is at one of the private RV parks or developed campgrounds located near Fayetteville, Oak Hill, Beckley, Summersville or other gateway locations. The choice of the best depends on day trip plans, length of the site, hookups, parking for tow vehicles, and access roads.

How many days do you need to spend at New River Gorge in an RV?

Two days will provide enough time to explore Canyon Rim, the bridge area, Fayetteville, and one day of selective scenic or hiking. Rafting, Grandview, Sandstone or a slower family pace is best for three days. Four days will provide you a cushion for weather, laundry, tank work, and to leave without a hurry.

When is the best time to visit New River Gorge in an RV?

Typically, the best balance for RVs for comfort, hiking, and reduced air conditioning pressure is spring and fall. The summer season is great for rafting but is more humid and crowded. While winter is a quiet time, it is important to check road conditions, services, campgrounds and the short days.

Are there any RV parking spots at the viewpoints at the New River Gorge Bridge?

New River Gorge Bridge RV parking is clearest at Canyon Rim Visitor Center: current NPS RV guidance indicates it has designated RV parking for all sized RVs and buses. On busy days arrive early and don’t assume other trailheads and overlooks will be the same.

Final RoadReviewer Advice

When you let the rig set the boundaries, New River Gorge is a strong RV trip. First select the basecamp. Maintain Fayette Station Road as an option. Primitive camping is primitive! Have Canyon Rim and Grandview as anchor points, then pick and choose the tighter roads, trailheads and river access for RV’s.

You don’t have to win over the gorge in a single day. It requires a great parking plan, a light arrival, full tanks where necessary, empty tanks where necessary, and humility to get out of a picturesque road for the appropriate vehicle.