7 Best Small Towns In West Virginia For A Crowd-Free Summer
A few states live up to their nickname, such as West Virginia: The Mountain State. Most towns in West Virginia are in the Allegheny and Blue Ridge Mountains, offering stunning views and fresh mountain air. If you want to escape to the mountains this summer (and skip all the traffic), these isolated communities provide the perfect summer getaway. From the waterfalls of Thomas to swimming in Bluestone Lake in Hinton, summer comes alive in West Virginia. So when you’re ready for a crowd-free summer, pack up the car with snacks and hit the winding country roads of West Virginia!
Thomas
Summers are always a little cooler in Thomas. Situated high in the Allegheny Mountains in eastern West Virginia, the temperatures are cooler, and the views are hot! It is a fantastic blend of sweeping mountain landscapes, outdoor adventures, and a cozy downtown with a modern, artsy vibe. The Buxton and Landstreet Gallery and Studios is the most notable of the studios, located in a massive 1901 structure that was once the town's general store. Today, it’s a modern art studio displaying contemporary art and offering art classes throughout the year.
If you want to explore the mountains of Thomas, you have a few options. The Blackwater Falls State Park is one of the most popular spots among the locals for its impressive waterfall. Blackwater Falls is a 57-foot waterfall that you can view below, or atop the walking bridge at the top. After a day exploring the park, the best way to end your stay at Thomas is by visiting the Purple Fiddle, a local watering hole that always has live bluegrass and folk music almost every night.
Berkeley Springs
On the border of West Virginia and Maryland is the healing community of Berkeley Springs, known as America’s First Spa Town. The area is famous for its hot mineral springs at Berkeley Springs State Park, where the waters are always a soothing 74 degrees year-round. Even George Washington took a soak in the healing water of the area in the 1700s! Many of the original structures from colonial times still exist, giving the park a historical vibe, while offering modern services like massages, facials, and calming mineral baths in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains.
While you may come for the mineral baths, you’ll fall in love with the charm of central Berkeley Springs! After a long soak, nothing tastes better than a steak dinner and live music at Ravenwood Pub, or patio cocktails and small plates at The Naked Olive Lounge. Allowing your worries to melt away in the hot springs works up an appetite, and thankfully, Berkeley Springs has plenty of delicious restaurants within walking distance from the mineral springs.
White Sulphur Springs
White Sulfur Springs is in southern West Virginia near the Virginia border, known for its historic spas, vibrant downtown, and natural beauty. While it’s stunning year-round, the summer is when it comes alive! It's home to The Greenbrier, which was once called the “Summer White House”. Over 25 U.S. Presidents used the Greenbrier as a summer retreat to soak in its mineral springs. It even has a secret Cold War bunker (that’s not so secret anymore), that you can tour.
The Greenbriar is just the icing on the cake in White Sulphur Springs. Nestled in the Allegheny Mountains, it's a hub for outdoor adventure. The best way to experience the area's natural beauty is along the Greenbrier River Trail. Once a bustling railway line, the trail now winds through mountains, across bridges, and through tunnels, offering views of the Greenbrier River. The Greenbrier State Forest is also a must-see, with hiking trails and stellar overlooks of the Allegheny Mountains.
Buckhannon
In the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains is the isolated community of Buckhannon, a historical town that feels like stepping inside a postcard. Downtown comes alive in the summer and was voted the “City of Flowers,” with stunning floral displays accenting the sidewalks in the summer. You can shop for treasures at Main Street Antiques-Collectibles, and then stop in Fish Hawk Acres for a fantastic farm-to-table meal. After a good meal, the Buckhannon River Walk Trail is a wonderful place to stretch your legs and enjoy the lovely Buckhannon River.
If outdoor adventure is what you crave during your summer road trip, there are excellent parks near central Buckhannon. Audra State Park is the perfect West Virginian mountain retreat with excellent hiking trails, river views, and white water rafting down the Middle Fork River. The rivers in Audra State Park are known as some of the most transparent waters in West Virginia, where you can see to the bottom of the river on a sunny day!
Harpers Ferry
It’s hard to deny the beauty of Harper's Ferry, especially in the summer. Situated at the fork where the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers meet, there are sweeping river views wherever you turn. The town played a pivotal role during the American Civil War, and traces of its past are scattered throughout the area. Harpers Ferry National Historical Park may be a lovely public space today, but it was once where John Brown's raid on the U.S. Armory ignited the war. The park still has John Brown’s Fort, which you can tour.
One of the most incredible things to do in Harper’s Ferry is something you won’t find anywhere else in the state! The Point at the Rivers is a spot in Harpers Ferry where you can see three states: Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. Another great spot in the area is Jefferson Rock, offering some of the most breathtaking views of the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Thomas Jefferson once stood at that very spot, and later wrote, “This scene is worth a voyage across the Atlantic,” in his published work Notes on the State of Virginia.
Elkins
If outdoor adventures are on your summer road trip bucket list, Elkins is the ideal spot. It’s the perfect marriage of fantastic public parks and mountain views, all while never straying too far from the comforts of home. It’s the best of both worlds! As the Gateway to the Monongahela National Forest in the Allegheny Mountains. Quite a few breathtaking trails lead you to mountain vistas, like the short but sweet Seneca Rocks Trail. Spruce Knob is a little further of a trek, but it leads to the highest point in West Virginia, where the air is a little cooler.
While you can take in the silence and the fresh mountain air, downtown Elkins is a bustling hub with great dining and attractions when you need to unwind after a long day of outdoor adventure. C.J. Maggie's is a popular spot for a steak dinner in a rustic setting. Or you can drive down Scenic Ridge Road to have a romantic dinner at the Forks Inn, where you can enjoy a classic American meal on their outdoor patio with a view of the mountains.
Hinton
In southern West Virginia, settled along the winding banks of the New River, is the cozy community of Hinton. Unless you knew it was there, Hinton isn’t the type of secluded community you stumble upon by accident, and that’s part of its undeniable charm. The downtown area is a treasure trove of surprises, with quaint diners like Market On Courthouse Square, or museums like the Hinton Railroad Museum. It’s easy to lose track of time exploring downtown, but the real summer adventure in Hinton lies just outside its city limits.
A few miles south of central Hinton is Bluestone State Park, a picturesque retreat in the Cumberland Plateau region of the Appalachian Mountains. Visitors can cool off during the hot summer by swimming in Bluestone Lake, West Virginia’s third-largest body of water. One of the most breathtaking views in Hinton is Sandstone Falls, the largest waterfall on the New River. It’s a remote and meditative setting with the sounds of rushing water and birdsong amid the vibrant green backdrop of the mountains.
Summer vacations are supposed to be relaxing, and there’s nothing relaxing about traffic and crowds. If you want to skip the noise for your summer road trip, these small communities in the Mountain State have you covered. From waterfalls, swimming lakes, and beaches, to breathtaking mountain vistas, they are the perfect summer escape. The one thing you won’t find here? Crowds. When your soul needs fresh mountain air and the sounds of the wind blowing through the trees (without losing access to coffee shops!), add these small towns to your next West Virginia adventure.
