Travel and Contact Information
for the West Virginia Trip

Detailed Directions and Map

This drive should take about 9 hours. Most of it is 4-lane or interstate driving, although the last hour or so is a narrow, winding 2-lane state highway. Dangerous areas along the route include Charlotte, NC, and WV Highway 39. Charlotte is extremely busy and I-77 has been undergoing construction for years. WV 39 is heavily used by coal and logging trucks.

1. Take 501 from Conway, then 76 and 301 to Florence. In Florence, get on I-20 West toward Columbia. You can by-pass downtown Florence by taking a right on 327 up to I-95, then going south on I-95 to I-20 West. (Approximate driving time 2-2½ hours)

2. Take I-20 almost into Columbia and take the I-77 North exit.

3. Stay on I-77 North all the way through South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and into West Virginia. Drive carefully through Charlotte! This is the longest leg of the trip. In Virginia you’ll pass through two tunnels. The second tunnel goes through East River Mountain, which is the border between Virginia and West Virginia. (Approximate driving time 4½ hours)

Once you get into West Virginia, dig around in your wallet for $1.00 and 2 quarters. From Princeton northward you’ll be on the West Virginia Turnpike, which is a toll road. You’ll go through one toll booth and pay $1.25, then later when you get off onto US Route 19, you’ll go through another toll booth and pay 25¢. (The return trip will cost you the same.)

4. On I-77, drive until you get to Beckley, WV. Start looking for the North Beckley exit (US Route 19). Take that exit, throw your quarter into the automated toll collection bin, and make sure you take US 19 North toward Summersville. (Approximate driving time 1 hour)

Once on US 19 North, watch your speed! The speed limit is 55, and the route is patrolled regularly by unmarked state police cars. Try to ignore the people from Pennsylvania who drive 65 and 70.

5. Take US 19 all the way to Summersville, and look for its intersection with WV 39. (Approximate driving time 40 minutes)

6. Turn right on WV 39 towards Richwood. Be careful on this road, as it is narrow, very winding, and heavily used by large, fast-moving trucks. You’ll cross Summersville Lake, go over a big hill, down into a valley, then over another big hill, and end up crossing a bridge to a T-intersection. Welcome to Fenwick, West Virginia. (Approximate driving time 30 minutes)

7. Turn right at Fenwick and drive 3-4 miles into Richwood. Watch your speed on this stretch. This is an economically depressed area, and the local police need all the money they can get.

In Richwood there is one major grocery store. To get to it, go to the one and only stoplight, and turn right. Go down the hill until you see a big shopping center on the left. It’s called Donaldson’s (or at least it used to be.)

8. In Richwood, go through the only stoplight, and go past the the Georgia-Pacific sawmill (on the right), and bear left at the Exxon Station. Stay on 39.

9. After leaving Richwood, you’ve only got 25 miles to go! Stay on 39 towards Mill Point and Marlinton. After about 20 miles, you’ll start climbing Kennison Mountain and top out at about 3900 feet elevation. Go over the top, down the hill for a couple of miles, and start watching for a small sign to Cranberry Glades Botanical Area. This road will cut back to the left.

10. Turn left on the Glades road. Drive until you cross an open valley (Charles Creek), go up the hill just a little ways, and you’ll see a sign for "Thomas Reserve Trail" on the right. Park on the shoulder somewhere. We’ll be camping back in the trees on the right as you walk out the trail.