Morgantown is a great destination to visit in West Virginia, but it’s also a fantastic place to base yourself for further adventure. There are a ton of great day trips from Morgantown that you can take, from exploring history in Pennsylvania to relaxing train rides through the mountains, and more! I’ve gathered up my five favorite day trips from Morgantown, so you can make your next trip there even better!
Cool Off At Tygart Lake
Once the warmer months arrive to West Virginia, heading down to Tygart Lake State Park is the perfect day trip from Morgantown to cool off. Just under an hour south of Morgantown, Tygart Lake has something for everyone even if you don’t want to spend your whole day in the water.
For families making the trip down, you’ll want to head straight for the Tygart Adventure Lake. It’s an all-natural water park that features big inflatables for kids and adults to run around on. If you’re not looking for quite that much activity, you can also simply lounge on the sandy beach and enjoy the nice warm sunshine.
Tygart Lake also has options if you’d rather not get wet during your visit. Kayaks are available to rent and take out onto the lake, which can make for a pleasant way to spend the day. There are also a few hiking trails around the park which you can use to stretch your legs. The lake is also a great place for fishing as well.
One of the more interesting activities at the lake are tours of the Tygart Lake Dam. The US Army Corps of Engineers regularly do tours during the months of June, July, and August. Tour size is limited, so they recommend calling ahead to ensure your space is reserved. It’s a really neat activity, and a way to appreciate the engineering that goes into one of these dams.
If you’re spending a few days in the Morgantown-area, then taking a day trip down to Tygart Lake is a fantastic option. It also brings you close to towns like Grafton, so even if you only spend half the day at the park, you can spend the other half walking through the towns nearby!
Exploring Tucker County
If your idea of a great day trip from Morgantown involves spending most of that day outside, then you’re in luck! Taking the trip out to Tucker County not only gives you plenty to see and do once you get there, but it may very well be one of the most scenic parts of the entire Mountain State. No matter what time of year you make a visit, Tucker County is ready to welcome you to it’s wonders.
The outdoor gems in Tucker County come from the many protected lands enclosed within Blackwater Falls State Park, Cannan Valley Resort State Park, and the Dolly Sods Wilderness. These areas are prized possessions for locals and visitors alike. Blackwater Falls is an impressive sight, especially after a rain and the park surrounding it also features stunning overlooks like Lindy Point. Dolly Sods and the neighboring Bear Rocks Preserve might just be one of the most photographed places in the entire state.
However, not everything on your day trip from Morgantown needs to revolve around the outdoors when exploring Tucker County. During our trip, we spent some time walking through the towns of Thomas and Davis. Each of these communities offer a chance to interact with small town shops, restaurants, and bars; as well as the people who own and work in them. It’s an awesome way to connect with the community, and something I really enjoyed about our visit to Tucker County.
Tucker County offers more than enough to fill your entire day, especially since it’s right at the edge of that “day trip” driving distance. With so many must see places, make sure you start that day trip to Tucker County early and don’t worry about staying for a gorgeous sunset.
History Tour of Southwest Pennsylvania
Now I fully understand that a bit of a rivalry exists between the folks in Pennsylvania and those in West Virginia. However, that doesn’t mean visitors can’t enjoy spending a part of their trip to West Virginia in the neighboring state. In fact, that’s exactly what we did as one of our day trips from Morgantown when we visited!
There is a lot of interesting history to be found just across the state line in Southwest Pennsylvania. This little road trip starts with a visit to Friendship Hill National Historic Site. Friendship Hill was home to one of America’s “forgotten” founding fathers, Albert Gallatin. The expansive grounds and wonderfully preserved/restored home are a great way to spend part of your morning.
From there you can embark on some more wonderful architectural history by visiting two Frank Lloyd Wright masterpieces. The first is Kentucky Knob, an exquisite example of his Usonian ideals that full of gorgeous stone and woodwork. The second may be his best work ever, Fallingwater. This iconic home was built in 1939, as is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful homes ever constructed. If you’re a fan of history or architecture, you’ll want to visit both of these homes.
The final must see spot on this day trip from Morgantown is Fort Necessity Battlefield. It is here that the first shots of the French and Indian War were fired, and ultimately, the path to the American Revolution begins. The fort there today is a recreation of what George Washington would have had his soldiers build, a simple wooden palisade. It’s fascinating to get a chance to stand where so much world history could be said to “originate” from.
In the map below, you’ll also note I added a few covered bridges. These are always a treat and can be a fun way to extend your excursion into Southwest Pennsylvania!
Take a Ride on the Potomac Eagle
I love a good train ride, especially though the mountains. On our trip around West Virginia, I debated between taking a ride on the Cass Scenic Railway or the Potomac Eagle. We ultimately went with the journey from Cass because it fit our road trip route better, but I really wish we would have been able to ride the Potomac Eagle as well.
This day trip from Morgantown does begin to stretch the definition of a day trip just a bit at an hour and forty-five minutes from town. The Potomac Eagle has a wide variety of scenic rides that you can choose from, ranging from 90 minutes to a whopping NINE HOURS! Which one you choose will really make or break the idea of this being a day trip from Morgantown.
The most popular excursion that the Potomac Eagle offers is a three hour scenic ride through Trough Canyon. You’ll get an opportunity to spot bald eagles and take in the beauty of the South Branch Potomac River. This same train ride can also be done at sunset, though you’ll be returning to Morgantown in the dark then. Either of these options are great ways to enjoy a nice train ride.
The Potomac Eagle does offer a number of more unique adventures. During the winter, you can jump aboard the North Pole Express for a wonderous journey that includes live performances and an appearance by Santa! If you’re bold enough to make a day trip from Morgantown really last the entire day, then consider their All Day Petersburg trip. This is the only adventure that features a layover, but packs a ton of adventure into one train ride!
Get Your Spooks at the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum
The spookiest of all the day trips from Morgantown has to be heading down to the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum. This institution housed individuals who suffered from mental illness for 130 years in Weston. Like many similar “hospitals”, it’s initial construction sought to treat the mentally ill but it ultimately became a place to send the most disaffected from society. This led to the terrible treatment of patients and conditions of the facility, as well as its ultimate closure in 1994.
Today the facility offers visitors a glimpse into the paranormal, if you’re inclined to believe in the tales of ghosts and other spooks that exist at the Asylum. For the bravest among you, taking a ghost tour of the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum is a must. There are a number of different tours, but all of them amplify the spook factor of walking around an “abandoned” mental hospital and are led by dedicated guides.
If you’re not looking for a haunted day trip from Morgantown, then you can still visit the Asylum for it’s historic and architectural highlights. The historic tours of the building stay focused on the history, and none of the paranormal shenanigans that go on at night. The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum is one of the oldest remaining Kirkbride Plan buildings in the country, and a protected historic building. With so few of these style buildings left intact across America, it’s a fantastic opportunity if you love architecture!
Quick Trip to Coopers Rock State Forest
Not every day trip needs to take up the whole day or even be very far away from where you’re staying. Coopers Rock State Forest is just 20 minutes to the east of Morgantown along I-68. Despite it’s relative closeness, this state forest is a great way to escape into nature.
Every visit to Coopers Rock needs to take in the breathtaking views from the eponymous overlook. It’s perhaps one of the most photographed spots in all of West Virginia and for good reason. Coopers Rock gives visitors amazing views of the Cheat River Valley and Cheat Lake, though Morgantown itself is mostly blocked by the intervening hills. The hike to Coopers Rock is easy, meaning everyone in the family can enjoy the overlook!
Coopers Rock State Forest has a lot more to offer than just a single overlook. One of the best reasons to take this day trip from Morgantown is to enjoy the wonderful hiking available throughout the state forest. There are trails for practically every skill level, many of which are usable for mountain biking in the summer or cross-country skiing in the winter. Just check out this excellent park map to find the trails that are right for you during your trip!
If you’re looking for a bit more adrenaline than what hiking or overlooks can offer, then nearby you’ll also find the West Virginia University’s Zip-Line & Aerial Adventures. This program gives people of all abilities a chance to get their heart racing, while experiencing the forest in a unique way. The adventures here take 2-3 hours, which makes for an awesome way to extend your day trip from Morgantown to Coopers Rock State Forest into a whole day affair!
Making the Most of These Day Trips from Morgantown
Hopefully you’ve picked one of these day trips from Morgantown to add to your trip to the city. You might then be wondering, how to make the most of your day trip. The first suggestion I have is to leave as early in the day as possible. Even if your destination isn’t too far away, the time can slip away from you quickly and leave you feeling rushed. My second suggestion is to pack your lunch. A nice picnic or packed lunch leaves more time for enjoying where you’re going and not having to worry about finding a spot to eat!
With these two tips and this wonderful list of day trips from Morgantown to choose from, you’ll be all set and ready for an amazing day exploring the Mountain State! If this post has helped out and you’d like to help me continue writing and travelling I’d greatly appreciate your support. Following me on social media will help you stay in touch, or you can get a free custom itinerary by signing up for my newsletter!
Don’t Forget to Pin by Using the Images Below!
Leave a Reply