18 Best Things To Do In Morgantown, West Virginia

Morgantown is a city with a small-town feel and plenty of outdoor attractions to wow a weekend visitor. Located in northern West Virginia near the Pennsylvania border, it is chock full of sights and attractions worth a trip for solo travelers, couples, and families.

Morgantown is where West Virginia University makes its home, and there are also a host of parks, museums, and gardens that entertain guests throughout the year, making Morgantown a viable destination throughout the seasons. From rivers, arboretums, and theaters to restaurants and breweries, you’ll be spoiled for choice on a trip to Morgantown.

Come in the fall for a football game or to enjoy the autumn foliage. Read on to discover some of our favorite things to do on a trip to Morgantown, as well as a few top tips to help you make the most of your getaway. 

Explore The City

Make A Stop At West Virginia University

Morgantown is a college town, and West Virginia University is a strong draw for students and visiting families. It also has arts, a sculpture garden, and sports teams that play throughout the year. The university keeps the area vibrant and humming with activity, arts, culture, and sports events that the public can enjoy too.

wvu.edu

Spend A Morning At WVU Art Museum

This on-campus museum has 4,000 paintings, prints, ceramics, and more. It offers school, community, and virtual tours. Admission is free, but the museum hours are based on when the university is in session and may be closed on holiday or summer breaks.

artmuseum.wvu.edu, 20 Fine Arts Dr., Morgantown, WV 26505

Shop Downtown

Downtown Morgantown has a host of restaurants and shops that will help you fill your trip with delicious food and plenty of browsing opportunities. Located between Cheat Lake and the Monongahela River, Morgantown proper is home to popular shops like Appalachian Gallery, Hoot and Howl, and River Fair Trade. 

wvcraft.com, 270 Walnut St., Morgantown, WV 26505

shophootandhowl.com, 245 Walnut St., Morgantown, WV 26505

riverfairtrade.com, 316 High St., Morgantown, WV 26505

See A Show At The Metropolitan Theatre

Morgantown is home to a historic theater, the Metropolitan Theatre, which was built in 1924 and is still running today. It plays host to performing arts events including local theatrical productions and visiting comedians as well as bands playing concerts across the spectrum of genres. 

morgantownmet.com, 373 High St., Morgantown, WV 26505

Taste Something Sweet Along the West Virginia Honey Trail

According to Visit Mountaineer County, the West Virginia Honey Trail "is all about celebrating the wonders of local honey and the incredible pollinators that make it all possible.”

On the trail, you can learn all about bees and West Virginia honey and pop into plenty of local local businesses. There are several stops along the trail in and around Morgantown, including state parks and Baker Cheese Company, where you can order grazing boxes for events or take classes to learn how to style charcuterie boards.

bakercheesecompany.com, 1195 Pineview Dr. Ste. 102, Morgantown, WV 26505

Get Out In Nature

Walk The WVU Core Arboretum

Located on the Monongahela River, West Virginia University’s Core Arboretum is a destination for natural wonders. It is an old-growth forest with biological interest, and it also has blooming wildflowers beneath the canopy in springtime. According to WVU, the arboretum “is located on a 91-acre tract of hillside and bottomland near the WVU Coliseum, between Monongahela Boulevard and the Monongahela River.” Its walking trails are particularly beautiful in autumn.  

arboretum.wvu.edu, Monongahela Boulevard, Morgantown, WV 26505

Take A Zipline Canopy Tour

West Virginia University’s Adventure WV Outdoor Education Center is beloved by university students, but the public is also invited to participate in the high-flying fun they offer. The WVU Zip-Line Canopy Tour takes you to the local tree canopy for tours and adventure. According to WVU, the center "is a multi-faceted facility dedicated to providing quality educational and aerial adventure activities.” It’s open to groups and individuals looking for fun in the outdoors. The center is located conveniently to Coopers Rock State Forest, overlooks, and photo ops.

adventurewv.wvu.edu, 1397 Chestnut Ridge Rd., Bruce Mills, WV 26525

Have A Day At Cheat Lake

Located just outside Morgantown, Cheat Lake is one of the area’s biggest draws for outdoor recreation and fun in the sun. In addition to swimming, paddleboarding, and boating, visitors can embark on picnics and hikes at Cheat Lake Park and Trail. Fishing has also become a very popular activity on Cheat Lake. More than 40 species of fish make their home there, including largemouth and smallmouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch, and channel catfish. Visitors will find opportunities for hiking along Raven Rock Trail, a moderately challenging hike in Coopers Rock State Forest, which is located near Cheat Lake.

cheatlake.com, 177 Sunset Beach Rd., Morgantown, WV 26508

Hike Coopers Rock State Forest

Just 13 miles out of town, this state park has 50 miles of trails, a lake for fishing, two campgrounds, skiing opportunities, and more. Named for its sandstone cliffs, the park " boasts some of the most iconic views in Almost Heaven."

wvstateparks.com, 61 County Line Dr., Bruceton Mills, WV 26525

Explore The Monongahela River Trails

The Monongahela River winds through Morgantown, and there are several trails both on land and on the water that you can traverse to see the sights. The North Trail, for example, is a “six mile trail [that] follows along the Monongahela River from Star City to the Pennsylvania state line,” according to Visit Mountaineer County. The Upper Mon Water Trail, on the other hand, travels along the 128-mile river, which “is a series of locks and dams that make up one of the nation’s oldest continuously operating slackwater river navigation systems."

montrails.org

Stroll Around West Virginia Botanic Garden

If you’re looking for beautifully landscaped spaces and blooming flowers, visit the West Virginia Botanic Garden, which is located between Morgantown and Cheat Lake. Developed from the former Tibbs Run Reservoir, the 85-acre site has trails, a wetland boardwalk, and ponds. Trails are interconnected for folks to decide how much they'd like to walk. There are also eight gardens for lingering and taking in the splendor of nature. 

www.wvbg.org, 1061 Tyrone Rd., Morgantown, WV, 26508

Enjoy The Food Scene

Get Dinner At A Cool Local Spot

Morgantown has a strong showing of great restaurants, including Flour and Feed, which serves dinner on the weekends and also hosts performances and events. There’s also Anvil + Ax, Hotel Morgan's coffee shop that turns into a cocktail bar and offers light fare in the evenings. Don’t miss Table 9, for gastropub fare on the river.

flourandfeedevents.com, 156 Clay St. Morgantown, WV 26501

anvilandax.com, 127 High St., Morgantown, WV 26505

facebook.com, 40 Donley St., Morgantown, WV 26501

Try Something Memorable

If you’re in the mood for a steak, you can’t go wrong with Bartini Prime. If you’d like a memorable meal, try Chaang Thai for the best Thai food in town.

bartiniwv.com, 350 Suncrest Towne Centre Dr., Morgantown, WV 26505

facebook.com, 361 High St., Morgantown, WV 26505

Grab A Quick Lunch

If you're around for lunch, there are plenty of spots to try: Beehive Cafe has 1950s-style boxed lunches. Or, go to Black Bear Burritos, a great stop for a quick and tasty meal.

beehiveboxlunch.com, 889 Mylan Park Ln., Morgantown, WV 26501

blackbearburritos.com, 3119 University Ave. Morgantown, WV 26505

Embrace Sweet And Savory

You can order a full griddle breakfast or apple-glazed chicken Apple Annie’s Restaurant and Bakery, but you absolutely must save room for dessert. The spot offers 10 different pie flavors, along with cakes, cannolis, cookies, and more. For breakfast, there are doughnuts, cinnamon rolls, and more. You can also stop by Terra Cafe for fresh, scratch-made offerings, treats from the bakery, and Sunday brunch.

apple-annies.com, 6120 Mid Atlantic Dr., Morgantown, WV 26508

terracafewv.com, 425 Industrial Ave. Morgantown, WV 26505

Grab A Cup Of Joe

West Virginia has great coffee, and Morgantown’s coffee shops and cafes have all the caffeine you need to keep you going. Mountaineer Roasting Co. is one of the area’s best–and favorite-morning destinations. There’s also Quantum Bean Coffee, as well as Almost Heaven Desserts and Coffee Shop, where you can get a cup of joe as well as something sweet for the road. 

mountaineerroasting.com, 1053 Maple Dr. Ste. 102, Morgantown, WV 26505

quantumbean.com, 258 Kingwood St., Morgantown, WV 26501

almostheavendesserts.com, 27 Cheat Landing, Morgantown, WV 26508

Sip A Local Brew

Visit A Microbrewery

The local breweries are developing strong reputations in the area, and it wouldn’t be a visit to the Mountain State without a taste of a local brew. Mountain State Brewing Company is known as one of the oldest distributing microbreweries and tap rooms in the state, and its offerings include a full menu of food as well as four flagship brews and a selection of seasonal beers.

mountainstatebrewing.com, 54 Clay St., Morgantown, WV 26501

Sample Local Flavors

Mountaineer Tap House and Chestnut Brew Hall can also give you a taste of regional flavor in a variety of beers, including pale ales, pilsners, and porters.

mountaineerstaphouse.com, 453 Oakland St., Morgantown, WV 26505

facebook.com, 132 Pleasant St., Morgantown, WV 26505

Where To Stay

Relive The Roaring ’20s At Hotel Morgan

If you have too good a time sipping cocktails Anvil + Ax, head upstairs to a room at Hotel Morgan. First opened in 1925 and renovated in 1999 and in the 2020s, the historic hotel has hosted dignitaries like Eleanor Roosevelt and Harry Truman as well as many college students and their families over the years.

hotelmorgan.com, 127 High St., Morgantown, WV 26505

Stay Near The University At Scholar Morgantown 

The best thing about this pet-friendly downtown Hilton-branded hotel is how walkable it is. WVU's campus is just a five-minute walk away, the Metropolitan Theatre is a block away, and there are plenty of restaurants within a few blocks, as is the river. 

hilton.com, 345 Chestnut St., Morgantown, WV 26505