This 113.5-mile drive from Despard to Weirton, West Virginia, is estimated to take about 2 hours and 6 minutes. Designed as a single-day trip, it's a local route with a moderate fuel cost of around $18. You'll primarily navigate via Meadowbrook Road, Johnson Avenue, and the Senator Jennings Randolph Highway. Given its relatively short duration and turn-heavy profile, this route is best suited for those who prefer a more engaged driving experience over long, straight highways. It's a straightforward journey entirely within the Southeast region of West Virginia.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
56.1 miles from Despard, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
76.9 mi
1h 24m
Washington Pike
18 mi
26m
Commerce Street
8.3 mi
11m
WV 2
2.6 mi
5m
Murphys Run Road
2.2 mi
5m
Jefferson Avenue
1.5 mi
3m
East Main Street
1.1 mi
1m
10th Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
— 76.9 mi, about 1h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Despard, WV and Weirton, WV.
Exit 17Toward PA 18: Jefferson AvenueUse the slight right lane.
7
Turn right onto East Wylie Avenue
0.1 mi·28 sec·East Wylie Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Turn right onto PA 18
1.5 mi·3 min·Jefferson Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on PA 844
8.0 mi·11 min·Washington Pike
10
Continue on PA 844
1.1 mi·1 min·East Main Street
11
Continue on PA 844
10 mi·14 min·Washington Pike
12
Turn straight onto WV 27
0.5 mi·48 sec·10th Street
13
Turn right onto WV 2
8.3 mi·11 min·Commerce Street
14
Keep slight right at fork onto WV 2
2.6 mi·5 min·WV 2
Exit 2Toward WV 2 North: Downtown Weirton
15
Arrive at destination
WV 2
Trip Plan
For this 113.5-mile drive, consider departing in the morning to make the most of your day, as it's comfortably manageable in under 3 hours. Since there are no designated stops in the data, plan your own breaks as needed, perhaps around the halfway point to stretch your legs. The fuel cost is estimated at $18, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before you set off. A practical tip for this turn-heavy route: pay close attention to your GPS or navigation system, as frequent turns on local roads can easily lead to missed exits if you're not focused.
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 56.1 miles from Despard, WV, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.9 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 56.1 miles or 1h 5m 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 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Weirton, WV than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Despard, 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 Despard, WV
This is one driving day of about 112.2 miles and 2h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Despard, WV.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Senator Jennings Randolph Highway for about 76.9 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 3 and 109.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3 mi into trip|~7m in|I 79 / Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
Merge onto I 79 / Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
79.8 mi into trip|~1h 31m in
Take the exit toward PA 18: Jefferson Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 17
Toward PA 18: Jefferson Avenue
7
80.1 mi into trip|~1h 32m in|East Wylie Avenue
Turn right onto East Wylie Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
80.2 mi into trip|~1h 33m in|PA 18 / Jefferson Avenue
Turn right onto PA 18 / Jefferson Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
109.6 mi into trip|~2h 17m in|WV 2
Keep slight right at fork onto WV 2 toward WV 2 North: Downtown Weirton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 2
Toward WV 2 North: Downtown Weirton
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.55 one way
$35.09 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$19.18
$38.37
premium
$4.70
$20.77
$41.53
diesel
$5.61
$24.77
$49.54
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.3 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
33.7
0
$11.78
$5.39
Efficient EV
28.1
0
$9.82
$4.49
EV Truck/SUV
44.9
0
$15.71
$7.18
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 16, 2026
Origin
Despard, WV
Late night
in Despard on Sunday
Local time
12:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Weirton, WV
Late night
in Weirton on Sunday
Local time
12:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 8 to 13 mph65% chanceLive forecast
69°F
Buffalo, PA
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
1 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 22m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with no highway segments contributing to the overall journey. The absence of high-speed roads means you'll be navigating a more intimate network of local roads, including Meadowbrook Road, Johnson Avenue, and the Senator Jennings Randolph Highway. While there's no longest uninterrupted stretch to note due to the frequent turns, the character of the drive is consistent throughout. This isn't a route for cruising; it requires your attention as you transition between various local thoroughfares.
Only 2% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 76.9 mi on Senator Jennings Randolph Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 3 miles in near I 79 / Senator Jennings Randolph Highway.
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 22m 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 3 miles (I 79 / Senator Jennings Randolph Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 79.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 80.1 miles (East Wylie Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 22m. Total distance: 112.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 76.9 miles on Senator Jennings Randolph Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 3 miles (I 79 / Senator Jennings Randolph Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 79.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 80.1 miles (East Wylie Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Weirton, WV before heading back.
