Huntington Travel Guide

City City in West Virginia, near Ohio River

Along the Ohio River, Huntington draws visitors for Marshall University events, riverfront trails, and Ritter Park’s rose garden. Tour downtown’s brick storefronts, catch live music at Pullman Square, and sample Appalachian barbecue in family joints.

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Costs
Typical daily budget: $60-$120
Daily budgets around $60-$120 covering meals, modest hotels, and local attractions.
Safety
Mixed safety; be cautious
Higher crime rates in some neighborhoods; exercise usual urban caution after dark.
Best Time
Best months: April-October
Warm months April-October suit outdoor festivals, riverfront parks and nearby trails.
Time
Weather
Population
48,638
Infrastructure & Convenience
Car-oriented city with limited transit; compact downtown walkable and easy to navigate by car.
Popularity
Not a major tourist magnet; visits center on university events, regional culture and outdoor recreation.
Known For
Marshall University, Ohio Riverfront, Appalachian culture, live music, historic downtown, local festivals, river boating, university sports
Marshall University in Huntington is nationally known; the 1970 plane crash that killed the football team is a defining local event.

Why Visit Huntington? #

Located on the Ohio River, Huntington mixes Appalachian culture with college-town energy around Marshall University and landmarks like the Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center. Riverfront Park and local festivals celebrate bluegrass and regional craft, while diners and bakeries serve West Virginia staples such as pepperoni rolls. Visitors often come for music, local history and easy access to outdoor recreation along the river.

Top Things to Do in Huntington

Don't Miss
  • Huntington Museum of Art - Huntington Museum of Art - regional art collection, sculpture gardens, and rotating exhibitions.
  • Ritter Park - Ritter Park - well-kept English-style park with walking paths, flowerbeds, and seasonal concerts.
  • Pullman Square - Pullman Square - pedestrian entertainment district with shops, restaurants, and frequent community events.
Hidden Gems
  • Heritage Farm Museum & Village - Heritage Farm Museum & Village - outdoor living-history site showcasing Appalachian rural life and buildings.
  • Ohio River Greenway - Ohio River Greenway - scenic riverfront trail for walking, biking, and watching barges.
  • Local craft breweries - Small independent breweries around Huntington - sample Appalachian-style beers and seasonal brews.
Day Trips
  • New River Gorge National Park - New River Gorge National Park - world-class climbing, whitewater, and dramatic bridge vistas roughly one hour away.
  • Charleston, West Virginia - Charleston - state capital with museums, Capitol Complex, and riverside dining within forty-five minutes.

Best Time to Visit Huntington #

Visit Huntington late spring through early fall for warm, humid weather ideal for river activities and festivals. Winters are cool with occasional snow, limiting some outdoor plans.

Winter
December - February · -6°C - 6°C (21°F - 43°F)
Cold snaps and occasional snow make outdoor plans hit-or-miss; local museums and indoor events shine during these months too often.
Summer
June - August · 20°C - 31°C (68°F - 88°F)
Hot, humid summers with frequent thunderstorms; great for river boating, festivals and patios if you tolerate humidity, choose mornings for hiking.
Spring/Autumn
March - May & September - November · 8°C - 22°C (46°F - 72°F)
Very pleasant, humid but not oppressive days; ideal for biking, river walks and catching seasonal festivals with comfortable evenings out.

Best Time to Visit Huntington #

Climate

Huntington's climate is classified as Humid Subtropical - Humid Subtropical climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -5°C to 31°C. Abundant rainfall (1083 mm/year), wettest in July.

Best Time to Visit
JuneJulyAugust
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
41°
Warmest Month
-20°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions

January

January is the coolest month with highs of 6°C and lows of -5°C. Moderate rainfall (75 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

41 Poor

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
-5°
85%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

75 mm
Rainfall
2.8 m/s
Wind
Calm
0.3
UV Index
Low
9.7h daylight

February

February is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of -4°C. Moderate rainfall (75 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

41 Poor

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
-4°
84%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

75 mm
Rainfall
2.7 m/s
Wind
Calm
0.5
UV Index
Low
10.6h daylight

March

March is cold with highs of 14°C and lows of 0°C. Regular rainfall (92 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

56 Acceptable

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
14°
81%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

92 mm
Rainfall
3.0 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
0.8
UV Index
Moderate
11.8h daylight

April

April is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 5°C. Regular rainfall (90 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

65 Good

Comfort

12°
Feels Like Cool
12°C
Temperature
20°
78%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

90 mm
Rainfall
2.9 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.3
UV Index
High
13.1h daylight

May

May is cool with highs of 25°C and lows of 10°C. Significant rainfall (107 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

73 Very Good

Comfort

18°
Feels Like Cool
18°C
Temperature
10° 25°
79%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

107 mm
Rainfall
2.3 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.6
UV Index
Very High
14.1h daylight

June

June is mild with highs of 29°C and lows of 15°C. Regular rainfall (96 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

81 Excellent

Comfort

22°
Feels Like Mild
22°C
Temperature
15° 29°
76%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

96 mm
Rainfall
2.1 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.9
UV Index
Very High
14.6h daylight

July

July is the warmest month with highs of 31°C and lows of 18°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (124 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

79 Very Good

Comfort

24°
Feels Like Warm
24°C
Temperature
18° 31°
72%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

124 mm
Rainfall
1.8 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.9
UV Index
Very High
14.4h daylight

August

August is mild with highs of 30°C and lows of 17°C. Significant rainfall (101 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

79 Very Good

Comfort

24°
Feels Like Mild
24°C
Temperature
17° 30°
67%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

101 mm
Rainfall
1.7 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.7
UV Index
Very High
13.5h daylight

September

September is mild with highs of 27°C and lows of 13°C. Moderate rainfall (77 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

79 Very Good

Comfort

20°
Feels Like Mild
20°C
Temperature
13° 27°
67%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

77 mm
Rainfall
1.8 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.3
UV Index
High
12.3h daylight

October

October is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 6°C. Moderate rainfall (73 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

71 Very Good

Comfort

14°
Feels Like Cool
14°C
Temperature
21°
72%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

73 mm
Rainfall
2.0 m/s
Wind
Calm
0.8
UV Index
Moderate
11.1h daylight

November

November is cold with highs of 14°C and lows of 1°C. Regular rainfall (86 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

55 Acceptable

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
14°
78%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

86 mm
Rainfall
2.4 m/s
Wind
Calm
0.4
UV Index
Low
10.0h daylight

December

December is cold with highs of 8°C and lows of -3°C. Regular rainfall (87 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

41 Poor

Comfort

Feels Like Cold
C
Temperature
-3°
85%
Humidity
Very Humid

Weather

87 mm
Rainfall
2.6 m/s
Wind
Calm
0.2
UV Index
Low
9.4h daylight

How to Get to Huntington

Huntington is served by the regional Tri‑State airport and by Amtrak (Cardinal) and intercity buses. For most travellers, flying into HTS or driving in and using local taxis or rental cars is the most practical approach.

By Air

Huntington Tri‑State Airport (HTS): Tri‑State (HTS) is the local airport serving Huntington and the surrounding Ohio Valley. From the airport, taxis and rental cars take about 20-30 minutes to downtown Huntington; fares depend on provider.

Charleston Yeager (CRW): Charleston Yeager Airport is a larger nearby option with more flights; it’s about a 1-1.5 hour drive from Huntington and is commonly used when schedules at HTS are limited.

By Train & Bus

Train: Amtrak’s Cardinal route serves Huntington, WV (Huntington Amtrak station). The Cardinal connects Huntington with Cincinnati, Washington DC and Chicago on a tri‑weekly schedule-useful for long‑distance travel but check the limited weekly frequency.

Bus: Greyhound and regional bus companies serve Huntington with routes to Charleston, Cincinnati and other regional hubs. Buses are an affordable alternative to driving and connect with local transit in Huntington.

How to Get Around Huntington #

Downtown Huntington is fairly walkable, with many shops and attractions clustered near Pullman Square. The city is also served by local bus routes that connect neighbourhoods and nearby suburbs; services thin out in the evenings, so taxis or rideshares are useful for late nights. Driving and street parking are common for exploring outside the centre; plan for occasional traffic around events.

Where to Stay in Huntington #

Budget
Mid-Range
Luxury

Where to Eat in Huntington #

Local American & Comfort Food
Breweries & Casual Eats

Breakdown of cuisine types found across Huntington's restaurants and food venues, based on OpenStreetMap data.

Burger
Pizza
American
Sandwich
Mexican
Tex Mex
Chicken
Italian
Chinese
Hot Dog
Ice Cream
Donut
Seafood
Steak House
Buffet
Barbecue
Soul Food
Vietnamese
Pita
Greek

Nightlife in Huntington #

Huntington offers a livelier small-city nightlife than many entries here - Pullman Square concentrates bars, restaurants and seasonal outdoor events, while the Keith‑Albee theatre brings evening performances. You’ll also find local pubs and live-music venues scattered through the city; late-night options are available but more limited than in larger metro areas.

Shopping in Huntington #

Huntington’s retail focus is downtown Pullman Square and nearby independent shops, restaurants and antique stores. You’ll find specialty food shops and local boutiques alongside national chains. For larger malls and big-box stores, suburban areas outside the downtown offer more options.

  • Pullman Square - Outdoor retail and dining district with shops and seasonal events.

Nearby Cities #