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Martinsburg sits in West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle, about 90 miles northwest of Washington, D.C., and serves as the seat of Berkeley County. The city combines a well-preserved historic downtown with easy access to major metropolitan areas, making it a growing hub for commuters and visitors alike. Its location along Interstate 81 and the MARC commuter rail line connects it to both the Baltimore-Washington corridor and the Shenandoah Valley.
The city has experienced steady growth as one of the fastest-developing areas in West Virginia, driven by its strategic location and relatively affordable cost of living. Martinsburg’s downtown along Queen Street features locally owned shops, antique stores, and an emerging dining scene, while the surrounding countryside offers apple orchards, historic battlefields, and outdoor recreation. Whether you are interested in Civil War history, train heritage, or exploring the Appalachian foothills, Martinsburg offers a distinctive blend of small-town charm and regional significance.
Martinsburg was founded in 1778 by General Adam Stephen, a veteran of the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War. Stephen named the settlement after his friend Colonel Thomas Bryan Martin, and the town grew as a trading center along the Tuscarora Creek with gristmills and small industries supporting the early population. The arrival of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in the 1840s transformed Martinsburg into a major railroad hub, with the B&O Roundhouse becoming one of the largest locomotive repair facilities on the eastern seaboard.
The Civil War deeply impacted Martinsburg due to its railroad significance. The city changed hands between Union and Confederate forces more than a dozen times, and the B&O Roundhouse was a frequent target of raids and sabotage. The first organized railway labor strike in American history, the Great Railroad Strike of 1877, also began in Martinsburg when B&O workers walked off the job to protest wage cuts.
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Martinsburg developed a thriving industrial base including textile mills, glass factories, and orchard farming. The surrounding Berkeley County region became known for apple production, with thousands of acres of orchards operating throughout the area. Today, the city preserves much of its architectural heritage, with the downtown historic district listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
The B&O Roundhouse and Martinsburg Station complex ranks among the city’s most significant landmarks. The historic roundhouse, built in the mid-19th century, houses railroad exhibits and offers guided tours through its massive cast-iron structure. Adjacent to the roundhouse, the Caperton Train Station hosts a farmers market and seasonal events, and the area includes interpretive signage detailing the Great Railroad Strike of 1877.
Downtown Martinsburg features several blocks of historic 19th-century architecture, including the Berkeley County Courthouse, a Beaux-Arts building completed in 1908. The Apollo Civic Theatre, a restored art deco venue on East Martin Street, presents community theater productions and classic film screenings throughout the year. For art enthusiasts, the Arts Centre on King Street showcases rotating exhibits from West Virginia and regional artists in a converted historic building.
Boydville, an 1812 Federal-style mansion on South Queen Street, offers a glimpse into the antebellum period of the region. The Belle Boyd House, home of the famous Confederate spy, operates as a museum with period furnishings and exhibits on Civil War espionage. Nearby, the Adam Stephen House provides guided tours of the founder’s home, featuring 18th-century furnishings and artifacts from the early settlement period.
The Martinsburg area provides access to numerous outdoor destinations within the Appalachian foothills. Poor House Farm Park, located just south of the city, spans more than 140 acres with hiking trails, fishing ponds, picnic pavilions, and a disc golf course. The park’s rolling terrain and mature hardwood forest make it a popular spot for trail running, birdwatching, and family outings.
The nearby Sleepy Creek Wildlife Management Area covers over 22,000 acres of forested mountain land with a large lake for fishing and boating. Hikers can explore the Tuscarora Trail, a 250-mile footpath that passes through the area and connects to the Appalachian Trail. The management area also offers primitive camping and is popular with hunters during the fall and spring seasons.
For cycling and walking, the Discovery Trail along Williamsport Pike provides a paved path through wooded areas and residential neighborhoods. The nearby Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park runs alongside the Potomac River, about 30 minutes east, offering a flat, scenic towpath for biking and hiking. In the summer months, the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers draw kayakers and canoeists to sections with Class I and II rapids suitable for beginners and intermediates.
Fall is the most popular season for visiting Martinsburg, when the apple orchards are at peak harvest and the surrounding mountains display vibrant autumn foliage. Temperatures range from the 40s to 60s F, making conditions ideal for hiking the Sleepy Creek trails or exploring the B&O Roundhouse without the summer humidity. Local orchards offer pick-your-own apples and seasonal festivals with cider, baked goods, and live music.
Spring brings mild weather and can be an excellent time to visit, with blooming dogwoods and redbuds throughout the downtown and residential areas. April and May see comfortable temperatures in the 50s and 60s F, though occasional spring showers are common. The farmers market at Caperton Station opens in spring, and the nearby battlefields receive fewer visitors compared to the peak summer months.
Summer features the most event programming, including outdoor concerts, the Apollo Theatre’s summer series, and various community festivals downtown. Temperatures typically range from the 70s to low 90s F with higher humidity, so morning or evening outdoor activities work best. Winter brings a quieter atmosphere with occasional snowfall and lower hotel rates, though limited daylight hours mean less time for outdoor exploration.
Here are some of our favorite things to do near Martinsburg. Pick your favorite!
Berkeley Springs State Park occupies the heart of downtown Berkeley Springs , just 30 minutes west of Martinsburg along Route 9, centered around the natural warm mineral springs that have drawn visitors for centuries. The park is one of the smallest…