How to get to AHSP

The Almost Heaven Star Party is held at Spruce Knob, West Virginia, the darkest site in the mid-Atlantic region.

Directions from Washington, D.C. and points north of D.C.

  • Follow I-95 South to Washington, D.C., and take the Beltway (495) West around the city. Get on I-66 West and proceed to I-81.
  • Follow I-81 South to the exit for Route 55/48 West (about three miles).
  • Take 55/48 across the WV line, through the town of Wardensville, and at the other end of town it becomes the Corridor H superhighway (still 55/48). Take that to the end of the highway at Moorefield.
  • At the light at the T at the end of the exit ramp at Moorefield, make a left and just stay on Rte. 28 through Moorefield and Petersburg (you’ll have to make a right turn in “downtown” Petersburg, then go up the hill past a Dairy Queen and on out of town).
  • Continue on Route 28 through Seneca Rocks.
  • At Judy Gap, turn right onto 28 South and follow directions from Judy Gap on (below).

[Note: The directions above have been found to be best by NOVAC members. The TMI site gives an alternative route.]

Click to view Larger Map and get customized turn by turn directions for your specific beginning location.

From points West

    • Follow I-79 into West Virginia and to exit 99 (Route 33 East) at Weston and Buckhannon.
    • Follow Route 33 East through Buckhannon and Elkins.
    • Turn right onto Whitmer Rd./Co.Rte. 29, passing into the National Forest backcountry.
    • [Rich Mtn. Rd. forms a shortcut from 33 to Whitmer Rd. at Job. It passes over a mountain, instead of sticking to the stream valleys.]
    • Turn right onto Dry Fork Rd./Co.Rte. 40.
    • Turn left onto Forest Road 916. Continue to its end at Forest Road 112.
    • Follow 112 to the left about 1000 ft., then turn right onto Sawmill Run Rd./Co. Rte 28/10.
    • TMI will be on your left.


Click to view Larger Map and get customized turn by turn directions for your specific beginning location.

The route above is much shorter and with gentler grades — but with more driving on good unpaved roads — than the alternative: US 33 past Elkins and Seneca Rocks, and on to Judy Gap where 33 and 28 split, continuing on 28 South to Judy Gap. Print out the Google map for turn-by-turn directions and distances.

From points Southwest

  • Follow I-64 to exit 175 onto 60 E.
  • Follow 60 E through White Sulfur Springs to 92 N.
  • At Dunmore, turn right onto 28N.
  • Turn sharp left on Sawmill Run Road. [If you see the Circleville USPO, you missed it.] Follow the directions below.


Click to view Larger Map and get customized turn by turn directions for your specific beginning location.

From points Southeast

    • Follow I-64 W to I-81 N to Harrisonburg
    • At exit 247, take US 33 W to Judy Gap. This is not a good road through the mountains at the VA/WV line for RVs or trailers. Continue as below.


Click to view Larger Map and get customized turn by turn directions for your specific beginning location.

From Judy Gap

  • Follow Route 28 South through Circleville (3 miles) and Cherry Grove (3 miles).
  • Approximately 2–3 miles after going through Cherry Grove, turn right on Sawmill Run Road/Co. Rte. 28/10 toward The Mountain Institute and Spruce Knob Lake (there will be a small Forest Service sign).
  • After about 3 miles turn left at a stop sign near a hairpin turn and go another 4 miles to a set of low stone columns and a red farm gate on the right at the top of a hill; if you go down a very long hill and over a bridge at a small creek you have gone too far.
  • Turn right through the red gate; marked “The Mountain Institute.”
  • Bear left, and follow the dirt road 1 mile through farm land until you get to the large round buildings—yurts.

The Mountain Institute contact information

Spruce Knob Mountain Center
HC 75 Box 24
Circleville, WV 26804
Phone: (304) 567-2632
Fax: (304) 567-2666

Appalachian Office
100 Campus Drive, 108 LA
Elkins, WV 26241
Phone: (304) 637-1267
Fax: (304) 637-1988
email: ap@mountain.org
web: www.mountain.org

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