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Highest-rated free things to do in West Virginia by visitors

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valeriiaarnaud // Shutterstock
valeriiaarnaud // Shutterstock
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Being an American can be incredibly expensive. While workers in the United States have seen a 1,015% increase in wages over the past 50 years, those gains haven't caught up with the ever-growing cost of living, according to a 2025 report from Consumer Affairs. Between 1973 and 2023, the national consumer price index increased by 586%.

Although Americans have about 63% more purchasing power than 50 years ago, that quickly dissipates when factoring in the increased costs of housing and education. Housing costs have jumped about 1,045%, private college tuition has risen by 158%, and public college tuition has increased by 177%.

That imbalance has put a huge strain on the average American. In 2023, a record-high 42.9 million households were cost-burdened, according to an analysis of Census Bureau data by the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies.

It's no wonder that maintaining savings, paying down debts and mortgages, and regular expenses are taking precedence over vacations. But not everything that's enjoyable has to come at a high price. In fact, there's a roster of completely free things to do in West Virginia.

From touring landmarks and historical sites to getting out into nature, you can find all this and more without swiping your credit card or crossing state lines.

To help you find your next free activity, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated free things to do in West Virginia using data from Tripadvisor. Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, an activity with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of Aug. 18, 2025. Only locations that received at least 20 reviews were included.

Read on to start planning a weekend of free fun near you!

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#30. Highland Scenic Highway

Tripadvisor

1 / 30

#30. Highland Scenic Highway

- Rating: 4.7/5 (117 reviews)
- City: Marlinton Pocahontas County West
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#25. New Vrindaban Temple

Tripadvisor

6 / 30

#25. New Vrindaban Temple

- Rating: 4.4/5 (42 reviews)
- City: Moundsville West
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#24. Canyon Rim Visitor Center

Tripadvisor

7 / 30

#24. Canyon Rim Visitor Center

- Rating: 4.6/5 (183 reviews)
- City: Lansing West
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#23. Appalachian Trail Conservancy Headquarters

Tripadvisor

8 / 30

#23. Appalachian Trail Conservancy Headquarters

- Rating: 4.7/5 (231 reviews)
- City: Harpers Ferry West
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#10. Coopers Rock State Forest

Tripadvisor

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#10. Coopers Rock State Forest

- Rating: 4.7/5 (287 reviews)
- City: Bruceton Mills West
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#9. Dolly Sods Wilderness Area

Tripadvisor

22 / 30

#9. Dolly Sods Wilderness Area

- Rating: 4.5/5 (283 reviews)
- City: Elkins West
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#8. Hollywood Casino At Charles Town Races

Tripadvisor

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#8. Hollywood Casino At Charles Town Races

- Rating: 3.3/5 (1,358 reviews)
- City: Charles Town West
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#7. West Virginia State Museum

Tripadvisor

24 / 30

#7. West Virginia State Museum

- Rating: 4.8/5 (434 reviews)
- City: Charleston West
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#4. Seneca Rocks State Park

Tripadvisor

27 / 30

#4. Seneca Rocks State Park

- Rating: 4.7/5 (350 reviews)
- City: Seneca Rocks West
- Read more on Tripadvisor

#2. Blackwater Falls State Park

Tripadvisor

29 / 30

#2. Blackwater Falls State Park

- Rating: 4.7/5 (1,106 reviews)
- City: Davis West
- Read more on Tripadvisor

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