West Virginia · National Park & Preserve
New River Gorge: tour or DIY?
Checked Oct 26, 2026 · Source: NPS
The National Park Service data we checked on Oct 26, 2026 lists no entrance fee for New River Gorge, though parking, tours, camping or reservations can still cost money. Entry costs a DIY visitor nothing, so a tour price pays for transport and guiding. August is busiest, with 14% of 2025 recreation visits.
Free to enter, so the tour is about transport
The NPS lists no entrance fee here, so a tour price is almost entirely transport, guiding and any permits. Check the park fee page for parking, camping or reservation fees.
We do not print tour prices here because we do not have a live, licensed feed for them. Enter a real quote in the calculator and we prefill this park’s fee.
Entrance fees
The NPS data we pulled lists no entrance or reservation fees for New River Gorge. Parking, camping, tours and boat or ferry rides can still cost money. Confirm on the official fee page.
Source: nps.gov fees and passes for New River Gorge via the NPS API, checked Oct 26, 2026. Fees change; confirm before you go.
Pass math
- There is no listed entrance fee here, so a pass saves nothing at this park. It only matters for other parks on your trip.
- Seniors 62+ pay $20 for an annual pass or $80 for lifetime.
When it is busiest
NPS recreation visits by month, 2025. August had 14% of the year; January was the quietest month, with about 15% of the busiest month’s visits.
Show the numbers
| Month | Recreation visits |
|---|---|
| January | 41,661 |
| February | 61,358 |
| March | 114,670 |
| April | 61,918 |
| May | 251,666 |
| June | 263,425 |
| July | 259,769 |
| August | 270,105 |
| September | 198,638 |
| October | 268,526 |
| November | 85,212 |
| December | 81,492 |
Source: NPS IRMA Stats, recreation visitors, 2025, pulled Oct 26, 2026.
Alerts right now
3 active NPS alerts when we checked on Oct 26, 2026. Showing the most serious first.
Information Burnwood Campground and Restroom Closure
The Burnwood group campground will be closed from October 5 through mid November due to a construction project to replace water lines. During that time restroom facilities will be closed at the Burnwood Trailhead. Details on nps.gov
Information Rend Trail Closed through December 2027
The Rend Trail is closed for trail Improvements that will include a new parking area, restroom, and a small picnic area overlooking Arbuckle Creek at the Minden trailhead, structural improvements to five historic railroad trestles along the trail, and full trail surface rehabilitation. Details on nps.gov
Information Kaymoor Miners Trail Closure
From June 15 through November 19 the upper part of the Kaymoor Miners Trail (from Kaymoor Top down to the mine site at the junction with the Kaymoor Trail) will be closed Monday through Thursday due to a trail rehab project. The trail is expected to be fully open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Details on nps.gov
Source: NPS API alerts, checked Oct 26, 2026. Conditions change by the hour; check the park page before you drive.
Hours and access
The park itself is open 24 hour a day, year round. The park's two main visitor centers at Canyon Rim and Sandstone are open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day). There are two seasonal Visitor Centers located in Thurmond and Grandview. They are typically open Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Source: NPS API operating hours, checked Oct 26, 2026.
What NPS lists to do here
- Arts and Culture
- Astronomy
- Auto and ATV
- Backcountry Camping
- Backcountry Hiking
- Biking
- Birdwatching
- Boating
- Bookstore and Park Store
- Camping
- Canoe or Kayak Camping
- Canoe or Kayak Camping
- Canoeing
- Car or Front Country Camping
- Climbing
- Fishing
- Fly Fishing
- Food
- Freshwater Fishing
- Front-Country Hiking
- Group Camping
- Guided Tours
- Hiking
- Horse Trekking
- +22 more
Source: NPS API activity tags, checked Oct 26, 2026.
Got a tour quote for New River Gorge?
Put it next to your own costs and see the break-even.
Open the calculator for New River GorgeQuestions
Is there an entrance fee for New River Gorge?
The NPS data we checked on Oct 26, 2026 lists no entrance fee. Other fees may apply, so confirm on the park’s fee page.
When is New River Gorge busiest?
August had the most recreation visits in 2025 (14% of the year). January had the fewest, so August drew about 6.5 times as many visits. Source: NPS IRMA Stats.
TourOrDIY is independent and not affiliated with the National Park Service. Numbers are copied from NPS public data on Oct 26, 2026 and may have changed. See the accuracy disclaimer and our method.