Overview
Fayetteville is a town of 2,754 people (as of 2000) in West Virginia, often called "Gateway to the New River Gorge"; it borders the northern end of New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. It was originally called Vandalia, before it became the seat of Fayette County in 1837 and was incorporated in 1883. Most visitors come to enjoy the scenic views from the New River Gorge Bridge, and the outdoor adventures that are linked to the area: whitewater rafting, kayaking, canoeing, horseback riding, llama treks, hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing, rappelling, camping and fishing.
3 sights · 8 things to do · 2 places to eat · 2 bars & cafés · 2 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about Fayetteville
Hawks Nest State Park
276 acres on the New River Gorge, with a 31-room lodge featuring panoramic views of the Gorge and Hawks Nest Lake. Hawks Nest Restaurant is the only restaurant overlooking the New River Canyon. Hiking trails, swimming, w…
Babcock State Park
4,127 acres of mountain vistas with scenic overlooks, a fast-flowing trout stream, and the Glade Creek Grist Mill, a fully-operable recreation of the original grist mill from 1890. Visitors can hike, fish, swim, go horse…
Midland Trail Scenic Byway
Runs along route 60 from Kenova and Huntington in the west to Lewisburg in the east. Fayetteville is about 10 minutes south of Hico, at the intersection of US-19 and US-60. It's a beautiful road to drive, full of wooded …
Mystery Hole
A museum of sorts, housed in an old Quonset hut, where the law of gravity seems to go berserk.
Cantrell Ultimate Rafting
Offers half- and full-day trips on the New River, and full-day or reversal trips on the Gauley River. $50 - $90 per adult on the New, $55 - $225 on the Gauley.
Adventures on the Gorge (formerly Class VI River Runners)
Family, adventure and multi-day rafting on the New and Gauley Rivers, and custom-built rafting packages.
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.
- BKW Raleigh County Memorial Airport, Beaver — 18 mi away. Directions
- CRW Yeager Airport, Charleston — 35 mi away. Directions
- GSO Piedmont Triad International Airport, Greensboro — 149 mi away (major hub). Directions
Fayetteville is situated on the segment of US-19 that intersects I-77 between Beckley and Sutton. Coming from the north, take I-77 exit 57; from the south, take exit 48.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Hawks Nest State Park, Mystery Hole
- Lunch Gino's Pizza & Spaghetti
- Afternoon River Expeditions, New River Mountain Guides
- Dinner Smokey's on the Gorge
- Evening Cathedral Cafe
Day 2
- Morning Babcock State Park, Cantrell Ultimate Rafting
- Afternoon New & Gauley River Adventures, New River Bike
- Evening Red Dog River Saloon
Day 3
- Morning Midland Trail Scenic Byway, Adventures on the Gorge (formerly Class VI River Runners)
- Afternoon Equestrian Adventures
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.
Get in
Fayetteville is situated on the segment of US-19 that intersects I-77 between Beckley and Sutton. Coming from the north, take I-77 exit 57; from the south, take exit 48.
Get around
See
- Downtown Fayetteville is the historic district in the center of town, with shops and restaurants and galleries. It was used as a stand-in for the town of Frazier's Bottom in the film Win a Date with Tad Hamilton. The Fayetteville Historic Convention and Visitors' Bureau, housed in the Historic Fayette Jail, is at 306 N Court Street, +1 304 574-1500 or +1-888-574-1500. You can take a guided walking tour of the historic downtown homes at designated times.
Place New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
The park's primary Canyon Rim Visitor Center sits directly across the New River Gorge Bridge from Fayetteville.
- New River Gorge Bridge, route 19 north of Fayetteville, +1 304 574-2115. Visitors' center open daily from 9AM-5PM. Completed in 1977, the New River Gorge Bridge was the longest steel-arch bridge in the world until the construction of the Lupu Bridge in Shanghai in 2003. Every third Saturday in October, the bridge is home to Bridge Day, when the bridge is opened to pedestrians for great views, organized walks, parachuting and rappelling demonstrations to the river 876 feet below, music, and a variety of vendors. There are beautiful views from a distance of the bridge spanning the gorge; the Canyon Rim Visitors' Center just north of the bridge features an exhibit room, gift shop and a boardwalk with two observation decks.
See Hawks Nest State Park
276 acres on the New River Gorge, with a 31-room lodge featuring panoramic views of the Gorge and Hawks Nest Lake. Hawks Nest Restaurant is the only restaurant overlooking the New River Canyon. Hiking trails, swimming, whitewater rafting, three gift shops, an aerial tramway and jetboat rides on the New River. Lodge is $53 - $107 per night. $3 for tram rides, $18 for jetboat rides.
See Babcock State Park
4,127 acres of mountain vistas with scenic overlooks, a fast-flowing trout stream, and the Glade Creek Grist Mill, a fully-operable recreation of the original grist mill from 1890. Visitors can hike, fish, swim, go horseback riding, or take paddleboats, rowboats or canoes out on the 19-acre Boley Lake.
See Midland Trail Scenic Byway
Runs along route 60 from Kenova and Huntington in the west to Lewisburg in the east. Fayetteville is about 10 minutes south of Hico, at the intersection of US-19 and US-60. It's a beautiful road to drive, full of wooded mountain curves, waterfalls, rivers and scenic vistas.
Do
- Take an airplane tour of the New River Gorge. Before he passed away in 2001, you could hire "Five Dollar Frank" Thomas to take you up in his Cessna 172 Skyhawk for $5; these days, you'll have to find a more expensive carrier.
Whitewater Rafting
The New River, ironically considered to be one of the oldest rivers in the world, is one of the area's main draws. It's a very popular destination for whitewater rafting, as well as kayaking and fishing. There are several companies in the area that can get you started on your own whitewater adventure, of which the most prominent are:
Horseback Riding and Llama Treks
Rock Climbing
Mountain Biking
Golf
- Bridge Haven Golf Club, Salem Gatewood Road, +1 304 574-2120. Open daily year-round. 18 holes, par 71. On-site full-service pro shop, snack bar and driving range. $25.
Buy
- Chimney Corner USA, 15328 Midland Way in Chimney Corner, +1 304 632-1002. Appalachian arts and crafts, quilts, baskets, books, handwoven rugs, brooms, cornmeal, honey, pottery, and coal collectibles.
Eat
Eat Gino's Pizza & Spaghetti
A favorite West Virginia chain serving pizza, pasta, calzones, subs, pubwiches, pepperoni rolls and sandwiches.
Eat Smokey's on the Gorge
A breakfast buffet, dinner buffet and salad bar in a timber-frame pavilion overlooking the New River Gorge. The dinner buffet features Appalachian favorites like barbecued wild boar ribs, grilled quail, morel mushrooms and rainbow trout.
Drink
Drink Cathedral Cafe
A coffee and teahouse located in a remodeled 90-year-old stone church, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Try the hand-dipped milkshakes.
Drink Red Dog River Saloon
A saloon with live music, big-screen TVs, billiards, and the area's largest beverage selection.
Sleep
- Adventures on the Gorge, Deluxe Mountain Cabins located near the rim of the New River Gorge bridge.
- Quality Inn New River Gorge, Laurel Creek Road and US-19, +1 304 574-3443 or +1-800-228-3323, . Gift shop; outdoor pool; tennis, basketball and volleyball courts. Complimentary deluxe continental breakfast. On-site restaurant called the Whitewater Bar and Grill, open daily from 11AM-midnight, serving salads, sandwiches and steaks.
- Opossum Creek Retreat, Your cabin in the woods.Opossum Creek Cabin Rentals
Go next
The New River Gorge CVB can help you find lodging, restaurants and packages for the area in and around Fayetteville. Additionally, the Southern West Virginia CVB offers West Virginia vacation and travel information on the Southern West Virginia region.
- Oak Hill is practically adjacent to Fayetteville on US-19.
- Summersville, about 30 minutes north on US-19, is home to the largest lake in West Virginia, part of West Virginia's Mountain Lakes District.
- Beckley, about 30 minutes south on US-19, is the nearest spot if you want to do any heavy-duty shopping.
- Lewisburg, a little over 1 hour east on US-60 and US-64, is an old-fashioned town that's home to the Greenbrier Resort.
- Richwood, a little over 1 hour northeast, is a historic former lumber town adjoining the Cranberry Wilderness of Monongahela National Forest
- Hinton, about an hour south, is the counterpart to Fayetteville at the southern end of the national park.
- Charleston, a little over 1 hour west on US-64, is the state capital.
- Bluefield, a little over 1 hour south on US-77, is a lovely mountain town on the Virginia border.
Nearby
Oak Hill
City / town · 12 listings · 5 mi away
New River Gorge
Park · 3 listings · 6 mi away
Beckley
City / town · 24 listings · 19 mi away
Summersville
City / town · 15 listings · 21 mi away
Clay
City / town · 9 listings · 28 mi away
Hinton
City / town · 10 listings · 29 mi away
Richwood
City / town · 12 listings · 33 mi away
Charleston
City / town · 64 listings · 35 mi away
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