Updated July 2026
Best Time to Visit West Virginia National Parks
West Virginia has 6 National Park Service units that report visitation. Below, each is ranked by annual visits, with the month our data recommends for the best balance of light crowds, comfortable weather and daylight. Crowds peak in summer almost everywhere — the recommended months show where the quieter shoulder seasons fall.
Most-visited parks in West Virginia
Appalachian
Connecticut, Georgia, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Vermont, West Virginia
View Appalachian →
Chesapeake & Ohio Canal
District of Columbia, Maryland, West Virginia
View Chesapeake & Ohio Canal →New River Gorge
West Virginia
View New River Gorge →
Harpers Ferry
West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland
View Harpers Ferry →
Gauley River
West Virginia
View Gauley River →
Bluestone
West Virginia
View Bluestone →| Park | Annual visits | Best time | Busiest | Quietest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AppalachianNational Scenic Trail | 6,215,118 | September | Jul | Feb |
| Chesapeake & Ohio CanalNational Historical Park | 4,579,704 | February | Jun | Jan |
| New River GorgeNational Park & Preserve | 1,958,440 | September | Jul | Jan |
| Harpers FerryNational Historical Park | 537,876 | September | Jul | Jan |
| Gauley RiverNational Recreation Area | 213,596 | May | Sep | Jan |
| BluestoneNational Scenic River | 12,446 | May | Jul | Jan |
West Virginia park crowd calendar (6 parks, all 12 months)
Download the full best-months table for all 6 of West Virginia's national parks — each park's month-by-month crowd index (1.0 = its average month), busiest and quietest months, and Best-Time-to-Visit score. Built from NPS visitation data. Enter your email to download; you'll also get park crowd updates — no spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Where to stay near West Virginia's national parks
Find hotels, cabins and vacation rentals across West Virginia to base your national-park trip — live availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near West Virginia national parks
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