7 Most Scenic Drives in West Virginia

Thanks to John Denver, West Virginia and country roads will always be synonymous. And why not? With its sweeping countryside, forested mountain ranges, and numerous beautiful towns, the state makes for one of the best, if not the best, for a road trip. It is not all stunning scenery, though: there are plenty of stops to be made along the way. Some may entertain; others may frighten; all will leave a lasting impression. So if you have a few hours to spare for a West Virginia day trip, pack your bags and fill up the tank: these country roads are going to take you home.

Charleston to Point Pleasant

It only seems fair to start with the state capital and largest city. Charleston is a historic Appalachian town with neoclassical architecture and gritty, expansive landscapes. It also just so happens to be a perfect starting point for dozens of day trips. The drive to Point Pleasant, though, an artsy and friendly town, is just as pleasant as its name suggests. Clocking in at just an hour and a half, this drive is a great length for an afternoon getaway with the family, and offers the lush and languid Tu-Endie-Wei State Park right on Point Pleasant's borders.

Along the way, the Winfield Locks and Dam, near the town of Winfield, makes for an ideal halfway point. The spacious lookout area has no shortage of spots from which barges and boats can be seen passing through the locks on the Kanawha River.

Also close to Winfield, the Chief Cornstalk Wildlife Management Area on the outskirts of Eleanor, is home to over 11,000 acres of forest conservation. Day-trip visitors can enjoy the wilderness at its purest, and for those interested in a longer stay, there are several campsites available as well.

For those seeking more of a quirky thrill, the Mothman Museum in Point Pleasant is a delightfully spooky deep dive into West Virginia's most enduring cryptid. Open every day of the week, the museum is family-friendly and offers a chance to learn all about the local legend of the Mothman.

Morgantown to Weston

A drive of similar length, Morgantown to Weston, makes for another excellent afternoon with the family. Just as beautiful on the eastern side of the state, this drive comes packed with more than just its sights: Along the way, visitors can detour near Weston to visit Jackson's Mill, the childhood home of Stonewall Jackson, a Confederate general during the American Civil War. There, you can tour the grounds, which feature a general store, blacksmith shop, barn, one-room cabin, and a still-operating grist mill.

After Jackson's Mill, tourists may want to stop in the town of White Hall to visit their newly opened Farmers & Artisans Market. The 50-something vendors at the market offer fresh fruit, local honey, handmade goods, and much more!

However, this drive, too, is also not without its spooky history. Those brave enough to dare can visit the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, once you arrive in Weston. The asylum, built between 1858 and 1881, offers guided tours of the building. If you want a paranormal experience, they offer ghost tours too, and claim that the asylum “has had apparition sightings, unexplainable voices and sounds, and other paranormal activity reported in the past.” You could be the next to spot a ghost, if you dare ...

Parkersburg to Beckley

Departing from the spooky side of things, the stops between Parkersburg and Beckley are rooted in present-day, happier adventures. If that is more the vibe you're looking for, then look no further: near Parkersburg, you can stop at Blennerhassett Island, a state park featuring a Palladian mansion. Guests can book tours of both the grounds and the mansion ahead of time. For an even more exclusive experience, you may enjoy the mansion by candlelight, an event offered just twice in October each year.

Jackson County Courthouse in Ripley, just off the I-77, is worth a stop afterwards. Beginning construction in 1918, progress on the palatial building was halted due to the flu pandemic. At last completed in 1920, the courthouse is a testament both to human resilience and architectural ingenuity.

Near Beckley, travellers can detour to the Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park, which is a 156-acre Civil War battlefield site. The Park “commemorates the 1861 Battle of Carnifex Ferry, a major Union victory that led to the eventual Confederate withdrawal from western Virginia.” Carnifex Ferry is one of the oldest state parks in the country. Whether you're there for a reenactment or simply to enjoy nature, Carnifex Ferry is worth the drive.

Lewisburg to Bluefield

The drive between Bluefield and Lewisburg contains exciting stops for sightseers and enthusiasts of the natural world. The first, located only fifteen minutes from Bluefield, is Pinnacle Rock State Park. Known for the 3,100-foot sandstone formation that gives the park its name, this park also includes wooded areas with picnic facilities, hiking trails, and a lake. With over 400 acres to enjoy, Pinnacle Rock State Park is perfect for the family's first stop on this day trip.

Worth a detour, Sandstone Falls is the largest waterfall on the New River. The rushing, roaring white rapids make for an impressive sight, and all in a day's work, too.

Finally, close to Lewisburg, you can find Organ Cave. Your tour inside the cave will show you ancient rock formations, prehistoric fossils, and-drumroll, please-bats—lots and lots of bats. Enough, at least, to ensure that Organ Cave is a museum come to life. The guided tours will ensure you learn about cave ecology and exploration, too.

Harpers Ferry to Romney

Driving from Harpers Ferry to Romney, which is home to the Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad, one can pass through Charles Town about fifteen minutes after departure, which is the site of John Brown's trial and execution. The trial took place at the historic Jefferson County Courthouse, built in 1836. Around it, you will find a downtown rife with Colonial and Victorian architecture, a mix of local shops and restaurants, and Willingham Knolls Park, which features several footbridges and a walking trail.

Continuing on to Romney and Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad, you can ditch the car and choose from a long list of scenic train rides. “The line has been a vital part of the valley from Green Spring to Petersburg for well over 100 years,” their website says. They offer narrated journeys, sightseeing adventures, and if you take the line running through the Trough-a remote canyon nearby-all but a guarantee of seeing at least one bald eagle.

Elkins to Fayetteville

If departing from Elkins, you will soon encounter Summersville Lake, and it is no wonder that you will: it would be hard to miss the largest lake in all of West Virginia. Part of West Virginia's newest state park, Summersville Lake offers myriad activities year-round, including camping and ATV riding in the summer, as well as winter sports once the snow falls. For anyone interested in trying their rugged hands at rock-climbing, Summersville Lake State Park is the first state park in West Virginia to provide climbing access and an emphasis on climbing education.

Before the I-79 starts curving east toward Elkins, a short diversion to Burnsville Lake is well worth your time. Untamed and beautiful, the lake and its shores are home to campsites, picnic areas, and fishing holes. In short, a perfect stop for all ages.

Just outside the borders of Fayetteville is New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, an iconic and tumultuous terrain to be explored, hiked, and enjoyed by all. The Park encompasses 70,000 acres of land along 53 miles of the New River, and features several lookout points from which you can safely admire the whitewater rapids that tear through the wild area.

Fairmont to Seneca Rocks

Fairmont has its own appeal with its historic downtown and scenic riverfront, but about halfway between the small town and Seneca Rocks exists the historic Philippi Covered Bridge. A perfect stopping point on a day trip, the Bridge, first built in 1852, retains much of its original appearance despite nearly burning down in 1989. The restoration project was so successful that the experience has influenced similar attempts to revamp or save other covered bridges.

What Seneca Rocks lacks in historic bridges, it makes up for in longstanding and magnificent geological formations. A paradisaical end to a scenic drive, the Seneca Rocks rise nearly 900 feet above the North Fork River and have long been a favourite attraction to the people of West Virginia. You cannot go wrong ending your day in the shadows of these giants.

Winding West Virginia Roads

Sometimes, you do not need a long road trip to see historical landmarks or acres of nature's beauty. In a state like West Virginia, in fact, you do not even need to go far. Between the exhibits of Mothman Museum and the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, the historic houses, stunning state parks, or even bat-filled caves, the destinations and detours of these seven scenic drives encapsulate a little of everything, and ensure that regardless of what you may be chasing, you can find it along one of these country roads.