Coal Heritage Trail
US 52 and Route 16 through southern West Virginia's coalfields, from Bluefield through Welch to Beckley, past company towns and tipples.
Photo: U.S. Department of Transportation, America's Byways collection (National Archives), Public domain, source
- Length97.56 miles[1]West Virginia's tourism office lists 98 miles.
- Drive timeAbout three hours[1]FHWA's "time to allow"
- RoadsUS 52 and Route 16[3]FHWA's directions also name US 52 and SR 16.
- Start and endThe Virginia line near Bluefield north to Beckley, at the junction of SR 16 and I-77[2]West Virginia's tourism office describes the trail continuing on Route 16 toward Ansted.
- Fees and passesNo fees to drive the byway[1]
- Best seasonAny time of year[4]
- SurfaceNot verified
- Vehicle notesNarrow road with many curves; slower speeds are recommended, and large coal trucks use the road in places.[4]
- Seasonal closuresNo seasonal access limits; allow extra time in bad weather.[4]
Before you go
Road status and weather can change quickly. Check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Facts last checked against the sources on October 29, 2026.
About the drive
The Coal Heritage Trail follows US 52 north from Bluefield to Welch, then Route 16 through the mountains to Beckley and on toward Ansted. It runs through the National Coal Heritage Area in southern West Virginia.
The drive is about the history of coal mining. Along the corridor are coal company towns, tipples, railroad structures and reclaimed mine land, the remains of the industry that powered much of the country.
FHWA suggests about three hours to drive it. The roads wind through narrow valleys, so give yourself time to stop in the towns.
Stops along the way
-
Bluefield
Southern start of the trail on Route 52.
-
Welch
Coalfield town where the route turns onto Route 16.
-
Beckley
City where FHWA's route ends, at SR 16 and I-77.
-
Ansted
Town at the northern reach of Route 16 on the trail.
Stops are listed in order along the route; the numbers match the map. Stop locations come from the National Park Service, the U.S. Geological Survey place-names database, the stop's own official page or, where noted in the data, OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors).
Food along the way
Farmers markets within about 25 miles
- Fayette County Farmers' MarketFayetteville, WV · about 0.0 mi from the route
- Beckley Uptown Farmers' MarketBeckley, WV · about 0.0 mi from the route
- Kimball Farmers' MarketKimball, WV · about 0.0 mi from the route
- Crook Brothers MarketBeckley, WV · about 0.1 mi from the route
- Farm to Table Market at Greenbrier NurseriesBeckley, WV · about 0.2 mi from the route
Markets keep their own seasons and hours, so check with the market before you go. Find more in the Farmers Market Finder.
Farms along the way
- Bob Pond Blueberry FarmBerry · Rich Creek, VA · about 23.3 mi from the nearest stop
Farm stands and pick-your-own seasons vary, so check with the farm before you go.
Food events nearby
- West Virginia Coffee FestivalApr 17, 2027 · Charleston, WV · about 32.4 mi from the nearest stop
- State Fair of West VirginiaAug 12-21, 2027 · Lewisburg, WV · about 41.3 mi from the nearest stop
Dated public events within about 50 miles, during the drive's best months, from our events calendar. Dates can change; confirm with the organizer.
In season during the best months to drive
The drive's best months are Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec. Typical U.S. seasons from our Fresh Market Guide; local harvests vary.
- Acorn squashSep, Oct, Nov
- AlmondsAug, Sep, Oct
- ApplesAug, Sep, Oct, Nov
- ApricotsMay, Jun, Jul
Keep exploring
Scenic drives nearby
- Midland TrailWV · about 31 mi away
- Highland Scenic HighwayWV · about 66 mi away
- Country Music HighwayKY · about 74 mi away
- Blue Ridge ParkwayNC, VA · about 86 mi away
- Staunton-Parkersburg TurnpikeWV · about 96 mi away
- Historic National RoadMD, PA, WV, OH, IN, IL
More scenic drives in West Virginia
Food and farms in the area
Sources
- America's Byways: Coal Heritage Trail (FHWA) (checked 2026-10-29)
- Coal Heritage Trail: driving directions (FHWA, archived copy of November 2022) (checked 2026-10-29)
- Scenic Drives through Almost Heaven (West Virginia Department of Tourism) (checked 2026-10-29)
- America's Byways: Coal Heritage Trail, visitor services (FHWA byways.org, archived copy) (checked 2026-10-29)
- Route line: U.S. DOT scenic byways map service (geo.dot.gov), retrieved 2026-10-29.
Written by VanillaGoods from the cited official sources. This is a drive to know, not a ranking. Road status and weather can change quickly; check the official road-conditions link before you go.
Spot something out of date? Email help@vanillagoods.com (help@vanillagoods.com).