Day Trips in West Virginia: Waterfalls, Hiking, Historic Towns & Scenic Escapes
From cascading waterfalls to Civil War sites and spa towns, day trips in West Virginia offer a perfect mix of outdoor beauty, culture, and local charm. Whether you’re exploring the dramatic cliffs of the New River Gorge, hiking to the summit of Seneca Rocks, or relaxing in the mineral springs of Berkeley Springs, the Mountain State delivers unforgettable experiences. This guide covers top day trip ideas across every region—from the Eastern Panhandle to the scenic southern hills—perfect for families, history buffs, nature lovers, and adventure seekers alike.
Here are some great day trips to consider in West Virginia:
Harpers Ferry
- Explore historic sites from the Civil War era.
- Enjoy picturesque views of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers.
- Hiking trails like Maryland Heights offer panoramic vistas.
Blackwater Falls State Park (Davis)
- Witness stunning waterfalls.
- Hike or bike along scenic trails.
- Visit nearby towns like Davis and Thomas, known for quaint shops and galleries.
New River Gorge National Park
- Experience world-class rafting, kayaking, or hiking.
- Walk the iconic New River Gorge Bridge or explore historic Fayetteville.
- Enjoy scenic overlooks like the Endless Wall Trail.
Seneca Rocks
- Ideal for hiking and rock climbing with amazing summit views.
- Explore nearby Seneca Caverns or Spruce Knob (West Virginia’s highest point).
5. Cass Scenic Railroad State Park
- Ride historic steam-driven locomotives offering beautiful mountain views.
- Experience history and learn about the logging era of the region.
Berkeley Springs
- Relax at Berkeley Springs State Park’s mineral springs and spas.
- Shop local boutiques and enjoy dining downtown.
The Greenbrier (White Sulphur Springs)
- Tour this historic resort known for its elegant décor and Cold War-era bunker.
- Enjoy restaurants, golf, or simply explore the grounds.
Summersville Lake
- Perfect for boating, swimming, scuba diving, or fishing.
- Hike along trails overlooking the stunning lake views.
Lost World Caverns (Lewisburg)
- Take guided cave tours and see fascinating formations.
- Explore charming downtown Lewisburg.
Snowshoe Mountain
- Enjoy skiing/snowboarding in winter or mountain biking/hiking in summer.
- Great shopping, dining, and scenic lift rides year-round.
Here’s an expanded list, organized by region within West Virginia, featuring five great day-trip destinations in each area:
🟢 Eastern Panhandle
- Harpers Ferry
- Historic sites, hiking trails, and river activities.
- Berkeley Springs
- Relaxing spas, mineral springs, art galleries, and boutiques.
- Shepherdstown
- Quaint college town with historic charm, theaters, and eateries along the Potomac.
- Cacapon Resort State Park
- Hiking, golfing, swimming, and scenic overlooks.
- Martinsburg
- Rich Civil War history, local museums, antique shopping, and dining.
🔵 Northern West Virginia
- Morgantown
- Home of West Virginia University, vibrant downtown, breweries, and river trails.
- Prickett’s Fort State Park (Fairmont)
- Reconstructed 18th-century fort, historical reenactments, and riverside trails.
- Valley Falls State Park
- Scenic waterfalls, hiking, picnicking, and photography spots.
- Wheeling
- Victorian architecture, Wheeling Suspension Bridge, Oglebay Park and Resort.
- Coopers Rock State Forest
- Panoramic overlooks, hiking trails, climbing, and scenic picnic areas.
🟠 Central West Virginia
- Stonewall Jackson Lake & Resort (Roanoke)
- Boating, fishing, golfing, lakeside trails, and upscale dining.
- Buckhannon
- Charming downtown, local festivals, antiques, and coffee shops.
- Holly River State Park
- Beautiful waterfalls, dense forests, scenic trails, and swimming areas.
- Weston (Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum)
- Historic tours, ghost tours, museums, and unique local history.
- Bulltown Historic Area (near Sutton)
- Civil War battleground, recreation trails, and Burnsville Lake nearby.
🟡 Southern West Virginia
- New River Gorge National Park
- Rafting, hiking, ziplining, rock climbing, and bridge tours.
- Beckley (Exhibition Coal Mine & Youth Museum)
- Historic coal mining town, guided underground tours, family-friendly attractions.
- Summersville Lake
- Boating, fishing, swimming, cliff diving, and scenic overlooks.
- Bluestone State Park (Hinton)
- Lake recreation, fishing, hiking, and peaceful nature trails.
- Pipestem Resort State Park
- Scenic views, aerial tramway, golf, horseback riding, and hiking trails.
🔴 Western West Virginia
- Huntington
- Marshall University, Ritter Park, downtown shops, and Huntington Museum of Art.
- Point Pleasant
- Famous for Mothman legends, quirky museums, riverside walks, and historic downtown.
- Chief Logan State Park (Logan)
- Trails, wildlife center, outdoor theater, picnic spots, and fishing.
- Charleston
- West Virginia State Capitol, museums, vibrant downtown, and local eateries.
- Kanawha State Forest
- Hiking and mountain biking trails, picnic areas, bird watching, and lush nature.
Here’s a breakdown of five affordable and budget-friendly day trips you can enjoy in each region of West Virginia:
🟢 Eastern Panhandle (Budget-friendly)
- Jefferson Rock (Harpers Ferry)
- Free scenic hiking spot overlooking Harpers Ferry and the rivers.
- Sleepy Creek Wildlife Management Area (Berkeley Springs)
- Free hiking, wildlife watching, fishing, and picnic spots.
- Morgan’s Grove Park (Shepherdstown)
- Free recreational trails, playgrounds, sports fields, and picnic areas.
- Antietam National Battlefield (near Shepherdstown)
- Low-cost or free self-guided historical tours and scenic drives.
- Yankauer Nature Preserve (Martinsburg)
- Free hiking trails and nature walks suitable for families.
🔵 Northern West Virginia (Budget-friendly)
- Rail-Trail (Morgantown)
- Free biking or walking trails along the Monongahela River.
- Watters Smith Memorial State Park (Lost Creek)
- Free historic farm tours, nature trails, and picnic areas.
- Tygart Lake State Park (Grafton)
- Free trails, swimming areas, and scenic lakeside picnics.
- Marion County Historical Society Museum (Fairmont)
- Low-cost local history exhibits and tours.
- Friendship Hill National Historic Site (near Morgantown)
- Free historic home and scenic walking trails.
🟠 Central West Virginia (Budget-friendly)
- Audra State Park (Buckhannon)
- Free river swimming, hiking trails, and picnic areas.
- Sutton Lake (Sutton)
- Free swimming, hiking, fishing, and relaxing lakeside scenery.
- Elk River Rail-Trail (Gassaway)
- Free scenic bike rides, walking, or wildlife viewing.
- Burnsville Lake Wildlife Management Area
- Free outdoor activities including bird watching, hiking, and fishing.
- Cedar Creek State Park (Glenville)
- Free entry, nature trails, fishing, and picnic spots.
🟡 Southern West Virginia (Budget-friendly)
- Grandview at New River Gorge (Beckley)
- Free hiking trails, overlooks, picnic areas, and visitor center.
- Little Beaver State Park (Beckley)
- Free trails, lake fishing, paddle boat rentals (affordable), and picnics.
- Sandstone Falls (Hinton)
- Free scenic waterfalls, trails, wildlife watching, and picnic areas.
- Twin Falls Resort State Park (Mullens)
- Free hiking, waterfalls, picnicking, and scenic overlooks.
- Pinnacle Rock State Park (near Bluefield)
- Free short hikes, impressive rock formations, and picnic tables.
🔴 Western West Virginia (Budget-friendly)
- Ritter Park (Huntington)
- Free walking trails, gardens, playgrounds, and picnics.
- Tu-Endie-Wei State Park (Point Pleasant)
- Free historic park at confluence of Ohio and Kanawha Rivers.
- Kanawha Falls (Glen Ferris)
- Free roadside waterfall views, photography spots, and fishing.
- Barboursville Park (near Huntington)
- Free hiking trails, lake fishing, sports areas, and picnic spots.
- Magic Island Park (Charleston)
- Free downtown park on the riverfront, walking paths, playground, and scenic views.
Here’s a thoughtfully curated list of 10 budget-friendly, lesser-known day trips to explore in each region of West Virginia. These hidden gems provide affordable adventures off the beaten path.
🟢 Eastern Panhandle (Lesser-Known, Budget-Friendly)
- Shannondale Springs Wildlife Management Area (Harpers Ferry)
- Quiet trails, fishing, wildlife watching.
- Poor House Farm Park (Martinsburg)
- Hiking, picnics, fishing pond, and playgrounds.
- Belle Boyd House (Martinsburg)
- Low-cost local Civil War museum.
- Eidolon Nature Preserve (Great Cacapon)
- Quiet hikes, scenic overlooks.
- Stauffer’s Marsh Preserve (Back Creek Valley)
- Birdwatching, easy trails, serene wetlands.
- Short Mountain Wildlife Management Area (Delray)
- Peaceful hiking, wildlife photography, and hunting.
- Bolivar Heights Battlefield (Harpers Ferry)
- Free Civil War trails, scenic overlooks.
- Cool Spring Nature Preserve (Charles Town)
- Easy trails, boardwalks, educational displays.
- Morgan Cabin Historical Site (Bunker Hill)
- Free historical cabin tours and picnic area.
- Ice House Art Center (Berkeley Springs)
- Affordable local art exhibits, community events.
🔵 Northern West Virginia (Lesser-Known, Budget-Friendly)
- Arthurdale Heritage Center (Preston County)
- Low-cost historic tours of Eleanor Roosevelt’s first New Deal community.
- Tomlinson Run State Park (New Manchester)
- Trails, lakes, fishing, and quiet picnics.
- Cheat Lake Park (Morgantown)
- Free lakeside trails, fishing, swimming spots.
- White Park (Morgantown)
- Easy trails, wildlife viewing, disc golf.
- Cathedral State Park (Aurora)
- Ancient hemlock forests, easy hiking.
- Anna Jarvis House (Grafton)
- Affordable museum about Mother’s Day history.
- West Fork River Trail (Fairmont)
- Quiet scenic walking and biking trails.
- Palatine Park (Fairmont)
- Free concerts, riverside trails, family-friendly events.
- Barrackville Covered Bridge (near Fairmont)
- Historic bridge, scenic spot, picnic area.
- Old Hemlock Nature Area (Bruceton Mills)
- Quiet trails, birdwatching, historic site.
🟠 Central West Virginia (Lesser-Known, Budget-Friendly)
- Falls Mill (Burnsville)
- Quiet waterfall, fishing, picnic area.
- Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park (Summersville)
- Free historical trails, river overlooks.
- French Creek Freddie & Wildlife Center (French Creek)
- Wildlife viewing and educational exhibits.
- Stumptown Wildlife Management Area (Gilmer County)
- Hiking, fishing, wildlife viewing.
- Glenville Downtown & Little Kanawha River
- Quaint historic downtown, riverside walks.
- Mountwood Park (Waverly)
- Hiking, biking trails, peaceful lake.
- West Virginia State Wildlife Center (French Creek)
- Affordable wildlife exhibits, family-friendly trails.
- Philippi Covered Bridge (Philippi)
- Historic bridge, scenic riverside walks.
- Burnsville Dam and Lake
- Fishing, hiking, picnics, scenic overlook.
- Bulltown Historic Area (Burnsville)
- Free Civil War history trails and historic village.
🟡 Southern West Virginia (Lesser-Known, Budget-Friendly)
- Camp Creek State Park (Mercer County)
- Quiet waterfalls, trails, fishing.
- Berwind Lake Wildlife Management Area (McDowell County)
- Peaceful lakeside trails, fishing, picnicking.
- Brush Creek Falls (near Athens)
- Scenic waterfall, short hike, photography spot.
- Historic Bramwell (Mercer County)
- Quaint town, historic mansions, self-guided walking tours.
- Glenwood Recreational Park (Princeton)
- Affordable trails, playgrounds, lake fishing.
- Matewan Historic District (Mingo County)
- Free self-guided historical tours of coal-mining history.
- Panther Wildlife Management Area (Panther)
- Peaceful hiking trails, wildlife, fishing.
- Pocahontas Exhibition Coal Mine (Pocahontas, VA/WV border)
- Very affordable coal mine tours and historic exhibits.
- Lake Stephens Park (Beckley)
- Low-cost swimming, hiking, picnicking.
- Concord University Arboretum (Athens)
- Free nature walks, scenic gardens.
🔴 Western West Virginia (Lesser-Known, Budget-Friendly)
- Beech Fork State Park (near Huntington)
- Hiking, fishing, swimming, trails.
- Forks of Coal State Natural Area (near Charleston)
- Free nature trails, wildlife viewing.
- Wayne National Forest Trails (near Wayne County)
- Quiet hikes, wildlife, streams.
- Wine Cellar Park (Dunbar)
- Peaceful trails, historic ruins, picnic area.
- Madie Carroll House (Huntington)
- Free historic house tours along the riverfront.
- Nitro City Park
- Free fishing lake, trails, picnics, disc golf.
- Buffalo Creek Memorial Trail (Logan County)
- Quiet hiking trail, historic mining memorials.
- Kanawha State Forest (lesser-used trails)
- Lesser-known scenic hiking trails, creek access.
- Ridenour Lake (Nitro)
- Easy hikes, fishing, picnic spots.
- Gallipolis Ferry Battlefield Park (Mason County)
- Quiet historical site, river views, picnic area.