Elkins, WV Road Trips

It was incorporated in 1890, and named for Stephen Benton Elkins, a US senator from 1891 to 1893 who came from West Virginia. Elkins is the county seat of Randolph County, and as the largest city for a significant distance in any direction; nearby Buckhannon is slightly smaller and the nearest city larger than Elkins is Clarksburg.

1 Davis & Elkins College. 2 Monongahela National Forest, 200 Sycamore Street, ☏ +1 304-636-1800. Over 19,000 acres of forest spread across 10 counties in West Virginia. 23 campgrounds, 17 picnic areas and over 500 miles of hiking trails. Mountain climbing, whitewater rafting, horseback riding, boating, wildlife viewing, birdwatching, hunting, and fishing. Seneca Rocks, US-33 and WV-28, +1 304-567-2827. 900-foot-tall formations made of Tuscarora quartzite with over 375 mapped climbing routes and a self-guided interpretive trail with a viewing platform. Spruce Knob, Forest Road, +1 304-567-2827. The highest point in West Virginia, at 4,861 feet. A stone and steel observation tower provides 360-degree views, and there's a half-mile trail circling the Knob. Fishing, hiking and an on-site campground with 43 sites. 3 West Virginia Railroad Museum, [email protected]. (updated Jun 2020) 4 Randolph County Museum, Beverly, [email protected]. May–Sep: Th–Sa 11AM-4PM. (updated Sep 2021) 5 Lemuel Chenoweth Museum, Beverly. (updated Sep 2021) 6 Beverly Heritage Center, Beverly. W–Su 10AM-5PM. (updated Sep 2021)

Allegheny Highlands Trail. A regional mountain-biking trail system in the Potomac Highlands of West Virginia. The backbone of the Trail goes from Elkins to Thomas. Visit beautiful Stuart Parklocated outside of town on US Rt 33. During the summer months bring gear to go for a swim in the river, or just go wading. Pack a blanket and a picnic lunch, spread out and enjoy the outdoors. Available for rent are many different styles of campsites, for overnight guests. Pavilions are also available for rent, perfect for an outdoor get together. Seneca Rocks Climbing School, 27 Allegheny Drive, Suite B (behind/between Harper's and Yokum's general stores), ☏ +1 304-567-2600, [email protected]. For those interested in reaching the South Peak of Seneca Rocks, Seneca Rocks Climbing School (SRCS) offers guided rock climbing and instruction for everyone from complete beginner to expert. SRCS has been guiding climbers young and old since 1971. (updated Oct 2017) Seneca Caverns, toll-free: +1-800-239-7647. WV-9 off US-33 east of Riverton. West Virginia's largest caverns, also called "West Virginia's Underground Wonderland", were discovered in 1760, and commercial tours have been running since 1930. Gemstone mining also available. On-site gift shop and restaurant. Admission $12. Smoke Hole Caverns, toll-free: +1-800-828-8478. Route 55 (8 mi south of Petersburg). Open year-round. Caverns are always 56 degrees, so dress warmly. Tours given every half-hour. Riverside log cabins on-site. Admission $9. Snowshoe Mountain, 10 Snowshoe Drive, ☏ +1 304-572-1000.

Beander's at Due North, 314 Davis Ave, ☏ +1 304-636-6000. Restaurant and bar. Adequate menu with many offerings, mainly pub style food. Venture here in the evenings for a bar with a younger crowd. CJ Maggies, Davis Avenue, ☏ +1 304-636-1730. Open daily for lunch, dinner, and drink. Diverse menu including sandwiches and pasta plates. Also serves Appalachian Ale and other brews from the Appalachian Brewing Company. El Gran Sabor, Davis Avenue, ☏ +1 304-636-8200. Open Monday through Saturday for lunch or dinner. Authentic Venezuelan food and spirits, including tostones, cornados, yuca, arepas, cachapas and tres leches. $7 - $16. The bar in the back often plays host to live local music on the weekends.

Elkins Inn & Suites, Randolph Center, 1200 Harrison Ave, ☏ +1 304-637-4667. Cheat River Lodge, Route 33 east of Elkins, ☏ +1 304-636-2301. 6 rooms, and 7 cabins. Observation deck over the river, refrigerator, microwave. Cabins have fully-equipped kitchens and private 7-foot outdoor hot tubs. $68-83 for lodge, $171-196 for cabins. Wingate by Wyndham Elkins, 830 Harrison Ave, ☏ +1 304-636-1400. Hampton Inn Elkins, 480 Plantation Dr, ☏ +1 304-630-7500. Holiday Inn Express Elkins, 50 Martin St, ☏ +1 304-630-2266. Graceland Inn and Conference Center, toll-free: +1-800-624-3157. Davis & Elkins College. 11 rooms. A beautifully restored Victorian mansion with on-site restaurant. $93-166. Snowshoe Mountain Resort, Snowshoe, ☏ +1 304-572-1000.

Elkins lies at the intersection of four major roads: US-33, which goes through Buckhannon and Harrisonburg, Virginia; US-48, which parallels US-33 from Weston through Buckhannon to Elkins and then deviates towards Davis, Wardensville, and Strasburg, Va where it connects with I-81 near its junction with I-66.US-250, which goes through Grafton and Staunton, Virginia; and US-219, which goes through Somerset, Pennsylvania and Marlinton. 1 Elkins-Randolph County Airport (EKN IATA). A General aviation airport. (updated Apr 2019)

Elkins has no public transportation. You can get around town easily by foot or bike, but any real adventure would require a car.