Check out the West Virginia map for links to the best cities to visit, such as Charleston or Morgantown, and learn about the state's best attractions from the links to the left. For tips on places ot go in nearby states, use the Virginia map, Ohio map, or Pennsylvania map.
West Virginia is the only state formed by seceding from another state during the Civil War — carved out of Virginia in 1863 by mountain counties that refused to leave the Union. Its New River is among the oldest on Earth, its whitewater rafting is the best east of the Rockies, and its Appalachian ridges rise just high enough to feel like a different world entirely.
Map of West Virginia: Must-See Experiences
- Colonial Williamsburg living history
- Monticello, Charlottesville
- Shenandoah National Park & Skyline Drive
- Virginia Beach Boardwalk
- Luray Caverns
- Natural Bridge State Park
- Mount Vernon, George Washington's estate
- Appalachian Trail, Mt. Rogers
- Virginia Wine Country, Charlottesville
- Arlington National Cemetery
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Frequently Asked Questions
Spring: wildflower blooms + mild rafting conditions; Summer: New River Gorge peak season; Fall: Appalachian ridge foliage; Winter: Snowshoe Mountain skiing
3–4 days: Charleston + New River Gorge; 5–6 days: add Monongahela National Forest; 7–8 days: full state loop including Harpers Ferry + Snowshoe
New River Gorge, Eastern Panhandle, Monongahela National Forest, Charleston, Morgantown
Fayetteville (gorge base), Harpers Ferry (historic hub), Charleston (Elk River corridor), Elkins (forest gateway), Morgantown (north)
Day1 Charleston Capitol district, Day2 New River Gorge whitewater, Day3 Fayetteville cliffs + Bridge Walk, Day4 Seneca Rocks + Spruce Knob, Day5 Harpers Ferry historic district