Barboursville, WV Road Trips

Built in the Ohio River Valley and surrounded by lush steep hills, West Virginia's second-largest city (and at one time its largest), Huntington, is historically a town of railroads and industry, and to this day its port on the Ohio River is one of the busiest inland ports in the country. Home to Marshall University, the second-largest in the state of West Virginia, Huntington has a distinctive college-town atmosphere, and its tree-lined streets are lined with stately old homes with large, wide front porches. Although in a hilly region, and containing many hilly portions, the center of Huntington and many of its neighborhoods are built on the wide floodplain of the Ohio River, making parts of Huntington uniquely flat for a city in West Virginia. Steamboat captains nicknamed Huntington the "Jewel City" for the bright lights of the city shining at night along the river, as it was and is the largest city on the river between Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. Huntington is a planned city; the oldest and flattest parts of the city are built on a planned numbered grid platted on the flat Ohio River floodplain. In 1775, French settlers had established a settlement at the confluence of the Guyandotte and Ohio Rivers, growing into the town of Guyandotte, which remained a small town of regional importance until the incorporation and platting of the City of Huntington on the opposite side of the Guyandotte River in 1871. Guyandotte was incorporated into Huntington's city limits 2 decades later.

Downtown Huntington. Most of the Huntington's best shops, restaurants, and bars are in the area north of the railroad tracks, between the campus of Marshall University and the Civic Arena. (updated Nov 2018) 1 Marshall University. Marshall University is a regionally-ranked public university, and the second-largest in West Virginia. Founded in 1837, this institution takes its name from former Supreme Court Justice John Marshall. Marshall's picturesque main campus sits on the east side of downtown Huntington, the historic Old Main building prominently constructed on a small rise overlooking 4th Av. towards downtown. In 1970, Marshall University lost most of its football team in a tragic plane crash. Built in their honor is the now-iconic fountain in the plaza in front of the Memorial Student Center. The 2006 film We Are Marshall dramatizes this story and includes footage of areas around campus. Marshall University's math department has the only publicly accessible mechanical differential analyzer in the United States. (updated Nov 2018) 2 Old Central City, 14th St. W. The commercial heart of the West End neighborhood; the self-proclaimed "antiques capital of West Virginia." About ten antique stores line 14th St. West. There's also a locally-owned cafe, used bookstore, a historic market building hosting a farmers market; and a gazebo that hosts occasional outdoor performances. (updated May 2023) 3 Pullman Square (on 3rd Av midblock between 10th and 9th Sts.). A redeveloped retail area designed to pay homage to Huntington's railroad past.

1 Camden Park, 5000 Waverly Rd, ☏ +1 304 429-4321. A run-down amusement park featuring two very old roller-coasters, worth seeing. 2 Pump up the Fun. Marshall Thundering Herd, toll-free: +1-800-THE-HERD (843-4373). The sports teams of Marshall University, members of the Sun Belt Conference since 2022, are a huge part of Huntington culture. Seeing the movie We Are Marshall before your trip may help you get an idea of the Herd's importance; the film, named after Marshall's signature cheer, is a slightly embellished retelling of the aftermath of the 1970 plane crash that killed the entire football team. A memorial fountain to the crash victims is located on the Marshall campus; every November 14 at 7:35PM, the time and date of the crash, the fountain is turned off and not restarted until spring. Most venues are on campus, with the most prominent being Joan C. Edwards Stadium (football) and the Cam Henderson Center (basketball), although the baseball team plays many of its home games 50 miles away in Charleston and some even farther away in Beckley. A new on-campus baseball park is set to open in 2024, and a new basketball arena is being planned. WV Skydivers ☏ +1 304 733-1240. At Robert Newlon Airport, about 10 miles from Huntington, offers the IAD 1st Jump Course w/ 1 jump for $200. Tandem skydives are also available for $240. Boating. Boaters can put in on the Ohio River in both Guyandotte and Harris Riverfront Park. Nearby Beech Fork State Park has a more than 700-acre lake that is great for smaller craft; their marina offers rentals.

Huntington's food scene has improved significantly from decades prior, with local chef-entrepreneurs opening several highly-rated restaurants. Huntington claims to be where the West Virginia-style hot dog was created, and hot dogs remain perennially popular. Unfortunately despite significant progress, much of the dining scene still consists of fast-food and national chain restaurants. Hillbilly Hot Dogs, 6951 Ohio River Rd., Lesage. This quirky restaurant serves hotdogs topped with things like bacon, ground beef, sauteed onions, and more. Hillbilly Hot Dogs was once featured on the Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. If you have a choice, visit the original location in Lesage. Learn the weenie song for free ice cream. (updated May 2023) Cam's Ham, 809 1st St, Huntington. Famous for its flaked ham sandwiches with mystery sauce, and roast beef sandwiches. Eating-in is an experience as much of the decor likely hasn't changed for decades. No. 1 Kitchen, 1669 Washington Av (In the West End, on US-60 west just after the interchange with US-52.). A local favorite for Chinese-American classics made with fresh ingredients. Quick, no-fuss service. (updated May 2023) Frost Top Drive-In, 1449 Hal Greer Blvd. This hot dog drive-in is topped by the purported largest root beer mug in the world. (updated Jun 2023) Midway West Drive-In, 445 6th Av. W.. A local institution, simple, classic drive in food; hot dogs, hamburgers, etc. Well-made with quality ingredients (updated May 2023) Soul Food Twist, 417 12th St..

As a college town, Huntington has more than its share of bars and pubs, but this list only includes the more reputable establishments. All drinking establishments are smoke-free, though many offer outdoor areas for smokers. Most of the bars are located along 4th Ave. The Loud ((formerly V-Club)), 741 6th Ave. One of the best small-to-mid size live music venues in town, the V-Club has pool tables, booths, and good drink specials. Rock posters line the walls, and the party frequently spills over onto the outdoor patio. (updated May 2023) The Union, 1125 4th Ave. This pub and grill is a favorite student (and frat) hangout. Wednesday night is trivia night. St. Mark's, 932 4th Ave. Across from the Kieth Albee Theater, this quiet two-level dive has darts and vintage Pac Man. Davis' Place, 803 8th St. This cozy neighborhood pub serves beer and excellent hamburgers.

Comfort Inn, 249 Mall Rd, Barboursville, ☏ +1 304-733-2122. 1 DoubleTree by Hilton Huntington, 1001 3rd Ave, ☏ +1 304-525-1001. The upper floors offer a magnificent view of Huntington and the Ohio River. (updated Nov 2016) Day's Inn, 494 Braley Rd, ☏ +1 304-733-4477, fax: +1 304-733-4493. Clean, basic room for 2 (2 beds) for $66+ tax. Free, but slow "High Speed Internet." Delta Hotels by Marriott Huntington, 800 Third Ave, ☏ +1 304-523-8880. Comfort Inn Huntington near University area, 3094 16th St Rd, ☏ +1 304-523-4242. Huntington Mall Inn, 3441 U.S. Route 60 E, Barboursville. ☏ +1 304 736-9772. High speed internet, and continental breakfast. $70 Beech Fork State Park. 20 minutes from Huntington, this fine state park offers plenty of tent and RV camping as well as cabins. The Coach's Inn is seedy and should be avoided.

Huntington is just off I-64. Primary exits for downtown are 8 (5th St. Rd.) and 11 (Hal Greer Blvd.). U.S. Route 60 and U.S. Route 52 also run through town. US-23 serves Ashland, Kentucky, staying to the west of Huntington. WV-10 arrives from Logan 1.5 hours south, WV-2 arrives from Point Pleasant 45 minutes northeast 1 Huntington/Tri-State (HTS IATA), 1449 Airport Rd., ☏ +1 304 453-6165. Downtown shuttle service is available to the Pullman Plaza Hotel and the Holiday Inn Hotel. The next closest airport is in Charleston (CRW IATA), about an hour east in I-64. American Airlines has non-stop service from Charlotte. Allegiant Air has non-stop service from Fort Lauderdale, Myrtle Beach, Orlando-Sanford, and St. Petersburg/Clearwater. The Huntington Tri-State airport (HTS IATA has flights by Allegiant and American Airlines from Florida and Charlotte. 2 Huntington station, 1050 8th Ave. (updated Nov 2019) Amtrak, ☏ +1 215-856-7924, toll-free: +1-800-872-7245. Operates trains throughout the United States of America. (updated Dec 2020) Route stopping in Huntington: Cardinal operating three trips weekly between Chicago and New York City with stops in Dyer, Rensselaer, Lafayette, Crawfordsville, Indianapolis, Connersville, Cincinnati, Ashland, Huntington, Charleston, Hinton, White Sulphur Springs, Staunton, Charlottesville, Culpeper, Manassas, Alexandria, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Wilmington, Philadelphia, Trenton, and Newark. Trains to and from New York City and Chicago arrive and depart on Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Despite its reputation as America's unhealthiest city, downtown Huntington is surprisingly walkable; both bus and train stations are downtown, along with two hotels and several services and attractions. Easy to navigate, central Huntington is laid out on a planned grid, numbered avenues run east-west and increase south of the river, numbered streets run north-south and increase in number east of 1st St. West of 1st St, numbered streets increase in number heading west, and carry a 'W' designation at the end (as in 14th St W), and avenues are names of presidents. The street grid dissolves as one goes into hillier neighborhoods in the south of the city. Huntington is bisected by railroad tracks. To go north-south or south-north, drivers must use underpasses or bridges at: Spring Valley Dr. Vernon, W 14th, 1st, 8th, 10th Sts, Hal Greer Blvd, 20th, 29th, and 31st. Sts. Additionally, U.S. Route 60 splits into two east-to-west one-way streets (3rd and 5th Ave.; and Washington and Adams Ave. in the West End) Crossing the Ohio River to and from Ohio can be done on three bridges in the city: the East End Bridge off 31st St in Highlawn, the Robert C Byrd Bridge off 6th and 5th Sts and Veterans Memorial Blvd. downtown, and the West End Bridge on US-52 in the West End. There are two additional bridges downriver, one in downtown Ashland and one downstream connecting to Ironton, Ohio. There are no bridges crossing the Ohio River upstream after the East End Bridge for almost an hour's drive until Point Pleasant/Gallipolis.

While generally safe for visitors and residents, Huntington has a moderate crime level, so general street smarts are advised. Dance club shootings have occurred from time to time in the past, so avoid confrontations in those places. That said, the city government has made efforts to close disreputable drinking establishments where these events have repeatedly occurred, making gun violence noticeably less common than in years past. It is best advised to walk at night with a group, especially if unfamiliar with the surroundings. A regional drug epidemic was supercharged by the nationwide opioid epidemic, so it is not unheard of to see exposed needles on the ground in the most affected neighborhoods. Tread carefully and watch your footsteps, as you don't know what pathogens could be transferred from the needles; care should be taken for pets to do the same. Many homeless people can be found in Huntington and will often beg or panhandle. A common scam is a man asking for money for gas, with his family stuck at the station or down the road. Simply say no; even if they're persistent, they'll eventually leave you alone. Incidents of homeless people becoming aggressive or robbing people are rare.