Things to Do in West Virginia & New River Gorge

My first ever solo trip was to West Virginia! It was a short trip, almost like a test for myself of sorts. I’ve traveled by myself before, on road trips or through various airports, but I’m always visiting people or meeting people for the trip. From Nashville, West Virginia is only a little over 5 and a half hours.

Even in the capital of Charleston, it still feels like a small town. This makes this such an easy trip, because the people are friendly, the views are spectacular, and it isn’t overly touristy whatsoever. You can find hidden gems all around the state. I only went for 2 days and 2 nights, and that was the perfect amount for being by myself. Day one was in Charleston, and day two was at New River Gorge National Park.

I picked West Virginia because I love taking pictures at national parks and the outdoors in general. It was mid-October, so I was hoping to catch the changing leaves in the stunning Appalachian range where New River Gorge is located. I was a little off by a couple weeks, but the colors and the mountains were stunning nonetheless.

Every time I go on a trip, I always save a million things to do in the areas that I know I’ll be visiting. So, I’m sharing with the few things I experienced, as well as more things in the area that you could add to your itinerary. I never post with the intention of being the only list you should follow – I always share just to give you ideas and inspiration for your trip! Hopefully you’ll go experience the beauty of West Virginia while it’s still a hidden gem of a state.

Charleston, West Virginia:

The capital city of West Virginia is Charleston, and it only has a population of less than 50,000 people. It is definitely a walkable city, which makes it easy to get around and explore the different shops and restaurants. It is located on a river, so they have a gorgeous waterfront along the city, with parks and outdoor spaces.

I truly did not spend enough time in the city, but it was a Monday night, so not every place was open. The first two things on this list are things I actually did, but the rest are things I will do when I go back!

Hatfield Family Distillery

While this is about 30 minutes outside of the downtown area of Charleston, it is well worth the drive. You have to drive up a steep hill to get to the building, but the view is gorgeous. When you drive up, you’ll be greeted with chickens and roosters, as well as a lovely red barn with picnic tables and detailed corn hole boards.

I walked inside, and I was greeted by the owners and a couple other locals who were stocking up on their favorites. I told them that I was there by myself just to explore, and they were happy to give me some free samples and explain their story and their different offerings. They have a super wide variety of moonshines, whiskey, and wines. These are all homemade and they are really particular about their products and the quality.

I didn’t even plan to buy more than one or two things, but I ended up with at least 5 different items including 3 moonshine flavors and 2 wines (I’m not even a wine drinker, they were just so good!). I took the time to walk outside after and grab a couple pictures before heading back to the city. I would highly recommend taking some time to come talk with the owners, try some good old fashioned moonshine, and support a local business. For more information, check out their website: Hatfield Family Distillery.

Fife Street Brewing

When I got back to the hotel, I headed down to the hotel bar just to grab a drink and maybe get a couple recommendations of where to go. I had done a little research, but it’s always fun to get some local picks. Unfortunately, since it was a Monday, a lot of places weren’t open, like I mentioned above. I ended up making a friend at the hotel, and they were more than happy to go try a local brewery and grab some food.

Fife Street Brewing is in the heart of the downtown area, and the bartenders were friendly and helpful. Fife Street Brewing has a good selection of different beers, and they are known for their variety of unique grilled cheese sandwiches. I got the Hot Bologna, which they say is a WV favorite, and it was just hearty and warm and delicious.

This is a great spot for just a solid meal and a good beer. It was pretty crowded when we went, and I feel like it had a fun, young crowd just hanging out for the night. Definitely check out some of the breweries around the city if you have time! For more information and to see the beer selection, check out their website: Fife Street Brewing.

On My List for Next Time:

• Capitol Street
• Haddad Riverfront Park
• Kanawha State Forest
• Capitol Market
• Base Camp Printing Co.

Fayetteville, West Virginia:

Just outside New River Gorge National Park, you’ll find the town of Fayetteville. As with many towns directly next to national parks, it has some unique gems for food, drinks, and shopping. As I only had one day to explore the national park, including driving to and from Charleston, I wasn’t able to stop at as many places as I wanted to.

BUT, I left them in a list at the bottom of this section for places you could stop if you want to look them up and decided if they fit with your travel style or interests. This is a small town, with two-lane roads and places that close early depending on the day of the week or time of season. I did, however, get a hearty meal at Pies & Pints after spending the day in the park!

Pies & Pints

So, Pies & Pints is a chain up in the northern region, but for good reason. They sell a great variety of beers and pizzas, exactly what you would expect from the name. I saw they had one in Charleston, but since some of the other standalone places were closed for the day, I thought it was the perfect time to check it out.

Only a couple miles outside of the park, it had easy parking and only a short wait to grab a seat at the bar. It felt like everyone was heading here from the park! They do have a pretty large building, with indoor and outdoor seating. I sat at the bar and got a new (to me) beer from one of my favorite German brands and the Chicken Gouda pizza.

It was plenty of food, and my beer was much needed after driving and walking around all day. It was relaxed inside, and the natural lighting was the perfect end to my time in this area. For more info and to look at the menus, click here: Pies & Pints.

On My List for Next Time:

• Cathedral Cafe
• The Stache
• The Hobbit Hole
• Southside Junction Tap House
• The Freefolk Brewery Taproom
• Bridge Brew Works

New River Gorge National Park:

New River Gorge National Park is one of the newest national parks added to the National Park Service. I can’t believe it took so long! The Appalachian Mountains are full of some of the most beautiful views, trails, and wildlife in America. New River Gorge, specifically, is so full of history because of its location, and I didn’t even hit half of the park.

I chose this park, because I had only ever seen pictures of West Virginia, especially in the fall, and I didn’t see many people visiting (at least people I know). Since it was fall, I thought even if I could catch the beginning or end of the changing leaves, and the gorgeous reds, yellows, and oranges in the scenery, it would be worth it. I love photographing national parks, so I couldn’t wait to spend even a day here and share the photos with you.

Canyon Rim Visitor Center

I highly recommend stopping at every national park’s visitor center, because it helps you get an overview of the park, a map, some souvenirs, a bathroom, and the history. This visitor center had plenty of parking, and I knew I needed a sticker since it’s my only souvenir I get whenever I visit a new place. The rangers were very helpful, and I was able to grab a map, use the restroom, and get a gorgeous open view of the park.

New River Gorge Bridge Overlook

From the Canyon Rim Visitor Center, you can do a hike to the New River Gorge Bridge Overlook. Just be warned: there are SO many stairs on this hike. While it is a paved/boardwalk-type hike, it is not super accessible or doable for everyone. The way to the overlook is all downhill/downstairs, but getting back up isn’t as easy. I should’ve counted the stairs, but I knew once I started my trek back up, I had to just keep going.

The view from the overlook gives you a wide view of the river and the bridge. From here, you can see the tiny Fayette Station Road bridge, which was the original bridge used to cross the river. You can also see the massive bridge that takes you on top of the mountains to the other side.

Listed below on things I would do next time, there is a Bridge Walk you can do. It would be so terrifying for me, but I am a “try everything once” person. There is a tour you can do that takes you across the bridge, under the bridge, and you can see the people on that tour from here. It is a great view, and it is where I got some of my favorite pictures. If you are able, you should definitely check out this overlook.

Fayette Station Road

If you want to do the iconic Fayette Station Road drive, you should definitely take a map. This will make sure you go in the right directions while making your way down and up this small road. If you pass the road, you will find a couple hikes that I definitely want to try next time. If you take the road, just make sure you follow the signs, as some parts are one-way only. It is definitely a winding road, so be very careful not to drive too fast. There are some spots to pull over, though, if you want to get out and take pictures!

Once you get down to the bridge, you can pass over it, drive a little further, and you will come upon a couple different parking lots. From here, you can walk over to the bridge to get pictures. On the bridge, you’ll be able to see the larger bridge up high, the gorgeous river, and even just hang out here. The parking lots along the area give you access to the river. Either here or on the river would be great spots if you bring your own lunch and want to just hang out and enjoy the view.

Drive on up and take in all the colors of the changing fall leaves. This drive did end up taking me a couple hours with my stops, taking photos, and just spending time here. I feel like I really did get to take in everything, and it was so fun seeing the history in real time. If I went back, I would definitely take into account when the leaves are at their peak and go at that time. It might be a little busier, but since this is still a lesser-visited park, it isn’t too crowded at all. Just go now!

On My List for Next Time:

• Bridge Walk
• Long Point Trail
• Endless Wall Trail
• Thurmond Historic Town
• Glade Creek Falls
• Sandstone Falls

Highway 60:

To get from Charleston to New River Gorge, you will mostly be on Highway 60. This drive is so beautiful. It made me want to be a passenger so I could actually take in everything. I kept passing things I would want to stop at, but I just didn’t have the time to go back or want to stop by myself.

It is pretty much staying on one road the whole time, but if you’re into small towns, you will love this drive. It is just small town after small town after small town. You are driving alongside the river the whole time, so it’s not a boring drive, and it only takes around an hour.

Kanawha Falls Public Fishing Area

One spot I saw on the drive that I knew I wanted to stop on my way home was the Kanawha Falls Public Fishing Area. I came up on this spot while driving to New River Gorge, and my jaw dropped at the falls just casually looking so picturesque. It was alongside a mill, and it was so wide.

So, on my way back to Charleston, I decided to stop here and grab a few pictures. I saw people kayaking and getting in the river from here, since it is a public fishing area. I felt like it really encapsulated the history of West Virginia and what a lot of places look like here. If you’re driving from Charleston to New River Gorge, definitely plan for some stops. Below are a couple places I would stop at if I did the drive again.

On My List for Next Time:

• Chimney Corner Cafe
• Cathedral Falls

My trip to West Virginia was so fun for my first solo trip, because it had a small-town feel combined with amazing outdoor scenery and adventures. As a photographer, I had so much fun capturing photos of a lesser-visited space in the US and the beauty of the different areas if you just choose to find it. I honestly think I will definitely go back and bring friends or family. It isn’t too bad of a drive from Nashville, and there are so many things I want to try.

BONUS: Tudor’s Biscuit World

You’ll typically see this fast-food spot all throughout West Virginia – my friend from there even told me this was somewhere I needed to go. This biscuit was HUGE and would definitely be a fun breakfast stop if you’re heading either to or through West Virginia.

For More:

To read more about places in the United States that I’ve visited, click here: Domestic Destinations.

For more about my favorite spots in Nashville, click here: Best of Nashville.

To read about my favorite national park trip, and my most popular post, click here: Glacier National Park, Yellowstone, and Grand Tetons | 5-Day Road Trip.