Directions

New River State Park is located in both Ashe and Alleghany counties.

U.S. 221 access

Address: 358 New River State Park Road, Laurel Springs, NC 28644

GPS coordinates: 36.46768, -81.34035

This access area is located at river mile 15 and is the location of the visitor center and park headquarters.

Traveling west on I-40 from eastern North Carolina:

• Take U.S. 421 North at Winston-Salem. Stay on U.S. 421 North through Wilkesboro.
• At Deep Gap, turn onto U.S. 221 North.
• After driving through Jefferson, turn onto U.S. 221/N.C. 16 North.
• Continue on N.C. 16 North for approximately 4.7 miles to Tom Fowler Road.
• At Tom Fowler Road, turn right and proceed for about 1.3 miles to the stop sign.
• Turn left onto U.S. 221. After 2.7 miles, the park entrance will be on your right.

Traveling east on I-40 from western North Carolina:

• Take U.S. 221 North.
• After driving through Jefferson, turn on U.S. 221/N.C. 16 North.
• Continue on N.C. 16 North for approximately 4.7 miles to Tom Fowler Road.
• At Tom Fowler Road, turn right and proceed for about 1.3 miles to the stop sign.
• Turn left onto U.S. 221. After 2.7 miles, the park entrance will be on your right.

From I-77:

• Take U.S. 421 North.
• At Deep Gap, turn onto U.S. 221 North.
• After driving through Jefferson, turn onto U.S. 221/N.C. 16 North.
• Continue on N.C. 16 North for approximately 4.7 miles to Tom Fowler Road.
• At Tom Fowler Road, turn right and proceed for about 1.3 miles to the stop sign.
• Turn left onto U.S. 221. After 2.7 miles, the park entrance will be on your right.

Wagoner Road access

Address: 1447 Wagoner Access Road, Jefferson, NC 28640

GPS coordinates: 36.415808, -81.387174

From the U.S. 221 access/visitor center/park headquarters:

• Turn left onto U.S. 221. Follow U.S. 221 for 2.7 miles to East Shatley Springs Road.
• Turn right onto East Shatley Springs Road, and stay straight as the road becomes Tom Fowler Road.
• Turn left onto N.C. 16 South, going toward Jefferson.
• At the stop sign, turn left onto N.C. 16 South/N.C. 88 East. Go approximately 3 miles, crossing Walter Sheets Bridge.
• After crossing the bridge, continue for about 1.5 miles and turn left onto Wagoner Access Road. Follow Wagoner Access Road to the access entrance.

Kings Creek access

Address: 2250 Kings Creek Road, Piney Creek, NC 28663

GPS coordinates: 36.527628, -81.336359

This access area is located at river mile 7.

From the U.S. 221 access/visitor center/park headquarters:

• Turn left onto U.S. 221. Follow U.S. 221 to N.C. 16.
• Turn right onto N.C. 16 North, toward Mouth of Wilson. Follow N.C. 16 North to Overpass Ramp Road.
• At Overpass Ramp Road, turn right. At the end of the ramp, make another right and follow to Chestnut Hill Road.
• Turn right onto Chestnut Hill Road and follow to George McMillian Road.
• At George McMillian Road, turn left. Follow it to Kings Creek Road.
• Turn right across the river. Kings Creek access is on the left.

Elk Shoals access

Address: 349 Methodist Camp Road, West Jefferson, NC 28694

GPS coordinates: 36.365324, -81.433277

From West Jefferson:

• At the intersection of U.S. 221 and N.C. 163, take N.C. 163 South for 2.8 miles.
• At Boggs Road, turn left. Travel 1.5 miles.
• Turn right to cross the low water bridge into Elk Shoals access.

Other park accesses

The following accesses are accessible only by boat:

Alleghany County access is at river mile 1.

Prather's Creek access is at river mile 10.

Riverbend access is at river mile 24.

Nearby

     Mount Jefferson State Natural Area

1481 Mount Jefferson State Park Road
West Jefferson, NC 28694