New River Gorge National Park & Preserve: the best time to visit, by the numbers
Month-by-month crowds (official NPS counts) and weather (NOAA 1991–2020 normals)
New River Gorge National Park & Preserve draws about 1.4 million recreation visits in a typical year (2016–2025 median). July is the peak month (about 228,000 visits); January is the quietest (about 33,000) — a 7-to-1 spread between busiest and quietest.
Pick a month
| Month | Typical visits | Crowds | High / Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 32,756 | quietest stretch | 42°F / 23°F | 3.3 in |
| February | 37,710 | quiet | 46°F / 25°F | 3.0 in |
| March | 69,383 | quiet | 55°F / 31°F | 4.2 in |
| April | 106,585 | moderate | 68°F / 40°F | 4.3 in |
| May | 155,521 | busy | 75°F / 50°F | 5.0 in |
| June | 190,761 | busy | 81°F / 58°F | 4.7 in |
| July | 228,028 | busiest stretch | 84°F / 62°F | 5.9 in |
| August | 190,461 | busy | 83°F / 61°F | 4.2 in |
| September | 145,819 | busy | 78°F / 54°F | 3.6 in |
| October | 156,412 | busy | 68°F / 42°F | 3.1 in |
| November | 71,562 | quiet | 56°F / 33°F | 3.1 in |
| December | 39,235 | quiet | 46°F / 27°F | 3.7 in |