# 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.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b10-new-river-gorge/

**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. 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 |
| Route | Charleston → Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine |
| States | WV |
| Updated | July 16, 2026 |

## 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

1. **Charleston** (WV)
2. **Hawks Nest State Park** (Ansted, WV): A 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.
3. **New River Gorge Bridge** (Fayetteville, WV): A 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.
4. **Fayetteville** (WV)
5. **Thurmond** (WV)
6. **Glade Creek Grist Mill, Babcock State Park** (Clifftop, WV): A working reconstructed grist mill over a rocky creek, one of the most photographed spots in West Virginia, especially in October color.
7. **Grandview** (Beckley, WV): The southern rim of the New River Gorge, where the river makes a wide horseshoe bend below the main overlook; rhododendrons bloom here in June.
8. **Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine** (Beckley, WV): Ride 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.

## 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.