Take A Fun Trip Through Beautiful West Virginia From Beckley To Sweet Springs

It’s not too late to fit in a beautiful autumn drive through some of the brightest fall colors we’ve enjoyed in years! While the higher mountain regions are prettiest in late September through early October, some of the more southern areas don’t peak until mid-to-late October. So get out while you can, before winter snows us in, and enjoy a scenic drive along Highway 3!

Not far outside of Beckley, stop for a stroll around the grounds of The Resort at Glade Springs, which lights up with flames of color on every tree each fall.

The Resort at Glade Springs/Facebook

Then head on toward Hinton, with a stop at Kirk’s for a hotdog and a view once you reach the New River.

Kirk’s Restaurant/Facebook

Cross the New River and follow the Greenbrier River upstream to the John Henry Historical Park, which is also the site of the Big Bend Tunnel. There’s also a John Henry Museum and Gift Shop just a short drive beyond the park, at the Talcott Public Access Site to the Greenbrier River.

John Henry Park/Facebook

The Graham House Museum is another fun stop along West Virginia Highway 3 - built in 1770, it was the first established house in what is now Summers County.

Mharv2000/Wikipedia

Highway 3 will then take you across the Greenbrier River on the Alderson Memorial Bridge in Alderson, a beautiful, historic mountain town worth exploring if you have the time.

CZMarlin/Wikipedia

From Alderson, it’s on to Union (Highway 3 will merge briefly with U.S. Route 219/Seneca Trail South as it passes through Union). If it’s beautiful scenery you’re after, try the view from the Confederate Soldiers Memorial just before you reach Union. Highway 3 will split off of Route 219 again in Union and take you west through Gap Mills.

Cristy/OIYS

End your drive at the historic Sweet Springs Resort, located close to the West Virginia/Virginia border. It’s empty now, although the current owners are busy at work restoring it and hope to one day reopen it as a resort and spa comparable to the one Thomas Jefferson envisioned and guests like George Washington, James Madison, Franklin Pierce, Martin Van Buren, Millard Fillmore, Marquis de Lafayette, and Robert E. Lee all enjoyed.

Brian M. Powell/Wikipedia

Have you driven West Virginia Highway 3 from Beckley to Sweet Springs before? Isn’t it a beautiful trip? A Google map of this route can be found here.