West Virginia’s second-largest city (after Charleston) is a historic hub of commerce, rail transportation, and industrial activity, and a unique travel destination. The city is located on the banks of the Ohio River, with its tributary, the Guyandotte River, also traversing parts of the city. It falls within Wayne and Cabell Counties, with a huge portion lying within the latter.
The city offers several, interesting attractions to visit ranging from vibrant arts centers to museums and historic districts preserving invaluable histories. Attractions like the Railroad Museum and the Museum of Radio and Technology document the state’s technological development through the years.
Huntington is part of the Western Allegheny Plateau and the Appalachia cultural region. The city is a blend of multiple touristic qualities; a fascinating heritage, gorgeous geography, and a vibrant arts scene. It's also near other cities, towns, and villages which offer beautiful landscapes and several iconic landmarks of West Virginia.
Top Things To Do
The city of Huntington offers many fascinating attractions for travelers to immerse themselves in.
14 Shop And Experience Entertainment At Pullman Square
The lifestyle center is the result of a downtown redevelopment initiative that created various retail outlets, restaurants, and entertainment and recreation spots. Among these, the movie theater is a favorite with its frequent screenings of the latest movies.
The square has something for everyone; from shoppers seeking various merchandise to moviegoers keen on entertainment after a fine dining experience at the onsite restaurants.
13 Visit Camden Amusement Park
Camden Amusement Park is one of the oldest amusement parks in the state which owes its origins to establishment as a trolley park by the Camden Interstate Railway Company. It features a number of rides including the Big Dipper, Rattler, Sky Liner, Haunted House, Carousel, Tilt a Whirl, and Camden Princess.
The minimum height requirement for riding unaccompanied is mostly 48’’, though rides such as the Kiddie Boats, Hand Truck, and Sky Fighters are appropriate for smaller children.
The amusement park also provides diverse fun games, a swan lake paddle boating experience, and adventure golf activities.
- Hours: May vary, hence it is important to check their online calendar before visiting
- Cost of General Admission: Sunday – Friday: $22.99; Saturdays: $24.99. Special rates may be applicable for certain age groups.
12 Trek And Sight-See At Harris Riverfront Park
The park provides amazing views of the Ohio River and has a playground for kids.
There is also a trail, the Paul Ambrose Trail for Health, which offers a scenic, tranquil setting for a refreshing walk. Even better, the Chuck Ripper Trail features fascinating works of art along its trail near the water.
The waterfront amphitheater, which is part of the park, routinely hosts events and concerts and is available for booking for private events. The entire park can also be reserved for privately-organized runs and walks.
- Address: Veterans Memorial Blvd, Huntington, WV 25701, USA
11 Relax In Nature At Ritter Park
This is a nice spot to just chill in nature or partake in a number of exercise activities. The well-maintained park is located to the south of Huntington and features a playground, tennis courts, a rose garden, and a walking trail.
The Fourpole Creek also winds through the park, adding to the ambiance.
Beech Fork State Park which is near Huntington city is another good park to explore. It features a boat launch access, swimming area, camping grounds, hiking and cycling trails, fishing access, volleyball, and basketball courts, softball fields, and picnic areas. It is located on the shores of the Beech Fork Flood Control Lake.
10 Catch A Performance At Keith-Albee Performing Arts Theater
The theater is not only one of West Virginia’s key landmarks but one of the top places to go to for some entertainment in Huntington. The theater promotes the creative arts as well as the development of the visual and fine arts in general in West Virginia. One can catch local and national stage productions as well as state film festivals at the theater.
In addition, the magnificent architecture dating back to the 1920s provides a befitting ambiance for conferences and private events. The intricate lighting system of its interior is particularly outstanding.
- Address: 925 4th Ave Huntington, WV 25701
9 Experience The Heritage Farm Museum And Village
The open-air, village-style museum offers a lot of fascinating information on Appalachian heritage. It has seven main museum hotspots documenting the history of Appalachia across various sectors.
For instance, the Industry Museum depicts the region’s industrial progress in areas like coal mining while the Country Store Museum displays the region’s earliest commercial stores.
The Progress Museum is a favorite of visitors as it tracks the region’s technological growth, while the Transportation Museum shows the evolution of transportation in the region through the years.
The museum also spots an adventure park that features a zipline, UTV ride courses, a 25-foot climbing wall, a downhill biking trail, and other fun climbing activities.
Moreover, the Nature Center preserves flora and fauna that is indigenous to Appalachia in unique fascinating settings. It is an additional spot to see beautiful foliage of West Virginia.
The tree house trek elevates visitors 60 feet in a forest setting where they can see squirrels and birds foraging for food within the tree canopies. There is also a critter corner with animals like bunnies and pigs.
One can lodge at the farmhouse, cabins, or retreat center found on the grounds of the museum.
- Address: Heritage Farm Museum and Village, 3300 Harvey Rd, Huntington, WV 25704
- Charges: Adults: $15; Seniors: $12; Children: $10; 3 and Under FREE
8 Visit The Huntington Museum Of Art
Located near Ritter Park, the museum is an educational and cultural center displaying a wide variety of fascinating works of art sourced from various locations. Paintings, sculptures, folk art artifacts, and glassware are some of the objects preserved in the museum.
The museum boasts 10 exhibition spaces and thousands of art objects in its permanent collection. It offers art classes where creativity is inspired through different methods of creating visual art pieces.
The museum is also a conservation center housing a conservatory of tropical plants and a coral reef aquarium. Moreover, its grounds encompass trails where walking and outdoor exploration are encouraged. The trails are on 40 acres of a hilly landscape with natural woodland vegetation, and they offer varying degrees of difficulty.
Visually impaired visitors will find the paved sensory trail to be a great experience.
For a better experience, people can reserve guided hiking tours which take approximately 90 minutes.
- Hours: Tuesday: 10.00 am to 8.00 pm; Wednesday-Saturday: 10.00 am to 5.00 pm; Sunday: noon to 5.00 pm
- Address: 2033 McCoy Rd, Huntington, WV 25701
- Cost: $5 for adults aged 18+ except on Tuesday when admission is free. Children, and active or retired military personnel plus their families get free admission.
7 Go For Events At The Mountain Health Arena
This is a prime entertainment destination not just for the city of Huntington, but the entire Tri-State area.
Aside from the 7,500-capacity arena, the facility also houses a convention center which is used for conferences and a number of public and private events. Weddings, high school or college reunions, trade shows, and anniversaries are easily hosted here, and there are onsite coordinators to help with the organization.
The multipurpose arena hosts different events; from comedic shows and sporting competitions to family shows and concerts. This makes the waterfront, and downtown municipal area, among the most-visited attractions in Huntington.
- Address: 1 Civic Center Plz, Huntington, WV 25701
6 Best Time To Go
Huntington is located to the west of West Virginia on the Appalachian plateau and is therefore on a low-lying area of the Appalachian Mountain Ranges. Thus, the city has a humid, subtropical climate with four distinct seasons.
Nevertheless, it doesn’t experience extreme climatic conditions, given humidity from the Ohio River and moderate snowfall events (though many WV towns are cozy for winter, too).
While temperatures begin to get warm around April, there are increased chances of rainfall between the months of April to July. In August, the rainfall events begin to reduce, with temperatures still being nice and warm.
If seeking more outdoor adventures, the period between August to mid-October is the best time to visit. Nevertheless, the period between June and August also sees many visits to the city as it has some of the warmest temperatures.
This period may also be the best time to visit several other beautiful towns in West Virginia.
5 Best Ways To Get Around
Huntington Tri-State Airport is the easiest way to fly into the city as it offers connections to a number of cities in the US. Another option is the West Virginia International Yeager Airport in Charleston which is about one hour away from downtown Huntington.
If traveling from cities in states neighboring West Virginia such as Ashland, Columbus, or Pittsburgh, Greyhound and Baron buses are a convenient and affordable option.
Once in Huntington, one can use the public transport system managed by the Tri-State Transit Authority, with buses serving various routes in Huntington, Ironton in Ohio and Ashland in Kentucky. Amtrak rail services are also present in the city, with a station strategically located along 8th Avenue.
For more personalized travel, visitors have the option of renting vehicles from agencies offering such services or using Uber and Lyft which are operational in Huntington.
4 Where To Eat
Breakfast Options
There are several fast food chains in Huntington WV where travelers can grab a quick breakfast. They include Starbucks, Wendy’s, Waffle House, Subway, Burger King, and Tudor’s Biscuit World.
Lunch and Dinner Options
Bahnhof Wvrsthaus & Biergarten
This is the restaurant to go to if seeking a taste of German cuisine and beers. The eatery serves a wide selection of tap beers, wines, and spirits, as well as sausages, schnitzels, sandwiches, soups, and salads prepared German-style.
- Address: 745 7th Avenue Huntington, West Virginia
- Hours: Tuesday-Thursday: 11 am to 9 pm; Friday & Saturday: 11 am to 10 pm; Sunday & Monday: Closed
- Cost: Single servings start at $5.00
Black Sheep Burrito & Brews
The restaurant is just by Pullman Square and serves delicious burritos, quesadillas, burgers, and tacos made from different types of meat. It also serves mouthwatering appetizers and specialty wings, and various sides and salsas to accompany its signature dishes.
- Address: 279 9th St, Huntington, WV 25701
- Hours: Monday – Thursday: 11 am to 9 pm; Friday & Saturday: 11 am to 1 pm; Sunday: 1 am to 3 pm
- Cost: Main dishes start at $10 without sides or appetizers
Fat Patty’s Huntington
The restaurant is located just outside Marshall University, and it serves delicious comfort food. One can get sumptuous steaks, burgers, sandwiches, and a variety of salads, as well as tap beers.
- Address: 1935 3rd Avenue, Huntington, WV 25702
- Hours: Monday-Saturday: 11 am to 10 pm; Sunday: 12 pm to 10 pm
- Cost: Burgers start at $12.00
Jewel City Seafood Restaurant
This is one of the top seafood joints in Huntington, and it offers a laid-back dining experience. The “catch of the day” special dishes are especially a favorite, and the family-owned joint also serves beers and wines to wash down the dishes with.
- Address: 1317 4th Ave, Huntington, WV 25701
- Hours: Monday: 11 am to 3 pm; Tuesday - Saturday: 11 am - 8:30 pm; Closed Sunday
3 Where To Stay
Huntington offers a handful of hotel options to suit any budget.
Budget-Friendly Options (Starting at $70 and below)
The budget-friendly accommodation option is located just off US Route 60, and in a serene environment in the village of Barboursville. Downtown Huntington is less than 5 miles away, and Huntington Mall is a drive of about 15 minutes from the inn. The local attractions of Camden Park and Heritage Farm Museum & Village are 14 and 10 miles away respectively.
- Address: 5190 US Route 60 East, Huntington, WV 25705
- Amenities: Wi-Fi, parking, service animals accepted, onsite restaurant, portable crib, ADA accessible
The accommodation is very affordable, and it puts guests on the banks of the Ohio River, and five minutes away from the conveniences of Pullman Square. Attractions like Camden Park and Museum of Radio and Technology are both 10 minutes away.
- Address: 1056 Washington Ave, Huntington, WV 25704
- Amenities: parking, hot tub, business center, fax and photocopying, vending machine
Mid-Tier Options (Starting Between $70-$120)
Double Tree by Hilton, Huntington
The hotel offers rooms and suites convenient for diverse accommodation needs in Downtown Huntington, with the conveniences of Pullman City Square Center. It also offers easy to access to a number of attractions such as the Touma Museum of Medicine which is less than 5 minutes away on foot. It is a little less than a mile from Marshall University, and about 20 minutes away from Heritage Farm Museum and Village.
- Address: 1001 3rd Avenue Huntington, West Virginia 25701
- Amenities: Wi-Fi, onsite restaurant, outdoor pool, business center, fitness center
Fairfield Inn and Suites by Marriott Huntington
Located off I-64, the accommodation is a convenient distance away from the bustle of the downtown area. It is about 10 minutes from downtown Huntington and less than 8 minutes from the I-64 Eastbound Welcome Center. The Huntington Museum of Art is also less than 10 minutes away.
- Address: 536 Kinetic Dr, Huntington, WV 25701
High-End Options (Starting Above $120)
Delta Hotels by Marriott, Huntington Mall
Located in Barboursville, the hotel offers a serene village-like setting, with Huntington Mall a walkable distance away. Pullman Square is less than 15 miles away, while the Heritage Farm Museum and Villages is about 17 miles away.
In addition, the accommodation offers easy access to alternative dining locations and retail outlets.
- Address: 3551 US Route 60 E, Barboursville, WV 25504
- Amenities: fitness center, indoor pool, hot tub, meeting space, convenience store, onsite restaurant
2 Tips To Know When Visiting
- The Huntington-Ashland Metropolitan area is often referred to as the “Tri-State Area.” It covers 7 counties in Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia, with Huntington being its largest city. The acronym, KYOVA, is also often used to reference it.
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I-64 Eastbound Welcome Center provides meaningful information in the form of guides, maps, and brochures focusing on awesome things to do in West Virginia. It also has a rest area for one to recharge after a drive to Huntington.
- Mile Marker 10, Huntington, WV 2570
- The Joan C Edwards Stadium is within the grounds of Marshall University and was previously called the Marshall University Stadium. It frequently hosts sporting competitions, and fans can purchase tickets online to attend.
1 How To Spend The Perfect Day In Huntington, WV
Head to the Heritage Farm Museum and Village for a day of learning and appreciation of Appalachian heritage. Check out the Industry, Progress, and Country Store museums and the artifacts exhibited there to understand Huntington’s progress through the years.
Plan appropriately to ensure that the itinerary also includes adventure park activities like ziplining and the downhill biking trail experience. If in need of a less intensive outdoor experience, try the tree house trek. Take time to watch the squirrels and birds going about their business. Move a little further on to check out the pigs and bunnies.
Proceed to the Memorial Arch for some light exploration and photography. Towards the late afternoon, drive to Pullman Square and take time to explore the stores there and buy assorted merchandise.
If a little famished from the exploration, get a light meal at any of the restaurants onsite then hop into the movie theater for a nighttime cinematic experience. Afterward, head to the Double Tree by Hilton Huntington to spend the night.
FAQ
Q: What is special about Huntington, WV
The city is the second-largest in the state of West Virginia, and it is located on the banks of the Ohio River. It is part of the "Tri-State region" which spans 7 counties in Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia. The Huntington Tri-State Port on the Ohio River is one of the busiest inland ports in the US. The city also has numerous attractions ranging from parks and museums to recreational centers and nationally-acclaimed historic districts.
Its most notable attractions include Riverfront Park, Pullman Square, and Heritage Farm Museum and Village. Given its history in commerce and industry, Huntington is also home to some of the notable landmarks in West Virginia.
Q: What is Huntington, WV known for?
West Virginia's second-largest city is known for its historical contribution to progress in sectors like railway transportation, commerce, and coal mining. It is the largest city in the Huntington-Ashland-Ironton Metropolitan area, often referred to as the "Tri-State Area", and is on the banks of the Ohio River. It also has beautiful parks which provide more options for scenic foliage tours in West Virginia.
Q: Is Huntington, WV a big city?
The city of Huntington is the second-largest in West Virginia after Charleston. The 2020 Census put its population at about 47,000 people. Since the 2010 Census, the city is estimated to have lost about 40,000 people to emigration.