On our quest to visit all US states and national parks, West Virginia’s New River Gorge National Park was a major target for our 2022 Summer Road trip. We booked The Outpost solely for its proximity to the park, but this whimsical retreat quickly climbed into our Top 5 Favorite RV stays!
Closest RV Park to New River Gorge National Park
Recently purchased and renovated, the park is a sprawling campground nestled into the mountains. The property is adjacent to the National Park with a .75-mile trail leading to beautiful vistas of the New River Gorge and its famous bridge just across the street. In fact, the one-way Fayette Station Road to the bottom of the Gorge drops guests off right at the campground.
Whimsical Ambiance
I fell in love with lightning bugs while visiting Missouri as a kid and maximize our time with them on summer road trips. The large green belt behind our spacious RV site was the perfect place to enjoy their nightly flights while roasting marshmallows over the fire ring. A beautiful balance of shared and private space allows guests to peacefully relax or make some new friends.
Not just for RVs
While watching the kids play on the massive event lawn, we spied structures in the trees along the hillside. A quick exploration revealed dozens of small cabins and tent platforms among the trees dotted with the perfect amount of night lighting to feel like a magical retreat. Whether traveling cross country or flying in for the weekend, guests can feel like Peter Pan in their very own house among the trees.
Thoughtful amenities
With such a unique layout, the owners have included perfect amenities to ensure a comfortable time. Wagons are available for guests to ferry their belongings to accommodations on the hillside. Lawn games and hula hoops provided hours of entertainment for the herd of children that always collect in campgrounds. And showers, sinks and laundry facilities are clean and easily accessed.
Room for improvement?
We only found two things that the Outpost could improve upon. Firstly, the entrance to the park is dangerously steep. Owners encourage large rigs to make a U-turn and enter with a right turn, but our small 30ft motorhome still made a horrid popping noise when we entered and exited the facility. Secondly, the restaurant/snack bar hadn’t opened yet and it’s always nice to have the option to take a break from cooking. It seems as if they are still expanding the park, so perhaps these minor things might be improved before we return someday.
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