Newell, WV to Beckley, WV is 264.6 miles and takes about 5h 20m via I 79 and US 19, with a fuel budget near $41 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Southeast region, primarily in West Virginia. Given its mostly highway profile and manageable duration, it's a practical choice for a single-day trip. You'll find it to be a straightforward route connecting two points in the state without extensive detours.
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
132.3 miles from Newell, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 79
136.8 mi
2h 27m
US 19
59.2 mi
1h 13m
Southern Beltway
11.7 mi
12m
Raymond P Shafer Highway
11.6 mi
15m
Upper Millcreek Telsa Road
8.6 mi
9m
PA 168
7.8 mi
13m
US 30
6 mi
9m
US 22
5.8 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
I 79
— 136.8 mi, about 2h 27m
Traffic on I-79
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~993 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,339
Quietest
2 AM
~85 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 78 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Newell, WV and Beckley, WV.
1
Start on CR 66/14
95 ft·11 sec·6th St-Newell
2
Turn left onto WV 2
0.7 mi·1 min·Washington Street
3
Turn left onto Wayne Six Toll Bridge
0.4 mi·39 sec·Wayne Six Toll Bridge
4
Continue on West 5th Street
0.5 mi·57 sec·West 5th Street
5
Turn right onto Broadway Street
0.2 mi·19 sec·Broadway Street
6
Turn right onto East 2nd Street
0.1 mi·13 sec·East 2nd Street
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
8
Merge onto US 30; SR 11; SR 39
0.4 mi·35 sec·Lou Holtz Memorial Highway
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 30; SR 11
6.0 mi·9 min·US 30; SR 11
10
Turn right onto PA 168
7.8 mi·13 min·PA 168
11
Continue on PA 18
4.3 mi·7 min·PA 18
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward US 22 East: Pittsburgh
13
Merge onto US 22
5.8 mi·7 min·US 22
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·50 sec
Toward PA Turnpike 576 West: Washington Pennsylvania, AirportUse the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·53 sec
Toward PA Tpke 576 East: Washington Pennsylvania
16
Merge onto PA Tpke 576
12 mi·12 min·Southern Beltway
17
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 79 South: Washington
18
Merge onto I 79
12 mi·15 min·Raymond P Shafer Highway
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 79
0.5 mi·1 min·I 79
Toward I 70 East, I 79 South: New Stanton, MorgantownUse the slight left lane.
20
Merge onto I 70; I 79
3.0 mi·4 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
21
Take the exit onto I 79
136 mi·2 hr 26 min·I 79
Exit 21Toward I 79 south: Waynesburg, MorgantownUse the slight right lane.
22
Take the exit onto US 19
0.3 mi·41 sec·US 19
Toward US 19 South: Beckley
23
Keep slight left at fork
318 ft·8 sec
24
Turn right onto Upper Millcreek Telsa Road
8.6 mi·9 min·Upper Millcreek Telsa Road
25
Continue on US 19
58 mi·1 hr 11 min·US 19
Use the straight lane.
26
Take the exit onto US 19
0.4 mi·59 sec·US 19
Toward US 19 South, WV 16: Bradley, North Beckley
27
Turn left onto US 19; WV 16
3.3 mi·5 min·Robert C. Byrd Drive
28
Continue on WV 16
1.3 mi·2 min·Robert C. Byrd Drive
29
Turn left onto WV 210
0.8 mi·1 min·North Kanawha Street
30
Arrive at destination
WV 210
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour drive, consider departing in the morning to give yourself ample time to reach Beckley before evening. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing your journey. The longest stretch without a break is over 130 miles, so plan for a fuel and rest stop around that point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition off the main interstates towards the end of the trip, as services might be less frequent on US 19 and the Southern Beltway.
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 132.3 miles from Newell, WV, or about 2h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 136.8 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 58 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 132.3 miles or 2h 44m 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Beckley, WV than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Newell, 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 Newell, WV
This is one driving day of about 264.6 miles and 5h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from Newell, 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 79 for about 136.8 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 24
5 decision points cluster between mile 26.7 and 258.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
26.7 mi into trip|~44m in
Take the exit toward PA Turnpike 576 West: Washington Pennsylvania, Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward PA Turnpike 576 West: Washington Pennsyl...
5
27 mi into trip|~44m in
Keep slight right at fork toward PA Tpke 576 East: Washington Pennsylvania
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward PA Tpke 576 East: Washington Pennsylvani...
8
51.6 mi into trip|~1h 15m in|I 79
Keep slight left at fork onto I 79 toward I 70 East, I 79 South: New Stanton, Morgantown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 70 East, I 79 South: New Stanton, Morg...
8
55.1 mi into trip|~1h 21m in|I 79
Take the exit onto I 79 toward I 79 south: Waynesburg, Morgantown
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 21
Toward I 79 south: Waynesburg, Morgantown
5
258.8 mi into trip|~5h 10m in|US 19
Take the exit onto US 19 toward US 19 South, WV 16: Bradley, North Beckley
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 19 South, WV 16: Bradley, North Beckl...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.03 one way
$84.07 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg93 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$45.84
$91.67
premium
$4.78
$49.79
$99.59
diesel
$6.18
$64.37
$128.74
Estimated Tolls: $0.82
Southern Beltway
(11.7 mi)$0.82
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
$42
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
79.4
0
$27.78
$12.70
Efficient EV
66.2
0
$23.15
$10.58
EV Truck/SUV
105.8
1
$37.04
$16.93
Gas CO2
93 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% 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 Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Newell, WV
Morning
in Newell on Monday
Local time
7:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Widespread Frost then Sunny
SE 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued October 18 at 5:48AM EDT by NWS Charleston WV
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 18 at 5:22AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Destination
Beckley, WV
Morning
in Beckley on Monday
Local time
7:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Widespread Frost then Sunny
E 1 to 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued October 18 at 5:48AM EDT by NWS Charleston WV
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 18 at 5:22AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
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
4 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
5h 20m 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...
6 mi from route
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 228.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 83% of the travel on interstates and major roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 136.8 miles on I 79 before transitioning. Expect to spend most of your time cruising on well-maintained highways, likely noticing the density of exits as you approach larger towns and cities. The final segment will likely involve more surface road travel.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 136.8 mi on I 79.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 79 and US 19. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 26.7 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 264.6 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 26.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 51.6 miles (I 79): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,421 ft754 ft
Total Climb
2,752 ft
Total Descent
1,085 ft
Highest Point
2,421 ft
~255.4 mi in
Elevation Range
1,667 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Newell, WV and Beckley, WV, road signs point toward Pa Turnpike 576 West: Washington Pennsylvania, Airport, Pa Tpke 576 East: Washington Pennsylvania and Morgantown.
Beckley is a city of 17,256 (as of 2020) in West Virginia, and is the county seat of Raleigh County pop. 74,591 (2020). It sits on a high plateau above the New River Gorge at an elevation of 2,418 feet. It was founded in 1838 and named for John J Beckley, the first Clerk of the House of Representatives and the first Librarian of Congress.
Once a major coal industry hub, Beckley contains a small historic downtown and many suburban neighborhoods. The Beckley area serves as the overall regional commercial center for Southern West Virginia region, and has many big box stores and chain restaurants, in contrast to the small-town nature of its surrounding communities. Beckley sits as the closest town to the Grandview portion of New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, and has easy access within 40 minutes to the park's 2 other visitor centers near Fayetteville and Hinton.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 20m. Total distance: 264.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 136.8 miles on I 79. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.82 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.
Yes — we found about 9 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Beckley, 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. There are 9 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 26.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 51.6 miles (I 79): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 5.3 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 Beckley, WV before the return drive.
