Parkersburg to Benwood is 84.9 miles and takes about 1 hour 45 minutes via North State Rt. 2, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within West Virginia, navigating from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. Expect a local feel with frequent turns rather than a straightforward highway cruise. With a short duration and manageable distance, this trip is well-suited for a single-day excursion, offering a practical way to connect these two West Virginia communities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.5 miles from Parkersburg, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
North State Rt. 2
23.7 mi
29m
2nd Street
16.9 mi
19m
State Route 2
11.7 mi
13m
Wheeling Avenue
6.5 mi
8m
Emerson Avenue
5 mi
5m
Wells Street
5 mi
5m
Vine Street
4.3 mi
4m
Corridor D
3.2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
North State Rt. 2
— 23.7 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Parkersburg, WV and Benwood, WV.
1
Start on WV 68; WV 618
449 ft·21 sec·Juliana Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
2
Turn right onto 6th Street
0.2 mi·50 sec·6th Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto Green Street
363 ft·19 sec·Green Street
4
Turn left onto WV 14
0.5 mi·1 min·5th Street
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·24 sec
6
Merge onto US 50
3.2 mi·3 min·Corridor D
7
Turn left
0.2 mi·23 sec
8
Merge onto I 77; WV 2
3.1 mi·3 min·I 77; WV 2
9
Take the exit onto WV 2
0.4 mi·47 sec·WV 2
Toward WV 2 North, WV 68 South: Vienna, North Parkersburg
10
Keep slight right at fork onto WV 2
136 ft·3 sec·WV 2
Toward WV 2 North, WV 68 South: Vienna, North Parkersburg
11
Continue on WV 2
5.0 mi·5 min·Emerson Avenue
12
Continue on WV 2
12 mi·13 min·State Route 2
13
Continue on WV 2
17 mi·19 min·2nd Street
14
Turn right onto WV 2
5.0 mi·5 min·Wells Street
15
Continue on WV 2
4.3 mi·4 min·Vine Street
16
Continue on WV 2
2.0 mi·2 min·3rd Street
17
Continue on WV 2
1.3 mi·1 min·North State Route 2
18
Continue on WV 2
24 mi·29 min·North State Rt. 2
19
Continue on US 250; WV 2
6.5 mi·8 min·Wheeling Avenue
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
21
Turn left onto McMechen Street
0.2 mi·30 sec·McMechen Street
22
Turn right onto 4th Street
255 ft·16 sec·4th Street
23
Turn left onto Main Street
0.1 mi·30 sec·Main Street
24
Turn left onto 5th Street
24 ft·1 sec·5th Street
25
Arrive at destination
5th Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short drive time of under two hours, this route offers significant flexibility. You can comfortably leave any time of day and still complete the trip before evening. With only one recommended day, there's no need to rush, but keep an eye on your fuel as local roads can sometimes mean less frequent service stations. The longest stretch without a turn is under 24 miles, so plan for frequent adjustments. Consider a midday departure to enjoy the scenery without heavy traffic.
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 42.5 miles from Parkersburg, WV, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 23.7 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 19 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.5 miles or 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 1h 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Benwood, WV than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Parkersburg, WV so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Parkersburg, WV
This is one driving day of about 84.9 miles and 1h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Parkersburg, WV.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on North State Rt. 2 for about 23.7 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|6th Street
Turn right onto 6th Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|Green Street
At end of road, turn right onto Green Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|WV 14 / 5th Street
Turn left onto WV 14 / 5th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
7.6 mi into trip|~10m in|WV 2
Take the exit onto WV 2 toward WV 2 North, WV 68 South: Vienna, North Parkersburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward WV 2 North, WV 68 South: Vienna, North P...
6
8 mi into trip|~11m in|WV 2
Keep slight right at fork onto WV 2 toward WV 2 North, WV 68 South: Vienna, North Parkersburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward WV 2 North, WV 68 South: Vienna, North P...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.28 one way
$26.55 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$14.52
$29.03
premium
$4.70
$15.71
$31.43
diesel
$5.61
$18.74
$37.49
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
4 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Sheetz - Tesla Supercharger
Parkersburg, WV
Tesla
6 DCFC
Straub Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram
Glen Dale, WV
Blink Network
2 DCFC
Elm Grove Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram
Wheeling, WV
Blink Network
2 DCFC
MATHENY GMC 1
Parkersburg, WV
ChargePoint Network
1 DCFC
Blink Network: 2
ChargePoint Network: 1
Tesla: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.5
0
$8.91
$4.08
Efficient EV
21.2
0
$7.43
$3.40
EV Truck/SUV
34
0
$11.89
$5.43
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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 18, 2026
Origin
Parkersburg, WV
Morning
in Parkersburg on Sunday
Local time
9:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Benwood, WV
Morning
in Benwood on Sunday
Local time
9:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live 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
16 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
1h 45m 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?
This journey is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll encounter numerous intersections and changes in direction. Only about 20% of the route involves highway travel, with the majority on local roads like North State Rt. 2 and 2nd Street. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 23.7 miles on North State Rt. 2, offering a brief period of consistent direction before more turns appear. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience that keeps you engaged with the local landscape.
Only 20% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23.7 mi on North State Rt. 2.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 6th Street.
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 84.9 miles you will encounter 16 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: at 0.1 miles (6th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Green Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.4 miles (WV 14 / 5th Street): 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 1h 45m. Total distance: 84.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (20%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 23.7 miles on North State Rt. 2. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 0.1 miles (6th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Green Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.4 miles (WV 14 / 5th Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Benwood, WV before heading back.
