Budget and what to book ahead

How much does a New River Gorge trip cost?

Rafting prices vary more than you'd expect for the same stretch of river. On the Lower New, New & Gauley River Adventures charges $109 Monday to Friday and $140 on weekends, ACE $119, Adventures on the Gorge from $139, and River Expeditions $125 on weekdays and Sundays or $150 on Saturday. The rafting company comparison shows what each price includes.

What's free at New River Gorge

A lot more than at most national parks. New River Gorge "does not charge an entrance fee," so there's no pass to buy. The overlooks, the trails and the visitor centers are all free, and so are the eight park campgrounds (first-come, with no drinking water); the Burnwood group site is the one $75 exception. Even Bridge Day costs nothing to attend, and so does admission to Taste of Bridge Day the night before (samples $4 to $12) and the downtown chili cook-off afterward. Budget $5 cash for the Bridge Day shuttle.

What to book ahead, and when

Bridge Day weekend rewards the early planner. The town's 2026 guide warns that hotels, rentals and campgrounds fill quickly, and in 2025 lodging sold out earlier than usual. Since Bridge Day is always the third Saturday of October, there's no reason to wait: plan as far ahead as you like.

Watch for minimum stays if you're hoping for a single night. New River Gorge Cabins requires two nights all year and may ask for two to five at peak, and Babcock State Park's campground wants two nights on weekends. Hotels and rentals often show an event minimum only once you enter the dates. NPS campgrounds work the other way: first-come only, so arriving on a Friday of a Gauley weekend is a roll of the dice. The where to stay guide compares every base, and the Bridge Day guide covers the big day itself.

See what's still open for your dates

Deposits and cancellation rules

Give these a quick read before you pay, because most of the money for this trip becomes non-refundable as the date gets close.

Booking the Gauley with New & Gauley? Be sure of your dates, because inside 45 days the money stays with the company. And pack a rain jacket either way: ACE and Adventures on the Gorge both run river trips rain or shine, the latter even in thunderstorms.

How to spend less

Choose your day before your company. River Expeditions charges its weekend premium on Saturday only, so a Sunday Lower New trip saves you $25 there. West Virginia Adventures charges $125 Monday to Thursday for groups of four to 12, against $145 for individuals. Bringing kids? On the Upper New, ACE, Adventures on the Gorge and River Expeditions all let a child aged 6 to 11 ride free with a paying adult, though ACE and Adventures on the Gorge skip Saturdays and the ACE deal runs only from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

For beds, nothing beats a free NPS campsite if you can go without water and hookups. The American Alpine Club campground in Lansing charges $12 to $35 a night plus tax in 2026, and ACE's mountaintop campground $15 a person. The $235 Bridge Walk annual pass only pays off if you'll walk three times.

Taxes, fees and tips on top of the price

Fayette County adds a 6% hotel occupancy tax (see its tax form), and the town adds a 1% sales tax. ACE charges a $5 per person resource use fee on activities. Adventures on the Gorge is cashless, but bring a little cash to tip your guides; New River Mountain Guides suggests tipping "between 15-20% of your trip cost."

How to get the most for your money

Splurge on the one guided day you'll talk about for years, a raft trip or a climb, and let the free park fill the rest: overlooks, trails, Fayette Station Road when it's open and a picnic at Grandview. For any October weekend, book the room before the raft. The rest of the year, a Sunday or Monday on the river gives you the same thrills for less. On a tight budget, the camping guide is your friend.