Spanning 161.8 miles, this trek from Moundsville to Saint Albans is a straightforward journey that takes approximately 3 hours and 5 minutes to complete. Because the total duration is quite manageable, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend about $26 on fuel, making it a budget-friendly option for your regional travel. Your path sticks within the Southeast region of West Virginia, offering a consistent feel from start to finish. It is a practical choice if you are looking to get from point A to point B without overcomplicating your travel itinerary.
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
80.9 miles from Moundsville, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 34m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
WV 2
76.6 mi
1h 22m
Energy Road
21.6 mi
25m
Chelsea Street
16.8 mi
19m
3rd Street
14.1 mi
16m
I 64
8.3 mi
9m
Emerson Avenue
5.1 mi
5m
North 4th Avenue
5 mi
5m
Vine Street
4.3 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
WV 2
— 76.6 mi, about 1h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Moundsville, WV and Saint Albans, 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
Continue on WV 2
12 mi·13 min·3rd Street
13
Continue on WV 2
5.1 mi·5 min·Emerson Avenue
14
Take the exit onto WV 2
77 mi·1 hr 22 min·WV 2
15
Continue on I 77
2.3 mi·2 min·I 77
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·12 sec
Toward I 64 West, US 119 South: Huntington
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·34 sec
18
Merge onto I 64
8.3 mi·9 min·I 64
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi·48 sec
Toward WV 25: Institute
20
Keep slight right at fork
464 ft·11 sec
Toward WV 25: Institute
21
Turn straight onto WV 25
0.2 mi·18 sec·WV 25
22
Continue on WV 25
3.1 mi·4 min·WV 25
23
Turn left onto Center Street
0.1 mi·27 sec·Center Street
24
Continue on The New Saint Albans-Nitro Bridge
0.2 mi·40 sec·The New Saint Albans-Nitro Bridge
25
Continue on 3rd Street
0.3 mi·47 sec·3rd Street
26
Turn right onto CR 60/14
355 ft·19 sec·6th Avenue
27
Turn left onto CR 6/16
311 ft·6 sec·2nd Street
28
Arrive at destination
CR 6/16
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour duration, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time, though leaving early in the day is always a safe bet to avoid potential traffic. Since the route includes one planned stop, use that break to stretch your legs and refuel before finishing the final leg of your journey. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge throughout the trip, as the $26 estimated cost can fluctuate based on your vehicle's efficiency. Because the longest uninterrupted segment is 76.6 miles on WV 2, plan your single stop either before or after this stretch to maximize your momentum. This balanced approach allows you to arrive in Saint Albans feeling refreshed rather than fatigued.
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 80.9 miles from Moundsville, WV, or about 1h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.6 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 36 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80.9 miles or 1h 34m 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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint Albans, 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 161.8 miles and 3h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Moundsville, 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 WV 2 for about 76.6 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 161.7 — 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|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
5
148.3 mi into trip|~2h 46m in
Take the exit toward I 64 West, US 119 South: Huntington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 64 West, US 119 South: Huntington
5
157.6 mi into trip|~2h 58m in
Keep slight right at fork toward WV 25: Institute
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward WV 25: Institute
5
161.7 mi into trip|~3h 5m in|CR 6/16 / 2nd Street
Turn left onto CR 6/16 / 2nd Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.30 one way
$50.60 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg57 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$27.67
$55.33
premium
$4.70
$29.95
$59.89
diesel
$5.61
$35.72
$71.45
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48.5
0
$16.99
$7.77
Efficient EV
40.5
0
$14.16
$6.47
EV Truck/SUV
64.7
0
$22.65
$10.36
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 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 11, 2026
Origin
Moundsville, WV
Morning
in Moundsville on Sunday
Local time
10:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Saint Albans, WV
Morning
in Saint Albans on Sunday
Local time
10:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Mostly Clear
NE 5 mph1% 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
25 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
3h 5m 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 mixed driving experience that balances highway efficiency with local road navigation. About 57% of your travel time will be spent on highways, providing a steady rhythm for the majority of the trip. The most significant portion of your drive occurs on WV 2, which features a 76.6-mile stretch that serves as the backbone of your journey. As you transition from the main arteries onto roads like Energy Road and Chelsea Street, the pace shifts, requiring you to remain alert to changing road types. Navigating these varied conditions ensures the drive remains engaging rather than a monotonous interstate grind.
57% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 76.6 mi on WV 2.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CH 250/88 / Jefferson Avenue.
Driving Effort5/10
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 161.8 miles you will encounter 13 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: near the start (CH 250/88 / Jefferson Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (CH 250/88 / 7th Street): Navigation decision point; at 148.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
860 ft615 ft
Total Climb
581 ft
Total Descent
661 ft
Highest Point
860 ft
~107.9 mi in
Elevation Range
245 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 5m. Total distance: 161.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (57%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 76.6 miles on WV 2. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
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 148.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Saint Albans, WV, but most travelers stay overnight.
