If you are traveling from Bluefield to Dunbar, expect a straightforward 112-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 13 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to easily reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You will spend roughly $18 on fuel, making this a budget-friendly option for your regional travels across West Virginia. Since both cities are located within the Southeast region, the drive remains consistent in its cultural and geographic character. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a quick getaway, the trip is efficient and easy to manage.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
56 miles from Bluefield, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
West Virginia Turnpike
91.3 mi
1h 45m
Big Laurel Highway
10.2 mi
12m
I 64
6.5 mi
8m
Princeton Avenue
3.2 mi
5m
10th Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
West Virginia Turnpike
— 91.3 mi, about 1h 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bluefield, WV and Dunbar, WV.
1
Start on US 19; US 52 Truck
3.2 mi·5 min·Princeton Avenue
2
At end of road, turn left onto US 19; US 460
10 mi·12 min·Big Laurel Highway
3
Turn left
0.4 mi·53 sec
4
Merge onto I 77
91 mi·1 hr 45 min·West Virginia Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 64
6.5 mi·8 min·I 64
Exit 101Toward I 64 West: HuntingtonUse the slight left lane.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·19 sec
Toward CR 25/25: Roxalana Road, Dunbar
7
Keep slight left at fork
72 ft·2 sec
8
Turn right onto CR 25/25
0.3 mi·35 sec·10th Street
9
Take the ramp
73 ft·1 sec
Toward I 64 East: Charleston
10
Arrive at destination
Toward I 64 East: Charleston
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short drive, you have the flexibility to depart whenever best suits your schedule without worrying about complex planning or mid-route lodging. Because the West Virginia Turnpike accounts for the vast majority of your time on the road, ensure your vehicle is fueled up before you merge onto the main highway to avoid unnecessary stops. Keep a close eye on your speed, as the long, straight sections can make it easy to lose track of your pace. Given that there are no mandatory stops scheduled, feel free to pull over at your own discretion if you need a quick break. Plan for a smooth, efficient trek by checking traffic reports for the Turnpike before you head out of Bluefield.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 56 miles from Bluefield, WV, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 91.3 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 25 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56 miles or 1h 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dunbar, WV than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bluefield, WV so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bluefield, WV
This is one driving day of about 112 miles and 2h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Bluefield, WV.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on West Virginia Turnpike for about 91.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 13.8 and 112 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
13.8 mi into trip|~18m in|I 77 / West Virginia Turnpike
Merge onto I 77 / West Virginia Turnpike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
105.1 mi into trip|~2h 3m in|I 64
Keep slight left at fork onto I 64 toward I 64 West: Huntington
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 101
Toward I 64 West: Huntington
5
111.6 mi into trip|~2h 12m in
Take the exit toward CR 25/25: Roxalana Road, Dunbar
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward CR 25/25: Roxalana Road, Dunbar
5
111.7 mi into trip|~2h 12m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
6
112 mi into trip|~2h 12m in
Take the ramp toward I 64 East: Charleston
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Toward I 64 East: Charleston
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.51 one way
$35.03 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$19.15
$38.30
premium
$4.70
$20.73
$41.46
diesel
$5.61
$24.73
$49.46
Estimated Tolls: $6.39
West Virginia Turnpike
(91.3 mi)$6.39
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Tolls
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.6
0
$11.76
$5.38
Efficient EV
28
0
$9.80
$4.48
EV Truck/SUV
44.8
0
$15.68
$7.17
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 12, 2026
Origin
Bluefield, WV
Late night
in Bluefield on Tuesday
Local time
5:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dunbar, WV
Late night
in Dunbar on Tuesday
Local time
5:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Mostly Clear
NE 3 mph1% chanceLive forecast
58°F
Mount Hope, WV
56 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
23 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 13m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Gauley River National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
The 25 miles of free-flowing Gauley River and the six miles of the Meadow River pass through scenic gorges and valleys containing a wide variety of natural and cultural features. The Gauley River cont...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 77.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is heavily highway-focused, with 87% of your travel taking place on major thoroughfares. You will spend the bulk of your time on the West Virginia Turnpike, which features a long, uninterrupted stretch of 91.3 miles. The route transitions through Big Laurel Highway and I-64, providing a steady pace for the duration of the trip. Expect a consistent experience behind the wheel, as the infrastructure is designed for speed and direct navigation rather than technical, winding local roads. It is a reliable interstate grind that prioritizes getting you to Dunbar as quickly as possible.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 91.3 mi on West Virginia Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on West Virginia Turnpike and Big Laurel Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 13.8 miles in near I 77 / West Virginia Turnpike.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 13m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 13.8 miles (I 77 / West Virginia Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 105.1 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 111.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Bluefield is a city of 9,800 people (as of 2018) in Mercer County, West Virginia. Along with Bluefield, Virginia, it forms the micropolitan area of the Bluefields.
Nestled at the foot of the 3,400-foot East River Mountain, Bluefield is the most elevated town in West Virginia, at 2,655 feet above sea level. The town is sometimes called "Summit City", because of its high altitude, and "Nature's Air-Conditioned City" for its pleasant summer temperatures. Since 1941, the Chamber of Commerce's "Lemonade Lassies" have passed out free lemonade on days when the temperature exceeds 90 °F (32 °C). The airport thermometer is used to determine this, which is at the highest point in Bluefield. It can often exceed 90° in downtown Bluefield during the summer.
The area was first settled in the 1780s and incorporated in 1889.
The longest stretch is about 91.3 miles on West Virginia Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $6.39 in tolls one way, starting with West Virginia Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through WV can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.
The main spots that need attention: at 13.8 miles (I 77 / West Virginia Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 105.1 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 111.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Gauley River National Recreation Area. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Dunbar, WV before heading back.
