Weirton Heights to Princeton is 286.1 miles and takes about 5h 34m via I 77 and WV 2, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within West Virginia, moving you from the Southeast region of the state to another part of the Southeast. With most of the drive on highways, you can expect a relatively straightforward trip. It's a manageable distance for a single day, perfect if you're looking for an efficient way to get from point A to point B without too much fuss.
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
143.1 miles from Weirton Heights, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 77
94.1 mi
1h 47m
WV 2
76.6 mi
1h 22m
Dean Martin Boulevard
34.4 mi
44m
Energy Road
21.6 mi
25m
Chelsea Street
16.8 mi
19m
3rd Street
13.7 mi
15m
Emerson Avenue
5.1 mi
5m
North 4th Avenue
5 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 77
— 94.1 mi, about 1h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Weirton Heights, WV and Princeton, WV.
1
Start on WV 105
45 ft·8 sec·Pennsylvania Avenue
2
Turn sharp right onto CR 507
0.6 mi·1 min·Cove Road
3
Turn left onto CR 13
0.5 mi·1 min·Three Springs Drive
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·53 sec
5
Merge onto US 22
3.1 mi·3 min·US 22
6
Keep slight left at fork onto US 22
1.1 mi·1 min·US 22
7
Take the exit
0.1 mi·18 sec
Exit 244
8
Merge onto SR 7
0.4 mi·51 sec·Dean Martin Boulevard
9
Take the exit
364 ft·12 sec
10
Continue on North 4th Street
1.1 mi·2 min·North 4th Street
11
Turn left onto Slack Street
226 ft·6 sec·Slack Street
12
Turn right onto South Court Street
235 ft·6 sec·South Court Street
13
Turn right onto SR 7
34 mi·43 min·Dean Martin Boulevard
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·47 sec
15
Turn left onto SR 872
0.5 mi·31 sec·Ferry Landing Road
16
Continue on WV 2 Spur
0.4 mi·34 sec·WV 2 Spur
17
Turn right onto WV 2
0.8 mi·1 min·Lafayette Avenue
18
Continue on WV 2
22 mi·25 min·Energy Road
19
Continue on WV 2
1.3 mi·1 min·North State Route 2
20
Continue on WV 2
2.0 mi·2 min·3rd Street
21
Continue on WV 2
4.3 mi·4 min·Vine Street
22
Continue on WV 2
5.0 mi·5 min·North 4th Avenue
23
Turn left onto WV 2
269 ft·4 sec·Elizabeth Street
24
Turn right onto WV 2
17 mi·19 min·Chelsea Street
25
Continue on WV 2
12 mi·13 min·3rd Street
26
Continue on WV 2
5.1 mi·5 min·Emerson Avenue
27
Take the exit onto WV 2
77 mi·1 hr 22 min·WV 2
28
Continue on I 77
94 mi·1 hr 47 min·I 77
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 9Toward US 460: Princeton, Pearisburg VA
30
Turn right onto US 460
2.6 mi·3 min·Big Laurel Highway
31
Turn right onto CR 27
372 ft·7 sec·Princeton-Ingleside Road
32
Continue on CR 27
0.5 mi·51 sec·Ingleside Road
33
Continue on CR 27
0.3 mi·27 sec·East Main Street
34
Turn right onto US 19
84 ft·1 sec·North Walker Street
35
Arrive at destination
US 19
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour drive, leaving in the morning will give you ample time to reach Princeton before dark. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility in when you stop. Plan for one stop to break up the 286.1 miles, perhaps around the halfway point or where you transition off I 77. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially on the longer highway segments, and budget around $45 for gas. The longest stretch without a major road change is 94.1 miles on I 77, so ensure you're fueled up before that section.
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 143.1 miles from Weirton Heights, WV, or about 2h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 94.1 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 63 miles or 1h 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 143.1 miles or 2h 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Princeton, WV than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Weirton Heights, 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 Weirton Heights, WV
This is one driving day of about 286.1 miles and 5h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Weirton Heights, 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 94.1 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 282.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|CR 507 / Cove Road
Turn sharp right onto CR 507 / Cove Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
4
4.6 mi into trip|~7m in|US 22
Keep slight left at fork onto US 22
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
5.7 mi into trip|~9m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 244
5
7.5 mi into trip|~13m in|South Court Street
Turn right onto South Court Street
Navigation decision point
6
282.2 mi into trip|~5h 29m in
Take the exit toward US 460: Princeton, Pearisburg VA
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 9
Toward US 460: Princeton, Pearisburg VA
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.51 one way
$91.01 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg100 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.41
$49.62
$99.23
premium
$4.78
$53.83
$107.66
diesel
$5.35
$60.26
$120.52
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 100.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
85.8
1
$30.04
$13.73
Efficient EV
71.5
0
$25.03
$11.44
EV Truck/SUV
114.4
1
$40.05
$18.31
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Weirton Heights, WV
Afternoon
in Weirton Heights on Wednesday
Local time
4:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Partly Cloudy
N 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Princeton, WV
Afternoon
in Princeton on Wednesday
Local time
4:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Partly Cloudy
W 2 mph5% chanceLive 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
7 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
5h 34m 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...
22 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 217
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly highway, with 62% of the driving on interstates. You'll encounter a long stretch of 94.1 miles on I 77 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect to see a higher density of exits and potential for merging traffic as you navigate these main arteries. The shift from highway to WV 2 will bring a change in pace and surroundings.
62% 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: 94.1 mi on I 77.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 77 and WV 2. You will hit about 20 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CR 507 / Cove Road.
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 286.1 miles you will encounter 20 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: near the start (CR 507 / Cove Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 4.6 miles (US 22): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 5.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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.
Top landmarks
•Lake Shawnee Amusement Park — defunct amusement park in West Virginia
•Mercer County Courthouse — courthouse in Princeton, West Virginia, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 34m. Total distance: 286.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (62%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 94.1 miles on I 77. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 11 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.
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 11 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: near the start (CR 507 / Cove Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 4.6 miles (US 22): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 5.7 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Princeton, WV before the return drive.
