Getting Here: Directions & Transportation
New River Gorge and Preserve, located in the heart of southern West Virginia, is easily accessible by car and offers a variety of scenic routes leading into its breathtaking landscapes.
Plan Around Getting Here: Directions & Transportation
A good stop is not just something to read about. Once it belongs on the day, move into a saved trip and build the route around it.
Use this detail page to confirm that the stop is worth it, then carry that decision into a trip draft while the park context is still fresh.
Getting Here: Directions & Transportation Details
New River Gorge and Preserve, located in the heart of southern West Virginia, is easily accessible by car and offers a variety of scenic routes leading into its breathtaking landscapes. The main entrance near the Canyon Rim Visitor Center sits just off U.S. Highway 19, making it a convenient stop for travelers passing through the region. Visitors coming from Charleston can take I-64 East before connecting to U.S. 19 North for a roughly 70-mile drive. Those traveling from Beckley, a nearby hub, can reach the park in about 20 minutes via U.S. 19 North. For those approaching from the east, I-64 West leads directly to the Grandview entrance, offering a quieter, more secluded way into the park. Air travelers will find the closest airports in Charleston and Beckley, with Yeager Airport (CRW) in Charleston about 70 miles away and Raleigh County Memorial Airport (BKW) in Beckley just 15 miles from the park. While both airports offer rental car services, public transportation options to the park are limited, making a personal vehicle the most reliable way to explore the area. Once inside the park, visitors can navigate by car, foot, or bike, with scenic roads like Fayette Station Road winding through the gorge and offering incredible views. If you're planning a drive, be sure to fuel up in nearby towns, as there are no gas stations within the park itself. Whether arriving by road or air, reaching New River Gorge is a straightforward journey that rewards travelers with some of the most spectacular scenery in the Appalachian region.
Difficulty
Open
Distance
N/A
Estimated time
N/A
Region
Plan Your Visit
Nearby Parks Around Getting Here: Directions & Transportation
Compare nearby parks around Getting Here: Directions & Transportation when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Getting Here: Directions & Transportation
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Getting Here: Directions & Transportation while the map context is still fresh.
0.0 mi away
Jessie Benton Fremont
An early advocate of the Park, without her work behind the scenes, Yosemite might not exist today.
0.0 mi away
ZERO LANDFILL IN THE PARKS:
THE YOSEMITE, GRAND TETON AND DENALI PROGRAM
0.0 mi away
30-Minute Helicopter Ride
Fly rim-to-rim in a half-hour.
0.0 mi away
50-Minute Airplane Tour
The ultimate Canyon airplane tour.
0.0 mi away
50-Minute Helicopter Tour
Offering aerial tours of the North and South Rims as well as the Grand Canyon's East Rim.
