Parks Manager

National parks near New Martinsville, West Virginia

New River Gorge National Park is the closest national park to New Martinsville, West Virginia — 109 mi (176 km) in a straight line, which works out to roughly 3 hr 2 min behind the wheel.

New River Gorge, Cuyahoga Valley, Shenandoah, and Point Pelee are better with a night booked nearby.

Nothing near New Martinsville gates the entrance itself, but Shenandoah National Park puts a road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket.

New Martinsville has a population of about 5,218.

National parks near New Martinsville

Parks ranked by distance from New Martinsville
ParkStraight-line distanceEstimated driveRealistic trip
New River Gorge National Park109 mi (176 km)3 hr 2 minBest as a weekend
Cuyahoga Valley National Park116 mi (187 km)3 hr 12 minBest as a weekend
Shenandoah National Park155 mi (249 km)4 hr 7 minBest as a weekend
Point Pelee National Park183 mi (294 km)4 hr 46 minBest as a weekend
Rouge National Park308 mi (495 km)7 hr 44 minWorth a longer road trip
Great Smoky Mountains National Park315 mi (507 km)7 hr 55 minWorth a longer road trip
Mammoth Cave National Park331 mi (532 km)8 hr 16 minWorth a longer road trip
Indiana Dunes National Park355 mi (571 km)8 hr 50 minWorth a longer road trip
Georgian Bay Islands National Park365 mi (588 km)9 hr 6 minWorth a longer road trip
Bruce Peninsula National Park388 mi (624 km)9 hr 38 minWorth a longer road trip

What to book before you leave New Martinsville

Reservations needed at parks near New Martinsville
ParkWhat needs bookingCoversHow
ShenandoahOld Rag Mountain TicketsOne road or areaTimed reservation
Great Smoky MountainsGreat Smoky Mountains National Park Parking TagParking, not an entrance feeTimed reservation

Camping near New Martinsville

Within reach of New Martinsville, 50 campgrounds across 6 parks appear on Recreation.gov: 30 at Great Smoky Mountains, 5 at New River Gorge, 5 at Mammoth Cave, and 5 at Indiana Dunes, plus 2 more parks with fewer sites.

Recreation.gov releases most national park campsites six months before the arrival date, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time. Windows are set per campground, so confirm yours on the Seasons and Fees tab on that campground page.

Once a date is gone, cancellations are the real supply, and they get taken within minutes of appearing.

When to make this trip

New River Gorge National Park is generally best March through May, then September through November, with February and December as the quieter shoulder either side.

Midsummer is hot, humid, and buggy; winter is mild and one of the better times to visit.

Biting insects and afternoon storms dominate summer. Repellent and a rain shell matter more than warm layers.

Month-by-month detail for New River Gorge National Park

Seeing more than one

Several parks near New Martinsville are close enough to each other to combine on one trip, so the drive from home only has to happen once.

Distances between parks near New Martinsville
PairApartEstimated drive
Cuyahoga Valley → Point Pelee71.1 mi (114 km)2 hr 8 min
New River Gorge → Shenandoah151 mi (244 km)4 hr 2 min
Point Pelee → Rouge214 mi (345 km)5 hr 32 min
Cuyahoga Valley → Rouge220 mi (354 km)5 hr 40 min

Planning a trip from New Martinsville

Distances here are straight-line and the drive estimate adds a road factor on top, but mountain passes and seasonal closures can change it a lot — a route that looks like three hours in June can be shut entirely in February. Confirm road status with the park before you commit to a date.

Read the New River Gorge National Park guide

Common questions

What is the closest national park to New Martinsville?

New River Gorge National Park. It is about 109 mi (176 km) from New Martinsville, roughly 3 hr 2 min of driving.

Can I do a national park day trip from New Martinsville?

Not comfortably. The nearest parks are far enough that you will want at least one night away.

How many national parks are near New Martinsville?

10 parks are within reach of New Martinsville, 0 of them close enough for a day trip.

Do you need a reservation for the national parks near New Martinsville?

None of them gate the entrance itself. 1 put a specific road, hike, or backcountry trip behind a permit or timed ticket — Old Rag Mountain Tickets at Shenandoah. These requirements are usually seasonal, so check the date you plan to arrive.

Where can you camp near New Martinsville?

Recreation.gov lists 50 campgrounds at the national parks within reach of New Martinsville. They are spread across 6 of those parks.

When is the best time to visit the parks near New Martinsville?

For New River Gorge National Park, the closest one, generally March through May, then September through November. Either side of that, February and December stays quieter.