10 Cheap Weekend Getaways in West Virginia

Posted on March 16, 2023 | Julie J. |

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Last Updated on August 16, 2026

Looking to spend a weekend away from home without breaking the bank? West Virginia is filled with incredible destinations for budget travelers, from historic small towns to stunning state parks packed with free hiking, swimming, and scenic drives.

Keep on reading to find some ideas for cheap weekend getaways in West Virginia for couples, families, solo travelers, and friends alike. Every destination below comes with plenty of free or nearly free things to do, an affordable place to sleep, and budget-friendly ways to eat, so you can have a great weekend trip without spending a fortune.

Travel Tip: Packing a cooler with sandwich fixings, snacks, and drinks for the car is one of the easiest ways to cut costs on a WV weekend trip. Most of the destinations below have a scenic spot, a riverbank, an overlook, or a state park picnic area, that beats any restaurant view anyway.

Berkeley Springs

Berkeley Springs is a historic spa town known for its mineral-rich warm springs and charming small-town atmosphere. Most of what makes it special doesn’t cost a thing.

Free & cheap things to do: Soak in the warm mineral waters at Berkeley Springs State Park, right in the middle of town. Entry to the park is free, and the historic Roman Bath House offers affordable soaking sessions if you want the full experience. Stroll the downtown area, filled with free-to-browse art galleries and antique shops, and check out Berkeley Springs Castle from the outside. Time your visit around a local festival, like the Apple Butter Festival, by checking the local events calendar. A short drive away, Cacapon State Park has free hiking trails and a scenic drive along the Cacapon River.

Affordable eats: Grab a coffee and a light bite at Lighthouse Latte or Fairfax Coffee House, all a short walk from downtown. If you’d rather cook, the inn below has a kitchen you can use. A grocery run and a picnic at the state park is an easy way to keep the whole weekend cheap.

Where to stay on a budget: Maria’s Garden & Inn is one of the better-value picks in town, with comfy rooms, a shared kitchen, and daily breakfast included, plus its own affordable on-site restaurant for when you don’t feel like cooking.

Harpers Ferry

Harpers Ferry is a historic town where most of what’s worth seeing is free once you’re there, which makes it one of the better true budget getaways in the state.

Free & cheap things to do: A three-day pass to Harpers Ferry National Historical Park is $20 per vehicle (covers everyone in the car) or $10 per person if you arrive on foot or by bike, and it covers the John Brown Museum, the Storer College campus, and miles of trails along the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers, so it’s cheap for what you get even if it isn’t free. The Appalachian Trail runs straight through town, and the stretch through Harpers Ferry itself is free to hike without entering the park boundary. For a scenic drive, take the Washington Heritage Trail or the Harpers Ferry Loop through the surrounding countryside, both free.

Affordable eats: The Country Cafe and Cannonball Deli are both an easy walk from downtown and won’t stretch a weekend budget. Or bring a picnic down to the river. There are several spots along the Potomac and Shenandoah where you can eat with a view for free.

Where to stay on a budget: The Cantuta Inn has rooms from around $135 a night, free breakfast, and a garden setting close to the historic district. If you want something cheaper, the nearby Quality Inn runs closer to $90 a night, a decent option if breakfast and small-inn charm are a must for you.

Lewisburg

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This Greenbrier Valley town blends history with a lively downtown, and it’s easy to spend a full weekend here without paying for much beyond your room.

Free & cheap things to do: Walk the free Lewisburg Historic District, which includes the North House Museum, the Barracks, and Carnegie Hall. The Greenbrier River Trail, a flat former rail line, is free to walk or bike and stretches for miles along the river. Don’t skip the Herns Mill Historic Covered Bridge, a quick and free stop just outside town. If your budget stretches a little, the Lost World Caverns is worth the small entry fee for an underground cave system with a lake.

Affordable eats: The Wild Bean is a local coffee shop and breakfast spot with reasonable prices, and Thunderbird Taco is a solid, cheap lunch option downtown. Lewisburg also has a small grocery scene downtown, so picking up food for a picnic by the Greenbrier River is easy.

Where to stay on a budget: Washington Street Quarters has rooms from around $116 to $139 a night, kitchenettes in some rooms, and a central location within walking distance of the historic district.

Seneca Rocks & Spruce Knob

For travelers who want their weekend built entirely around free outdoor adventure, this is the pick. The whole area is essentially one large free playground.

Free & cheap things to do: The Seneca Rocks Discovery Center is free to visit and gives you the backstory on the rock formations before you hike the Seneca Rocks Trail up to the observation deck. At the base of the rocks, there’s a free natural swimming hole in the river. The surrounding Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area and Monongahela National Forest have plenty of free hiking trails for every ability. Use the AllTrails app to find them. A bit further out, Spruce Knob, Dolly Sods, and Blackwater Falls are all within reach for more free scenery.

Affordable eats: This is a remote area, so options are limited, but Yokum’s Store and Grill and the Front Porch Restaurant both serve reasonably priced comfort food right at Seneca Rocks. Given how spread out things are here, packing a cooler for lunch by the river is honestly the easiest and cheapest way to eat for at least one of your meals.

Where to stay on a budget: The Renovated Barn at Seneca Rocks is a one-of-a-kind stay on a working farm (expect friendly goats and chickens as neighbors), with a kitchenette, free WiFi, and rates around $135 a night. It sleeps 2, so it’s best for a couple or solo trip rather than a group. For a bigger group, look for vacation rentals on VRBO in the area.

Keyser

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A quieter pick in the Potomac Highlands, Keyser makes a good budget base for exploring the region’s rivers, trails, and scenic overlooks.

Free & cheap things to do: The Potomac River offers many kayaking access points, and the surrounding hills have plenty of hiking trails for all abilities, some leading to scenic overlooks. Bear Rocks Preserve and Swallow Falls State Park are both free to enter and worth the short drive. For something more low-key, take a scenic drive through the mountains and valleys around town. No entry fee required.

Affordable eats: Fat Bottom Grille is a local favorite known for big portions at fair prices, and Castiglia’s Italian Eatery is another solid, wallet-friendly option downtown.

Where to stay on a budget: The Keyser Inn has rooms from around $75 to $90 a night, free breakfast, WiFi, and parking included.

New River Gorge National Park

One of the best national parks on the East Coast, New River Gorge is about as budget-friendly as a weekend getaway gets. Entry is free, and you can even camp for free.

Free & cheap things to do: The park has over 100 miles of trails, from easy walks to strenuous hikes, with the Endless Wall Trail and Long Point Trail among the most scenic. The New River Gorge Bridge is a must-see, and the New River Gorge Scenic Drive offers stunning views at no cost. If your budget allows a small splurge, whitewater rafting and rock climbing outfitters operate throughout the park.

Affordable eats: In nearby Fayetteville, Tudor’s Biscuit World is a WV institution and about as cheap as a hearty meal gets. Pies & Pints costs a bit more but is still reasonably priced for a sit-down dinner. With so much free camping available, packing a camp stove and cooking your own meals by the river is also a great way to keep costs down for the whole weekend.

Where to stay on a budget: Several primitive camping areas within the park are first-come, first-served and completely free. Just bring everything you need, since facilities are limited.

Blackwater Falls State Park

Known for its waterfalls and mountain scenery, Blackwater Falls is a great weekend getaway if you’re on a budget, with camping rates that are hard to beat.

Free & cheap things to do: The park’s namesake waterfall, dropping 57 feet into the Blackwater River, is free to see via a short trail. There are over 20 miles of hiking trails, including the Lindy Point Trail and Elakala Falls Trail, plus mountain biking trails like the 10-mile Blackwater Canyon Trail. In summer, Pendleton Lake has a natural swimming area included with your camping or lodge stay. In winter, the sledding hill is one of the longest on the East Coast.

Affordable eats: In nearby Davis, Big Belly Deli has been serving cheap, fresh sandwiches since 2013, and The Ice Cream Shop is worth the stop for dessert. The campground also has grills at every site, so cooking your own dinner is easy and cuts costs significantly.

Where to stay on a budget: Camping at Blackwater Falls runs about $37 to $50 a night depending on the site, with hot showers and a laundromat on-site. If you’d rather not rough it, the park lodge has rooms from around $131 a night.

Princeton

Outdoor pool at Brushcreek Falls RV Resort

Southern West Virginia’s outdoor recreation hub, Princeton makes a good base for a budget weekend built around waterfalls, trails, and a bit of gem mining.

Free & cheap things to do: Brush Creek Falls is a short drive away and free to visit. Pack a picnic and enjoy the scenery. Bluestone State Park has free hiking trails, and you can kayak, tube, or whitewater raft on the Bluestone River for a modest fee. In town, the Mercer Street Historic District is free to explore, including the Princeton Railroad Museum and Heritage Tower. In winter, Winterplace Ski Resort is a short drive away if you want to add skiing to the trip.

Affordable eats: Dolly’s Diner, a retro-style diner just outside Princeton, is a local institution known for hearty, affordable meals.

Where to stay on a budget: Brushcreek Falls RV Resort has cabins and lodge-style rooms alongside its RV sites, plus a seasonal pool, mini-golf, and gem mining on-site, included whether you’re camping or staying in a cabin.

Charleston & the Kanawha Valley

West Virginia’s capital region offers a surprising amount of free outdoor recreation for a budget weekend, without straying far from the conveniences of a city.

Free & cheap things to do: Kanawha State Forest has free hiking and biking trails right on the edge of the city. Valley Park offers playgrounds, walking trails, picnic areas, and a seasonal splash pad. You can kayak the Kanawha River for a modest rental fee, or take a free walk through downtown Charleston past the West Virginia State Museum and the State Capitol grounds.

Affordable eats: Tudor’s Biscuit World has 2 Charleston locations too, making it an easy, cheap stop for breakfast. For lunch or dinner, the city’s food truck and casual dining scene has plenty of options under $15 a plate, worth a browse once you’re downtown.

Where to stay on a budget: The Sleep Inn Winfield, Teays Valley has rooms from around $121 to $142 a night, free breakfast, a kitchenette in every room, and a barbecue guests can use, handy if you want to cook rather than eat out for every meal.

Wheeling & Glen Dale

Surrounded by scenic vistas and dense forest along the Ohio River, this pair of towns makes for one of the more affordable weekend getaways in the state.

Free & cheap things to do: Grand Vue Park, near Glen Dale, has free hiking and biking trails along with wide views. In nearby Moundsville, the 2,000-year-old Grave Creek Mound Historical Site is free to visit. A short drive to Wheeling lets you stroll the historic downtown for free, including the West Virginia Independence Hall and the historic Centre Market, plus the view from the Mount Wood Overlook.

Affordable eats: Coleman’s Fish Market is a Wheeling classic and reasonably priced for what you get, and Michael’s Beef House at Centre Market is known for good, cheap sandwiches. Centre Market itself is worth browsing if you want to pick up picnic supplies for a meal by the river.

Where to stay on a budget: The Haven Inn in Glen Dale has rooms from around $70 to $97 a night, kitchenettes, and a quiet location close to restaurants and shops.