The Mountain State is the perfect place to take a road trip, but if you don’t have all weekend to travel, try one of these West Virginia back roads for the perfect scenic drive.

1. West Virginia Route 28
West Virginia 28, WV-28, Moorefield, WV, USA
Famartin via WikiMedia Commons
Along this road you'll see plenty of fascinating attractions, like the Green Bank Observatory, Seneca Rocks, North Fork Mountain, the Indian Mound Cemetery, Hanging Rocks, and Wappocomo farm & Train Station.

Take a ride on the scenic West Virginia Route 28 in this video from dobs along one of our favorite scenic drives in WV:
2. Highland Scenic Highway (West Virginia Route 150)
Highland Scenic Hwy, West Virginia, USA
Squashpup via WikiMedia Commons
This is a stunning drive in the fall. The road has several scenic overlooks of Cranberry Glades and the Cranberry Wilderness to the west and of the Ridge-and-valley Appalachians to the east. The overlook at Black Mountain is especially worth a stop.

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3. West Virginia Route 2
West Virginia 2 Alternate, WV-2 ALT, Wheeling, WV 26003, USA
Nyttend via WikiMedia Commons
This route goes from Wheeling down through the little town of Point Pleasant of Mothman fame, by Hillbilly Hot Dogs, and past a number of historic buildings.

Take West Virginia Route 2 along the Ohio River through Feeling, WV in this quick video:
4. West Virginia Route 46
West Virginia 46, WV-46, Keyser, WV, USA
Famartin via WikiMedia Commons
This road travels through Mineral County, past several historic buildings, and by Jennings Randolph Lake.
5. West Virginia State Route 16
West Virginia 16, WV-16, Beckley, WV, USA
Famartin via WikiMedia Commons
This road is part of the Coal Heritage Trail, and leads to the souternmost town in West Virginia. You'll see old coal towns along the way.

Check out another section of the Coal Heritage Trail on Hwy 52 in this video from RVerTV:

These West Virginia back roads and scenic highways are a fun way to explore our great state. Are there any back road drives near you that you are particularly fond of? Share a few with us in the comments.

If you want to take an even more epic road trip, rent an RV and check out these scenic national roads that go right through West Virginia.

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More to Explore

More WV scenic drives

Chris Muras | August 16, 2023

What are some of the best drives in West Virginia?

West Virginia is blessed with some of the nation's most incredible natural wonders. And we can enjoy many of them with a leisurely scenic drive. Here are a few of the best drives in West Virginia to enjoy on a weekend getaway or a lazy Sunday drive:

  • Appalachian Waters Scenic Byway: Follow Route 39 through the Appalachian Mountains in this epic drive. You'll pass through five counties in Virginia and West Virginia. Along the way, you'll discover historic sites, curvy mountain roads, gorgeous rivers, and charming small towns. The road is about 170 miles long, but you can easily make it a weekend road trip.
  • Highway 220: This is another wonderful road trip route that runs along Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia, so there are a lot of places you can get out and explore. If you want an extra special drive, plan for an autumn road trip, because the changing colors are breathtaking.
  • New River Gorge Scenic Loop: There is so much natural beauty along this route that it is hard to just pick to a few. The iconic New River Gorge Bridge bathed in the morning fog, Sandstone Falls near Hinton, the Endless Wall area, and the Glade Creek Gristmill at Babcock State Park are only a few of the places you can get out and explore on your scenic drive. Of course, you never have to leave your car to enjoy some pretty incredible scenic views.

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