Antietam National Battlefield · NPS Antietam/BBaracz · Public domain (US federal government)

Road Trip Guide:
West Virginia

Explore West Virginia

West Virginia's land runs from 240 feet above sea level on the Potomac to 4,863 feet at Spruce Knob, and its mountains are why it has several notable tunnels and bridges. Appalachian corridor highways, part of a 3,090-mile network Congress authorized in 1965, supplement its interstates.

Around 13 breweries sit near the stops we cover in West Virginia. 5 of them are brewpubs with a kitchen, which off the motorway is often the useful part. The kitchen figure is a floor: the source lists some full restaurants as production sites.

Brewpub locations from Open Brewery DB (MIT)

Around 5 public campgrounds sit near the stops we cover in West Virginia. 4 of them take reservations; the rest are first-come. Public campgrounds run by federal agencies. State-park and private campgrounds are not included.

Outdoors

Public land, water and snow — the places that are the reason for the drive.

National parks and federal sites in West Virginia

8 National Park Service sites in West Virginia, including 1 designated National Park. We have written guides to only a few of these — the rest are here so you can see what is in the state.

*Check before you go. Entrance fees, seasonal road closures, timed-entry reservations and whether a site suits your family are set by each park and change through the year. Follow the link and check with the park itself.

Park register from the National Park Service (public domain)

State parks in West Virginia

37 state parks we know of in West Virginia. We have not visited these and have no guide to them — this is a list of what exists, so you can look one up.

See all 37

Audra State Park
Babcock State Park
Beartown State Park
Beech Fork State Park
Berkeley Springs State Park
Blackwater Falls
Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park
Bluestone State Park
Cacapon Resort State Park
Camp Creek State Park
Canaan Valley Resort State Park
Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park
Cass Scenic Railroad State Park
Cathedral State Park
Cedar Creek State Park
Chief Logan State Park
Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park
Greenbrier River Trail
Hawks Nest State Park
Holly River State Park
Little Beaver State Park
Lost River State Park
Moncove Lake State Park
Mont Chateau State Park
North Bend Rail Trail
North Bend State Park
Pinnacle Rock State Park
Pipestem Resort State Park
Prickett's Fort State Park
Stonewall Jackson Lake State Park
Tomlinson Run State Park
Tu-Endie-Wei State Park
Twin Falls Resort State Park
Tygart Lake State Park
Valley Falls State Park
Watoga State Park
Watters Smith Memorial State Park

*Check before you go. Opening hours, entry fees, campsite availability and whether a park suits your family are not in this data and change with the season. Several of these are day-use only. Please confirm with the park before setting out.

State park locations from Wikidata (CC0)

Lakes in West Virginia

10 lakes in West Virginia that we have checked. These are the ones from our research that we could check against an official page — not every lake there is. We have not been to these; this is what the official pages say, so you can look one up.

Beech Fork Lake
near Lavalette; Barboursville · 720 acres · reservoir
- Fishingyes (species not listed)
- Rentals & marinaBeech Fork Marina near visitor center
- CampingBeech Fork SP: year-round; 2-night min Fri–Sat; max 14 nights
- SeasonSP 8 a.m.–9 p.m.
narrow rural roads not recommended for walking/biking
Run by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Beech Fork State Park
Bluestone Lake
near Hinton · 2,040 acres · reservoir (flood control)
- Fishingyes (several WV record fish; species not listed)
- Rentals & marinaBluestone State Park marina (Wikipedia)
- CampingBluestone SP and WMA (spring–fall)
- SeasonSP campgrounds spring–fall
dam safety retrofit about half done, finish slated 2030; conditions line 304-466-0156
Run by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Huntington District); WV DNR (Bluestone SP & WMA)
Burnsville Lake
near Burnsville · 968 acres · reservoir
- Rentals & marinaBurnsville Marina
- CampingBulltown and Riffle Run campgrounds; reservations 877-444-6777
- Seasonsummer pool 789 ft
conditions line 304-853-2398
Run by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Huntington District)
Cheat Lake
near Morgantown · 1,730 acres · reservoir
- Fishingyes - fishing platform on park trail; tailrace fishing pier below dam
- BoatingFree motor boat launch at Sunset Marina; day docks at Cheat Lake Park
- Rentals & marinaSunset Marina (free motor boat launch)
- SwimmingSwim at your own risk, no lifeguards; Millstone Beach swim area closed rest of 2026 season
- EntryFree motor boat launch at Sunset Marina
light/sound warning system for high-flow releases; exclusion zones 1,000 ft upstream/1,200 ft downstream of dam
Run by Lake Lynn Generation, LLC (Eagle Creek Renewable Energy)
East Lynn Lake
near East Lynn; Wayne · 1,005 acres · reservoir
- Fishingyes; 29 native species plus carp (WV DNR stocks)
- Boatingwake and no-wake zones
- Rentals & marinamarina near dam
- CampingUSACE campground; reservations 877-444-6777
conditions line 304-849-9861
Run by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Huntington District); WV DNR
Jennings Randolph Lake
near Elk Garden WV; Bloomington MD · 952 acres · reservoir
- Fishingyes - walleye, smallmouth bass, trout, bluegill, catfish
- BoatingBoat ramps at Howell Run (WV) and the Maryland launch
- SwimmingShaw Beach swim beach; no lifeguards
- CampingRobert W. Craig Campground, 68 electric sites
- EntryCampground $22 electric, $26 family sites per night; no fee to launch at Howell Run
Run by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Baltimore District
Stonewall Jackson Lake
near Weston · 2,630 acres · reservoir (West Fork River)
- Fishingyes; largemouth bass, crappie, walleye, bluegill, yellow perch, muskellunge, channel catfish
- CampingStonewall Resort SP campground (open year-round)
82 miles of shoreline
Run by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Pittsburgh District); Stonewall Resort State Park
Summersville Lake
near Summersville · 2,790 acres · reservoir (Gauley River)
- Fishingyes; WV DNR stocks trout in tailwaters (lake species not listed)
- Boatingmotorized; $3 launch fee; no-wake beyond Route 19 bridge
- Rentals & marinayes; Long Point marina (473 seasonal slips); Sarge's Dive Shop
- Swimming1,000-ft Battle Run beach, no lifeguards; $1/person, max $4/car
- CampingBattle Run (USACE) 117 sites May 1–Columbus Day, Recreation.gov reservable Memorial–Labor Day; Mountain Lake Campground (private, cabins)
- Entry$3 launch; beach fee; America the Beautiful 50% discount
- Seasonsummer pool 1,652 ft; lowered to 1,575 ft late fall/winter
cliff jumping prohibited; scuba allowed; conditions line 304-872-5809
Run by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Huntington District); Summersville Lake State Park
Sutton Lake
near Sutton · 1,520 acres · reservoir
- Fishingyes - bass, crappie, catfish, sunfish; trout stocked below dam
- BoatingLaunch ramps at Bee Run, Bakers Run, Gerald R. Freeman, South Abutment
- Rentals & marinaTwo marinas, privately operated under Corps leases
- SwimmingBeaches at South Abutment and Bee Run day-use areas
- CampingGerald R. Freeman (159 sites), Bakers Run (79), Bee Run (primitive)
- Entry$3 day-use fee to launch a boat; campgrounds $24-30 per night (electric)
- SeasonFreeman and Bee Run campgrounds late May to early December; Bakers Run to mid-October
No lifeguards; swim at your own risk
Run by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington District
Tygart Lake
near Grafton · 1,750 acres · reservoir (1938)
- Fishingyes (WV record fish caught; species not listed)
- Boatingboat ramps
- Rentals & marinamarina (per park banner)
- CampingTygart Lake SP campground spring–fall; cabins, lodge
Run by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Pittsburgh District); Tygart Lake State Park

*Check before you go. Every lake here links to the official page we checked it against. 4 of these state a price we read off that page on the date we checked. Fees, seasons, water levels, algal advisories and ramp closures change without notice and belong to the agency that runs the water. A blank is something we did not confirm, not something the lake lacks. Never assume a lifeguard. Whether a beach is staffed turns on the season, the day, and which agency runs that particular beach — two beaches on one lake can differ. If that matters to your family, confirm it with the agency before you set out.

Skiing and Snowboarding

5 in this state.

Canaan Valley ResortDavis
State park resort with lodge
Timberline Mountain — we could not confirm the summer bike parkDavis
Canaan Valley mountain with new bike park
* no current source confirms a summer bike park here. Check their site before you plan around it.
Winterplace Ski ResortGhent
Southern WV hill right off I-77
Snowshoe MountainSummer bike parkSnowshoe
Largest Mid-Atlantic resort; famous bike park
Oglebay ResortWheeling
City park resort with small ski hill

This is a list of what is there, not a recommendation of any of it. One entry is marked with an asterisk: no current source confirms the summer bike park, and the note under it says so. We do not list rentals: our source marked every ski area in the country “likely” to have them and confirmed none, so there was nothing to publish. Most hills do rent gear — ring ahead rather than take that from us. Opening dates, lift schedules and trail conditions move every year and we hold none of them, so check before you build a day around it. Every name above links to the operator’s own site.

Lift-Served Bike Parks

1 in this state.

Snowshoe MountainAlso a ski resortLift-servedSnowshoe
Top East Coast park; World Cup venue

This is a list of what is there, not a recommendation of any of it. Opening dates, lift schedules and trail conditions move every year and we hold none of them, so check before you build a day around it. Every name above links to the operator’s own site.

Long Bike Trails

1 in this state.

Greenbrier River Trail
Length
77 miles
Surface
Crushed stone
End to end
North Caldwell WV – Cass WV
Remote mountain river valley with tunnels and camping

Historic Mountain Lodges

1 in this state.

The GreenbrierNational Historic Landmark
Designated
National Historic Landmark, 21 June 1990 — White Sulphur Springs, Greenbrier County
Historic luxury resort with former Cold War bunker

This is a list of what is there, not a recommendation of any of it. Each of these is a working hotel and is listed here because the building itself is a designated National Historic Landmark, with the date beside it. Several stand inside national parks and can be walked into and looked at without staying. We are not recommending anywhere to sleep and we earn nothing from them. Every name above links to the operator’s own site.

Days out with the family

Gated attractions with a front door, a ticket and a car park.

Zoos and Wildlife Parks

3 across West Virginia, by town.

West Virginia State Wildlife CenterFrench Creek
Hours
Apr 1-Oct 31 9am-5pm; Nov 1-Mar 31 9am-3pm
Season
year-round (two hour schedules)
Admission
Adult from $4 (16+, Apr-Oct) · Child $2 (6-15, Apr-Oct); 5 and under free
Run by WV Division of Natural Resources; about 12 miles south of Buckhannon on WV-20. Winter prices not listed.
Hovatter's Wildlife ZooKingwood
Hours
Apr 11-Oct daily 10-6, last customer at 5; November weather permitting; last day of season not set
Season
seasonal
Admission
Adult $15.99 · Child $11.99
Oglebay's Good ZooAZA-accreditedWheeling
Hours
10am-4pm daily
Season
year-round (some rides seasonal)
Admission
Adult from $17 (13+) · Child $13 (3-12); under 3 free
Zoo train and Jumbo Jumper operate seasonally for an extra fee.

This is a list of what is near you, not a recommendation of any of it. 1 of these carries an accreditation we confirmed against the accrediting body’s own register. Where there is no badge we did not confirm one — that is not a judgement on the place, and a good many municipal, state and university sites belong to no register we check. Opening times, prices and seasons change without notice, so check the operator’s own site — every name above links to it.

Amusement Parks

1 across West Virginia, by town.

Camden ParkSeasonalamusement parkHuntington
Historic seasonal amusement park (opened 1903)

This is a list of what is near you, not a recommendation of any of it. Every one of these runs a season rather than opening year round. Opening and closing dates move every year and we hold none of them, so check the park’s own calendar before you build a day around it. Prices, hours and ride closures change without notice — every name above links to the park’s own site.

Wineries and Distilleries in West Virginia

2 producers in West Virginia that we have checked. These are the ones from our research we could check against their own site — not every producer there is. We have not been to these; this is what their own sites say, so you can look one up.

Smooth Ambler Spirits
distillery · Maxwelton, WV · Greenbrier Valley · founded 2009
Greenbrier Valley whiskey distillery founded in 2009, maker of Old Scout bourbon.
- Toursyes - tours bookable online
- Phone304-497-3123
745 Industrial Park Rd, Maxwelton, WV
Kirkwood Winery & Isaiah Morgan Distillery
winery and distillery · Summersville, WV · Mountain Lakes region
Winery (vineyard planted 1984) sharing a site with a small-batch corn whiskey distillery.
- HoursDaily 9-5
- Toursyes - vineyard tours
- Foodyes
- Phone888-4WV-WINE
45 Winery Lane, Summersville, WV 26651

*Check before you go. Every producer here links to its own site, which is where we read these details on the date we checked. Opening hours, tour times, tasting fees and who may come in change without notice and belong to the producer. A blank is something we did not confirm, not something they lack. None of these say anything about children, so do not plan around it without asking them.

Roadside oddities in West Virginia

Mystery HoleMystery spot / optical illusionAnsted
Cost to see it
Costs something — we did not find the price published
When you can see it
Seasonal — not open all year
Nearest road
US-60
Gravity-defying slanted room since 1973
- Open seasonally, not all year
Read on the page we checked
Hillbilly Hot DogsRoadside attraction / tourist stopLesage
Cost to see it
Costs something — we did not find the price published
When you can see it
Only while it is open, and we did not find its hours published
Nearest road
WV-2
Junky hot dog shack with an old school bus and giant wieners
Read on the page we checked
Mothman MuseumQuirky museumPoint Pleasant
Cost to see it
Costs something — we did not find the price published
When you can see it
Only while it is open, and we did not find its hours published
Nearest road
WV-2 / US-35
Props and lore about the 1966 Mothman sightings
Read on the page we checked

These are things you can go and look at, not a recommendation of any of them. Oddities move, get sold and quietly disappear more than anything else we list, so check anything you are driving a long way for. Where this list says we did not find a price or opening times published, that is exactly what we mean. A blank is not “free” and not “always open”. Some sit on private land and can only be seen from the road — please do not go onto anyone’s property. Every entry links the page we read it off.

Venues and Annual Events

10 across West Virginia, by town.

Where to see something

Clay Center for the Arts & SciencestheaterCharleston
Hours
Box office Mon-Sat 9:30am-5pm; Sun 11:30am-5pm
Address
1 Clay Square, Charleston, WV 25301
Phone
304-561-3570
Capacity
1,883 (Maier Foundation Performance Hall)
Opened 2003.
Culture Center Theater (Mountain Stage)theaterCharleston
Hours
Event days only
Most episodes of the public-radio show Mountain Stage (on air since 1983) are recorded here before a live audience.
Carnegie HalltheaterLewisburg
Address
611 Church St, Lewisburg, WV 24901
Phone
304-645-7917

What is on, and when

Jefferson County Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairCharles Town
Usually
August
* We could not confirm: anything beyond the month it usually runs. Check their site before you go.
Jackson County Junior Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairCottageville
Usually
Late July–early August
* We could not confirm: anything beyond the month it usually runs. Check their site before you go.
Mountain State Forest Festivalcultural festivalElkins
Usually
Late September - early October, over several days
Since
88th edition in 2026
Mineral County Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairFort Ashby
Usually
August
* We could not confirm: anything beyond the month it usually runs. Check their site before you go.
State Fair of West Virginia — some details below are unconfirmedfairLewisburg
Usually
August, over several days
Held at
State Fairgrounds
* We could not confirm: the details beyond the month it usually runs. Check their site before you go.
Berkeley County Youth Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairMartinsburg
Usually
August
* We could not confirm: anything beyond the month it usually runs. Check their site before you go.

See the other 1

Mason County Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairPoint Pleasant
Usually
August
* We could not confirm: anything beyond the month it usually runs. Check their site before you go.

This is a list of what is near you, not a recommendation of any of it. Events are listed by the month they usually fall in, because that is what we hold — we do not publish dates, and a month is not a promise. Check the organiser before you plan around one. 6 entries are marked with an asterisk: we could not confirm part of what is listed, and the note under it says which part. Opening times, line-ups and ticketing change without notice, so check the venue’s or organiser’s own site — every name above links to it.

On the road

Before you set off.

Scenic roads through West Virginia

Federally designated scenic byways and All-American Roads, with the places we publish along each one in the order you meet them.

Historic National Road6 states · 32 places we publish Midland TrailWest Virginia · 6 places we publish Coal Heritage TrailWest Virginia · 5 places we publish Washington Heritage TrailWest Virginia · 2 places we publish Highland Scenic HighwayWest Virginia · 1 place we publish Staunton-Parkersburg TurnpikeWest Virginia · 1 place we publish

What to wear in West Virginia

Illustrated outfit board for West Virginia: four seasonal panels of clothing with average temperatures.

Spring 64°/40°F (18°/4°C)

Spring brings variable temperatures, wet stops, and cool mountain mornings.

Wear: Start with a long-sleeve tee, stretch pants, and a fleece or sweater. Add a rain shell when the wind or showers pick up.
Shoes: Water-resistant walking shoes with grip; boots for muddy stops.
Pack: fleece or sweater
rain shell
light beanie
spare dry socks

Summer 82°/60°F (28°/15°C)

Summer is warm and humid in lower areas, with cooler highlands.

Wear: Choose a loose, breathable tee or shirt with quick-drying shorts, lightweight pants, or an airy dress. Carry a thin layer for chilly indoor stops.
Shoes: Breathable walking sneakers; secure sandals for casual paved stops.
Pack: sun hat
sunglasses
light indoor layer
light rain shell
spare tee

Fall 65°/43°F (19°/6°C)

Fall brings chilly mornings and cold late-season mountain stops.

Wear: Build around a long-sleeve tee, comfortable pants, and a sweater or fleece. Add a wind-resistant jacket for breezy overlooks.
Shoes: Walking shoes with grip; water-resistant boots for wet or muddy routes.
Pack: sweater or fleece
wind and rain shell
beanie
light gloves
spare socks

Winter 43°/25°F (6°/-4°C)

Winter is cold, with snow and ice especially important at elevation.

Wear: Layer a moisture-wicking long-sleeve top under a sweater or fleece and an insulated coat. Wear long pants; add thermal bottoms when the forecast calls for them.
Shoes: Waterproof insulated boots for snowy stops, with warm wool or synthetic socks.
Pack: thermal base layers
insulated coat
beanie
gloves or mittens
warm spare socks

Adjust for your route. Highland routes need more insulation than lower river valleys. Carry a fleece for summer overlooks and waterproof warm boots in winter.

Climate background: NOAA State Climate Summary

See what to wear in every state →

Keep exploring

See It in the Book

Explore West Virginia

Locations in West Virginia

Charleston

Fayetteville (New River Gorge)

Harpers Ferry

Morgantown

National parks and federal sites in West Virginia

State parks in West Virginia

Lakes in West Virginia

Skiing and Snowboarding

Canaan Valley ResortDavis

Timberline Mountain* — we could not confirm the summer bike parkDavis

Winterplace Ski ResortGhent

Snowshoe MountainSummer bike parkSnowshoe

Oglebay ResortWheeling

Lift-Served Bike Parks

Snowshoe MountainAlso a ski resortLift-servedSnowshoe

Long Bike Trails

Historic Mountain Lodges

The GreenbrierNational Historic Landmark

Zoos and Wildlife Parks

West Virginia State Wildlife CenterFrench Creek

Hovatter's Wildlife ZooKingwood

Oglebay's Good ZooAZA-accreditedWheeling

Amusement Parks

Camden ParkSeasonalamusement parkHuntington

Wineries and Distilleries in West Virginia

Roadside oddities in West Virginia

Mystery HoleMystery spot / optical illusionAnsted

Hillbilly Hot DogsRoadside attraction / tourist stopLesage

Mothman MuseumQuirky museumPoint Pleasant

Venues and Annual Events

Where to see something

Clay Center for the Arts & SciencestheaterCharleston

Culture Center Theater (Mountain Stage)theaterCharleston

Carnegie HalltheaterLewisburg

What is on, and when

Jefferson County Fair* — some details below are unconfirmedfairCharles Town

Jackson County Junior Fair* — some details below are unconfirmedfairCottageville

Mountain State Forest Festivalcultural festivalElkins

Mineral County Fair* — some details below are unconfirmedfairFort Ashby

State Fair of West Virginia* — some details below are unconfirmedfairLewisburg

Berkeley County Youth Fair* — some details below are unconfirmedfairMartinsburg

Mason County Fair* — some details below are unconfirmedfairPoint Pleasant

Scenic roads through West Virginia

What to wear in West Virginia

Spring 64°/40°F (18°/4°C)

Summer 82°/60°F (28°/15°C)

Fall 65°/43°F (19°/6°C)

Winter 43°/25°F (6°/-4°C)

Keep exploring

Timberline Mountain — we could not confirm the summer bike parkDavis

Jefferson County Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairCharles Town

Jackson County Junior Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairCottageville

Mineral County Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairFort Ashby

State Fair of West Virginia — some details below are unconfirmedfairLewisburg

Berkeley County Youth Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairMartinsburg

Mason County Fair — some details below are unconfirmedfairPoint Pleasant