8 Coolest West Virginia Towns For A Summer Vacation In 2025
West Virginia's state motto calls the state "Almost Heaven," and going by its wealth of attractions, those words sound exactly right. The Mountain State, set in the Appalachian range between the Midwest and the Mid-Atlantic region, has served as the backdrop for local and regional history since before the American Revolution. The state also hosts the newest U.S. national park, called New River Gorge and historical powerhouses like Harpers Ferry promise learning and outdoor fun for couples, families, and solo visitors. As travelers make summer plans, West Virginia's almost-heavenly options merit a visit soon.
Davis
The tiny town of Davis makes a great base for hiking, biking, and other outdoor pursuits. It sits near Blackwater Falls State Park, which has the stunning 57-foot-tall Blackwater Falls as its most prominent feature. The park, located in the Allegheny Mountains, also has numerous trails leading through remarkable natural scenery.
Davis also boasts a craft alcohol scene, like the drafts at Stumptown Ales and the spirits at New Heritage Distilling. Davis wears its past on its sleeve, and in addition to a proud legacy in coal mining, the town also functioned for generations as a logging area. Outside town, the meeting point of Beaver Creek and the Blackwater River allowed for moving felled logs toward waiting buyers.
Elkins
The eastern town of Elkins brings together the performing arts and the great outdoors. Deriving its name from a post-Civil War senator from West Virginia named Stephen Benton Elkins, greatly improved the town's first moniker: Leadsville. Located near the state's eastern panhandle, and not far from the Monongahela National Forest, which is around 40 minutes away, visitors to Elkins can take advantage of its fishing, hunting, and hiking options. Enthusiasts of natural wonders should make Elkins their first stop in West Virginia. The Tygart Valley River, draws whitewater rafting fans from everywhere. Those interested in the arts can visit the Artists At Work, which exhibits the work of the area's best artists and craftsmen. The Gandy Dancer Theater is the perfect venue for finishing up the day with Branson-style shows and a gala dinner.
Harpers Ferry
At the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers, the tiny town of Harpers Ferry has drawn visitors for centuries. The majestic Shenandoah Valley makes one side of the village, creating a scene that founding father Thomas Jefferson once called "worth a voyage across the Atlantic." Harpers Ferry features a short section of the Appalachian Trail, which runs through the middle of the town.
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, in the heart of town, showcases the place where abolitionist John Brown attempted to launch an insurrection to end American slavery. His actions helped push the United States to full-scale civil war. Most historic sites in town are under the management of the National Park Service — and have free admission. Fun fact: The Harpers Ferry Center, set above town, is the place where brochures, tee-shirts, signs, and other visual elements are designed for every U.S. national park.
Hinton
Hinton sits in West Virginia's sparsely-populated southeast. The town derives its beginning from the confluence of the Bluestone, Greenbrier, and New Rivers, making it a good place to find water and build a community. Hinton's downtown has a spot on the National Register of Historic Places, and was once an important stop on the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad.
Fans of rail and other histories will enjoy Hinton's Railroad Museum. Students of architecture will enjoy diverse architectural styles in the town's historic center. These styles include Late Victorian, Classical Revival, and American Four-Square, all found in this small town. Hinton lies around 45 minutes away from the New River Gorge National Park, one of America's newest protected natural areas.
Morgantown
Morgantown is well-known as West Virginia's football-loving, hard-partying college town. Home to the West Virginia University (WVU), the town, perched along the Monongahela River in north-central West Virginia, sits near Pennsylvania, about 75 miles south of Pittsburgh.
For a touch of culture, travelers often enjoy the Monongalia Arts Center, as well as the Metropolitan Theatre, both in town. The Morgantown History Museum illustrates the region's significant role in the French and Indian War, which preceded and influenced the American Revolution. Morgantown's green spaces vary substantially, from the Hazel Ruby McQuain Riverfront Park to the Core Arboretum. For active types, the Deckers Creek and Caperton Rail-Trails are repurposed rail beds that now serve as ideal places for walking, jogging, and cycling.
Martinsburg
The eastern town of Martinsburg sits in the sliver of West Virginia land between Virginia and Maryland. The town is billed as a gateway to the Shenandoah Valley, a mountain range beloved for its fall foliage and as a part of the broader Appalachian mountain range.
Travelers can arrive in Martinsburg via Amtrak, the US' public rail system, or via the nearby Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport — two options for those who want to travel without a car. For a mix of the great outdoors and local history, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historic Park, located around half an hour away, is just perfect. It celebrates the historic canal project that accelerated trade and commerce from Washington, DC, and the Chesapeake Bay to as far as Ohio.
Princeton
In the foothills of the Appalachians, Princeton experienced rapid growth in the coal mining boom of the early 1900s. Princeton organizes the Mercer County Fair every summer, celebrating its agricultural roots and featuring rides, live music, and local food for celebrants from all over. The town sits in the greater Bluefield area, a local "two-state city" that stretches over the West Virginia and Virginia state border. Princeton in recent years has taken on a revitalization campaign, an attempt to make the place even more welcoming for vacationers and road-trippers.
White Sulphur Springs
White Sulphur Springs, set in the southeastern Greenbrier County, is a time-honored luxury destination. Foremost among its attractions is the Greenbrier, a sprawling historic mountain resort. The town's legacy of luxury, related in part to its natural springs, gave rise to the nickname "Queen of the Watering Places." White Sulphur Springs' high-class bona fides only shine brighter given its historic ties with the game of golf: in 1884, the Oakhurst Links opened here, becoming America's first official golf club.
White Sulphur Springs sustains a broad menu of interesting places to eat and drink, such as the Prime 44 West which is perfect for fine dining. White Sulphur Springs' many points of interest are accessible via Amtrak's Cardinal route between Chicago and Washington, DC, for another car-less travel itinerary.
West Virginia's Coolest Towns Lie Off The Beaten Track
As these towns show, some of West Virginia's coolest travel attractions lie a bit outside the state's larger cities. Davis and Elkins offer proximity to mountain bliss and a touch of culture, too. History-rich towns like Harpers Ferry and Hinton will bring the amateur U.S. history buff new knowledge, whatever their stage of erudition and interest. Morgantown offers lively culture in a college-town atmosphere, while White Sulphur Springs pours on the luxury. For such a diverse list of things to see and do, West Virginia warrants a first or repeat visit in summer 2025, if not all year round.
