Travel
Travel Note
Lodging
- Since our guest list is fairly small, we decided not to book a block of rooms. We recommend staying in a rental home (Airbnb or Vrbo) over the hotels in the area. - The wedding and many of our events will take place around Fayetteville, so we suggest checking Fayetteville first for lodging options, and using Beckley as a backup. You may also want to check out cabins and lodging from Ace Adventures (they have a waterpark and lots to do), or Adventures on the Gorge (they have a pool, and lots of outdoor activities as well). - The sooner you book, the better - the New River Gorge, along with Summersville Lake, get really busy in the summer months, and accommodations will get booked up faster than you'd expect. - Wherever you're staying, take note of how far it is from the highway. Unless you'll be driving a truck or SUV, you wouldn't want your Airbnb to be out in the boonies on a bumpy, curvy dirt backroad. Make sure to ask your host about road conditions. - Please be sure to read reviews for your lodging - if you need help deciding where to stay, be sure to contact Sophie & Kyle at 858-284-9050. We would be happy to help!
Travel Note
Staying in Fayetteville
Our wedding venue (The Gaines Estate) is right by downtown Fayetteville, along with some cute local restaurants, cafés, shops, and home rentals. Named one of the "coolest small towns in the United States," Fayetteville is known for its outdoor activities, history, and small-town charm. It's only about a 5 minute drive to the New River Gorge visitor's center. Conveniently, there is also a shopping center about a 7 minute drive away that has a Walmart, along with a gas station, and several fast food joints.
Travel Note
Staying in Beckley
Beckley is a larger town with many of the usual amenities, such as fast food and restaurant chains, grocery stores and convenience stores, etc. It's about a 30 minute drive (and $0.75 in toll fees) from Beckley to Fayetteville. There may be cheaper hotel options in Beckley than Fayetteville, but keep in mind that if you stay in Beckley, you may be paying more in gas, and you'll be farther from the wedding weekend events. Like every larger town, some parts can be a little sketchy depending on where you're at - make sure you read the reviews for your accommodations. *There are several hotels on Harper Road (an area close to the 64/77 highway) that would make good options, but we DO NOT recommend the Travelodge, or the Howard Johnson by Wyndham.
Flight
Fly into Charleston, West Virginia
West Virginia International Yeager Airport (CRW) 100 Airport Rd #175, Charleston, WV 25311 *** Make sure to fly into Charleston, West Virginia - NOT Charleston, South Carolina! (Yes, people have made this mistake before...) Be prepared for a connecting flight, and a pretty small plane on the way into Charleston. The Charleston Yeager airport is about an hour and ten minutes from both Fayetteville and Beckley. Remember to bring some cash - it's about $8.50 in toll fees. We DO NOT suggest trying to avoid the toll road from Charleston - the only way is a curvy backroad that will end up taking much longer than the highway, and you might get lost. There is another airport that's slightly closer to us, called Raleigh County Memorial Airport (BKW) - but it's very small, the tickets are more expensive, and it's mostly for private planes.
Travel Note
Car Rental
If you're flying into the Charleston Yeager Airport (CRW), it would be easiest to rent a car from the airport. Keep in mind that there may not be as many Lyft/Uber drivers as there are in bigger towns and cities. If your car rental is not at the airport, we recommend scheduling your Lyft/Uber ride from the airport to your car rental location ahead of time.