Appalachian border city with coal-and-railroad bones and a cool mountain climate above southern West Virginia.
Bluefield sits in the Appalachian mountains right on the West Virginia–Virginia border, with a twin city of the same name on the Virginia side. Once a prosperous coal and railroad town, it has the handsome brick downtown of a place that was once considerably richer than it is today.
The town calls itself "Nature's Air-Conditioned City" — at 2,600 feet elevation, summers are cool by southern standards, and when the temperature does reach 90 degrees Fahrenheit, the Chamber of Commerce hands out free lemonade on Bland Street. It is the kind of small, specific tradition that makes Appalachian towns worth visiting.
Bluefield is a logical stop on a drive through the southern West Virginia coalfields, and the East River Mountain views from town are striking. The Appalachian Trail crosses nearby, and Pipestem Resort State Park is about an hour north.
Guide
Getting There
Bluefield sits on US-52 and US-460 in the far south of West Virginia, right on the Virginia state line. From Interstate 77 take exit 1; from I-64 the easiest approach is south on US-460 from Princeton, about 15 minutes. Charleston is two hours north, Roanoke (Virginia) about 90 minutes east.
Mercer County Airport (BLF), three miles north-east of town, has limited commercial service — currently a single daily Contour flight to Charlotte. The nearest larger airport is Roanoke–Blacksburg (ROA), about 100 miles east. There is no Amtrak service to Bluefield; the nearest station is Prince, WV, on the New River, an hour and a half north on the Cardinal line.
Guide
When to Go
Bluefield's marketing slogan — "Nature's Air-Conditioned City" — is genuine. At 2,600 feet elevation, summer highs typically sit in the mid-20s Celsius (mid-70s Fahrenheit) when the surrounding lowlands are in the mid-30s. June through September is the obvious window, and you might even get one of the rare 90°F days when the Chamber serves free lemonade downtown.
October is the most beautiful month: the surrounding ridges turn orange and red, the weather is crisp, and you can drive the Coal Heritage Trail or hike Pinnacle Rock in perfect conditions. Winter brings genuine snow — sometimes a foot or more — and the mountain roads east into Virginia can be tricky.
