Bluefield to Elkins is 198.6 miles and takes about 3 hours 52 minutes via US 19 and the Senator Jennings Randolph Highway, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region, connecting two points in West Virginia. The route offers a mix of highway driving and surface roads, suggesting a varied experience as you travel. With a recommended one-day drive, it's a manageable trip for those looking for a direct connection between these two cities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
99.3 miles from Bluefield, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 19
66.8 mi
1h 21m
Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
40.2 mi
43m
West Virginia Turnpike
37.9 mi
41m
Corridor H
34.8 mi
40m
Big Laurel Highway
10.2 mi
12m
Princeton Avenue
3.2 mi
5m
North Randolph Avenue
1.2 mi
1m
Beverly & Morgantown Turnpike
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
US 19
— 66.8 mi, about 1h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bluefield, WV and Elkins, 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
38 mi·41 min·West Virginia Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
2.1 mi·2 min
Exit 48Toward US 19: North Beckley, SummersvilleUse the slight right lane.
6
Continue on US 19
67 mi·1 hr 21 min·US 19
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 79, US 19 North: Clarksburg
8
Merge onto I 79; US 19
40 mi·43 min·Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward US 33, US 48, US 119: Weston, Buckhannon
10
Keep slight left at fork
244 ft·8 sec
Toward US 33 West, , US 119 South
11
Turn right onto US 33; US 48; US 119
35 mi·40 min·Corridor H
12
Take the exit onto US 33; US 250
0.2 mi·41 sec·US 33; US 250
13
Turn right onto US 33; US 219; US 250; CR 11
0.5 mi·36 sec·Beverly & Morgantown Turnpike
14
Continue on US 33; US 219; US 250
1.2 mi·1 min·North Randolph Avenue
15
Continue on US 33; US 219; US 250; WV 92
0.3 mi·1 min·Randolph Avenue
16
Turn right onto Henry Avenue
92 ft·4 sec·Henry Avenue
17
Arrive at destination
Henry Avenue
Trip Plan
Given this route takes under four hours, you can comfortably complete it in a single day. Aim to leave in the morning to give yourself plenty of time and avoid driving after dark. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility on when and where to pull over for a break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 66.8-mile stretch on US 19, as services might be less frequent. The estimated fuel cost is around $31, so plan accordingly.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 99.3 miles from Bluefield, WV, or about 1h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 66.8 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 44 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 99.3 miles or 1h 58m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Elkins, 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 198.6 miles and 3h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Bluefield, WV.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on US 19 for about 66.8 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 13.8 and 161.4 — 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
51.7 mi into trip|~59m in
Take the exit toward US 19: North Beckley, Summersville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 48
Toward US 19: North Beckley, Summersville
7
120.6 mi into trip|~2h 23m in
Take the exit toward I 79, US 19 North: Clarksburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 79, US 19 North: Clarksburg
5
161.1 mi into trip|~3h 7m in
Take the exit toward US 33, US 48, US 119: Weston, Buckhannon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 33, US 48, US 119: Weston, Buckhannon
7
161.4 mi into trip|~3h 8m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 33 West, , US 119 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 33 West, , US 119 South
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.59 one way
$63.18 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg70 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.41
$34.44
$68.88
premium
$4.78
$37.37
$74.73
diesel
$5.35
$41.83
$83.66
Estimated Tolls: $2.69
West Virginia Turnpike
(37.9 mi)$2.65
Beverly & Morgantown Turnpike
(0.5 mi)$0.04
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
$32
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
59.6
0
$20.85
$9.53
Efficient EV
49.7
0
$17.38
$7.94
EV Truck/SUV
79.4
0
$27.80
$12.71
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Bluefield, WV
Afternoon
in Bluefield on Wednesday
Local time
3:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Partly Cloudy
W 3 mph9% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Elkins, WV
Afternoon
in Elkins on Wednesday
Local time
3:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Patchy Fog
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
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
6 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
3h 52m 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...
6 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 82.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This 198.6-mile route features 53% highway driving, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on faster roads. The longest continuous stretch on a single road is 66.8 miles on US 19. Expect to transition from highway cruising to surface roads at some point during your drive. The profile is described as mixed highway and surface, so be prepared for a blend of driving conditions.
53% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 66.8 mi on US 19.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 13.8 miles in near I 77 / West Virginia Turnpike.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 198.6 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 51.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 120.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,760 ft783 ft
Total Climb
1,645 ft
Total Descent
2,286 ft
Highest Point
2,760 ft
~28.4 mi in
Elevation Range
1,977 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bluefield, WV and Elkins, WV, road signs point toward Summersville and Buckhannon.
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.
Elkins is a city of 7,000 people (as of 2020) in Randolph County, West Virginia. It is home to Davis & Elkins College, a small private college. Because of its size and convenient location, you'll likely want to use Elkins as a base to get to a variety of nearby sights and attractions.
Elkins is convenient to the Monongahela National Forest. It is less than an hour from the tiny high elevation twin towns of Thomas and Davis, noted for Blackwater Falls State Park, the Canaan Valley, Timberline Ski Resort and the region's caverns. One hour South will bring you to Snowshoe Mountain.
Top landmarks
•Davis and Elkins Historic District — historic district in West Virginia, United States
•Graceland — historic house on the campus of Davis & Elkins College in Elkins, West Virginia,...
•Albert and Liberal Arts Halls — buildings on the campus of Davis & Elkins College at Elkins, West Virginia, USA
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 52m. Total distance: 198.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 66.8 miles on US 19. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.69 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 — we found about 5 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Elkins, WV before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 5 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 51.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 120.6 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Elkins, WV, but most travelers stay overnight.
