Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 12m
Distance
60.7 mi
98 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Parkersburg, WV
Wikimedia Commons
Salem, WV
Federated Art
Parkersburg, WV to Salem, WV is 60.7 miles and takes about 1 hour 12 minutes via Corridor D, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive keeps you within the Southeast region, specifically within West Virginia for its entirety. Expect a local, turn-heavy experience that feels more like navigating through towns than a continuous highway journey. Given its short distance and duration, this route is ideal for a spontaneous day trip or as a brief segment of a larger West Virginia adventure.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Corridor D | 58.6 mi | 1h 7m |
| Water Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| 5th Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Jacobs Run Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| 6th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Juliana Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Green Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Parkersburg, WV and Salem, WV.
Start on WV 68; WV 618
Turn right onto 6th Street
At end of road, turn right onto Green Street
Turn left onto WV 14
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 50
Turn right onto WV 23
Continue on WV 23
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 30.4 miles from Parkersburg, WV, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 0.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Depart onto WV 68; WV 618 / Juliana Street
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto 6th Street
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn right onto Green Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Turn left onto WV 14 / 5th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$9.49 one way
$18.98 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $10.38 | $20.76 |
| premium | $4.70 | $11.23 | $22.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.40 | $26.80 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.37 | $2.91 |
| Efficient EV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.31 | $2.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.3 | 0 | $8.50 | $3.88 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Parkersburg on Sunday
Local time
6:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
Destination
Morning in Salem on Sunday
Local time
6:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
51°F
Harrisville, WV
30 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' with 0% of the journey on a highway. You'll be navigating local roads like Corridor D, Water Street, and 5th Street for the entire 60.7 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 58.6 miles on Corridor D, suggesting that for the most part, you'll be making frequent turns or passing through populated areas. This means you should be prepared for a less predictable pace compared to interstate travel.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near WV 68; WV 618 / Juliana Street.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Parkersburg, WV to Salem, WV is easy. At 1h 12m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (WV 68; WV 618 / Juliana Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.1 miles (6th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Green Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 12m. Total distance: 60.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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