Attractions Nearby Charleston, Day Trips and Excursions

(Charleston, West Virginia - WV, USA)

Since Charleston is a fairly small city, if you are staying here for more than a few days, then it is a good idea to plan yourself some day trips, so that you can check out some of the surrounding attractions in this part of West Virginia.

If makes a lot of sense to hire a car and then simply plan your excursions by following the route of the Kanawha River. Slightly confusingly named, the adjoining city of South Charleston is actually located to the west and is most easily reached by taking Interstate I-64. Many quality attractions are to be found here in this neighboring suburb, such as the popular and rather aptly named South Charleston Museum.

Head further west and additional attractions include those of Dunbar, Jefferson, St. Albans, Teays Valley, Hurricane and Barboursville, as well as Huntington. At roughly an hour away by car, Huntington is a small city with a significant cultural scene and plenty in the way of history around its 'Central City' neighborhood. The Huntington Museum of Art, the Keith-Albee Theater, the Museum of Radio and Technology, and an old Native American Adena burial mound are all notable highlights.

General Information

Interstate I-64 also leads southwards, where there are a number of further attractions that lend themselves to day trips off the adjoining Interstate I-77. Roughly an hour to the south of Charleston is the town of Beckley, which was founded in 1838 and is best known for its two principal attractions, namely the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine and a huge arts and crafts facility named Tamarack: The Best of West Virginia. Roughly half a million visitors come to Tamarack each year, clearly illustrating its ongoing popularity and success.

If you are organizing a day trip to the north of Charleston, then you can also follow interstate I-77 in this direction, passing by Sissonville, Ripley and Ravenswood, before you reach Parkersburg. Cultural attractions in Parkersburg come in the form of the Blennerhassett Museum of Regional History, the Sumnerite African-American History Museum and the spacious Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park, where a replica of the original Palladian mansion (destroyed by fire) adds much interest.

Further attractions of note lie to the northeast of Charleston, along Interstate I-79. These include Buckhannon, Weston, Clarksburg, Bridgeport, the Valley Falls State Park, Fairmont and Morgantown. A little further along the I-77 is Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, although this is too far for a day trip and is more suitable for a weekend break or longer excursion.