Looking for history, nature, and small-town charm? Head to Martinsburg! Located in the scenic Eastern Panhandle, Martinsburg is full of Civil War heritage, Appalachian beauty, and easy access to both Washington, D.C. and the Shenandoah Valley. Whether you're exploring historic railroads or hiking wooded trails, Martinsburg makes a great getaway with a relaxed pace.
Martinsburg, WV Highlights:
- For History Buffs: Explore the Martinsburg Roundhouse – Step into Civil War and industrial history at this preserved 19th-century railroad site.
- For Nature Lovers: Hike the trails at Poor House Farm Park – Discover peaceful woodland trails, fishing ponds, and scenic picnic areas.
- For Architecture Fans: Visit the Belle Boyd House – Learn about this famous Confederate spy and see one of the city's best-preserved homes.
- For Couples: Stroll through downtown Martinsburg – Enjoy historic architecture, antique shops, and cozy cafés on a laid-back walk.
- For Families: Play at War Memorial Park – A kid-friendly destination with playgrounds, mini-golf, and splash areas in the summer.
When I like to visit Martinsburg, WV
The best time to visit Martinsburg is in spring and fall (April–June and September–October). These seasons bring colorful scenery, comfortable weather, and local festivals. Summers are warm and lively, while winters offer quiet charm and occasional snow.
Tips for getting to Martinsburg, WV
- If you are traveling by car: Martinsburg is located along I-81, about 90 minutes from Washington, D.C., and 40 minutes from Hagerstown, MD.
- By Train: Amtrak and MARC (weekday commuter) trains serve Martinsburg Station via the Capitol Limited and Brunswick Line routes.
- By Plane: The nearest major airports are Dulles International (IAD) and Baltimore-Washington International (BWI), both around 1.5–2 hours away by car.
Where I like to stay in Martinsburg, WV
- Recommended for Families: Holiday Inn Martinsburg – Convenient, clean, and close to major roads with a pool and on-site restaurant.
- For Couples: The Carriage Inn B&B – Romantic, historic bed-and-breakfast with beautiful rooms and Southern hospitality.
- For Budget Travelers: Hampton Inn Martinsburg – Reliable comfort with free breakfast, easy access to downtown and I-81.
Best Things to Do in Martinsburg, WV
1. Martinsburg Roundhouse
Martinsburg Roundhouse preserves the historic B&O Roundhouse, the only cast-iron-framed railroading structure of its kind still standing today, which was constructed in 1866. The roundhouse, which is located along the banks of the charming Tuscarora Creek, was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 2003 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its cultural significance, including its role in the National Labor Strike of 1877, a response to wage cuts to Baltimore and Ohio Railroad employees. Though its surrounding shop buildings closed in the 1980s, the roundhouse continues to be open to the public today as a living history attraction, offering guided tours each Saturday during the morning and afternoon hours.
100 E Liberty St, Martinsburg, WV 25404, Phone: 304-260-4141
2. Belle Boyd House
Belle Boyd House preserves the historic childhood home of famed American Civil War spy Belle Boyd, who infamously supplied information to Stonewall Jackson about enemy activities during the course of the war. Boyd spent part of her childhood in the 1853 home, which was developed into a rental apartment building in the mid-20th century. In 1992, it was saved from demolition by the Martinsburg City Council and restored to its historic glory by the Berkeley County Historical Society. Today, it operates as the Berkeley County Museum, restored to the Victorian style it would have been decorated in in the late 19th century. Visitors can tour the historic home as part of guided or self-guided tours of the home, which showcases recreated rooms and exhibits on Berkeley County history.
Belle Boyd House, 126 E Race St, Martinsburg, WV 25401, 126 E Race St, Martinsburg, WV 25401
3. The Adam Stephen House
The Adam Stephen House is an historic home in Martinsburg that was originally constructed between 1772 and 1789 as the home of Revolutionary War General Adam Stephen. The shaped limestone home, which sits atop a prominent stone ledge overlooking the city, stands two and a half stories tall and features two stone and log outbuildings. Though it fell into near-ruin in the mid-20th century, it was restored to its historic glory in the 1960s by the General Adam Stephen Memorial Association and opened to the public as a living history museum. Unique features of the home include a natural cave located underneath its basement, which has been excavated and is open to the public for guided tours. Other attractions at the site include the Triple Brick House, a National Register of Historic Places-listed building from the 19th century that once served as a dining car kitchen for the B&O Railroad.
309-313 E John St, Martinsburg, WV 25401, Phone: 304-267-4434
Activities and Attractions for Couples and Singles:
4. The Apollo Civic Theatre
The Apollo Civic Theatre is a National Register of Historic Places-listed theater that was opened in 1914 as a silent film and vaudeville theater. The theater, which was designed by architects Reginald Geare and Chapman E. Kent, has been a focal point of the Martinsburg community's cultural scene for over a century, serving as a town cinema throughout the mid-2oth century before it fell into disrepair. During the 1970s, it was revived as a live theatrical performance venue, hosting area groups such as the Martinsburg Little Theater, which now owns and operates the facility as a playhouse today. Today, six live productions are mounted at the theater by the company each year, including musicals, comedies, and dramas. Children's theater performances are also showcased, along with talent shows, scholarship pageants, and seasonal film showings.
128 E Martin St, Martinsburg, WV 25401, Phone: 304-263-6766
5. Yankauer Nature Preserve
Yankauer Nature Preserve is a beautiful 104-acre nature preserve in Berkeley County, located just north of the city of Shepherdstown a short drive from Martinsburg. The preserve, which is overseen by the Potomac Valley Audubon Society and the Nature Conservancy, protects historic farmland overlooking the banks of the gorgeous Potomac River waterfront. Lovely forested areas are home to more than 100 bird species and nearly 200 types of native flora, including beautiful spring wildflowers that bloom in meadow areas. 2.4 miles of hiking trails are offered throughout the property for visitor use, marked with interpretive signs detailing area flora, fauna, and landscape traits. A bird watching station is also open to the public, along with several pollinator gardens and a spacious outdoor pavilion.
438 Whitings Neck Rd, Martinsburg, WV 25404, Phone: 681-252-1387
Where to Eat:
6. King's New York Pizza
King's New York Pizza is a delightful Italian restaurant chain operated the Colandrea family since 1998, offering six locations throughout West Virginia's Panhandle region, including a location in Martinsburg. The authentic Italian chain produces all of its ingredients from scratch onsite daily, including homemade pizza and spaghetti sauces, pizza and lasagna doughs, and rich creamy alfredo sauces. Lunch and dinner is served up six days a week at the Martinsburg location, showcasing traditional Italian fare, including Sicilian and New York-style pizzas in several sizes for sharing. Pizza favorites range from classics like margherita and meat lover's to specialties like Hawaiian, cheese steak, and chicken parmesan. Diners can also choose from a plethora of sub, stromboli, and calzone options, along with classic Italian dishes like veal parmigiana, lobster ravioli, and fettuccine alfredo.
King's New York Pizza, 313 Rock Cliff Dr, Martinsburg, WV 25401, Phone: 304-262-0155
7. Good Natured Collective
Good Natured Collective is a charming plant-based cafe serving up unique vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free fare throughout the week in its current space since 2010. The restaurant, which is helmed by Jacob Smith and India Watson, serves up eclectic small and large plates at lunch hours, including hearty sandwiches filled with unique toppings like coconut barbecue tofu, jackfruit mock tuna, and roasted butternut squash. Diners can choose from health-conscious bowls stuffed with ingredients like lentil sausages and portabella mushrooms, served up alongside starters like housemade hummus platters and nut burger sliders. An adjacent natural market sells supplements, health food products, bulk herbs, and organic wines.
209 S Raleigh St, Martinsburg, WV 25401, Phone: 304-262-9978
8. Brix 27
Brix 27 is a delightful restaurant and community gathering space in downtown Martinsburg, helmed by executive chef Christian Evans. The restaurant showcases gorgeous Old World ambiance and serves up a rotating list of more than 45 wines, available in a variety of tasting glass sizes dispensed by an automated wine system. Gourmet small plates are crafted for sharing, created with seasonal ingredients sourced by local farmers. Diners can choose from artisanal modern fare like mushroom truffle flatbreads, grilled portabella sliders, red wine-plumped figs, and rare duck breast in bourbon brown sugar onion jam. In addition to wines, a selection of premium spirits and local craft brews are also served. Next door, a streetside boutique wine shop sells takeout wine bottles, along with locally-sourced culinary goods and accessories.
131 N Queen St, Martinsburg, WV 25401, Phone: 304-616-1628
What to do if you are traveling with kids:
9. L. Norman Dillon Farm Museum
Serving as a living tribute to the courageous pioneer settlers who first farmed the Eastern Panhandle, the L. Norman Dillon Farm Museum is located on part of the original Dillon Farm. Here visitors will find a comprehensive collection of beautifully restored vintage farm tools, carriages, buggies, tractors, freight wagons and much more. Part of the collection is housed in indoors while the larger items like harvesters, shredders and other bulky equipment is exhibited outdoors. Besides admiring all the exhibits, visitors can also watch live demonstrations in the blacksmith’s shop. The museum is open to the public on Sundays from April to October and entrance is always free.
L. Norman Dillon Farm Museum, 3083 Ridge Rd S, Martinsburg, WV 25403, 304 754 3845
10. Logan's Roadhouse
Logan's Roadhouse is one of America's favorite steakhouse chains, offering more than 100 locations today throughout the nation, including a location in downtown Martinsburg. The restaurant, which was founded in Kentucky in 1991 by restaurateurs Charles McWhorter and Dave Wachtel, serves up mesquite-grilled-fired steak and seafood entrees in a laid-back, traditionally American dining environment. Diners can select from renowned signature entree offerings like St. Louis-style spare ribs in bourbon barbecue sauce, filet and shrimp combo platters, chili-lime wood-grilled salmon, and Southern fried fish in cornmeal breading with tartar sauce. Create-your-own grill combos are also served up, along with a selection of hearty burgers and sandwiches. Shareables range from buffalo hot wings and overloaded sweet potato fries to the restaurant's signature Bacon On A Stick appetizer, which smokes half a pound of bacon in brown sugar glaze for 12 hours.
115 Retail Commons Pkwy, Martinsburg, WV 25403, Phone: 304-264-1500
My favorite local events:
- For History Buffs: Civil War Heritage Festival (July) – Reenactments, music, and family-friendly education in downtown Martinsburg.
- For Fall Fun: Apple Harvest Festival (October) – Nearby in Berkeley County, with crafts, apple treats, and agricultural displays.
- For Community Spirit: Fridays@Five Summer Concerts (June–August) – Live outdoor music, food trucks, and fun on Friday evenings at War Memorial Park.
Day Trip Itineraries Within 30 Minutes of Martinsburg, WV:
- For History Fans: Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (25–30 min) – Visit John Brown’s Fort, Civil War ruins, and dramatic river views.
- For Wine Lovers: Bunker Hill Vineyard & Winery (20 min) – Sample local wines in a relaxing countryside setting.
- For Outdoor Enthusiasts: Sleepy Creek Wildlife Management Area (25–30 min) – Hike, fish, or birdwatch in a vast natural preserve.
- For a Small-Town Stroll: Shepherdstown, WV (30 min) – Quaint college town with unique boutiques, cafes, and historic charm.
- For Scenic Views: Yankauer Nature Preserve (20–25 min) – Walk peaceful trails through native forests and overlook the Potomac River.
Plan Your Trip