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.
The New River Gorge Bridge near Fayetteville, West Virginia, is a steel arch bridge that rises 876 feet (267 meters) above the New River. It opened on October 22, 1977, is 3,030 feet (924 meters) long and spans the gorge with a 1,700-foot (518-meter) arch. Driving around the gorge used to take about 40 minutes; today the crossing takes less than a minute.
The best view of the bridge is from the overlooks at the Canyon Rim Visitor Center. The Canyon Rim Boardwalk is about 0.1 mile (160 meters) long; an accessible ramp leads to the first viewing point, and it is 178 steps down to the lower platform. You can also see the bridge from below along Fayette Station Road in the valley. Guided Bridge Walk tours follow the maintenance catwalk under the roadway, about a quarter mile (400 meters) long. On the third Saturday in October, Bridge Day closes the bridge to vehicles and opens it to pedestrians, rappellers and BASE jumpers, drawing roughly 80,000 spectators on average.
- Nearest town
- Fayetteville, WV
- Category
- Scenic viewpoints
- GPS
- 38.0700, -81.0763
- Editor's pick
- ★
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April, June and August. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Sources
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
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Campsites nearby
- Arrowhead Bike Farm CampgroundCampsite2 mi from New River Gorge Bridge
- Hilltop SunriseMotorhome stopover9 mi from New River Gorge Bridge · 2 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Summersville Lake RetreatMotorhome stopover15 mi from New River Gorge Bridge · 65 pitchesTentsMotorhomes
- Mountain Lake CampgroundCampsite16 mi from New River Gorge Bridge
- Little Beaver State Park CampgroundCampsite22 mi from New River Gorge BridgeTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToilets
- Lake Stephens RV CampgroundMotorhome stopover23 mi from New River Gorge Bridge · 100 pitchesMotorhomes
All campsites in West Virginia · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is New River Gorge Bridge?
New River Gorge Bridge is in Fayetteville, WV, at GPS 38.0700, -81.0763. It is about 8 mi from Thurmond.
Can you camp near New River Gorge Bridge?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is American Alpine Club New River Gorge Campground, about 1 mi away; within 25 mi there are 41 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass New River Gorge Bridge?
New River Gorge Bridge is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: New River Gorge National Park.
What is there to see near New River Gorge Bridge?
Places worth a stop nearby: Hawks Nest State Park (4 mi), Thurmond Historic District (8 mi), Kanawha Falls (9 mi) and Glade Creek Grist Mill, Babcock State Park (9 mi).
When is the best time to visit New River Gorge Bridge?
The most pleasant months are usually May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April, June and August. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)