New River State Park
Paddling country on one of the oldest rivers in the world, in the high pastureland of Ashe County.
- Ashe County, NC
- Nearest town: Jefferson
- 2,817 ft
Coordinates
- Lat
- 36.41967
- Lng
- -81.36070
Unconfirmed
We have not confirmed whether van camping is allowed. Check with the park before you go.
At a glance
The basics
What to expect
State park
Reservable sites, paved or well-graded roads, bathhouses in season.
- County
- Ashe County
- State
- North Carolina
- Nearest town
- Jefferson
- Elevation
- 2,817 ft
- Max vehicle length
- Not verified
The place
About New River State Park
The New River is thought to be among the oldest rivers on earth, and it behaves like it: rather than cutting a dramatic gorge it wanders broad and unhurried through rolling Ashe County farmland, flowing north, which catches people out. That makes it exceptional canoe and kayak water — long gentle stretches, easy riffles, and access points spaced for half-day and full-day floats. The park protects several sections of bank, and the surrounding landscape is Christmas tree farms and pasture at around 2,500 feet. It is pastoral rather than wild, and quietly lovely.
For van drivers
Getting a van in and out
We have not confirmed which of the park's access areas offer overnight parking or drive-in sites — several sections are canoe-in or walk-in — so contact the park before relying on it. The roads through this part of Ashe County are paved two-lane with some steep pitches and sharp crests. Jefferson and West Jefferson cover groceries and fuel; Boone is about half an hour.
Written for a high-roof van, not a pickup. Surfaces and clearances change with the weather and with the season’s roadwork — the official page below is the last word.
On the ground
Facilities & fees
Not verified means nobody has confirmed it — treat it as unknown, never as a no. 8 of the 8 below are still unconfirmed.
- Restrooms
- Not verified
- Drinking water
- Not verified
- Showers
- Not verified
- Dump station
- Not verified
- Hookups
- Not verified
- Campfires
- Not verified
- Dogs allowed
- Not verified
- Reservations
- Not verified
- Max vehicle length
- Not verified — check with the park
- Season
- Not verified — check with the park
- Fees
- Not verified — check with the park
The last word on all of this is ncparks.gov(opens in a new tab).
Where it is
Coordinates & directions
Decimal degrees
- Latitude
- 36.419670
- Longitude
- -81.360695
36.4197° N · 81.3607° W
No map tiles here on purpose. Half of these places have no signal at the gate, so coordinates you can save offline beat a map that needs one. Drop them into your phone before you turn off the pavement.
Nearest gas and groceries: Jefferson
Before you go
Official sources
Fees, site counts, length limits and closures change season to season. Everything we have not confirmed ourselves is marked Not verified above rather than guessed at — and where we do have a number, the operator’s own page still wins.
Keep looking
Camp nearby
For sale
