New River Gorge: Cunard Road Closure May Affect Your Travel Plans
At New River Gorge, Cunard Road will close to vehicles for construction starting November 9, with reopening scheduled for April 2027.
By David Sanchez,
If your New River Gorge itinerary includes Cunard Road, you'll need to make an adjustment. The road will close to vehicles starting November 9. The NPS says road construction is planned. The road is scheduled to reopen in April 2027.
As you plan your trip, we recommend checking now to see where Cunard Road fits into your itinerary. A route saved on your phone may still take you along this road. If you're planning to use it during the announced closure, you'll need to adjust that part of your drive.
The announcement specifically concerns vehicle traffic on Cunard Road. It doesn't indicate that New River Gorge as a whole will close. To see how this access road fits into your visit, see the New River Gorge park guide.
Keep the timing in mind when planning your stops. The announced closure starts November 9, so the restriction is still upcoming. If you're visiting during construction, plan a route that avoids Cunard Road. The information provided doesn't identify a specific detour we can recommend.
If you're planning a visit in spring 2027, leave some flexibility in your plans as well. April is the announced reopening month, but no specific date has been provided. We recommend checking the road's status before committing to a route that depends on it.
It helps to think separately about the places you want to visit and the roads you'll take to reach them. That way, you can adjust the affected drives without assuming the entire park is inaccessible. At this point, the announcement doesn't specify access conditions for pedestrians or cyclists, so don't assume the vehicle restrictions apply to them as well.