How to Get Around West Virginia

Yeager Airport, in Charleston WV, is West Virginia's main air gateway, connecting to major U.S. hubs; the Eastern Panhandle, around Harpers Ferry and Berkeley Springs, is also within reach of the U.S. capital area's larger airports. The West Virginia Turnpike (I-77) is the state's main north-south toll highway; I-64, I-68 and I-79 provide the other principal interstate connections through the state's mountainous terrain.

A car is essential for nearly all of West Virginia beyond central Charleston WV, as the state has no significant intercity public transportation network. Mountain roads wind considerably more than their straight-line distance suggests, so travel times between destinations, the New River Gorge and Harpers Ferry especially, run longer than a map alone would indicate. Amtrak's Cardinal line makes limited stops in the state, including at Charleston WV and Harpers Ferry, but does not offer practical statewide coverage.

By air. Yeager Airport in Charleston WV is the main gateway; the Eastern Panhandle is also reachable via the U.S. capital area's airports.

By car. The West Virginia Turnpike (I-77) is the main toll highway; I-64, I-68 and I-79 provide the other principal routes. Mountain roads are winding and travel times exceed straight-line distance.

By train. Amtrak's Cardinal line stops at Charleston WV, Harpers Ferry and a handful of other towns, but runs only a few days a week and does not substitute for a car.

Within the New River Gorge. Rafting outfitters run from Fayetteville; the gorge's rim trails and overlooks are reachable by car, with parking at the New River Gorge Bridge visitor center.