West Virginia's Route 2 Will Take You On A Great Backroad Adventure
By Rachel Whetstone|Published October 10, 2017
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Rachel Whetstone
Author
Rachel is proud to live in wild and wonderful West Virginia. She enjoys nature walks, photography, and discovering new restaurants all around the state.
Sometimes the best adventures can happen when you choose a road and follow it from beginning to end. One particular road full of hidden gems is West Virginia’s Route 2. This state route is even the subject of a poem, Driving Up the Ohio River on Route 2 in Late Fall, by Larry Smith. You can take your own poetic trip this fall. All you need is a car and a plan. Click here for an interactive map, or skip the plan and be surprised at where the road takes you.
The road runs parallel to the Ohio River from Huntington to Chester.
Point Pleasant became famous after several sightings of a strange giant moth-like creature, and it's worth a stop to see the Mothman statue and museum.
The town is remarkable as one of the few places in the US with train tracks that share a road with cars. Take a slight detour to 2nd street, and you might get the chance to see a train drive by. Read more about this fascinating town here.
The city was named for the nearby ancient Grave Creek Mound, constructed by indigenous people of the Adena culture around 250 to 100 BC. It was used as a burial place.
Also worth a visit in Moundsville is the West Virginia State Penitentiary.
This deadly prison was the site of many executions and murders, and some believe that it's still haunted. The prison no longer holds inmates, and now offers tours to the public.
Just after Moundsvillle, you'll come to the city of Wheeling.
Route 2 passes by some beautiful historic buildings, like the Riverside Iron Works Office Building. Built in the 1800s, it served as the headquarters for the local leading steel manufacturers.
