If you are planning to travel from Dunbar to Parkersburg, you are looking at a straightforward 82.4-mile trek across West Virginia. Clocking in at approximately 1 hour and 34 minutes, this trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion. You will primarily utilize I-77 and I-64, keeping your travel time efficient and predictable. With an estimated fuel cost of just $13, it is an economical choice for a quick getaway or a necessary commute between these two Southeast locations. Because the duration is quite short, there is no need to plan for an overnight stay unless you have a packed itinerary at your destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.2 miles from Dunbar, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 77
71.5 mi
1h 17m
I 64
5.8 mi
7m
West Virginia Route 95
2.1 mi
3m
Camden Avenue
0.9 mi
1m
Division Street
0.8 mi
2m
Juliana Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Market Street
0.1 mi
<1m
North 3rd Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 77
— 71.5 mi, about 1h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dunbar, WV and Parkersburg, WV.
1
Start on this road
0.3 mi·34 sec·this road
Toward I 64 East: Charleston
2
Merge onto I 64
5.8 mi·7 min·I 64
3
Take the exit
0.4 mi·30 sec
Toward I 77 North, I 79: Parkersburg
4
Merge onto I 77
1.5 mi·1 min·I 77
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 77
70 mi·1 hr 15 min·I 77
Toward I 77 North: Parkersburg
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward WV 95: Downtown Parkersburg
7
Turn left onto Camden Avenue
187 ft·7 sec·Camden Avenue
8
Turn left onto WV 95
2.1 mi·3 min·West Virginia Route 95
9
Continue on WV 95
0.8 mi·1 min·Camden Avenue
10
Turn right onto WV 14
0.8 mi·2 min·Division Street
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn left onto Market Street
0.1 mi·28 sec·Market Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
Turn right onto North 3rd Street
237 ft·12 sec·North 3rd Street
13
Continue on 3rd Street
224 ft·12 sec·3rd Street
14
Turn right onto WV 68
0.1 mi·27 sec·Juliana Street
Use the straight lane.
15
Arrive at destination
WV 68; WV 618
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Since there are no mandatory stops scheduled for the 82.4-mile distance, you can easily complete the drive in one go without needing to plan for extended breaks. Keep in mind that the vast majority of your travel occurs on major interstates, so stay alert for typical highway traffic patterns during peak commute hours. To keep your transit smooth, ensure your tank is ready for the road, as the $13 fuel estimate assumes a standard vehicle efficiency. A helpful tip for this specific route is to double-check your navigation once you exit I-77, as the transition to West Virginia Route 95 marks the final, distinct shift in your travel path.
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 41.2 miles from Dunbar, WV, or about 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 71.5 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 18 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.2 miles or 45m 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 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Parkersburg, WV than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Dunbar, WV so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Dunbar, WV
This is one driving day of about 82.4 miles and 1h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Dunbar, WV.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 77 for about 71.5 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 6 and 82.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
6 mi into trip|~7m in
Take the exit toward I 77 North, I 79: Parkersburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 77 North, I 79: Parkersburg
5
7.9 mi into trip|~10m in|I 77
Keep slight left at fork onto I 77 toward I 77 North: Parkersburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 77 North: Parkersburg
5
81.2 mi into trip|~1h 30m in|WV 14 / Division Street
Turn right onto WV 14 / Division Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
82.1 mi into trip|~1h 33m in|Market Street
Turn left onto Market Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
82.3 mi into trip|~1h 33m in|WV 68 / Juliana Street
Turn right onto WV 68 / Juliana Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.89 one way
$25.77 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$14.09
$28.18
premium
$4.70
$15.25
$30.50
diesel
$5.61
$18.19
$36.39
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.7
0
$8.65
$3.96
Efficient EV
20.6
0
$7.21
$3.30
EV Truck/SUV
33
0
$11.54
$5.27
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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
Dunbar, WV
Morning
in Dunbar on Sunday
Local time
6:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Parkersburg, WV
Morning
in Parkersburg on Sunday
Local time
6:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Partly Cloudy
NE 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
49°F
Ripley, WV
41 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
17 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
1h 34m 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 highway-focused experience, as 96% of this route consists of high-speed transit. You will spend the bulk of your time on the interstate, including a significant 71.5-mile stretch on I-77 that allows for steady, consistent driving. As you move toward the final leg of the journey, the route transitions onto West Virginia Route 95 to complete the connection. This is not a winding, technical road, but rather a functional, no-nonsense path designed for speed and directness. You will find that the character of the drive remains relatively uniform, offering a predictable pace from start to finish.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 71.5 mi on I 77.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 77 and I 64. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 6 miles in.
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 82.4 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 6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.9 miles (I 77): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 81.2 miles (WV 14 / Division Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Parkersburg is a city of 30,000 people (as of 2018) in West Virginia. It was known as "Newport" when it was founded, later to be renamed Parkersburg in 1810. The city sits where the Little Kanawha River meets the Ohio river; the town of Belpre lies just across the river in Ohio. Among Parkersburg's more famous residents is Morgan Spurlock, director of the 2004 film Super Size Me; the city's film connections continued with the 2006 film Bubble, which was filmed in the area and starred local residents. The area also has a long history with oil drilling, and is the home of the first documented commercial use of oil in the US.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 34m. Total distance: 82.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 71.5 miles on I 77. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Parkersburg, WV before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.9 miles (I 77): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 81.2 miles (WV 14 / Division Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Parkersburg, WV before heading back.
