Overview
Davis is a city in the Potomac Highlands region of West Virginia. The area around Davis is noted for the Canaan Valley, Timberline and the region's caverns, Blackwater Falls State Park, the pretty mountain town of Thomas, and the Monongahela National Forest.
11 sights · 3 things to do · 4 places to eat · 2 bars & cafés · 9 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Davis
Blackwater Falls State Park
The main attraction is the five-story-tall amber-colored waterfall, which is one of the most photographed sites in West Virginia. Lodge with gift shop, indoor pool and on-site restaurant. Camping, hiking, horseback and p…
Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge
Takes up much of the central portion of the valley. There are several roads and trailheads in various parts of the refuge.
Canaan Valley Resort State Park
At the southern end of the valley. Includes a campground, resort, golf course, and ski area.
Dolly Sods Wilderness
Part of Monongahela National Forest, to the southeast of Canaan Valley. Has several trails in the Red Creek drainage area. This is also an excellent area for cross-country skiing when there's enough snow.
Thomas Commercial Historic District
A row of historic buildings, including an opera house.
Fairfax Stone Historical Monument State Park
The site of the Fairfax Stone, marking the source of the North Branch Potomac River. It determines the western boundary of Maryland, as well as one end of the Fairfax Line leading into Northern Virginia. The park is just…
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: Jun–Sep. Summer highs reach about 70°F; winter lows dip to about 14°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Dec and Jan. (climate data from nearby Snowshoe)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- CKB North Central West Virginia Airport, Bridgeport — 42 mi away. Directions
- MGW Morgantown Municipal Airport Walter L. (Bill) Hart Field, Morgantown — 43 mi away. Directions
- PIT Pittsburgh International Airport, Pittsburgh — 102 mi away (major hub). Directions
Davis is located at the intersection of WV 32 and WV 93.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
- Typical meal: about $10 per person at listed restaurants.
See the Sleep guide ↓ for places to stay.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Blackwater Falls State Park, Douglas Falls, Thomas Commercial Historic District
- Lunch Sirianni's Cafe
- Afternoon Thomas City Park Trails, Fairfax Stone Historical Monument State Park
- Dinner Hellbender Burritos
- Evening Blackwater Brewing Company
Day 2
- Morning Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge, Canaan Valley Resort State Park, Canaan Mountain Backcountry
- Lunch Muttley's Downtown
- Afternoon Dolly Sods Wilderness, Canaan Valley Resort
- Dinner Sawmill Restaurant
- Evening Mountain State Brewing Company
Day 3
- Morning Little Canaan Wildlife Management Area, Yellow Creek Natural Area
- Afternoon Timberline Four Seasons Resort
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Understand
Davis is the highest incorporated town in West Virginia at an elevation of 3,200 ft. The Eastern Continental Divide zig-zags across this region along a series of shallow ridges, forming the border between Tucker and Grant Counties.
Davis is not a large town, but don't let the miniscule population of 624 fool you, it has some great restaurants and its location makes it a great base to see some of West Virginia's best sights. If you need the services of a larger town, visit Elkins to the west or Moorefield to the east, each about an hour away.
Get in
By car
Davis is located at the intersection of WV 32 and WV 93.
Additionally, Davis is along U.S. 48, a four-lane divided highway built in the early 2010s as Appalachian Corridor H. To the east, the highway connects to I-81 and I-66 near Strasburg, Virginia. The highway becomes a two-lane road for a segment westwards from Davis to Elkins, but it then picks up again and connects to I-79.
By plane
The closest commercial airports to Davis are Pittsburgh International Airport in Pittsburgh and Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C., both just over 3 hours away.
See
See Blackwater Falls State Park
The main attraction is the five-story-tall amber-colored waterfall, which is one of the most photographed sites in West Virginia. Lodge with gift shop, indoor pool and on-site restaurant. Camping, hiking, horseback and pony rides, swimming, boating and fishing, cross-country skiing, sledding, and a petting zoo during the summer.
- Canaan Valley. The Canaan Valley is divided into a patchwork of public and private lands.
See Thomas City Park Trails
See Fairfax Stone Historical Monument State Park
The site of the Fairfax Stone, marking the source of the North Branch Potomac River. It determines the western boundary of Maryland, as well as one end of the Fairfax Line leading into Northern Virginia. The park is just a small clearing at the end of a road with the stone and a few picnic tables, but if you're a geek for these sorts of things it's worth a selfie.
- Other sights like Seneca Rocks, Seneca Caverns, Smoke Hole Caverns, and Spruce Knob are within a 1.5 hr drive.
Do
- Davis, being in the mountains, is a great base for skiing. Canaan Valley Resort State Park and Timberline Four Seasons Resort are both nearby containing a combined 76 slopes for all levels of skiers, and White Grass Touring and Blackwater Falls State Park both offer cross country skiing.
Do Canaan Valley Resort
Route 32 north of Harman. 250 guest rooms. Indoor lap pool, outdoor pool, whirlpool spa, fitness room, sauna, 18-hole championship golf course, mini-golf, tennis courts, hiking, biking, wall climbing, hay rides. On-site gift shop, restaurant (the Aspen Dining Room), food court (the Bear Paw Lodge), lounge (the Laurel Lounge) and snack bar. 37 ski slopes, including a vertical drop of 850 feet, and a chairlift ride.
Do Timberline Four Seasons Resort
Route 32 N to Canaan Valley. 36 slopes and trails, with a vertical rise of 1,000 feet, for skiers of all abilities. 3 chairlifts. NASTAR racing. Skiing and snowboarding lessons $45 - $95. Lifts $19 - $54, rentals $12 - $25.
Buy
Shop Mountain Made
A nonprofit store located in the nearby town of Thomas (45 minutes northeast on US-219), offering products made by talented West Virginia artists and craftspeople. Books, cards, stationery, jewellery, clothing, honey, jams and jellies, sauces, knives, home decor, music, instruments, garden and yard supplies, glassware, utensils and pottery.
Eat
Eat Hellbender Burritos
Hellbender Burritos is a great place to grab a good burrito for dinner or a few drinks after a long day on the trails. The food is good, the portions are large, and the selection of beer is unique since they sell local selections from Mountain State Brewing on tap. Service is great too.
Eat Sirianni's Cafe
Sirianni's Cafe provides Italian cuisine (apps, pizza, pasta, salad, and hoagies) alongside a pretty good selections of beers and wine by the glass or bottle (bottles ranging from $16 to $23). The pizza is highly recommended by previous patrons from all over. This is another great location for anyone visiting the northern section of the MNF.
Eat Muttley's Downtown
Muttley's Downtown is a steakhouse with salads, sandwiches, and house specialties like curried mango chicken, vegetable lasagna, duckling half, and portabella pasta.
Eat Sawmill Restaurant
Home cooked meals. Breakfast-sausage gravy on biscuits with homefries. Lunch-sawmill steak sandwich on grilled homemade bread. Dinner-WV ham with homefries, brown beans, corn bread and salad bar. Has daily specials.
Drink
Drink Blackwater Brewing Company
6 ales, stouts and porters. Also serves appetizers, soups and salads, sandwiches, traditional entrees, German and Italian entrees. Live entertainment. $7 - $19.
Drink Mountain State Brewing Company
In Thomas. 4 ales and stouts. Provides handcrafted ales to Canaan Valley, Elkins, Morgantown, Snowshoe and surrounding areas. On-site pub.
Sleep
Go next
- Moorefield, a 45-minute drive to the east, is a larger town with more retail and dining options.
- Elkins to the southwest
- Oakland, Maryland to the north
Nearby
Oakland
City / town · 12 listings · 19 mi away
Monongahela National Forest
Park · 6 listings · 25 mi away
Elkins
City / town · 25 listings · 25 mi away
Kingwood
City / town · 8 listings · 26 mi away
Moorefield
City / town · 31 listings · 27 mi away
Deep Creek Lake
Rural area · 20 listings · 29 mi away
McHenry
City / town · 8 listings · 30 mi away
Grafton
City / town · 9 listings · 33 mi away
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