Beckley

Beckley is a city of 17, 256 (as of 2020) in West Virginia, and is the county seat of Raleigh County pop. 74, 591 (2020). It sits on a high plateau above the New River Gorge at an elevation of 2,418 feet. It was founded in 1838 and named for John J Beckley, the first Clerk of the House of Representatives and the first Librarian of Congress.

Once a major coal industry hub, Beckley contains a small historic downtown and many suburban neighborhoods. The Beckley area serves as the overall regional commercial center for Southern West Virginia region, and has many big box stores and chain restaurants, in contrast to the small-town nature of its surrounding communities. Beckley sits as the closest town to the Grandview portion of New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, and has easy access within 40 minutes to the park's 2 other visitor centers near Fayetteville and Hinton.

By car
Beckley is situated along I-77 and I-64. Both enter the Beckley area from the northwest twinned on the West Virginia Turnpike from Charleston. From Charleston, I-64 heads west towards Huntington and I-77 heads northwest towards Parkersburg. Leaving Beckley to the east, the highways split: I-64 continues to Virginia Beach, Virginia in the east, while I-77 heads south, continuing as the West Virginia Turnpike towards Charlotte, North Carolina.

By bus

 * Greyhound, 105 3rd Avenue, +1 304-253-8333. Open 7AM to 5:30PM Monday to Saturday; and 7AM to 10AM, and 2PM to 5PM on Sunday.

By train

 * Amtrak, WV-41 N by Depot Road in Prince (about 30 minutes northeast), +1 304-253-6651. Open 9:30AM to 9:30PM Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

Get around

 * New River Transit Authority, 360 Prince St, +1 304-894-8917. Local bus service.

See



 * New River Gorge National Park and Preserve Grandview Visitors Center offers a view of the deepest part of the New River Gorge, and several hiking trails.


 * Uptown Beckley includes the brick-paved Main Street with shops, galleries, eateries and the courthouse. The area is undergoing revitalization and features events throughout the year, including a chili night when visitors can sample the entries in a chili-judging contest.
 * Beckley is the northern terminus of the Coal Heritage Trail, a 97-mile scenic drive that passes mine-owners' mansions, miners' homes, company stores, coal tipples and state parks, before ending in Bluefield.
 * Beckley is the northern terminus of the Coal Heritage Trail, a 97-mile scenic drive that passes mine-owners' mansions, miners' homes, company stores, coal tipples and state parks, before ending in Bluefield.

Buy




Cope

 * The local newspaper is the Register-Herald, +1 304-255-4400 or +1-800-950-0250,.

Go next

 * New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
 * Fayetteville is about 30 minutes northeast on US-19.
 * Mullens is 30 minutes southwest on WV-121
 * Hinton is 40 minutes away
 * Charleston is about 1 hour northwest on I-64 / I-77. State capital
 * Lewisburg is about 1 hour east on I-64.
 * Bluefield is about 1 hour south on I-77.
 * Summersville is about 1 hour north on US-19
 * Welch is about 1 hour southwest
 * Gilbert is 1.5 hours west
 * Huntington is about 2 hours west on I-64
 * Morgantown is about 3 hours north.