Pinch to Weirton Heights is 202 miles and takes about 4 hours via I 77, SR 7, and North State Rt. 2, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within West Virginia, moving from the Southeast region toward the northern part of the state. With most of the drive on highways, expect a relatively straightforward trip. This route is a solid option for a single-day drive if you're looking to cover ground efficiently between these two points.
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
101.1 miles from Pinch, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 77
76.2 mi
1h 21m
SR 7
34.1 mi
44m
North State Rt. 2
22.4 mi
27m
2nd Street
16.9 mi
19m
State Route 2
11.7 mi
13m
Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
8.7 mi
9m
Emerson Avenue
5 mi
5m
Wells Street
5 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 77
— 76.2 mi, about 1h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pinch, WV and Weirton Heights, WV.
1
Start on Saint Andrew Lane
101 ft·10 sec·Saint Andrew Lane
2
Turn left onto CR 47
2.5 mi·3 min·South Pinch Road
3
At end of road, turn right onto US 119
0.3 mi·38 sec·Elk River Road South
4
Turn left onto CR 43
1.4 mi·2 min·Frame Road
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
6
Merge onto I 79
8.7 mi·9 min·Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
7
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 77 North: Parkersburg
8
Merge onto I 77
76 mi·1 hr 21 min·I 77
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
22 mi·27 min·North State Rt. 2
19
Turn left onto WV 2 Spur
0.4 mi·30 sec·12th Street
20
Continue on SR 872
0.3 mi·27 sec·SR 872
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·35 sec
22
Continue on SR 7
34 mi·44 min·SR 7
23
Turn left onto Slack Street
519 ft·14 sec·Slack Street
24
Turn right onto South 4th Street
1.1 mi·2 min·South 4th Street
25
Turn left onto Franklin Avenue
0.3 mi·38 sec·Franklin Avenue
26
Turn right onto North 7th Street
0.1 mi·23 sec·North 7th Street
27
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·20 sec
28
Merge onto US 22
0.9 mi·1 min·Veterans Memorial Bridge
29
Keep slight left at fork onto US 22
3.5 mi·4 min·US 22
30
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward CR 13: Three Springs Drive
31
Keep slight right at fork
352 ft·10 sec
32
Turn straight onto CR 13
0.7 mi·1 min·Three Springs Drive
33
At end of road, turn right onto CR 507
0.6 mi·1 min·Cove Road
34
Turn sharp left onto WV 105
45 ft·0 sec·Pennsylvania Avenue
35
Arrive at destination
WV 105
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour drive, leaving in the morning is ideal to give you flexibility for any unexpected delays or the option to stop. Since it's a single-day trip, you can afford to be flexible with your timing. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is on I 77, so plan your fuel stops accordingly before you get too far into that segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you transition onto SR 7 and North State Rt. 2, as services might be less frequent compared to the interstate.
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 101.1 miles from Pinch, WV, or about 1h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.2 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 44 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 101.1 miles or 1h 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Weirton Heights, WV than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Pinch, 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 Pinch, WV
This is one driving day of about 202.1 miles and 4h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Pinch, 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 77 for about 76.2 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 23
5 decision points cluster between mile 90.3 and 200.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
90.3 mi into trip|~1h 40m 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
90.7 mi into trip|~1h 40m 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...
5
160.1 mi into trip|~3h 2m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
5
195.9 mi into trip|~3h 49m in|North 7th Street
Turn right onto North 7th Street
Navigation decision point
5
200.7 mi into trip|~3h 56m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.84 one way
$59.68 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg71 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$32.79
$65.58
premium
$4.49
$35.74
$71.48
diesel
$4.80
$38.16
$76.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.6
0
$21.22
$9.70
Efficient EV
50.5
0
$17.68
$8.08
EV Truck/SUV
80.8
1
$28.29
$12.93
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (66% 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Pinch, WV
Late night
in Pinch on Sunday
Local time
2:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 5 mph86% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 18 at 6:05PM EDT until July 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Destination
Weirton Heights, WV
Late night
in Weirton Heights on Sunday
Local time
2:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
W 5 mph75% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 18 at 6:05PM EDT until July 19 at 2:00AM 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
6 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
4h 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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 63% of the route on interstates and state routes. You'll encounter a stretch of 76.2 miles on I 77, which is the longest continuous highway segment. After I 77, you'll transition to SR 7 and then North State Rt. 2, shifting from highway cruising to more surface road driving. Expect a mix of higher-speed travel and potentially more local traffic as you get closer to Weirton Heights.
63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
35 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 76.2 mi on I 77.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 77 and SR 7. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 90.3 miles in near WV 2.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 202.1 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 90.3 miles (WV 2): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 90.7 miles (WV 2): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 160.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,201 ft609 ft
Total Climb
844 ft
Total Descent
360 ft
Highest Point
1,201 ft
~202.1 mi in
Elevation Range
593 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Pinch, WV to Weirton Heights, WV, road signs begin pointing toward Parkersburg along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h. Total distance: 202.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 76.2 miles on I 77. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Weirton Heights, 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 90.3 miles (WV 2): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 90.7 miles (WV 2): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 160.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Gauley River National Recreation Area. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Weirton Heights, WV, but most travelers stay overnight.
