The Ultimate 3 Day West Virginia Itinerary
We’re sharing the ultimate adventure, foodie, and outdoor West Virginia itinerary that has a bit of something, for every level of thrill-seeker! This is the perfect 2 night - 3 day getaway rundown of the best places to stay, eat, and things to do for your Hatfield-McCoy Trails experience.
So, what IS The Hatfield-McCoy Trails System?! Here’s a quick synopsis from their website, “The Hatfield-McCoy Trails System is specifically designed to accommodate all levels of riders from novices to pros. Our elite team has worked hard to create an exciting and safe adventure for everyone. It is important to note that the trail system covers hundreds of miles throughout Southern West Virginia so remember, there is often some serious distance between the trails. For your convenience we have posted the descriptions, directions, trail connectors, and maps below.
Each system has its own personality. And while some systems are more scenic than others or extreme for others EACH SYSTEM has plenty of scenic views as well as rugged black trail terrain for those who desire more challenge in their riding experience.“
This itinerary makes for THE perfect weekend getaway and 3 day adventure in Southern WV.
DAY 1:
Check into your “home away from home” at Chief Logan Lodge . With 75 updated and comfortable rooms, a full-service restaurant, gift shop, indoor pool and hot tub, fitness center, WiFi, laundry, pet-friendly, walking tracks, and being minutes from the main attractions in the area, this is a perfect spot to rest your head and recharge after all the adventures over the next couple days.
Grab lunch at Trailhead Bar & Grill , this is a local neighborhood spot where you can cruise over and park your ATV/UTV right outside while trying some of their favorites like the Bison Burger, Sweet Potato Fries with caramel sauce, or a refreshing glass of lemonade.
While in Matewan, WV the Hatfield McCoy Airboat Tour is a MUST! Keith, our tour guide, was not only such a fun guide, but we learned so much history as we cruised along the Tug River. Neither of us had ever had an experience quite like this and I can tell you we’re already itching to go on an Airboat Tour again. It was such a thrill, but a surprisingly smooth ride! So much of the infamous family feud happened along the Tug River and you’ll see many of these historical sites as you take your tour.
End your night with dinner at Chirico’s Ristorante and don’t forget to save room for dessert with their iconic Butter Brickle.
DAY 2:
Start your day at Nu-Era Bakery, a staple in Logan, WV since 1940 serving up authentic Italian pastry recipes featuring an array of items, to include potato candy. You read that correctly, potato candy. Historically this was made with real potatoes, but now it’s been turned into a recipe showcasing powdered sugar, butter, and peanut butter. Nu-Era is best known though for its Pepperoni Roll. Pepperoni Rolls are a soft bread roll with pepperoni in the middle. This recipe rose to fame in the coal mining areas of WV from Italian immigrant families as a solution to a delicious food item that could be easily kept warm and eaten underground.
Next, it’s time to take on the epic adventure of The Hatfield-McCoy Trails and take your own ATV/UTV, rent one, or take a tour! We decided to do a UTV tour and do the Rockhouse Trail. This adventure led us to beautiful waterfalls, old coal mining sites, breathtaking overlooks, the town of Man, and wild switchbacks. Along your trail and route, there will likely be a variety of places you can cruise through. Learn some history, visit ATV friendly businesses and restaurants, and have an unforgettable trail experience! *Pro-tip, bring a change of clothes in case of rain
After a few hours on the trail, you’ll absolutely work up an appetite. Check out The Broken Axle located right off the Hatfield-McCoy Trails and right in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains. This spot has a bit of it all, live music, indoor/outdoor seating, axe throwing, pool tables, and incredible eats (with lots of allergy-friendly options too). You have to try the Potato Board for a fun sample of all things goodness and all things potatoes.
Right next door is Red Bird Cafe , a super cute and fun spot to grab ice cream, coffee, or even an affogato.
Moonshine is something this region and the Hatfield-McCoy family are historically known for. Doing a tasting at The Hatfield & McCoy Moonshine Distillery is definitely worth a stop, with the 150-year old moonshine family recipe passed down from “Devil Anse”, you can sample this handcrafted in small batches, authentic moonshine. We got a bottle of the “The Devil’s Pride” to take home as a gift! On the weekends, they even have a kitchen and other fun happenings.
You’ll want to be sure to visit the Hatfield Homeplace Museum for a one-of-a-kind educational and immersive experience. It’s less than a mile from the National Landmarked, Hatfield Cemetery. We actually met a direct descendent of Devil Anse while we visited and got to learn so much, in addition to seeing authentic artifacts, photographs, etc. There’s also a gift shop with local, artisan finds you can take home, a food truck, and if you walk over to the pole near the front of the property, you can still see some of the bullet holes from one of the attacks.
End your evening at 317 The Steakhouse , here you’ll find a bit of everything from filets, ribeyes, and NY Strips, to pasta dishes, vegetarian options, and an extensive wine list. We made sure to save room for dessert too and ordered their cheesecake, which we’d 10/10 recommend.
DAY 3:
You can’t be in West Virginia and NOT visit Tudor’s Biscuit World. This is a WV staple, and just about every local told us to make sure to visit here. They have locations all over, we went to the one in West Logan before visiting the State Park. There’s a reason Tudor’s slogan is “Start your day, the homemade way”, you can taste the freshness, and the prices are unbeatable.
Explore Chief Logan State Park which is a 4,000+ acres haven with a Museum in the Park, lodging, hiking trails, camping, fishing, and even a wildlife education center! We took our time on one of the trails and then visited the Wildlife Center where we got to see a handful of different animals up close. If you arrive right at noon, this is when they typically feed the wildlife and you can watch that in action, while learning about the different animals they’re rehabilitating. We learned so much here, got to see a bear, owls, a boar, and bobcats, the cost is $2/adult and $1'/child.
Your last stop on the itinerary is going to be visiting Parkway Drive-In after leaving the State Park. You can order directly from your car in the parking lot or dine in. This is a local foodie hole-in-the-wall spot featuring rotating specials, hot dogs, loaded fries, and ice cream.
Be sure to watch for weather alerts depending on the time of year you’re visiting the area regarding some of these activities.
Southern West Virginia has so much to offer and is in no shortage of unique finds, local gems, and adrenaline-pumping adventures!
Ready to start planning your own Almost Heaven getaway? Head to wvtourism.com or trailsheaven.com!