West Virginia

USA

Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2026

Shop

Get even more with a Lonely Planet guide.

Shop Book

Courtesy of WV Tourism

West Virginia

Why visit West Virginia

Ready for rugged East Coast adventuring with a gorgeous mountain backdrop? Then set your car toward wild and wonderful West Virginia, a state often overlooked by both American and foreign travelers. It doesn't help that the state can't seem to shake its negative stereotypes. That's too bad, because West Virginia is one of the prettiest states in the Union. With its line of unbroken green mountains, raging white-water rivers and snowcapped ski resorts, this is an outdoor-lovers' paradise.

Lonely planet’s trusted travel insurance provider

Dreaming of West Virginia? Protect your trip

Travel with confidence. Protect your trip and your wallet.

LEARN MORE

We don’t represent World Nomads, we receive a fee from quotes using this link. This is not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.

Take your United States (USA) trip with Lonely Planet Journeys

Pick one of our ready-to-book trips or fully customize your own with help from our local experts.

bookable trip

Great Granite State Road Trip: New Hampshire in 7 Days

7 days / 6 nights

highlights

  1. 1 Kayaking on Lake Sunapee with mountain views and crooning loons
  2. 2 Sleeping between oak and birch trees in a whimsical treehouse hotel
  3. 3 Summiting Mount Monadnock, one of the world's most-climbed mountains
from $2,880

per person

book this trip see trip details

Explore more trips

  • Alaska Unplugged: 10 Family-Friendly Days in The Last Frontier
    The USA

    10 days / 9 nights

    Alaska Unplugged: 10 Family-Friendly Days in The Last Frontier

    FROM $5,760

    per person

    See Trip Details
  • Road Trippin' Across the American West
    The USA

    11 days / 10 nights

    Road Trippin' Across the American West

    FROM $5,780

    per person

    See Trip Details
  • Hawaii's Big Island and Oahu's Big City in 8 Days
    The USA

    8 days / 7 nights

    Hawaii's Big Island and Oahu's Big City in 8 Days

    FROM $5,493

    per person

    See Trip Details
  • New York, New York: 7 Days in the Big Apple
    The USA

    7 days / 6 nights

    New York, New York: 7 Days in the Big Apple

    FROM $3,240

    per person

    See Trip Details
  • Alaska: Glimmering Glaciers, Brown Bears, and Fantastic Fjords
    The USA

    10 days / 9 nights

    Alaska: Glimmering Glaciers, Brown Bears, and Fantastic Fjords

    FROM $7,900

    per person

    See Trip Details
  • Lei'd Back Hawaii: Maui and Kauai
    The USA

    8 days / 7 nights

    Lei'd Back Hawaii: Maui and Kauai

    FROM $5,090

    per person

    See Trip Details
  • Easing up East: New York, Cape Cod, and Boston in 11 Days
    The USA

    11 days / 10 nights

    Easing up East: New York, Cape Cod, and Boston in 11 Days

    FROM $5,395

    per person

    See Trip Details
  • From Bayside to Coastside: California's San Francisco Peninsula in 10 Days
    The USA

    10 days / 9 nights

    From Bayside to Coastside: California's San Francisco Peninsula in 10 Days

    FROM $4,940

    per person

    See Trip Details
  • Maine's Marvelous Coastline: 10 Days in Acadia, Bath, Bethel, and Camden
    The USA

    10 days / 9 nights

    Maine's Marvelous Coastline: 10 Days in Acadia, Bath, Bethel, and Camden

    FROM $3,795

    per person

    See Trip Details
Want our experts to design a custom trip for you?
start planning

Top places to visit in West Virginia

Discover the best attractions in West Virginia from must-see sights to unexpected hidden gems.

Explore all

Travel Guides

West Virginia travel tips from Lonely Planet experts

Find practical guidance from our team of contributors around the world who bring their decades of first-hand travel experience to your next trip.

Best Things to Do

Anchored by the Appalachians, the Mountain State holds a trove of wild rivers, deep gorges and thick forests perfectly suited for action-packed adventures.

Read full article

in partnership with getyourguide

Book popular activities in West Virginia

West Virginia and beyond

View all