Summersville, WV to Weirton Heights, WV is 206 miles and takes about 3 hours 57 minutes via Senator Jennings Randolph Highway and US 19, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip primarily stays within West Virginia, traversing the Southeast region. Expect a route that spends most of its time on surface roads, offering a more grounded travel experience than a pure interstate cruise. With only one recommended stop and a manageable duration, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
103 miles from Summersville, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
139.3 mi
2h 31m
US 19
26 mi
30m
Southern Beltway
13 mi
13m
US 22
11.2 mi
15m
I 79
11.1 mi
15m
Webster Road
1.2 mi
2m
Pennsylvania Avenue
1 mi
1m
Colliers Way
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
— 139.3 mi, about 2h 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Summersville, WV and Weirton Heights, WV.
Exit 18Toward I 79 North: PittsburghUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 49Toward PA Tpke 576 Toll West: Pittsburgh International AirportUse the slight right lane.
9
Continue on this road
0.4 mi·46 sec·this road
Exit 49BToward PA Tpke 576 West
10
Continue on PA Tpke 576
13 mi·13 min·Southern Beltway
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 6Toward US 22: Pittsburgh, WeirtonUse the slight right lane.
12
Turn left
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward PA Tpke 576 East, US 22 West: Washington Pennsylvania, WeirtonUse the left lane.
13
Merge onto US 22
11 mi·15 min·US 22
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward WV 105: Colliers Way
15
Keep slight right at fork
161 ft·5 sec
Use the right lane.
16
Turn straight onto WV 105
0.5 mi·1 min·Colliers Way
17
Turn left onto WV 105
1.0 mi·1 min·Pennsylvania Avenue
18
Keep slight right at fork onto WV 105
45 ft·0 sec·Pennsylvania Avenue
19
Arrive at destination
WV 105
Trip Plan
Given the 3 hour 57 minute estimated drive time, leaving in the morning should allow ample time to reach Weirton Heights comfortably. You'll only need to plan for one stop, so consider making it around the halfway point for fuel and a quick break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially when you're on the longer surface road stretches, as stations might be less frequent. The $32 fuel estimate is a good baseline for budgeting, but it's always wise to have a little extra. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility to depart a bit later if needed.
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 103 miles from Summersville, WV, or about 1h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 139.3 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 45 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103 miles or 1h 56m 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 8m
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 Summersville, 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 Summersville, WV
This is one driving day of about 206 miles and 3h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Summersville, 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 Senator Jennings Randolph Highway for about 139.3 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 27.7 and 192.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
27.7 mi into trip|~34m in
Take the exit toward I 79, US 19 North: Clarksburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 79, US 19 North: Clarksburg
7
167.3 mi into trip|~3h 6m in|I 79
Take the exit onto I 79 toward I 79 North: Pittsburgh
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 18
Toward I 79 North: Pittsburgh
7
178.4 mi into trip|~3h 21m in
Take the exit toward PA Tpke 576 Toll West: Pittsburgh International Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 49
Toward PA Tpke 576 Toll West: Pittsburgh Intern...
8
191.9 mi into trip|~3h 36m in
Take the exit toward US 22: Pittsburgh, Weirton
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 6
Toward US 22: Pittsburgh, Weirton
8
192.5 mi into trip|~3h 38m in
Turn left toward PA Tpke 576 East, US 22 West: Washington Pennsylvania, Weirton
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward PA Tpke 576 East, US 22 West: Washington...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.21 one way
$64.43 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg72 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$35.22
$70.45
premium
$4.70
$38.13
$76.25
diesel
$5.61
$45.48
$90.96
Estimated Tolls: $0.91
Southern Beltway
(13 mi)$0.91
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
$32
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
61.8
0
$21.63
$9.89
Efficient EV
51.5
0
$18.03
$8.24
EV Truck/SUV
82.4
1
$28.84
$13.18
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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 15, 2026
Origin
Summersville, WV
Afternoon
in Summersville on Sunday
Local time
12:31 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Weirton Heights, WV
Afternoon
in Weirton Heights on Sunday
Local time
12:31 PM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Bridgeport, WV
103 mi in
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
8 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
3h 57m 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.
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 route features a 23% highway share, meaning you'll spend the majority of your time on surface roads. The longest stretch on Senator Jennings Randolph Highway covers 139.3 miles. You'll notice the transition from more direct highway segments to navigating through towns and local traffic as you progress. The Southern Beltway will offer a different driving experience for a portion of your trip.
Only 23% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 139.3 mi on Senator Jennings Randolph Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 27.7 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 206 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 27.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 167.3 miles (I 79): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 178.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Summersville, WV and Weirton Heights, WV, road signs point toward Pa Tpke 576 Toll West: Pittsburgh International Airport, Pa Tpke 576 West, Weirton and Pa Tpke 576 East.
Pa Tpke 576 Toll West: Pittsburgh International Airport
Summersville is a town of 3,300 people (as of 2019) in West Virginia.
Summersville is adjacent to Summersville Lake, the largest lake in West Virginia.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 57m. Total distance: 206 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 139.3 miles on Senator Jennings Randolph Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.91 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 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 27.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 167.3 miles (I 79): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 178.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 7.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Weirton Heights, WV, but most travelers stay overnight.
