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Country Roads, Waterfalls, & Adventure

Welcome to Philadelphia, where 17th-century Englishman and province founder William Penn envisioned an easily navigable urban utopia. Today, the city is home to more than 4,000 outdoor murals, creating an incredible art trail as you explore its historic, walkable streets. Plan your own route with the Mural Arts Philadelphia mobile app and look for three of the city’s most famous murals: Legends, Philadelphia Muses, and Common Threads.

 

You trip continues with a second day in the city of Brotherly Love.  Be sure to pose for a photo at the iconic LOVE statue before stopping for lunch at Reading Terminal Market, where you can sample a wide variety of local specialties—including the quintessential Philadelphia cheesesteak. A visit to Independence National Historical Park is a must, with more than 20 historic sites, including the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. And Rocky movie fans won’t want to miss the Rocky Balboa statue; follow in his footsteps by running up the famous steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art for your own Rocky moment.

Depart Philadelphia and watch for horse-drawn buggies sharing the road as you travel into Pennsylvania Dutch Country, home to one of the state’s most distinctive cultural traditions. Stop at Ephrata Cloister, an 18th-century religious community renowned for its unique architecture, artwork, and history. Today, this National Historic Landmark is a museum and part of the Pennsylvania Trail of History.

Continue to Lancaster, the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, where you can experience Amish life firsthand. Visit an Amish farm, take a traditional buggy ride, or enjoy a hearty Amish meal featuring homemade regional specialties. From Lancaster, cross the Susquehanna River and travel through York, known as the “White Rose City,” before continuing to Gettysburg, a place forever linked to one of the most pivotal battles of the American Civil War.

At Gettysburg National Military Park, begin your exploration at the Museum and Visitor Center before touring the historic battlefield. Visit the Soldiers’ National Cemetery, where a memorial marks the site where President Abraham Lincoln delivered his famous Gettysburg Address in 1863. This evening, explore downtown Gettysburg, where historic streets are lined with charming boutiques, shops, and restaurants.

Head south from Gettysburg into Maryland and visit South Mountain State Battlefield, site of Maryland’s first major Civil War battle. Continue to Antietam National Battlefield, one of the nation’s most pristine and well-preserved Civil War landscapes. Explore the battlefield on foot along its hiking trails or take the approximately 13.5-kilometer driving tour for a convenient way to experience the historic sites and monuments.

The Union victories at South Mountain and Antietam helped pave the way for President Abraham Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that enslaved people in the Confederate states were to be freed. Continue into West Virginia, the only state created as a result of the Civil War, and visit Shepherdstown, the state’s oldest incorporated town, founded in 1762.

Nearby, explore Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, where beautifully preserved 19th-century buildings, a Civil War museum, and John Brown’s Fort tell the story of the town’s pivotal role in American history. At The Point, where the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers converge, enjoy spectacular views across West Virginia, Maryland, and Virginia before continuing to Martinsburg.

Leave Martinsburg and follow the Washington Heritage Trail scenic byway to Berkeley Springs, a charming town known for its historic mineral springs. In the heart of town, Berkeley Springs State Park surrounds the warm springs that have attracted visitors for centuries. Among the park’s highlights is George Washington’s Bathtub, a stone tub built around the spring where the future first president is said to have bathed as a young man in the 1700s. Today, the tub replicates the early bathing pools, while the mineral-rich waters remain a popular attraction and the town continues its long tradition of spa treatments.

Sample the spring water from two public fountains beneath the Gentlemen’s Spring House, or explore the open pools along the park’s west wall. Just west of Berkeley Springs, stop at Panorama Overlook for spectacular views stretching across West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.

Continue to the nearby hamlet of Great Cacapon, where you can join West Virginia Route 9, one of the state’s most scenic roads. The highway winds along and across the Cacapon River for nearly 32 kilometers between Great Cacapon and Paw Paw. Continue west toward Morgantown, stopping at Coopers Rock State Forest, about 20 kilometers before the city, for breathtaking views across the Allegheny Mountains. Arrive in Morgantown this evening and enjoy its vibrant culinary scene.

Leave Morgantown and follow the Old Route 7 Byway south along Decker’s Creek, watching as the gentle stream gradually transforms into a rushing torrent through the narrow gorge. Continue to Arthurdale, the nation’s first New Deal Community, established in 1933 as a demonstration project championed by Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Today, Arthurdale is a National Historic District where original homesteads and historic buildings offer a glimpse into this unique chapter of American history.

Continue south along the Cheat River Byway, where spectacular overlooks reveal the rugged beauty of Cheat Canyon, a popular destination for whitewater rafting and outdoor adventures. Along the way, stop at Buckhorn Run Waterfall and the historic Tray Run Viaduct, one of the earliest iron railroad bridges in the United States. Continue on to Elkins, surrounded by the mountains and rich cultural heritage of West Virginia’s highlands.

Today, venture into Blackwater Falls State Park, home to some of the most photographed landscapes in West Virginia. The park’s centerpiece, Blackwater Falls, plunges approximately 18 meters from Canaan Valley into the rugged Blackwater Canyon, creating one of the state’s most spectacular natural sights. A short hike from Blackwater Lodge leads to another highlight, Elakala Falls, where a series of cascades tumbles through the forest.

Be sure to visit Lindy Point and Pendleton Point Overlook for breathtaking views across the Blackwater Canyon and surrounding mountains. During the warmer months, the park offers opportunities for mountain biking, boating, fishing, and hiking, while winter brings cross-country skiing and sledding.

Just five minutes from the park, the charming mountain town of Davis is a great place to enjoy local country cooking and craft brews. Continue to the Dolly Sods Wilderness, a high-elevation plateau known for its sweeping mountain vistas and unique landscapes. Follow the hiking trails through forests and open heathlands in search of secluded waterfalls and scenic overlooks before returning to Elkins.

Head south from Elkins to Beverly, a charming historic town that has retained much of its 19th-century character. Visit the Beverly Heritage Center to learn about the town’s important role along the Staunton-Parkersburg Turnpike and its connection to the Battle of Rich Mountain during the Civil War.

Continue south with a scenic detour to Snowshoe Mountain Resort, a popular year-round mountain destination. In winter, the resort offers skiing, snowboarding, and other snow activities, while summer visitors can enjoy spectacular mountain views over a leisurely lunch. Return to the valley and continue along the Highland Scenic Highway, one of West Virginia’s most beautiful drives, winding through Monongahela National Forest with breathtaking vistas along the way.

Explore the Cranberry Glades Botanical Area, where elevated boardwalks lead through unusual mountain bogs and provide opportunities to spot native plants and wildlife. Another scenic stop along the highway is Falls of Hills Creek, where three waterfalls cascade through a lush forest filled with rhododendrons, mountain laurel, and wildflowers—a perfect setting for photographs.

Continue to Fayetteville, your base for exploring New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. One of the country’s newest national parks, the preserve showcases the spectacular beauty of the New River, with deep wooded gorges, rushing rapids, cascading waterfalls, and rugged Appalachian scenery.

Take a break from the road trip and immerse yourself in the spectacular scenery of New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. Spanning more than 28,000 hectares along the New River, the park combines dramatic mountain landscapes, breathtaking gorge views, fascinating history, and abundant outdoor recreation.

Spend the day exploring the park’s hiking trails, scenic overlooks, and waterfalls, or get out on the water with a whitewater rafting or kayaking adventure. For an unforgettable experience, take the Bridge Walk along the catwalk beneath the New River Gorge Bridge, approximately 244 meters above the river, for extraordinary views deep into the gorge.

New River Gorge is a year-round destination, with every season offering its own opportunities for adventure and spectacular scenery. Whether you prefer hiking through colorful forests, exploring the river, or simply enjoying the mountain views, this is a memorable stop on any West Virginia road trip.

Leave Fayetteville and follow the Midland Trail east through spectacular Appalachian scenery, stopping at scenic overlooks along the way to historic Lewisburg. One of West Virginia’s most charming towns, Lewisburg is known for its beautifully preserved landmarks, thriving arts community, independent boutiques, galleries, and inviting restaurants. Take time to explore the historic downtown and enjoy lunch before continuing your journey.

A short drive from Lewisburg brings you to White Sulphur Springs, nestled in the Allegheny Mountains and long celebrated for its mineral springs. The town is also home to the renowned Greenbrier Resort, a legendary retreat with a fascinating history. One of its most intriguing attractions lies beneath the resort: a once-secret Cold War-era bunker designed to shelter members of the U.S. Congress in the event of a nuclear attack. Tour the underground facility to discover this remarkable and little-known chapter of American history.

Today, leave Lewisburg and travel into Virginia, joining the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway east of Lexington. Connecting Shenandoah National Park with Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the parkway is renowned for its breathtaking vistas, winding roads, and close-up views of the Appalachian Mountains. As you travel north, the parkway connects with Skyline Drive just east of Waynesboro and continues through the central section of Shenandoah National Park.

This spectacular stretch of roadway extends for more than 99 miles (160 kilometers), with a leisurely speed limit of 35 miles (72 kilometers) per hour that allows plenty of time to appreciate the scenery. If time permits, stretch your legs with a hike along one of the park’s many trails, where forests, mountain views, and abundant wildlife create an unforgettable experience.

Tonight, arrive in the Shenandoah Valley town of Luray, home to the remarkable Luray Caverns. Explore the vast underground cave system and its extraordinary formations, including the Great Stalacpipe Organ. This unique musical instrument uses electronically controlled strikers to create tones from the natural stalactites, transforming the cavern itself into a one-of-a-kind musical instrument.

Today you return to Philadelphia where your journey started or you can add an extension to our nation’s capital, Washington DC.

Today you return your rental car to the airport and fly home.

Extend your adventure

As our Drive America adventures are completely customizable, you can add an extension to Washington DC at either the beginning or the end of your trip.  (If adding to the beginning your flights will arrive and depart from Washington DC.)

What's Included

What's Included

What's Included