Washington Heritage Trail
A 136-mile loop through West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle from Charles Town to Harpers Ferry, Shepherdstown, Martinsburg and Berkeley Springs.
- Length136 miles[1]West Virginia's tourism office also lists 136 miles.
- Drive timeEight hours to enjoy the byway[1]FHWA's "time to allow"
- RoadsUS 340, SR 480, SR 9, SR 51, US 522 and several county roads[2]
- Start and endA loop that starts and ends in Charles Town[2]
- Fees and passesNo fee to drive the byway[1]Harpers Ferry National Historical Park charges an entrance fee.
- Best seasonApril and May, when trees blossom, and fall for color[4]
- SurfaceNot verified
- Vehicle notesNot verified
- Seasonal closuresNo planned seasonal closures, though some roads may close in flood years.[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 Washington Heritage Trail loops through Jefferson, Berkeley and Morgan counties in West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle. It starts and ends in Charles Town and reaches Harpers Ferry, Shepherdstown, Martinsburg, Hedgesville and Berkeley Springs.
The theme is George Washington and his family, whose homes still stand along the route. West Virginia's tourism office counts 40 historic and scenic sites, from 18th-century towns and Washington family homes to old industrial sites, springs and rivers.
FHWA suggests eight hours for the whole loop. The Morgan County segment, about 80 miles around Berkeley Springs and out to Paw Paw, makes a shorter day on its own.
Stops along the way
-
Gerrardstown
Small community on the way back to Charles Town.
Official information · 39.37039, -78.09556 · about 0.0 mi from the route line
-
Charles Town
Start and end of the loop.
Official information · 39.289, -77.85972 · about 0.0 mi from the route line
-
Shepherdstown
Old town on the Potomac, reached by County Road 230.
Official information · 39.43011, -77.80416 · about 0.1 mi from the route line
-
Martinsburg
Largest town on the loop.
Official information · 39.45622, -77.96389 · about 0.1 mi from the route line
-
Berkeley Springs
Spa town at the center of the Morgan County segment.
Official information · 39.62705, -78.22723 · about 0.0 mi from the route line
-
Harpers Ferry
Historic town at the end of US 340, home to a national historical park.
Official information · 39.32539, -77.73888 · about 0.4 mi from the route line
-
Paw Paw
Town at the far western end of the Morgan County segment.
Official information · 39.53205, -78.45835 · about 0.1 mi from the route line
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
- Charles Town Farmers MarketCharles Town, WV · about 0.0 mi from the route
- Berkeley Springs Farmers' MarketBerkeley Springs, WV · about 0.1 mi from the route
- Inwood Farmers MarketInwood, WV · about 0.1 mi from the route
- Mainstreet Martinsburg Farmers' MarketMartinsburg, WV · about 0.1 mi from the route
- Shepherdstown Farmers' MarketShepherdstown, WV · about 0.1 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
- Blue Ridge CenterChristmas tree · , VA · about 1.8 mi from the route
- Double 8 Alpaca RanchFarm store · Purcellville, VA · about 5.0 mi from the route
- Moose Apple Christmas Tree FarmChristmas tree · Berryville, VA · about 6.7 mi from the route
- Mackintosh Fruit FarmOrchard · Berryville, VA · about 8.0 mi from the route
- Second Spring FarmCsa · Purcellville, VA · about 8.5 mi from the route
- Chilly Hollow Christmas Tree FarmChristmas tree · Berryville, VA · about 9.3 mi from the route
13 farms in our directory are within about 25 miles; these are the closest. Farm stands and pick-your-own seasons vary, so check with the farm before you go.
In season during the best months to drive
The drive's best months are Apr, May, Oct. Typical U.S. seasons from our Fresh Market Guide; local harvests vary.
- PeasApr, May, Jun
- RhubarbApr, May, Jun
- CarrotsApr, May, Jun, Sep, Oct, Nov
- StrawberriesMar, Apr, May, Jun
Keep exploring
Scenic drives nearby
- Journey Through Hallowed Ground BywayMD, PA, VA · about 58 mi away
- Skyline DriveVA · about 71 mi away
- George Washington Memorial ParkwayVA · about 72 mi away
- Baltimore's Historic Charles StreetMD · about 80 mi away
- Staunton-Parkersburg TurnpikeWV
- Highland Scenic HighwayWV
More scenic drives in West Virginia
Food and farms in the area
Sources
- America's Byways: Washington Heritage Trail (FHWA) (checked 2026-10-29)
- Washington 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: Washington 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 2026-10-22.
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).