Weirton Heights to Spencer is 160.9 miles and takes about 3h 30m via Dean Martin Boulevard, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within West Virginia, moving from the Southeast region further into the state. Expect a drive primarily on surface roads, making it a good choice if you prefer a more grounded travel experience over interstate cruising. It's a straightforward trip, perfect for a single day of driving.
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
80.4 miles from Weirton Heights, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dean Martin Boulevard
34.4 mi
44m
Court Street
25.6 mi
37m
Energy Road
21.6 mi
25m
Chelsea Street
16.8 mi
19m
3rd Street
13.7 mi
15m
Old 21
13.3 mi
21m
WV 2
9.9 mi
10m
Emerson Avenue
5.1 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Dean Martin Boulevard
— 34.4 mi, about 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Weirton Heights, WV and Spencer, 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
9.9 mi·10 min·WV 2
28
Take the exit
0.4 mi·30 sec
Toward WV 14: Mineral Wells
29
Turn left onto WV 14
13 mi·21 min·Old 21
30
Turn right onto WV 14
26 mi·37 min·Court Street
31
Continue on WV 14
0.2 mi·25 sec·Locust Avenue
32
At end of road, turn left onto US 33
0.2 mi·27 sec·Main Street
33
Turn left onto Market Street
35 ft·1 sec·Market Street
34
Arrive at destination
Market Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3h 30m estimated drive time, leaving in the morning is your best bet to allow for flexibility and potential unforeseen delays. With only one recommended stop on this 160.9-mile route, you can choose to make it a quick break or a more leisurely pause. The fuel cost is estimated at $25, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before you depart, especially since the route features a significant portion on surface roads. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach Spencer, as services might be more spread out than on major interstates.
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 80.4 miles from Weirton Heights, WV, or about 1h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 34.4 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 35 miles or 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80.4 miles or 1h 43m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Spencer, 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 160.9 miles and 3h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 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 Dean Martin Boulevard for about 34.4 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 160.9 — 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
5
7.5 mi into trip|~13m in|South Court Street
Turn right onto South Court Street
Navigation decision point
6
160.7 mi into trip|~3h 30m in|US 33 / Main Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 33 / Main Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
160.9 mi into trip|~3h 30m in|Market Street
Turn left onto Market Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.15 one way
$50.30 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg56 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.35
$27.54
$55.09
premium
$4.72
$29.90
$59.80
diesel
$6.28
$39.76
$79.51
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48.3
0
$16.89
$7.72
Efficient EV
40.2
0
$14.08
$6.44
EV Truck/SUV
64.4
0
$22.53
$10.30
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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 Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Weirton Heights, WV
Late night
in Weirton Heights on Friday
Local time
5:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Widespread Frost then Sunny
SE 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Spencer, WV
Late night
in Spencer on Friday
Local time
5:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Sunny
NE 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
69°F
Newport, OH
80 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
2 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 30m on the road
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive has a highway share of only 10%, meaning you'll spend most of your time on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a single named road is 34.4 miles on Dean Martin Boulevard. You'll transition from highway to surface roads early on, and the profile indicates mostly surface roads for the duration of your travel. Be prepared for more frequent intersections and potentially slower speeds as you navigate through towns and local areas.
Only 10% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 34.4 mi on Dean Martin Boulevard.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 21 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 Effort6/10
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 160.9 miles you will encounter 21 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 7.5 miles (South Court Street): Navigation decision point.
Spencer is a city of 2,062 people (as of 2020) in West Virginia. It was chartered in 1858 and named for Spencer Roane, a jurist from Virginia. Spencer is famous for hosting the West Virginia Black Walnut Festival every October.
Top landmarks
•Robey Theatre, Spencer — movie theater in Spencer, West Viriginia
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 30m. Total distance: 160.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 34.4 miles on Dean Martin Boulevard. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 5 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 Spencer, 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 5 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 7.5 miles (South Court Street): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Spencer, WV, but most travelers stay overnight.
