Trace the footsteps of history along this 180-mile National Scenic Byway that winds through the heart of West Virginia, connecting Parkersburg to the Virginia state line. This historic route follows one of the first engineered roads across the Allegheny Mountains, built in the early 1800s to open the frontier to settlers heading west.

The journey begins at the confluence of the Ohio and Little Kanawha Rivers in Parkersburg, then climbs eastward through rolling farmland dotted with weathered barns and stone fences. As you ascend into the Allegheny Highlands, dense hardwood forests envelope the roadway, punctuated by panoramic overlooks revealing wave after wave of ancient mountains stretching to the horizon.

Along the way, discover charming small towns frozen in time, Civil War battlefields, and stretches of the original turnpike’s hand-laid stone roadbed still visible beside the modern highway. The route passes through Buckhannon, Elkins, and the Monongahela National Forest, offering access to world-class hiking, fishing, and wildlife viewing.

Best time to visit: Fall brings spectacular foliage, while spring offers wildflower blooms and rushing mountain streams.

Allow: Two full days to properly explore, though the drive alone takes approximately four hours.

This is Appalachian beauty at its most authentic.

Explore Nearby

• Watters SmithMemorial — State Park in West Virginia
• Watoga State Park — State Park in West Virginia
• Monongahela National Forest — National Forest in West Virginia
• Walkersville Covered Bridge — Covered Bridge in West Virginia
• Staats Mill Covered Bridge — Covered Bridge in West Virginia