Appalachia Mission Trips

Appalachia Mission Trips

What are Appalachia mission trips with Experience Mission?

Experience Mission (EM) Appalachia mission trips are 6-day, service-learning trips where groups of 6 or more serve alongside local churches and ministries in Pikeville, Kentucky, and Marion, North Carolina. Teams join outreach and projects led by local ministry partners, such as home repair, yard restoration, and children's programs. The cost is $495 per person, which covers lodging, meals, and EM field staff. Teams arrange their own transportation.

Where can your group serve in Appalachia?

EM is hosting Appalachia mission trip teams in two communities in 2027 (see below). Each has its own partners, work, and age range, so start with the one that fits your group.

1. Pikeville, Kentucky Mission Trips

Pikeville is a small town in Pike County, in eastern Kentucky. Chaplain Rob Musick works to unite local churches and ministries across the county, and he helps connect EM teams to meaningful work projects and outreach opportunities. Pikeville Presbyterian Church, led by Pastor Scot Robinson, hosts teams for lodging and outreach.

Teams repair homes, clean yards, and restore properties, often for elderly or disabled homeowners. They also join relational outreach, such as visiting residents at a nursing home or volunteering at a food pantry, food bank, or pregnancy center. Work sites are confirmed after teams arrive, because each trip is shaped by current local needs.

Late elementary students and older are welcome, which makes Pikeville a good fit for church groups with younger students. Explore Pikeville, Kentucky mission trips.

2. Marion, North Carolina Mission Trips

Marion is in McDowell County, in the mountains of western North Carolina. Teams serving in Marion have run a daily Kids Club and, depending on community needs, your group may support a local children's home, complete home improvement projects for elderly residents, or serve at a local shelter.

Marion trips run in the summer and are geared toward high school students and older. Groups with middle schoolers are considered on a case-by-case basis. Explore Marion, North Carolina mission trips.

What does an Appalachia mission trip include?

Trips to both communities follow the same basic structure. Here is what a group can expect:

Length - 6 days, with team check-in between 3 and 5 PM on the first day
Cost - $495 per person, covering all food, lodging, and project materials (transportation not included)
Group size - 6 or more volunteers, with at least one team leader age 21 or older
Lodging - Local church or school buildings, with teams bringing bedding or an air mattress, depending on the community
Meals - Provided by EM field staff and/or local cooks, with lunch arrangements that vary by community
Work - Home repair and yard projects, relational outreach, and children's programs, depending on the community

Each community page lists current details and open weeks, so confirm specifics there before you plan travel.

How do you find open weeks and book?

Summer is the main season in both communities. Pikeville also hosts spring break teams, and its community page lists current availability. Get started by submitting an interest form with your group's size and dates, or call EM at 888-475-6414.

What is EM's approach to Appalachia mission trips?

Appalachia is not an empty place waiting for outside help. Churches, chaplains, and neighbors already do incredible work here, and EM teams arrive as guests and learners, to join alongside what these ministries are already doing in their community. EM's 7 Healthy Service Principles guide our general approach to all mission trips, asking teams to listen first, follow local direction, and seek to honor the image of God in every person they meet.

A week-long mission trip can only accomplish so much, but mission trip teams have the opportunity to support the work local partners carry out year-round. Each experience serving others also shapes how team members learn to see and love their own neighbors back home.

Where else can your group serve in rural communities?

If you are weighing rural trips beyond Appalachia, including Native American communities in Arizona, explore all of EM's rural mission trips. For every open community, view all group mission trips.

Appalachia Mission Trip FAQs

What ages can go on an Appalachia mission trip?

Pikeville welcomes late elementary students and older, including junior high, high school, college, and adults. Marion is geared toward high school students and older, while EM considers middle schoolers on a case-by-case basis.

What will our group do?

Teams work on home repair and yard projects, join relational outreach, and in Marion have often run a daily Kids Club. We confirm specific work sites and ministry activities after arrival, since local needs can change.

How much does an Appalachia mission trip cost?

For 2027, the cost is $495 per person for the 6-day trip. This covers lodging, meals, project materials, and EM field staff. Teams arrange and pay for their own transportation.

Does EM host mission trips in West Virginia or Ohio?

Past EM volunteers have served in many Appalachia communities, with 2027 Appalachia trips currently running in Pikeville, Kentucky, and Marion, North Carolina. Explore these two active communities, or call 888-475-6414 with questions.

What do team members need to complete before the trip?

Each team member completes a registration form and liability waiver, and every team member needs to have domestic medical insurance. All adults (anyone over 18) complete a background check, confirmed by their Team Leader ahead of the trip.

Find an Appalachia mission trip for your group!

Explore 2027 Appalachia mission trips and find a community that fits your group's ages, dates, and goals. Submit an interest form and EM support staff will help you decide which community is the best fit for your group.

Written and reviewed by Experience Mission Staff - Updated: October 2026