NationalParkEntry

WV · Northeast & Mid-Atlantic

New River Gorge National Park and Preserve entry requirements

No timed-entry or vehicle reservation is needed to enter New River Gorge in 2026. There is no entrance fee. Check any visit date against the official 2026 rules.

The 2026 season at New River Gorge

This is what applies across the published season. Use the date checker below for a specific day.

No reservation is required to enter New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in 2026.

This park does not charge an entrance fee.

  1. Park entrance

    Not required

    New River Gorge National Park and Preserve does not charge an entrance fee.

    • No entrance fee at all. The park's fees page states this three separate ways. There is no entrance station and no pass to buy. The only NPS charges in the park are for reservable picnic shelters and group campsites.

  2. Timed entry

    Not applicable

    New River Gorge National Park and Preserve has no timed-entry system.

  3. Vehicle, road, or corridor

    Not applicable

    New River Gorge National Park and Preserve has no vehicle, road, or parking permit system.

  4. Shuttle

    Not applicable

    New River Gorge National Park and Preserve has no shuttle system.

  5. Your campground or lodging

    Not required

    Nothing here is required in 2026.

    • Campsites are first come, first served — only group sites can be reserved. Group sites are the exception and ARE reserved in advance. Burnwood group shelters are $75 per night and are reserved by phone at (304) 465-6517, not online.

  6. Selected activity

    Not required

    Nothing here is required in 2026.

    • Picnic shelters at Grandview are reservable — nothing else needs a visitor permit. The park's permits page covers only shelters, group campgrounds, and commercial use authorizations for businesses and events. It publishes no individual-visitor permit for hiking, climbing, or private boating. Commercial rafting outfitters hold their own NPS authorizations; visitors book through the outfitter.

Fees and passes

New River Gorge does not charge an entrance fee.

No entrance fee at all. The park's fees page states this three separate ways. There is no entrance station and no pass to buy. The only NPS charges in the park are for reservable picnic shelters and group campsites.

An America the Beautiful pass is not accepted here. It covers the entrance fee only. It does not cover a timed-entry permit, a vehicle reservation, a parking tag, a shuttle ticket, or an activity permit.

Not applicable: there is no entrance fee, so an America the Beautiful pass buys nothing at New River Gorge and fee-free days are meaningless. The park's own fees page mentions the pass only in the context of visiting OTHER parks that do charge. Nulls here mean 'not applicable', not 'unknown'. A pass would not cover shelter or group campsite reservations.

What a campground or lodging booking does and does not cover

Nothing at New River Gorge changes based on whether you have an in-park campground or lodging booking.

Quick answers

Do I need a reservation for New River Gorge?
No. New River Gorge National Park and Preserve does not require a timed-entry or vehicle reservation to enter in 2026. New River Gorge National Park and Preserve charges no entrance fee.
Is there an entrance fee at New River Gorge?
No. New River Gorge does not charge an entrance fee. Other requirements on this page may still apply.

Official links, coverage, and sources

Official booking and park information

What this does not cover

  • Road, weather, and fire closures that change day to day. Check the park’s alerts page.
  • Backcountry and wilderness permits beyond the headline permits listed above.
  • Commercial use authorizations, filming permits, and group-size rules.
  • Availability. We tell you what is required, not whether anything is left.
  • Individual campsite and lodge availability, which is handled by the booking system.

Effective dates and sources

  • Fees and passesNational Park Service · reviewed 2026-07-26 · applies to Park entranceAn entrance pass is not required to access New River Gorge National Park & Preserve. ... New River Gorge National Park and Preserve does not charge an entrance fee. ... There is NO FEE to enter New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.
  • Fees & Passes - New River Gorge National Park & PreserveNational Park Service · reviewed 2026-07-26 · applies to No entrance feeThere is NO FEE to enter New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. ... An entrance pass is not required to access New River Gorge National Park & Preserve.
  • Permits and Reservations - New River Gorge National Park & PreserveNational Park Service · reviewed 2026-07-26 · applies to Campsites are first comeReservations are only accepted for group sites. All other campsites in the park are FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED and reservations are not required nor accepted. ... The rate for shelters at Burnwood is $75 per night.
  • Permits and Reservations - New River Gorge National Park & PreserveNational Park Service · reviewed 2026-07-26 · applies to Picnic shelters at Grandview are reservableAll reservations for shelters at Grandview are reservable online or by calling the National Recreation Reservation Service at 877-444-6777. Reservations can be made up to 12 months in advance.

Something wrong here?

Park rules change, sometimes at short notice. If a line on this page does not match what the park publishes, tell us and we will fix it and re-check the source.

corrections@nationalparkentry.com· Last factual change 2026-08-05 · Sources last reviewed 2026-07-26

Nearest other national parks

Chosen by distance from New River Gorge, not by editorial preference.