If you are planning a trip from Hinton to Parkersburg, expect a straightforward journey covering 166.8 miles. You can comfortably complete this 3-hour and 17-minute drive in a single day, making it an ideal choice for those who prefer to reach their destination without an overnight stay. Your travel budget should account for approximately $27 in fuel costs. The route primarily traverses the southeastern region of West Virginia, moving you efficiently across the state. Because this drive is designed to be quick and direct, it works best as a simple point-to-point transit rather than a multi-day excursion.
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
83.4 miles from Hinton, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 42m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 77
71.9 mi
1h 17m
West Virginia Turnpike
60.9 mi
1h 12m
I 64
18.7 mi
20m
Meadow Creek Road
6.9 mi
10m
West Virginia Route 95
2.1 mi
3m
Temple Street
1.8 mi
4m
WV 20
1.7 mi
2m
Camden Avenue
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 77
— 71.9 mi, about 1h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hinton, WV and Parkersburg, WV.
1
Start on this road
190 ft·19 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto 4th Avenue
182 ft·10 sec·4th Avenue
3
Turn right onto WV 20
1.8 mi·4 min·Temple Street
4
Continue on WV 20
1.7 mi·2 min·WV 20
5
Continue on WV 20
6.9 mi·10 min·Meadow Creek Road
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
7
Merge onto I 64
18 mi·19 min·I 64
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64
0.4 mi·50 sec·I 64
Toward I 64 West, I 77 North: CharlestonUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 64; I 77
61 mi·1 hr 12 min·West Virginia Turnpike
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 77
1.9 mi·2 min·I 77
Toward I 77 North: ParkersburgUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 77
70 mi·1 hr 15 min·I 77
Toward I 77 North: Parkersburg
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward WV 95: Downtown Parkersburg
13
Turn left onto Camden Avenue
187 ft·7 sec·Camden Avenue
14
Turn left onto WV 95
2.1 mi·3 min·West Virginia Route 95
15
Continue on WV 95
0.8 mi·1 min·Camden Avenue
16
Turn right onto WV 14
0.8 mi·2 min·Division Street
Use the straight lane.
17
Turn left onto Market Street
0.1 mi·28 sec·Market Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
18
Turn right onto North 3rd Street
237 ft·12 sec·North 3rd Street
19
Continue on 3rd Street
224 ft·12 sec·3rd Street
20
Turn right onto WV 68
0.1 mi·27 sec·Juliana Street
Use the straight lane.
21
Arrive at destination
WV 68; WV 618
Trip Plan
Given the manageable duration, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time, though planning for one strategic stop will help keep you fresh behind the wheel. Since your fuel budget is estimated at $27, consider topping off your tank before leaving Hinton to avoid unnecessary detours. Keep a close eye on your mileage while navigating the 71.9-mile stretch on I-77, as this is where you will spend the bulk of your driving time. Because the route is dominated by interstates, remain alert for changing traffic patterns near the major junctions where these highways converge. Taking advantage of the single recommended stop will make the three-hour commitment feel significantly shorter.
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 83.4 miles from Hinton, WV, or about 1h 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 71.9 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 37 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83.4 miles or 1h 42m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 40m
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 Hinton, 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 Hinton, WV
This is one driving day of about 166.8 miles and 3h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Hinton, 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 I 77 for about 71.9 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 166.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|4th Avenue
Turn left onto 4th Avenue
Navigation decision point
8
29.1 mi into trip|~37m in|I 64
Keep slight right at fork onto I 64 toward I 64 West, I 77 North: Charleston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 64 West, I 77 North: Charleston
7
90.4 mi into trip|~1h 50m in|I 77
Keep slight right at fork onto I 77 toward I 77 North: Parkersburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 77 North: Parkersburg
6
166.4 mi into trip|~3h 15m in|Market Street
Turn left onto Market Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
166.7 mi into trip|~3h 16m in|WV 68 / Juliana Street
Turn right onto WV 68 / Juliana Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.08 one way
$52.17 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg58 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$28.52
$57.04
premium
$4.70
$30.87
$61.74
diesel
$5.61
$36.83
$73.65
Estimated Tolls: $4.27
West Virginia Turnpike
(60.9 mi)$4.27
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
$26
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
50
0
$17.51
$8.01
Efficient EV
41.7
0
$14.60
$6.67
EV Truck/SUV
66.7
0
$23.35
$10.68
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
20 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 14, 2026
Origin
Hinton, WV
Night
in Hinton on Saturday
Local time
10:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Partly Cloudy
SE 2 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Parkersburg, WV
Night
in Parkersburg on Saturday
Local time
10:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Mostly Cloudy
SW 6 mph14% chanceLive forecast
69°F
Charleston, WV
83 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
6 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 17m 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?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 93% of your journey spent on high-speed roads. You will rely heavily on I-77, the West Virginia Turnpike, and I-64 to cover the distance. Expect a consistent pace, as the longest uninterrupted stretch spans 71.9 miles on I-77. While the route is efficient, you should be prepared for the characteristic feel of interstate travel throughout the duration. It is a functional, no-nonsense path that prioritizes speed and directness over the slower pace of local backroads.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 71.9 mi on I 77.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 77 and West Virginia Turnpike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near 4th Avenue.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 166.8 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (4th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 29.1 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 90.4 miles (I 77): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 3h 17m. Total distance: 166.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 71.9 miles on I 77. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.27 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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: near the start (4th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 29.1 miles (I 64): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 90.4 miles (I 77): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Parkersburg, WV, but most travelers stay overnight.
