FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — As the summer travel season reaches its peak, more travelers are turning to West Virginia for road trips that combine mountain scenery, outdoor recreation, small-town culture, and relatively short driving distances from major East Coast cities.
The Mountain State has become increasingly visible to travelers since the designation of the New River Gorge as America’s newest national park. The park welcomed a record 1.81 million visitors in 2024, continuing a multi-year growth trend that has helped place West Virginia on the radar of travelers who previously overlooked the state.
According to David Sibray, publisher of West Virginia Explorer, shifting travel habits are also contributing to the state’s popularity.
“People are looking for places they can reach in a day’s drive, where they can spend less money and still have a memorable vacation,” Sibray said.
“West Virginia offers mountain scenery, outdoor recreation, historic towns, waterfalls, rivers, and state parks without the crowds or costs associated with many other destinations.”
Road trips are replacing long-distance vacations
Travel experts have noted a continuing interest in domestic travel and shorter regional vacations. For millions of people living in Washington, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Columbus, Cincinnati, Charlotte, and other eastern cities, West Virginia is within a few hours’ drive.
Unlike destinations that require air travel, many of the state’s most popular attractions are connected by scenic highways that pass through mountain valleys, forests, and historic communities, ideal for road trips.
For travelers arriving from the east, the route through Harpers Ferry and the eastern mountains provides access to some of the state’s best-known historic sites and outdoor recreation areas. Visitors approaching from Ohio often enter through the New River Gorge region or the state’s northern mountains.
The national park effect
The creation of New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in 2020 dramatically increased awareness of West Virginia as a travel destination. The park now serves as a gateway for many first-time visitors exploring the state. Record visitation in 2024 demonstrated the area’s continued appeal.
The gorge offers hiking, scenic overlooks, whitewater rafting, rock climbing, mountain biking, and one of the nation’s most recognizable bridges. Tourism officials continue to report strong visitor interest in the area, particularly during summer months.
Many travelers who initially visit the national park discover that it serves as a starting point rather than the final destination.
“People come for the national park and then realize there’s an entire state beyond it,” Sibray said. “The New River Gorge often becomes the first stop on a larger road trip.”
Scenic roads lead to unexpected places
One advantage West Virginia holds over many destinations is the concentration of attractions within a relatively small geographic area.
A single week-long road trip can include the New River Gorge, Blackwater Falls, Dolly Sods, Seneca Rocks, the Greenbrier Valley, Canaan Valley, Spruce Knob, Harpers Ferry, and numerous historic towns.
Many of the state’s most popular destinations are connected by mountain highways that have become attractions in their own right. Travelers frequently stop at overlooks, waterfalls, roadside parks, and small communities that would be easy to miss on interstate routes.
The state’s extensive public lands system also appeals to travelers seeking outdoor experiences. National forests, state parks, rail trails, rivers, and wildlife management areas provide opportunities for hiking, fishing, paddling, camping, and wildlife viewing.
A more affordable road trip alternative
Cost is another factor drawing visitors to West Virginia, Sibray said.
While lodging prices have increased in some tourism centers, travelers can often find cabins, campgrounds, state park lodges, and locally owned accommodations at prices lower than in many coastal destinations and major national parks.
The absence of entrance fees at many outdoor destinations also appeals to budget-conscious travelers. New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, unlike many national parks, does not charge an entrance fee.
Small towns remain part of the experience
Unlike some travel destinations where attractions are far apart, many West Virginia road trips naturally pass through historic communities that retain much of their local character.
Davis, Thomas, Lewisburg, Fayetteville, Marlinton, Berkeley Springs, Shepherdstown, and dozens of smaller towns offer locally owned restaurants, shops, museums, and cultural attractions.
According to Sibray, these communities often leave the strongest impression on visitors.
“People remember the scenery, but they also remember the towns,” he said. “West Virginia still has places where visitors can meet local people, eat in locally owned restaurants, and experience communities that haven’t been overwhelmed by tourism.”
Looking ahead at road trips
With record visitation continuing at New River Gorge National Park and increasing national recognition for the state’s outdoor recreation opportunities, West Virginia appears well-positioned to attract additional road-trip travelers in the years ahead. Recent travel rankings and national media coverage have further elevated the state’s profile among travelers seeking destinations that remain relatively uncrowded while offering extensive opportunities for exploration.
For many visitors, the appeal is simple. “West Virginia is still a place where you can get off the interstate, take a winding road through the mountains, and discover something unexpected,” Sibray said. “That’s becoming harder to find in America.”
Scenic roads continue to define the experience
While destinations such as the New River Gorge and Blackwater Falls often draw the most attention, many travelers say the roads themselves are among the most memorable parts of a West Virginia vacation.
The state features some of the most scenic mountain highways in the eastern United States, including the Highland Scenic Highway, U.S. Route 33 through the Allegheny Mountains, the Midland Trail, and portions of U.S. Route 219. These routes pass through national forests, mountain valleys, small towns, and high-elevation landscapes that are increasingly rare elsewhere in the East.
For travelers seeking weekend getaways or longer summer road trips, West Virginia offers a rare combination of accessibility and scenery. Major attractions are often just a few hours’ drive apart, allowing visitors to experience waterfalls, mountain overlooks, historic districts, hiking trails, and state parks in a single trip.
Sibray said that flexibility helps explain why many visitors return after their first visit.
“West Virginia is one of the few places in the eastern United States where the drive is often as rewarding as the destination,” he said. “You can spend a day exploring a mountain highway and discover scenic overlooks, small towns, local restaurants, and outdoor attractions that never appeared on your original itinerary.”
As travelers continue to seek authentic road-trip experiences, West Virginia’s network of scenic mountain roads remains one of the state’s strongest tourism assets and a primary reason visitors return year after year.
The Great American Road Trip still has a place
Despite the rise of air travel and destination vacations, the road trip remains a popular summer tradition. Sibray says that for many families, the appeal lies in the freedom to travel at their own pace, stop at unexpected attractions, and explore places often overlooked from interstate highways and airport terminals.
Unlike tightly scheduled vacations, road trips allow travelers to adjust their plans as they go, spending more time in destinations that capture their interest.
West Virginia is particularly well-suited because much of the state can be experienced from the road itself. Scenic mountain highways connect waterfalls, overlooks, historic towns, state parks, and outdoor recreation areas, often just minutes apart.
According to Sibray, that convenience is part of the state’s growing appeal for road trips. “A road trip through West Virginia doesn’t require weeks of planning,” he said.
“Travelers can get off the interstate and discover memorable places that weren’t on their itinerary. That’s one of the things that still makes the Great American Road Trip such a rewarding experience.”
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