Where to stay near New River Gorge: cabins, lodges and campgrounds

By New River Gorge Escape

Details checked on 20 October 2026; corrections checked on 22 October 2026

Aerial view of the lodge at Hawks Nest State Park, a group of low buildings on a wooded hillside above the gorge — The lodge at Hawks Nest State Park, seen from the air. Photo: Jza873, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons: Hawks Nest State Park (79612) · resized. This resized version is shared under the same license.

Where you sleep shapes a New River Gorge trip more than you might expect. The park stretches along 53 miles of river, and its scenic loop drive covers 83 miles and takes about three hours. A base near the bridge suits a weekend of overlooks and rafting. A base farther south suits Grandview and Sandstone Falls. This guide sorts the options by type, using the park’s and the state’s own published rules.

We haven’t stayed at these places yet, so nothing below is a review. The details come from each provider’s own pages.

Free primitive campgrounds in the park

The National Park Service runs eight primitive campgrounds, meaning basic sites without running water, inside New River Gorge National Park and Preserve: Stone Cliff Beach, Army Camp, Grandview Sandbar, Glade Creek, War Ridge/Backus Mountain, Brooklyn, Thayer and Meadow Creek. Camping there is free, and every site is first-come, first-served. Reservations are not available, and the park warns that campgrounds fill quickly in busy months.

Expect simple camping. The sites have picnic tables, fire rings and grills, but no drinking water, no electricity, only limited restrooms, and no hookups (the electric, water and sewer connections RVs use). Each site takes up to 8 people and 4 pets. You can stay a total of 14 days within any 28-day period, checkout is at noon, and quiet hours run from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Bring all the water you will need.
Arrive early on summer and fall weekends, and have a second campground in mind.
Groups of 8 or more can use the Burnwood Group Campsite with a Special Use Permit. Permits take at least 10 business days after the park receives your application.

State park lodges and cabins

The Lodge at Hawks Nest State Park

West Virginia State Parks says the Hawks Nest lodge’s rooms have panoramic views of the New River Gorge, and some have private balconies. The lodge’s restaurant, The Overlook on the New River Gorge, serves breakfast daily from 7 to 11 a.m. The park’s aerial tramway is listed as under renovation, so don’t plan around riding it.

Babcock State Park

Babcock sits 20 miles southeast of the New River Gorge Bridge and covers 4,127 acres. It offers cabins and a campground, which is open spring through fall, weather permitting. The park is best known for the Glade Creek Grist Mill, a working replica of the Cooper’s Mill that once stood there.

Outfitter resorts

Several licensed rafting outfitters (companies that supply the rafts, gear and guides) also rent lodging, which saves a drive on the morning of a river trip. ACE Adventure Resort in Oak Hill advertises more than 50 cabin rentals, from studios to log homes that sleep up to 13, plus cabin tents, bunkhouses, RV sites and tent camping. Adventures on the Gorge in Lansing lists everything from rustic and loft-style cabins to glamping, campsites and vacation homes. Check each company’s own website for current options and package deals.

Private cabins and vacation rentals

Private cabins and houses are spread across the countryside around Fayetteville and Lansing, close to the bridge, Long Point and the Endless Wall Trail. The local visitors bureau keeps a directory of cabins and vacation rentals by town. Before booking, confirm the exact location on a map, the driveway and road access, whether pets are allowed, and the cancellation terms.

Once your dates are set, compare cabins near New River Gorge.

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Timing your booking

Bridge Day falls on the third Saturday of October, and the local visitors bureau calls it West Virginia’s largest festival. If your trip overlaps it, book early or choose another weekend. For quieter stays, note that the Canyon Rim and Sandstone visitor centers stay open all year, closing only on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.