West Virginia is a rugged mountain state nestled in the Appalachians, celebrated as the whitewater rafting capital of the eastern United States. Known as the Mountain State, it offers extraordinary outdoor adventure—class V rapids on the New and Gauley Rivers, hundreds of miles of mountain biking trails, and some of the most spectacular fall foliage in North America. Historic coal-mining heritage, Appalachian culture, artisan crafts, and a thriving outdoor recreation economy make West Virginia a destination of authentic character and natural beauty.
West Virginia is primarily a drive-to destination with no significant intercity public transport within the state. A rental car is essential for reaching most attractions. Yeager Airport (CRW) in Charleston is the main gateway with connections to Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, and Philadelphia. Amtrak's Cardinal (Chicago-New York) passes through the state three times per week. US-19, I-77, I-79, I-64, and US-33 are the key arterial roads.
Transport at a glance
Airport transfers
Getting from the airport to your accommodation.
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- {'airport': 'Yeager Airport (CRW) – Charleston', 'options': ['Rental car: Hertz (+1 304-344-6131), Enterprise (+1 304-720-7150), National, Budget, Avis all on-site — book via their websites or Costco Travel for best rates; $40-70/day', 'Taxi: Charleston Yellow Cab (+1 304-344-2227); flat rate to downtown ~$15-20 USD (3 miles)', 'Rideshare: Uber and Lyft available at CRW; downtown Charleston $12-18 USD', 'Hotel shuttles: several downtown hotels offer free airport shuttles—confirm when booking']}, {'airport': 'Greenbrier Valley Airport (LWB) – Lewisburg', 'options': ['Rental car: Enterprise (+1 304-645-4848) on-site; $50-80/day', 'Taxi: Greenbrier Taxi (+1 304-645-1444); Lewisburg downtown ~$15 USD', 'The Greenbrier Resort provides private transfers for resort guests—arrange through resort concierge at +1 855-453-4858']}, {'airport': 'Eastern WV Regional (MRB) – Martinsburg', 'options': ['Rental car: Hertz on-site', 'Rideshare: Uber available; DC metro area connections', 'Amtrak: Martinsburg station (0.5 miles from terminal) has MARC commuter and Amtrak Cardinal service to Washington DC and points west']}
Local transport
Getting around the city.
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Taxis & rideshare
What to expect from taxis and apps.
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Intercity travel
Getting between cities and regions.
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- Mode
- Amtrak Cardinal
- Details
- Chicago to New York (via WV) three times per week (Mon/Wed/Fri westbound; Wed/Fri/Sun eastbound). Stops: Martinsburg, Harpers Ferry, Washington DC, Charleston (Amtrak station: 350 MacCorkle Ave SW, Charleston, WV 25303). Very scenic but slow and limited frequency. Tickets from $40 USD; book at amtrak.com.
- Frequency
- 3x per week each direction
- Mode
- Greyhound / FlixBus
- Details
- Greyhound serves Charleston (350 MacCorkle Ave SW, Charleston, WV 25303) with connections to Pittsburgh, Columbus, and Washington DC. Very limited service to other WV cities. Check greyhound.com for schedules. No service to adventure areas.
- Frequency
- Limited daily service
- Mode
- Driving (rental car recommended)
- Details
- I-79 connects Charleston to Morgantown (1.5 hrs) and Pittsburgh (2.5 hrs). I-64 connects Charleston to Beckley (1 hr) and Lewisburg (1.5 hrs). US-19 is the main route to New River Gorge. US-33 connects Elkins and the Eastern Highlands. US-219 runs through Pocahontas County to Marlinton.
- Frequency
- Year-round; WV-91, WV-150, and mountain roads may be impassable in winter
Transportation details
Full breakdown of how to get around.
Rental car is mandatory for most WV travel. No intercity buses of significance within the state. Amtrak serves Harpers Ferry, Martinsburg, and Charleston three times weekly. Charleston and Morgantown have limited local transit.
Airports
Useful apps
Download before you arrive.
Transport tips
Travel smarter, not harder.
Download offline maps before leaving any city—cell service drops to zero in most of Monongahela National Forest, Dolly Sods, and New River Gorge backcountry areas.
Rent an AWD or 4WD vehicle if visiting October-March—mountain roads including WV-150 (Spruce Knob) and forest roads near Dolly Sods become hazardous in snow and ice.
Fill your gas tank whenever you pass through a town—rural gas stations are far apart in the Eastern Highlands; distances between Seneca Rocks and Marlinton or Elkins have few services.
The Gauley Bridge area and WV-39 along the Gauley River is one of the most scenic drives in the state—allow extra time to enjoy it.
From the DC area, Harpers Ferry is reachable by MARC commuter rail (weekdays) from Union Station in Washington DC—a car-free option for a day trip.
WV mountain roads frequently have no guardrails and hairpin turns—drive slowly on unfamiliar secondary roads, especially after dark or in fog.