Beckley, WV Road Trips
With 5 routes heading out and 0 heading in, Beckley, WV works well as a modest departure point in the Southeast. Most drives stay under 166 miles, making this area well-suited for day trips and weekend getaways. Most routes from Beckley, WV head north, giving the route network a clear directional lean.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Trip Routes
5
Longest Drive
229.5 mi
West Liberty, WV
Quickest Drive
2h 47m
Williamstown, WV
Plan Around Beckley, WV
Continue From Beckley, WV
Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.
Trips from Beckley, WV
Driving from Beckley, WV
The typical drive from Beckley, WV covers about 166 miles and takes around 3h 16m. The majority of routes are short drives — quick enough to finish before lunch and be back for dinner. The longest mapped route runs 230 miles (4h 35m), while the shortest is just 145 miles.
Popular Destinations
Top road trip destinations from Beckley, WV are West Liberty, WV (229.5 mi, 4h 35m), Saint Marys, WV (154.4 mi, 2h 58m), Winfield, WV (154.2 mi, 3h), Belington, WV (147.5 mi, 2h 58m), and Williamstown, WV (144.8 mi, 2h 47m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.
Planning & Costs
Regular gas in WV currently averages around $3.96 per gallon. For the typical 166-mile trip from Beckley, WV, budget about $26 in fuel one way, assuming 25 MPG. Longer hauls and premium fuel will cost proportionally more.
Most trips take a half-day, so a morning start gets you there in time for lunch or an afternoon of exploring. Routes mostly head north. Summer trips benefit from long daylight hours, while winter departures should start early to maximize visibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 5 mapped routes leaving Beckley, WV and 0 routes heading into Beckley, WV, covering 5 total connections. Distances range from 145 to 230 miles.
The longest mapped route from Beckley, WV covers 230 miles and takes approximately 4h 35m. Shorter options start at just 145 miles.
The average route from Beckley, WV runs about 166 miles with a drive time of roughly 3h 16m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.
At current gas prices (about $3.96/gallon for regular), the average 166-mile trip from Beckley, WV costs roughly $26 in fuel one way, based on 25 MPG. Your actual cost depends on your vehicle's efficiency.
The most popular road trip destinations from Beckley, WV include West Liberty, WV, Saint Marys, WV, Winfield, WV and Belington, WV. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.
Beckley, WV by the Numbers
Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Population
16,977
Median Income
$39,939
Median Home Value
$148,800
Median Age
39.0
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.
Beckley, WV at a Glance
Founded
1838
Elevation
2,421 ft
Area
10 mi²
Notable People from Beckley, WV
A sampling of people born in Beckley, WV.
Chris Sarandon
1942
American actor
Tom Carper
1947
American politician (born 1947)
Cora Sue Collins
1927–2025
American child actress
Nick Rahall
1949
American politician
Hulett C. Smith
1918–2012
American politician (1918–2012)
Tamar Slay
1980
American basketball player
Tom Maddox
1945–2022
science fiction writer
Chris Cline
1958–2019
American coal mining entrepreneur and philanthropist
Clarence W. Meadows
1904–1961
American politician (1904–1961)
City data from Wikidata (Q813745), available under CC0. Photos from Wikimedia Commons under their respective licenses. See our methodology for details.
Traveler Guide to Beckley, WV
Beckley is a city of 17,256 (as of 2020) in West Virginia, and is the county seat of Raleigh County pop. 74,591 (2020). It sits on a high plateau above the New River Gorge at an elevation of 2,418 feet. It was founded in 1838 and named for John J Beckley, the first Clerk of the House of Representatives and the first Librarian of Congress. Once a major coal industry hub, Beckley contains a small historic downtown and many suburban neighborhoods. The Beckley area serves as the overall regional commercial center for Southern West Virginia region, and has many big box stores and chain restaurants, in contrast to the small-town nature of its surrounding communities. Beckley sits as the closest town to the Grandview portion of New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, and has easy access within 40 minutes to the park's 2 other visitor centers near Fayetteville and Hinton.
New River Gorge National Park and Preserve Grandview Visitors Center offers a view of the deepest part of the New River Gorge, and several hiking trails. Uptown Beckley includes the brick-paved Main Street with shops, galleries, eateries and the courthouse. The area is undergoing revitalization and features events throughout the year, including a chili night when visitors can sample the entries in a chili-judging contest. Theatre West Virginia, 4700 Grandview Road, ☏ +1 304-252-6800, toll-free: +1-800-666-9142. In Beaver. A professional touring and historical outdoor drama theatre company, holding performances in a dramatic amphitheatre. Among their outdoor musical dramas: "Honey in the Rock", which tells the story of the birth of West Virginia, and "Hatfields and McCoys", which relives the famous feud. Tickets $15. Beckley is the northern terminus of the Coal Heritage Trail, a 97-mile scenic drive that passes mine-owners' mansions, miners' homes, company stores, coal tipples and state parks, before ending in Bluefield. 1 West Virginia University Institute of Technology, 512 South Kanawha Street. (updated Mar 2019)
1 Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine (Phillips-Sprague Mine), 513 Ewart Avenue, ☏ +1 304-256-1747. Tours available 10AM to 5:30PM daily, April 1 through November 1. Visitors get a realistic look at coal mining as it was at the turn of the century, by travelling 1500 feet underground in authentic mining cars and touring the historic coal camp on the grounds, with veteran miners as guides. Be sure to bring a jacket, as temperatures underground stay at 58 degrees year-round. Adults $22. 2 Winterplace Ski Resort, 100 Old Flat Top Mountain Road, ☏ +1 304-787-3221. In Ghent, or 800-607-SNOW (7669). Open 9AM to 10PM on weekdays, 8AM to 10PM on weekends and holidays, December through March. 27 trails, a terrain park, 16 snowtubing lanes, 9 ski lifts and 5 tubing lifts, and a vertical drop of 603 feet. Rental shop and four restaurants on-site. Skiing and snowboarding lessons available. $27-137 (lift tickets, including multi-day), $22-71 (rentals), $42-104 (lessons). 3 Youth Museum of Southern West Virginia, 513 Ewart Avenue, ☏ +1 304-252-3730. Open 10AM to 6PM daily, April through October; and 10AM to 5PM Tuesday through Saturday, November through March. Four railroad boxcars, a planetarium, a recreated Appalachian mountain homestead, and three rotating exhibits designed to entertain and educate on subjects like biology and art.
Char Restaurant, 100 Char Drive, ☏ +1 304-253-1760. Open 5PM to 10PM Tuesday through Saturday, and 5PM to 9PM on Monday; closed Sundays. A family-owned and -operated restaurant since 1965, voted "Best Restaurant in West Virginia", with excellent food, friendly service and inviting ambiance. Steaks, chops, seafood and traditional Italian favorites. Try the fried olives, brascioli and their bread pudding. Young Chow's, 219 Pikeview Drive (Off Harper Road (I-77 exit 44)), ☏ +1 304-253-CHOW (2469). Chinese-American and Japanese appetizers, soups, salads, vegetables, poultry, beef, pork, seafood, rice, noodles, grilled dinners, sushi and desserts. Meals come with free fried noodles with dipping sauces, and Chow's spicy cabbage. Try the fried ice cream. $5-25.
1 Daniel Vineyards, 200 Twin Oaks Rd, Crab Orchard, ☏ +1 304-252-9750, toll-free: +1-877-378-1990. Tu-Sa 10AM-4ː30PM, lunch special W-Sa. Subject to closure for special events. In Crab Orchard. International award-winning estate-grown wine, with a tasting room. 11 red and white wines, including one made entirely from blackberries. Wine tasting $̩5. (updated Mar 2025)
1 Country Inns & Suites, 2120 Harper Road, ☏ +1 304-252-5100, toll-free: +1-800-456-4000. 157 rooms. Swim-through heated indoor/outdoor pool, whirlpool, health club. Free continental-plus breakfast. $79-135. 2 Courtyard by Marriott Beckley, 124 Hylton Lane, ☏ +1 304-252-9800. 106 rooms. Exercise room, indoor pool, whirlpool. Free healthy breakfast buffet and morning newspaper. $60-120. Clarion Pointe, 300 Harper Park Drive, ☏ +1 304-255-5291. 120 rooms. Seasonal outdoor swimming pool, fitness center. Free deluxe continental breakfast. $50-99. 3 Best Western Plus Beckley Inn, 125 Hylton Lane, ☏ +1 304-252-8661. 89 rooms. Seasonal outdoor pool, whirlpool. $50-94. 4 Hampton Inn, 110 Harper Park Drive, ☏ +1 304-252-2121. 108 rooms. Outdoor pool. Free continental breakfast and newspaper. $50-90. 5 Howard Johnson Express Inn, 1907 Harper Road, ☏ +1 304-255-5900. 50 rooms. Outdoor pool. $64-84. 6 Microtel Inn Beckley, 2130 Harper Road, ☏ +1 304-256-2000. 75 rooms. Indoor pool, whirlpool. Free continental breakfast. $45-90. Baymont by Wyndham Beckley, 134 Harper Park Drive, ☏ +1 304-461-4437. 55 rooms. Outdoor seasonal pool. Free continental breakfast. $69-79. 7 Quality Inn Beckley, 1924 Harper Road, ☏ +1 304-255-1511. 103 rooms. Exercise room, heated outdoor pool. On-site restaurant and lounge called Morgan's Food and Spirits. Jacuzzi rooms available. Full free breakfast buffet. $50-150. Super 8, 2014 Harper Road, ☏ +1 304-253-0802. 71 rooms. Fitness center. $59-79. The Resort at Glade Springs, 255 Resort Drive, toll-free: +1-866-575-0866.
Beckley is situated along I-77 and I-64. Both enter the Beckley area from the northwest twinned on the West Virginia Turnpike from Charleston. From Charleston, I-64 heads west towards Huntington and I-77 heads northwest towards Parkersburg. Leaving Beckley to the east, the highways split: I-64 continues to Virginia Beach, Virginia in the east, while I-77 heads south, continuing as the West Virginia Turnpike towards Charlotte, North Carolina. Greyhound, 105 3rd Avenue, +1 304-253-8333. Open 7AM to 5:30PM Monday to Saturday; and 7AM to 10AM, and 2PM to 5PM on Sunday. Amtrak, WV-41 N by Depot Road in Prince (about 30 minutes northeast), +1 304-253-6651. Open 9:30AM to 9:30PM Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. 1 Raleigh County Memorial Airport (BKW IATA), 176 Airport Circle, Beaver (Located three miles east of Beckley), ☏ +1 304-255-0476. Nonstop service on United to Washington-Dulles and Shenandoah Valley. Flights from Charlotte
New River Transit Authority, 360 Prince St, +1 304-894-8917. Local bus service.
Travel tips adapted from Beckley on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.
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