Charles Town

Charles Town is a small historic town in West Virginia, and one of the state's most visited attractions.

Understand

Known for its horses, Charles Town is a city in Jefferson County, West Virginia. The U.S. Census Bureau considers it part of the Washington-Arlington metro area, although extremely few residents actually work in Washington, D.C.

Charles Town was named for Charles Washington who laid out the streets of the town on 80 acres of land in 1786. Charles Washington was the brother of U.S. President George Washington.

Charles Town had a population of 5,259 as of 2010. Its elevation is 512 feet (164 m).

Get in

Charles Town is located on the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. Charles Town is accessed from Route 340 and Route 9. It is a 27-mile (44-km) drive from Frederick, Maryland, via Route 340. It is a 42-mile (68-km) drive from Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, via Route 9.

Get around

Many of the streets of Charles Town are named after members of the Washington family or point to some of the patriotic ideals of the early United States. Examples include George St, Charles St, Samuel St, Mildred St, Lawrence St, Washington St, Congress St, and Liberty St.

The primary east-west street is Washington St (Route 51). The primary north-south street is George St (Route 115).

The downtown and old town areas are laid out in a grid. Street names with either East or West in the name are east or west of George St, respectively. Street names with either North or South in the name are north or south of Washington St, respectively.

See

• 1 Happy Retreat (Mordington), 600 Mordington Ave, ☏ +1 304 724-7956. Historic house owned by Charles Washington, founder of Charles Town and youngest brother of George Washington. (updated Nov 2020)
• 2 Jefferson County Museum, 200 E Washington St (at Samuel St), ☏ +1 304 725-8628, curator@jeffcomuseumwv.org. (updated Nov 2020)
• 3 Old Charles Town Historic District. More than 300 structures, primarily residences. Some were made of logs, while other were made in the Federal Style, Italianate, Greek Revival, Second Empire, and Victorian. One of the oldest was built around 1770, and it stands on W Congress St between S Water and S Mount Parvo streets. The Star Lodge, at 218 S Lawrence St, is a Federal I-house, built around 1795 by Charles Washington as housing for enslaved workers. A Queen Anne-style home, built around 1850, stands at 318 E First St. A duplex with Federal motifs, built around 1790, stands at 215 N Lawrence St. (updated Dec 2020)

Do

• 1 Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, 750 Hollywood Dr, toll-free: +1-800-795-7001. Over 2,500 slots, table games, live thoroughbred racing year round, and betting on simulcast races and sports. (updated Dec 2020)

• 2 Summit Point Motorsports Park, 201 Motorsports Park Cir (8 miles (12 km) west of downtown Charles Town), ☏ +1 304-454-5851. offers a variety of motor sports event. In addition to viewing professionals drive, you can show up on quite a few Fridays with your own car and be taught how to drive safely and quickly. The event is called Friday At The Track. (updated Dec 2020)

Buy

• 1 Fuzzy Dog Books & Music, 111 N Charles St (at Liberty St), ☏ +1 304 867-9321, info@fuzzydogbooks.com. Used books and music. (updated Nov 2019)

Eat

• 1 La Mezzuluna Cafe, 90 Somerset Blvd (off Route 340), ☏ +1 304 728-0700, lamezzalunacafe@gmail.com. (updated Mar 2021)
• 2 Mi Degollado Mexican Restaurant, 92 Somerset Blvd (off Route 340), ☏ +1 304 725-0333. Monday-Saturday 11AM-10PM, Sunday 11AM-9PM. Authentic Mexican. (updated Dec 2020)
• 3 Mountain View Diner, 903 E Washington St (next to Americas Best Value Inn), ☏ +1 304-728-8522. 24hrs. (updated Dec 2020)
• Hillbrook Fine Dining, 4490 Summit Point Rd (5.5 miles (9 km) west of downtown), ☏ +1 304 725-4223. This unique, fine dining experience offers guests award winning meals created with passion. (updated Dec 2020)

Drink

• 1 Abolitionist Ale Works, 129 W Washington St (near S Charles St), ☏ +1 681 252-1548. Local Brewery. (updated Nov 2019)
• Paddy's Irish Pub, 210 W Liberty St, ☏ +1 304 725-4999, paddysirishpub1@gmail.com. Irish pub and restaurant with big screen TVs, darts, and fireplace, plus cornhole on the patio. (updated Nov 2021)

Sleep

• 1 The Carriage Inn Bed and Breakfast, 417 E Washington St (at S Seminary St), toll-free: +1 888 822-0108. Beautiful bed-and-breakfast inn with historically decorated rooms and a charming atmosphere. (updated Dec 2020)

• Hillbrook Inn, 4490 Summit Point Road, ☏ +1 304 725-4223, toll-free: +1 800-304-4223, info@hillbrookinn.com. Bed and breakfast with beautiful rooms and suites featuring iPads with free Wi-Fi, and breakfast daily. Fine dining restaurant on-site. $149-399. 

Go next

Nestled in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, Jefferson County Parks and Recreation Commission (JCPRC) owns or operates eight county parks, comprising of over 250 acres of land, located throughout the county. The parks boast of varied facilities, including picnic areas, athletic fields, tennis courts, nature trails, and playgrounds. The JCPRC strives to provide the best facilities for all residents to use and enjoy.

Routes through Charles Town

Frederick ← Harpers Ferry ←	N  S	→ Berryville → Front Royal
Cumberland ← Martinsburg ←	W  E	→ becomes → Leesburg