Places › New River State Park
New River State Park is a North Carolina state park in Laurel Springs, Ashe County, in our High Country region. Day-use admission is free. The gate closes between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., depending on the month. It is closed on Christmas Day. Facts read from the official page on October 27, 2026.
- AdmissionFree day use
- HoursCloses 7 to 10 p.m.Opens 7 a.m., by month
- ClosedChristmas Dayother holidays: open
- DogsOn a 6 ft leashmore rules below
About New River State Park
Seven accesses on a National Wild and Scenic River let visitors launch kayaks and inner tubes onto shallow, gentle water. Paddle-in campgrounds are remote, and hellbenders, the largest salamander in the U.S., live in the valley.
Plan It in Three Lines
Getting In
Day-use admission is free.
Closes 7 to 10 p.m.Bring the Dog?
Dogs are allowed on a leash no longer than 6 feet, with limits indoors and in some areas.
Full rules belowMake It a Trip
Mount Jefferson State Natural Area is about 9 miles away (straight line).
4 units within 30 miles
New River State Park Hours
At the U.S. 221 Access table, the gate closes between 7 p.m. (Dec to Feb) and 10 p.m. (May to Sep). It opens 7 a.m. Month by month, as the park prints it:
Bars show the hour the gate closes, drawn from the month table below it. Taller means later.
| Month | Hours |
|---|---|
| January | 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. |
| February | 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. |
| March | 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| April | 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| May | 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. |
| June | 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. |
| July | 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. |
| August | 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. |
| September | 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. |
| October | 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| November | 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. |
| December | 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. |
| Month | Hours |
|---|---|
| January | 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
| February | 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
| March | 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
| April | 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| May | 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. |
| June | 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. |
| July | 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. |
| August | 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. |
| September | 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. |
| October | 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| November | 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
| December | 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. |
| Month | Hours |
|---|---|
| January | closed |
| February | closed |
| March | closed |
| April | 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. |
| May | 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| June | 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| July | 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| August | 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| September | 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| October | 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. |
| November | closed |
| December | closed |
- Visitor Center: Open Mondays to Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Elk Shoals Access: Open from sunrise to sunset year-round.
- The park is closed on Christmas Day.
- The park is open during all other holidays.
This park prints 3 hour tables because its accesses keep different gates; the first one is used for the tiles above.
Admission and Fees
There are no fees required to access New River State Park for day use. Fees are charged for camping, certain event permits, and facility reservations.
Planning several parks? Our State Parks Passport guide sets every park’s fees and dog rules side by side.
Dogs and Strollers
- Dogs: Pets are allowed at the park and at campsites. They are not permitted inside buildings. Pets must be on an attended leash of no longer than 6 feet at all times.
- Strollers: Not published. The park page does not say whether strollers are allowed; call the park office (336-982-2587) before you go.
Directions and Contact
- Address: 358 New River State Park Road, Laurel Springs, NC 28644
- Phone: 336-982-2587
- Map point: 36.46760,-81.34030. Latitude and longitude printed on the park's own ncparks.gov page, checked within 25 miles of the OpenStreetMap match. Directions in Google Maps
- Official page: www.ncparks.gov/state-parks/new-river-state-park
State Parks Near New River State Park
- 1Mount Jefferson State Natural AreaState Natural Areaabout 9 mi
- 2Rendezvous MountainState Park Unitabout 17 mi
- 3Stone Mountain State ParkState Parkabout 18 mi
- 4Elk Knob State ParkState Parkabout 22 mi
- 5Grandfather Mountain State ParkState Parkabout 33 mi
- 6Pilot Mountain State ParkState Parkabout 50 mi
Straight-line distances between map points, not driving miles. Dots sit in their true compass direction; distance is stretched near the middle so close neighbors stay readable.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to visit New River State Park?
Day-use admission is free, per the park page. Camping, boat rentals, swim passes, event permits and reservations can cost extra where the park offers them.
Are dogs allowed at New River State Park?
Pets are allowed at the park and at campsites. They are not permitted inside buildings. Pets must be on an attended leash of no longer than 6 feet at all times.
What time does New River State Park close?
It depends on the month: the gate closes between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. at the first table the park prints. See the month table above for your date.
Is New River State Park open on Christmas?
The park is closed on Christmas Day.
Are strollers allowed at New River State Park?
Not published. The park page does not mention strollers, so call the park office before you go.
What We Could Not Verify
- Hours and closures change at short notice for weather and staffing; check the official page the day you go.
- Stroller rules are not stated on the official page.
Sources
- New River State Park on NC State Parks (read 2026-10-27)
- NC State Parks: park list and fees (read 2026-10-27)
- OpenStreetMap (map point check)
Last checked October 27, 2026 by the It’s North Carolina editor. Spot something out of date? Tell us.
Cite this page: It's North Carolina, “New River State Park: Hours, Fees and Dog Rules”, itsnorthcarolina.com/places/new-river-state-park/ (updated ). By the It's North Carolina editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.