10 Cool Towns in West Virginia You Need to Visit

Any list of cool towns in West Virginia should include Fayetteville. Located beside New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, Fayetteville has become one of West Virginia's premier outdoor-adventure destinations.

The biggest attraction is the spectacular New River Gorge. Visitors can hike to overlooks, mountain bike, rock climb, go whitewater rafting, or simply enjoy the scenery surrounding the New River Gorge Bridge.

One popular hike is the Long Point Trail, which leads to one of the most recognizable views of the bridge. Another unforgettable experience is taking a guided Bridge Walk beneath the New River Gorge Bridge.

But Fayetteville isn't just an outdoor town. Its small downtown features locally owned restaurants, shops, cafés, and historic buildings. That combination of Appalachian character and outdoor adventure gives Fayetteville an atmosphere unlike almost anywhere else in the state.

Lewisburg has earned a reputation as one of America's great small towns. In fact, the community was previously named "America's Coolest Small Town" by Budget Travel.

Downtown Lewisburg is exceptionally walkable, with historic architecture, independent restaurants, antique stores, boutiques and art galleries. Culture is also a major part of the Lewisburg experience — Historic Carnegie Hall serves as a regional center for performing and visual arts.

Visitors looking for something underground can travel just outside town to Lost World Caverns, where an enormous cave system offers an entirely different West Virginia adventure.

Thomas may be small, but it has developed one of the most interesting arts and music scenes in West Virginia.

Once a booming coal town, Thomas has reinvented itself as a destination for artists, musicians, hikers and travelers looking for something different. Historic Front Street is lined with galleries, small businesses and colorful old buildings. The town is particularly well known for live music — The Purple Fiddle has become one of West Virginia's best-known intimate music venues.

Thomas is also surrounded by incredible mountain scenery. West Virginia Tourism highlights the community's combination of galleries, live music and easy access to outdoor recreation.

Just a few miles from Thomas is another of the cool towns in West Virginia — Davis.

Sitting high in the Allegheny Mountains, Davis makes an excellent base camp for exploring some of the state's most spectacular landscapes. Blackwater Falls State Park is only minutes away, while Canaan Valley offers hiking, skiing, mountain biking and wildlife viewing. West Virginia Tourism describes Davis as a gateway for waterfalls, skiing and mountain adventures.

After spending the day outside, visitors can return to town for local food and craft beverages. Better yet, combine Davis and Thomas into one weekend trip.

History lovers searching for cool towns in West Virginia should head to Shepherdstown. The community traces its history to the 18th century and is regarded as West Virginia's oldest incorporated town.

Walking through Shepherdstown Historic District feels like stepping into another era. Historic buildings now contain restaurants, cafés, shops and businesses, while nearby Shepherd University adds the energy of a college town. For a scenic stop, visit James Rumsey Monument, which overlooks the Potomac River.

Shepherdstown also works perfectly as part of a larger Eastern Panhandle road trip that includes Harpers Ferry and Berkeley Springs.

Few communities in America pack as much history and scenery into such a small area as Harpers Ferry.

The historic town sits near the meeting point of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers. Harpers Ferry National Historical Park preserves important sites associated with John Brown's 1859 raid, the Civil War and America's industrial history. Visitors can walk through the historic lower town before hiking to overlooks surrounding the community.

The Appalachian Trail also passes directly through Harpers Ferry, giving the town an unmistakable outdoor-adventure atmosphere.

Want something completely different? Head to Berkeley Springs. The historic community is officially the Town of Bath and was established in 1776. Its warm mineral springs have attracted visitors for centuries, and the town is now recognized as America's First Spa Town.

At the center of town you'll find Berkeley Springs State Park, where the famous mineral springs continue to flow. Visitors can experience traditional mineral baths at The Old Roman Bath House or explore shops, restaurants and galleries around downtown.

For outdoor recreation, nearby Cacapon Resort State Park offers thousands of acres of mountain scenery and recreation.

Elkins is one of the best cool towns in West Virginia for travelers who want mountains, trains and Appalachian culture. Located near the Monongahela National Forest, Elkins provides convenient access to some of the most scenic areas in the state.

Scenic train excursions are a major attraction, while downtown Elkins offers historic architecture, restaurants and local shops. West Virginia Tourism also highlights Elkins for its arts, heritage and access to mountain recreation.

Elkins can also serve as a launching point for exploring nearby destinations such as Seneca Rocks, Spruce Knob and the Monongahela National Forest.

Bramwell is one of West Virginia's most fascinating historic communities. During the height of the coal industry, Bramwell became home to wealthy coal executives who constructed impressive homes throughout town. Today, those historic houses provide a glimpse into West Virginia's coal-boom era.

The community is also close to the Hatfield-McCoy Trails, making Bramwell increasingly attractive to ATV riders exploring southern West Virginia. Visitors can spend the morning learning about coal history and the afternoon riding miles of mountain trails. That unusual combination easily earns Bramwell a place among the cool towns in West Virginia.

Point Pleasant might be the quirkiest destination on this list. The town sits where the Ohio and Kanawha rivers meet and is famous for one of America's strangest legends: the Mothman.

Visitors can see the Mothman statue and explore the Mothman Museum before learning about the area's much deeper history. Point Pleasant is also home to Tu-Endie-Wei State Park, which commemorates the 1774 Battle of Point Pleasant. West Virginia Tourism highlights the park and its historic Mansion House Museum among the area's heritage attractions.

The combination of Revolutionary-era history and paranormal folklore makes Point Pleasant unlike any other town in West Virginia.

One of the best things about exploring West Virginia is that many of its most memorable destinations aren't large cities or heavily commercialized tourist areas. They're small communities hidden between mountains, rivers and forests.

The best cool towns in West Virginia offer something travelers increasingly want: authentic experiences. You can listen to live music in a former coal town, walk through centuries-old streets, soak in historic mineral waters, hike to a mountain overlook or spend an afternoon exploring locally owned shops.

If you're planning a West Virginia road trip, start with these ten destinations:

1. Fayetteville
2. Lewisburg
3. Thomas
4. Davis
5. Shepherdstown
6. Harpers Ferry
7. Berkeley Springs
8. Elkins
9. Bramwell
10. Point Pleasant

Each town offers a completely different experience, which is exactly what makes traveling through the Mountain State so interesting. Instead of simply driving through West Virginia on your next trip, get off the interstate and explore some of these cool towns in West Virginia. You may discover that the small mountain town you had never heard of becomes your favorite stop in the entire state.