Best Time to Visit New River Gorge National Park

Pick a month. Best months are in bold.

The best months to visit New River Gorge National Park are March, April and November — computed from official NPS visitation (2021–2025 average), NOAA weather normals and daylight. July is the crowd peak (280,421 monthly visits); January is quietest at 13% of peak.

Planning New River Gorge? Pack a hiking guide: Best Easy Day Hikes New River Gorge (Falcon) on Amazon. · affiliate link, VisitWhen earns from qualifying purchases

Bring for New River Gorge in March

Insulated jacket, beanie and glovesSee it on AmazonWhy: nights average 31°F, below freezing.
Rain shell + pack coverSee it on AmazonWhy: 4.2″ of precipitation is normal this month.
Waterproof bootsSee it on AmazonWhy: 4.2″ of precipitation is normal this month.

March is one of New River Gorge's best months. Going in another month? Pick it in the month row above: each month page has its own list.

Affiliate links: VisitWhen earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Prices can change; Amazon shows the current one.

Current NPS alerts (as of 2026-10-31, live conditions →):

Cunard Road Closure (Park Closure)
Burnwood Campground and Restroom Closure (Information)
Rend Trail Closed through December 2027 (Information)

Best months for fewer crowds

The quietest months at New River Gorge, leaving out harsh weather and months when main access is typically closed.

New River Gorge in January13% of the July peak New River Gorge in February16% of the July peak New River Gorge in December18% of the July peak

Monthly crowd curve

JFMAMJJASOND

Average monthly recreation visits, 2021–2025 (NPS Visitor Use Statistics). Amber bar = current month.

bend in the river — New River Gorge National Park — photo: NPS photo/Louise McLaughlin (public-domain NPS media)

New River Gorge month by month

Month	Verdict	Avg visits	% of peak	High / Low	Precip	Daylight
January	Shoulder	37,071	13%	41°F / 23°F	3.5″	9.8h
February	Shoulder	43,642	16%	44°F / 25°F	3.3″	10.8h
March	Best window	91,441	33%	52°F / 31°F	4.2″	11.9h
April	Best window	113,265	40%	64°F / 41°F	4.2″	13.2h
May	Peak crowds	196,275	70%	72°F / 50°F	5.1″	14.2h
June	Peak crowds	230,992	82%	79°F / 58°F	5.5″	14.8h
July	Peak crowds	280,421	100%	81°F / 61°F	4.6″	14.6h
August	Peak crowds	235,593	84%	81°F / 60°F	4.1″	13.7h
September	Shoulder	185,236	66%	75°F / 54°F	3.7″	12.5h
October	Shoulder	193,526	69%	65°F / 42°F	2.9″	11.3h
November	Best window	92,564	33%	54°F / 33°F	2.9″	10.1h
December	Shoulder	50,744	18%	45°F / 27°F	3.9″	9.6h

Crowds: NPS Visitor Use Statistics, mean of 2021–2025 (2020 excluded as a COVID-19 anomaly). Weather: NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals, station OAK HILL, WV US (4 mi from park coordinates). Daylight: computed for the 15th of each month at the park's location. Methodology.

How many people visit New River Gorge each year

New River Gorge National Park had 1,958,440 recreation visits in 2025, 8% more than 2024 (NPS Visitor Use Statistics). The busiest year since 2015 was 2025, with 1,958,440. Over 2021–2025 it averaged 1,750,770 visits a year, which makes it the 17th most-visited of the 63 national parks.

Year	Recreation visits	vs. year before
2025	1,958,440	+8%
2024	1,811,937	+6%
2023	1,707,223	+7%
2022	1,593,523	−5%
2021	1,682,720	+60%
2020	1,054,374	−12%
2019	1,195,721	−3%
2018	1,232,627	+5%
2017	1,168,658	−2%
2016	1,197,931	+2%
2015	1,178,753	—

Calendar-year recreation visits as published by NPS Visitor Use Statistics. 2020 is shown here but left out of the monthly averages above, because the COVID-19 pandemic makes it unrepresentative. See how every park compares: all 63 parks ranked by visits.

What to pack for New River Gorge in March

Computed from March's weather normals — New River Gorge's best month above. Visiting another month? Each month page has its own weather-computed list.

Insulated jacket, beanie and gloves — nights average 31°F, below freezing
Rain shell + pack cover — 4.2″ of precipitation is normal this month
Waterproof boots — plus navigation and a basic first-aid kit — 4.2″ of precipitation is normal this month

As an Amazon Associate, VisitWhen earns from qualifying purchases. Gear names above link to Amazon searches or to a specific product — we don't show or set prices; you always see Amazon's current price.

Common questions

What is the best month to visit New River Gorge?

March, April and November rank best for New River Gorge on VisitWhen's computed score — the strongest balance of low crowds (NPS data), comfortable weather (NOAA normals) and daylight. The numbers are on New River Gorge in March.

What is the most crowded month at New River Gorge?

July: an average of 280,421 recreation visits (NPS, 2021–2025). The quietest is January, at 13% of the July peak.

When is New River Gorge least crowded with decent conditions?

January. It is the park's quietest month (13% of the July peak, 37,071 average visits) without harsh-season weather.

How many people visit New River Gorge per year?

What is the weather like at New River Gorge through the year?

The warmest month is July, with average highs of 81°F. The coldest nights come in January, averaging 23°F. The wettest month is June, with 5.5″ of precipitation. (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, OAK HILL, WV US station.)

New River Gorge month by month: notes from the park service

January: January at New River Gorge is the coldest stretch of the year: the park's weather page cites Beckley figures of roughly 38°F in the afternoon, dropping to about 19°F overnight. Only two of the four visitor centers, Canyon Rim and Sandstone, keep year-round hours, and both close on New Year's Day; Thurmond Depot and Grandview stay shut from November through May.
February: February at New River Gorge brings Beckley afternoons in the low 40s°F, with hard frosts likely after dark, by the park's weather table, plus about 2.5 inches of precipitation. Canyon Rim and Sandstone remain the places to pick up maps and talk to rangers through the winter; at Sandstone, the parking lot closes at five while the center operates.
April: April at New River Gorge is still early season. Canyon Rim and Sandstone visitor centers are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., but the Thurmond Depot and Grandview visitor centers stay closed through May.
June: June brings Beckley afternoons in the mid-70s°F, and it is one of the few stretches when all four New River Gorge visitor centers are staffed. Thurmond Depot, the historic railroad stop, opens from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and Grandview opens at noon from Memorial Day through October.
September: September at New River Gorge cools to Beckley days around 71°F. After Labor Day, the Thurmond Depot Visitor Center typically opens only on weekends through October, while Grandview keeps its noon-to-5 hours until the end of October.
October: October's third Saturday is Bridge Day, West Virginia's largest one-day festival, when tens of thousands walk across the 3,030-foot New River Gorge Bridge, 876 feet above the river, and BASE jumpers and rappellers take to the span. Pets, bikes, carts, strollers, coolers and large packs are not allowed on the bridge that day.
November: November cuts New River Gorge down to its two year-round visitor centers. On the park's posted schedule, Canyon Rim and Sandstone are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day, while Thurmond Depot and Grandview close from November through May.
December: December at New River Gorge is the quiet season: Canyon Rim and Sandstone are the only visitor centers operating, and both close on Christmas Day. Beckley figures cited by the park put December afternoons near 41°F, with nights in the low 20s.

Each month page carries the full note and the NPS page it comes from.