Spanning 104.2 miles across West Virginia, this drive from Moundsville to Oak Hill typically takes about 2 hours and 24 minutes. Because the total travel time is relatively short, you can easily complete this journey in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You should plan for a fuel budget of approximately $17 to cover the distance. Navigating this route involves primarily local roads like Smithville Road, Energy Road, and Chelsea Street rather than major interstates. It is a straightforward trip that serves as a practical connection between these two Southeast locations. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick change of scenery, this route offers a focused driving experience that gets you to your destination efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52.1 miles from Moundsville, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Smithville Road
25.9 mi
38m
Energy Road
21.6 mi
25m
Chelsea Street
16.8 mi
19m
High Street
13.9 mi
20m
Main Street
5.2 mi
7m
North 4th Avenue
5 mi
5m
Vine Street
4.3 mi
4m
Little Kanawha Parkway
3.9 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Smithville Road
— 25.9 mi, about 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Moundsville, WV and Oak Hill, WV.
1
Start on 5th Street
38 ft·3 sec·5th Street
2
Turn right onto CH 250/88
0.1 mi·15 sec·Jefferson Avenue
3
Turn right onto CH 250/88
0.2 mi·26 sec·7th Street
4
Turn left onto WV 2
1.2 mi·2 min·Lafayette Avenue
5
Continue on WV 2
22 mi·25 min·Energy Road
6
Continue on WV 2
1.3 mi·1 min·North State Route 2
7
Continue on WV 2
2.0 mi·2 min·3rd Street
8
Continue on WV 2
4.3 mi·4 min·Vine Street
9
Continue on WV 2
5.0 mi·5 min·North 4th Avenue
10
Turn left onto WV 2
269 ft·4 sec·Elizabeth Street
11
Turn right onto WV 2
17 mi·19 min·Chelsea Street
12
Turn left onto WV 16
14 mi·20 min·High Street
13
Continue on WV 16
5.2 mi·7 min·Main Street
14
Turn left onto WV 16
1.0 mi·1 min·South Spring Street
15
Continue on WV 16
12 mi·17 min·Smithville Road
16
At end of road, turn left onto WV 16; WV 47
0.1 mi·12 sec·Staunton Turnpike
17
Turn right onto WV 16
14 mi·21 min·Smithville Road
18
Continue on WV 16
476 ft·10 sec·High Street
19
Turn left onto WV 5
0.5 mi·51 sec·Market Street
20
Continue on WV 5
3.9 mi·6 min·Little Kanawha Parkway
21
Turn left onto CR 35/21
0.7 mi·2 min·Wright Road
22
Continue on CR 35/21
0.5 mi·2 min·Wright Road
23
Continue on CR 35/21
39 ft·1 sec·Wright Road
24
Arrive at destination
CR 35/21
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable 104.2-mile trek, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule best. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, try to avoid driving during peak local traffic hours to ensure a smoother experience on the narrower roads. With no scheduled stops required by the route data, you can pace yourself comfortably, but remember to fuel up before leaving Moundsville to stay within your $17 estimated budget. Keep a close eye on your navigation as you transition between Smithville Road, Energy Road, and Chelsea Street, as the reliance on local roads means there are frequent turns. Taking the drive in one go is very feasible, so prioritize a steady pace over rushing through the technical sections.
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 52.1 miles from Moundsville, WV, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 25.9 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 23 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.1 miles or 1h 1m 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 Oak Hill, WV than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Moundsville, 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 Moundsville, WV
This is one driving day of about 104.2 miles and 2h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Moundsville, WV.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Smithville Road for about 25.9 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 84.1 — 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|CH 250/88 / Jefferson Avenue
Turn right onto CH 250/88 / Jefferson Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|CH 250/88 / 7th Street
Turn right onto CH 250/88 / 7th Street
Navigation decision point
4
52.5 mi into trip|~1h 2m in|WV 16 / High Street
Turn left onto WV 16 / High Street
Navigation decision point
4
71.4 mi into trip|~1h 30m in|WV 16 / South Spring Street
Turn left onto WV 16 / South Spring Street
Navigation decision point
5
84.1 mi into trip|~1h 49m in|WV 16; WV 47 / Staunton Turnpike
At end of road, turn left onto WV 16; WV 47 / Staunton Turnpike
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.29 one way
$32.59 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$17.82
$35.63
premium
$4.70
$19.29
$38.57
diesel
$5.61
$23.01
$46.01
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.3
0
$10.94
$5.00
Efficient EV
26.1
0
$9.12
$4.17
EV Truck/SUV
41.7
0
$14.59
$6.67
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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 15, 2026
Origin
Moundsville, WV
Late night
in Moundsville on Sunday
Local time
12:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Oak Hill, WV
Late night
in Oak Hill on Sunday
Local time
12:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
51°F
Harrisville, WV
52 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
22 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 24m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as highway travel accounts for only 5% of your total time behind the wheel. You will spend your energy navigating tight transitions on local thoroughfares, which keeps the experience engaging throughout the 2 hour and 24-minute duration. The longest uninterrupted section you will encounter is a 25.9-mile stretch on Smithville Road, which serves as the backbone of your journey. Because the route relies so heavily on local roads, you should prepare for a driving style that requires more focus and active steering than highway cruising. The road layout remains consistent in its local character, ensuring you stay alert as you navigate the winding path toward Oak Hill.
Only 5% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 25.9 mi on Smithville Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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 early in the drive near CH 250/88 / Jefferson Avenue.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 24m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CH 250/88 / Jefferson Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (CH 250/88 / 7th Street): Navigation decision point; at 52.5 miles (WV 16 / High Street): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,154 ft622 ft
Total Climb
1,790 ft
Total Descent
1,366 ft
Highest Point
1,154 ft
~95.5 mi in
Elevation Range
532 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 24m. Total distance: 104.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 25.9 miles on Smithville Road. 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: near the start (CH 250/88 / Jefferson Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (CH 250/88 / 7th Street): Navigation decision point; at 52.5 miles (WV 16 / High Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Oak Hill, WV before heading back.
