📷 Photo by Lori Stevens on UnsplashNew River Gorge National Park
Overlooks, a famous steel arch bridge, a ghost railroad town and a coal mine you can ride into.
- Distance
- 139 km (86 mi)
- Driving
- 1 h 32 min
- Suggested days
- 2
- Stops
- 8
- States
- WV
- Updated
- May 3, 2026
At a glance: 2-day road trip of about 139 km (86 mi) with 8 stops, from Charleston to Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine. About 1 h 32 min of driving in total.
More road trips in West Virginia
Route description
Leave Charleston east on US-60, the Midland Trail, along the Kanawha River past Kanawha Falls to Hawks Nest State Park, where a stone overlook stands high above the New River.
Turn south on US-19 to the Canyon Rim Visitor Center, whose boardwalk looks onto the New River Gorge Bridge. If you have a car, drive the narrow one-way Fayette Station Road down to the river and back up under the bridge; it is not suitable for RVs or trailers. Fayetteville is the hub for rafting and climbing outfitters.
A slow road drops to Thurmond, a near-ghost railroad town where Amtrak still stops. Then head to Babcock State Park for the Glade Creek Grist Mill, and on to Grandview, where the river loops below the rim.
Finish in Beckley at the Exhibition Coal Mine for a ride underground with a former miner. Late September to mid-October brings the best color and Bridge Day, when the bridge closes to traffic on the third Saturday of October.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Charleston
WV - 262 km
Hawks Nest State Park
ViewsAnsted, WVA stone overlook high above the New River, with a seasonal aerial tram down to the water. The main overlook is a short walk from US-60.
- 38 km
New River Gorge Bridge
ViewsFayetteville, WVA steel arch bridge 876 feet above the river, seen best from the boardwalk below the Canyon Rim Visitor Center. Fayette Station Road winds down under it.
- 44 km
Fayetteville
WV - 513 km
Thurmond
WV - 614 km
Glade Creek Grist Mill, Babcock State Park
ViewsClifftop, WVA working reconstructed grist mill over a rocky creek, one of the most photographed spots in West Virginia, especially in October color.
- 723 km
Grandview
ViewsBeckley, WVThe southern rim of the New River Gorge, where the river makes a wide horseshoe bend below the main overlook; rhododendrons bloom here in June.
- 815 km
Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine
HistoryBeckley, WVRide a mine car into a real seam with former miners as guides, then walk through a restored coal camp. Bring a jacket; it is cool underground.
Suggested stages and overnight stops
2 days, split by driving time. Campsites from OpenStreetMap: check opening dates before you go.
- Day 1: Charleston → New River Gorge Bridge · 43 mi · 0 h 47 minOn the way: Hawks Nest State Park.Overnight nearby, for example: Hilltop Sunrise (9 mi); Arrowhead Bike Farm Campground (2 mi).
- Day 2: New River Gorge Bridge → Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine · 43 mi · 0 h 46 minOn the way: Fayetteville, Thurmond, Glade Creek Grist Mill, Babcock State Park, Grandview.Overnight nearby, for example: Hilltop Sunrise (12 mi); Little Beaver State Park Campground (7 mi).
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and August. Cold, short days in January. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early.
Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons
FAQs
How long is New River Gorge National Park?
2-day road trip of about 139 km (86 mi) with 8 stops, from Charleston to Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine. About 1 h 32 min of driving in total.
How many days do you need for New River Gorge National Park?
We suggest 2 days: about 1 h 32 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.
Where does New River Gorge National Park start and end?
It starts in Charleston and ends in Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine.
Which states does New River Gorge National Park pass through?
West Virginia.
Where can you camp along New River Gorge National Park?
OpenStreetMap lists 46 campsites and motorhome stopovers within 19 mi of the stops on this route. For example: Kanawha State Forest Campground, Hilltop Sunrise and Summersville Lake Retreat.
When is the best time for New River Gorge National Park?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and August. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
