Spanning 260.7 miles from Lewisburg to Weirton Heights, this journey takes approximately 5 hours and 22 minutes to complete. Because the trip is manageable in a single day, you likely won't need an overnight stay, making it an efficient way to traverse West Virginia from southeast to north. You should budget about $42 for fuel to cover the distance. The route relies on a mix of thoroughfares, including the Senator Jennings Randolph Highway, US 19, and WV 20. It is a straightforward trip that works well for those looking to reach their destination without the need for multiple days on the road.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
130.3 miles from Lewisburg, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
139.3 mi
2h 31m
US 19
27.4 mi
32m
WV 20
18.7 mi
32m
Southern Beltway
13 mi
13m
I 64
12.9 mi
13m
Canvas-Nettie Road
11.4 mi
20m
US 22
11.2 mi
15m
I 79
11.1 mi
15m
Longest stretch:
Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
— 139.3 mi, about 2h 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lewisburg, WV and Weirton Heights, WV.
Exit 18Toward I 79 North: PittsburghUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 49Toward PA Tpke 576 Toll West: Pittsburgh International AirportUse the slight right lane.
14
Continue on this road
0.4 mi·46 sec·this road
Exit 49BToward PA Tpke 576 West
15
Continue on PA Tpke 576
13 mi·13 min·Southern Beltway
16
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 6Toward US 22: Pittsburgh, WeirtonUse the slight right lane.
17
Turn left
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward PA Tpke 576 East, US 22 West: Washington Pennsylvania, WeirtonUse the left lane.
18
Merge onto US 22
11 mi·15 min·US 22
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward WV 105: Colliers Way
20
Keep slight right at fork
161 ft·5 sec
Use the right lane.
21
Turn straight onto WV 105
0.5 mi·1 min·Colliers Way
22
Turn left onto WV 105
1.0 mi·1 min·Pennsylvania Avenue
23
Keep slight right at fork onto WV 105
45 ft·0 sec·Pennsylvania Avenue
24
Arrive at destination
WV 105
Trip Plan
Planning for this 5-hour and 22-minute drive is simple, as you only need to account for one major stop to break up the journey. To keep your travel smooth, aim to depart in the morning to avoid late-day fatigue while navigating the mix of regional highways. Since you are spending $42 on fuel, check your tank before hitting the longest 139.3-mile segment to ensure you aren't searching for a station during that stretch. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, so use your single planned stop to stretch your legs and reset. Always keep an eye on your navigation as you transition between the Senator Jennings Randolph Highway, US 19, and WV 20 to stay on track.
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 130.3 miles from Lewisburg, WV, or about 2h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 139.3 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 57 miles or 1h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 130.3 miles or 2h 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Weirton Heights, WV than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lewisburg, 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 Lewisburg, WV
This is one driving day of about 260.7 miles and 5h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from Lewisburg, 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 Senator Jennings Randolph Highway for about 139.3 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 82.4 and 247.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
82.4 mi into trip|~1h 58m 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
7
222 mi into trip|~4h 30m in|I 79
Take the exit onto I 79 toward I 79 North: Pittsburgh
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 18
Toward I 79 North: Pittsburgh
7
233.1 mi into trip|~4h 45m in
Take the exit toward PA Tpke 576 Toll West: Pittsburgh International Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 49
Toward PA Tpke 576 Toll West: Pittsburgh Intern...
8
246.6 mi into trip|~5h in
Take the exit toward US 22: Pittsburgh, Weirton
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 6
Toward US 22: Pittsburgh, Weirton
8
247.1 mi into trip|~5h 2m in
Turn left toward PA Tpke 576 East, US 22 West: Washington Pennsylvania, Weirton
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward PA Tpke 576 East, US 22 West: Washington...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.77 one way
$81.54 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg91 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$44.58
$89.15
premium
$4.70
$48.25
$96.50
diesel
$5.61
$57.56
$115.12
Estimated Tolls: $0.91
Southern Beltway
(13 mi)$0.91
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
$41
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 91.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
78.2
0
$27.37
$12.51
Efficient EV
65.2
0
$22.81
$10.43
EV Truck/SUV
104.3
1
$36.50
$16.68
Gas CO2
91 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 11, 2026
Origin
Lewisburg, WV
Night
in Lewisburg on Saturday
Local time
9:15 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Mostly Clear
N 1 to 5 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Weirton Heights, WV
Night
in Weirton Heights on Saturday
Local time
9:15 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Partly Cloudy
NE 5 mph2% 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
5h 22m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 53.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed driving experience that keeps you engaged as you transition between road types. With highway travel accounting for only 35% of the route, you will spend most of your time on secondary roads rather than monotonous interstates. A significant portion of your time—139.3 miles—will be spent on the Senator Jennings Randolph Highway, which serves as the longest uninterrupted stretch of the journey. The character of the drive shifts as you move between these varied road types, requiring you to stay alert through changing environments. It is a practical drive that balances faster stretches with more technical, local sections.
35% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 139.3 mi on Senator Jennings Randolph Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 82.4 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 260.7 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: at 82.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 222 miles (I 79): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 233.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lewisburg, WV and Weirton Heights, WV, road signs point toward Pa Tpke 576 Toll West: Pittsburgh International Airport, Pa Tpke 576 West, Weirton and Pa Tpke 576 East.
Pa Tpke 576 Toll West: Pittsburgh International Airport
Lewisburg is a city of 3,900 people (in 2017) in West Virginia. It was established in 1872, and named for Andrew Lewis, the Virginia colonel who won the Battle of Point Pleasant in 1774. The town was built around a natural spring, which today is enclosed in a stone springhouse near the General Lewis Inn. Today, Lewisburg is a very popular tourist destination due to its historic downtown, specialty shopping, quaint bed-and-breakfasts, and its Civil War connections. Lewisburg is practically adjacent to the nearby resort town of White Sulphur Springs.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 22m. Total distance: 260.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 139.3 miles on Senator Jennings Randolph Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.91 in tolls one way, starting with Southern Beltway. 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 Weirton Heights, 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: at 82.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 222 miles (I 79): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 233.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Gauley River National Recreation Area. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Weirton Heights, WV before the return drive.
