The Weekend Getaway Guide to West Virginia

You’ve probably heard John Denver’s timeless classic “Take Me Home, Country Roads” a million times, but have you ever actually visited West Virginia? The state has a lot to offer, including the nation’s newest National Park! It’s also an adventure-lover’s paradise, which is really what attracted me to visit. West Virginia is known for its outdoor activities such as whitewater rafting, 1,000 miles of off-road ATV trails, rock climbing, caving, mountain biking, and loads more. And since I love adventure travel, I just had to see it all for myself! Whether you want to fly in or plan a quick road trip from a nearby state, here are my tips for a quick West Virginia getaway!

Disclaimer: This post is in partnership with the West Virginia Department of Tourism and contains affiliate links. Thanks for supporting Ready Set Jet Set!

Getting to West Virginia

Since I was coming from Austin, I ended up flying in and out of Charleston, WV, which was an easy enough spot to start and end from. For example, New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is only a little over an hour’s drive from Charleston. We rented a car from there and then we were off.

Visiting New River Gorge National Park and Preserve

New River Gorge National Park is definitely worth being a part of any West Virginia itinerary. Even if you only have time for a quick visit, try to fit in one of their scenic hikes like the Endless Wall Trail or Long Point Overlook, which is probably the best view of the bridge that you’ll get. Near the visitor center, you can also take the boardwalk steps down for a more up-close view of the New River Gorge Bridge. Bonus – this National Park is actually free! While I didn’t get to do this, if you have the time, I recommend going whitewater rafting here as West Virginia is known for having the greatest density of whitewater in the U.S.

Hiking Endless Wall Trail

This is a great hike with a nice payoff view for most levels of hikers. I recommend hiking to Diamond Point and using that as a turnaround spot instead of completing the full trail. Out-and-back to Diamond Point is only around 2 miles total, with only a couple hundred feet of elevation change. When you get to Diamond Point, you’ll have amazing views over the river and gorge, the bridge looking back one way, and the cliffs that give it the name “Endless Wall”. It’s also very likely you’ll spot climbers along the cliffs as this is a popular rock climbing spot!

Hiking Long Point Overlook

I’m really glad we made the time to do this hike since it’s arguably the most iconic viewpoint in the entire park. In total, the hike is about 3 miles round-trip, with 321 ft elevation gain according to AllTrails. Most of the trail is flat near the end, where you descend a steeper hill to arrive at the viewpoint. Long Point Overlook is an incredible spot to take in New River Gorge Bridge from and definitely worth the 1-2 hours you’ll likely spend on this hike. While I’d say this hike is slightly more difficult than Endless Wall, it’s still suitable for most levels of hikers (for example, I saw people walk it in sandals, though I’d never recommend that).

Other Stops to Make Nearby

Cathedral Falls

With a height of over 60 feet, Cathedral Falls is one of West Virginia’s tallest and most scenic waterfalls. It’s conveniently located right off of US 60 about 40 minutes from Charleston, so no hiking is required to enjoy the base of the falls. I really recommend this as a quick stop as you drive from Charleston to New River Gorge National Park. The whole drive is very scenic as well!

Summersville Lake

A fun way to spend the day in this area of West Virginia is to hit the largest lake in the state – Summersville Lake! We got out on the water by renting kayaks from Sarge’s Dive Shop. If you’re looking for a little more adventure though, this is the #1 place to go scuba diving in West Virginia. In fact, it has the nickname “The Little Bahamas of the East” because of how clear the water is for divers. So if you’re into scuba diving, Summersville Lake is not to be missed.

Staying at Carnifex Ferry Cabins

Carnifex Ferry Cabins are located in Summersville, WV, just a few minutes away from Summersville Lake and 20 minutes from Fayetteville. They have 12 cabins to choose from, including their 1840’s McKinley log cabin. You can also easily explore Carnifex Ferry State Park from here, which is right next door. The cabins were a great base for exploring everything nearby, including New River Gorge National Park. I especially appreciated enjoying our cabin’s private hot tub after a day of hiking!

Staying at Stonewall Resort

The next stop on our itinerary was Stonewall Resort, an Adirondack-style lodge which is a 90 minutes drive from either New River Gorge National Park or Charleston, depending on where you’re coming from. I loved my stay at Stonewall Resort! The resort itself is actually located within a state park, which is not something you see every day. They have a lake to explore (you can rent a boat or watersports equipment, which I’ll talk more about below), miles of trails to hike, a Palmer golf course, an indoor/outdoor heated pool, and more. Each morning, seeing the stillness of the lake, the beauty as golden hour hit the mist rising off the water, brought me such serenity. You can book your own stay here.

Rent a Pontoon Boat

From the Stonewall Resort Marina, you can rent a pontoon for either a few hours up to the whole day! If you have the time, you can zoom your pontoon up the West Fork River a bit, or park in a more secluded cove for a little lake swim. Plenty of guests were also out on the water on paddleboards and kayaks. If you have a larger group, there’s even a double-decker pontoon boat you can rent with a slide attached! Also, don’t miss out on feeding the fish and ducks at the marina. They’ll likely give you fish food to throw out when you return your rental. The amount of fish that hang by the dock waiting is nuts.

Clay Shooting

I’ve never been clay shooting before, but I did do camp riflery, so it wasn’t my first time shooting… just my first time shooting a moving target! Whether you’re into hunting or not (it’s not my cup of tea), clay shooting is a blast for everyone. I took my friend who had never shot before and she had a blast. We managed to hit around 50% of the targets, which very much impressed the staff of Stonewall Sporting Clays. Their clay shooting course features 16 stations, and you can even book a guide to accompany you if you’d like. During the summer, you can also check out their Shoot & Dine events on Thursdays where you get a BBQ dinner after you shoot!

Lambert’s Vintage Wine

Located in Weston, WV, Lambert’s Vintage Wine has a beautiful winery you can visit for a tour and tastings. They even have a rental cabin if you want to sleep on the property and enjoy their beautiful grounds for longer. It’s no wonder Lambert’s is a popular local wedding venue! Personally, I have a sweet tooth, so I loved their sweeter wines, like the Niagara and Icebreaker blend.

If you’re looking for more tips on planning your own West Virginia getaway, make sure to check out all the resources here. Which activity sounds like the most fun to do?

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