Did most virginians who moved west travele across the great plains?

Most Virginians who moved west did not primarily travel across the Great Plains. Instead, many took routes that led them through the Appalachian Mountains and into the Ohio Valley or other areas further west. The Great Plains became more of a destination for settlers later in the 19th century, particularly during the westward expansion driven by the Gold Rush and the Homestead Act. Thus, while some may have crossed the plains, it was not the predominant route for early Virginians heading west.