Origin
Princeton, WV
Late night in Princeton on Sunday
Local time
12:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Princeton, WV to Beckley, WV
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
47m
Distance
39.7 mi
64 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Fair
4 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 43m
★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 55m
10 AM
0h 50m
12 PM
0h 49m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 55m
8 PM
0h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Princeton, WV
Wikimedia Commons
Beckley, WV
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This short, 39.7-mile drive from Princeton, WV to Beckley, WV is easily manageable in about 47 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. The journey primarily utilizes the West Virginia Turnpike, Big Laurel Highway, and Robert C. Byrd Drive, with 82% of the route being highway driving. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $6, this drive offers a straightforward and efficient way to travel between these two Southeast West Virginia locations. You won't need to worry about overnight stays, and the relatively brief duration means you can depart at your leisure, perhaps in the morning or early afternoon.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Virginia Turnpike | 32.6 mi | 35m |
| Big Laurel Highway | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| Robert C. Byrd Drive | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Ingleside Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Neville Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Coalfields Expressway | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
West Virginia Turnpike
— 32.6 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Princeton, WV and Beckley, WV.
1
Start on US 19
84 ft
·
3 sec
·
North Walker Street
2
Turn right onto US 19; WV 20
95 ft
·
6 sec
·
West Main Street
3
Turn left onto US 19; WV 20
391 ft
·
6 sec
·
Scott Street
4
Turn left onto US 19; WV 20
451 ft
·
11 sec
·
Alvis Street
5
At end of road, turn right onto WV 20
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
East Main Street
6
Continue on CR 27
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
Ingleside Road
7
Continue on CR 27
372 ft
·
9 sec
·
Princeton-Ingleside Road
8
Turn sharp left onto US 460
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Big Laurel Highway
9
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
10
Merge onto I 77
33 mi
·
35 min
·
West Virginia Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 42
Toward WV 16, WV 97: Mabscott
12
Continue on US 121 FUT
0.2 mi
·
10 sec
·
Coalfields Expressway
Exit 42
Toward WV 16, WV 97: Mabscott
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 42
Toward Robert C. Byrd Drive
14
Turn straight onto WV 16
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Robert C. Byrd Drive
15
Turn right onto WV 3
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
Neville Street
16
At end of road, turn left onto South Heber Street
152 ft
·
6 sec
·
South Heber Street
17
Turn right onto Main Street
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
Main Street
18
Turn left onto WV 210
122 ft
·
2 sec
·
North Kanawha Street
19
Arrive at destination
WV 210
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 39.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.9 miles from Princeton, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 39.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
WV 20 / East Main Street
At end of road, turn right onto WV 20 / East Main Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
4.3 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 77 / West Virginia Turnpike
Merge onto I 77 / West Virginia Turnpike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
36.8 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Take the exit toward WV 16, WV 97: Mabscott
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 42
Toward WV 16, WV 97: Mabscott
6
37.3 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Robert C. Byrd Drive
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 42
Toward Robert C. Byrd Drive
5
39.6 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
South Heber Street
At end of road, turn left onto South Heber Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.21 one way
$12.42 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $6.79 | $13.58 |
| premium | $4.70 | $7.35 | $14.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.77 | $17.53 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.28
West Virginia Turnpike
(32.6 mi)
$2.28
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$2
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.17 | $1.91 |
| Efficient EV | 9.9 | 0 | $3.47 | $1.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.9 | 0 | $5.56 | $2.54 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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.
Destination
Beckley, WV
Late night in Beckley on Sunday
Local time
12:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
11 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
47m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 39.7-mile trip. The West Virginia Turnpike forms the backbone of this route for a significant stretch of 32.6 miles, offering a consistent pace. As you transition to roads like Big Laurel Highway and Robert C. Byrd Drive, the character may shift slightly, but the overall feel remains geared towards efficient travel. This isn't a winding, scenic byway; it's a direct connection designed for getting you from Princeton to Beckley with minimal fuss and maximum speed.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 32.6 mi on West Virginia Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on West Virginia Turnpike and Big Laurel Highway. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near WV 20 / East Main Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 39.7 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.2 miles (WV 20 / East Main Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 4.3 miles (I 77 / West Virginia Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Starting in Princeton, WV
Full guide →Princeton is a city of 6,347 people (as of 2000) in West Virginia. It was established in 1838 and named for Princeton, New Jersey, where General Hugh Mercer — an apothecary from Fredericksburg, Virginia, for whom Mercer County was named — was killed in a Revolutionary War battle.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 47m. Total distance: 39.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 32.6 miles on West Virginia Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.28 in tolls one way, starting with West Virginia Turnpike. 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. 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 0.2 miles (WV 20 / East Main Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 4.3 miles (I 77 / West Virginia Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 36.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Beckley, WV before heading back.
How this page is built
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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