Weirton, WV to Alderson, WV is 258.3 miles and takes about 5h 32m via I 79 and US 19, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within West Virginia, taking you through its Southeast region. It's a straightforward trip primarily on major highways, making it a convenient option if you're looking for an efficient way to cover ground. With a recommended one-day timeframe, this route is ideal for a single push, provided you're comfortable with a solid amount of driving time.
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
129.2 miles from Weirton, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 36m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 79
136.3 mi
2h 26m
US 19
19.4 mi
24m
Washington Pike
18 mi
26m
Levasy Road
12.3 mi
21m
Arbuckle Road
11.4 mi
20m
Brushy Ridge Road
11.2 mi
19m
Upper Millcreek Telsa Road
8.6 mi
9m
WV 2
8.4 mi
12m
Longest stretch:
I 79
— 136.3 mi, about 2h 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Weirton, WV and Alderson, WV.
1
Start on WV 2
2.5 mi·4 min·Main Street
2
Keep slight right at fork onto WV 2
8.4 mi·12 min·WV 2
Exit 1Toward WV 2 South: Follansbee, Wheeling
3
Turn left onto WV 27
0.5 mi·43 sec·10th Street
4
Continue on WV 27
10 mi·14 min·Washington Pike
5
Continue on PA 844
1.1 mi·1 min·Jefferson Avenue
6
Continue on PA 844
8.0 mi·11 min·Washington Pike
7
Continue on PA 844
1.7 mi·3 min·Jefferson Avenue
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 70 East: New Stanton
9
Merge onto I 70
4.1 mi·5 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
10
Take the exit onto I 79
136 mi·2 hr 26 min·I 79
Exit 21Toward I 79 south: Waynesburg, MorgantownUse the slight right lane.
11
Take the exit onto US 19
0.3 mi·41 sec·US 19
Toward US 19 South: Beckley
12
Keep slight left at fork
318 ft·8 sec
13
Turn right onto Upper Millcreek Telsa Road
8.6 mi·9 min·Upper Millcreek Telsa Road
14
Continue on US 19
19 mi·23 min·US 19
15
Turn left onto WV 39
11 mi·20 min·Arbuckle Road
16
Turn right onto WV 20
12 mi·21 min·Levasy Road
17
Continue on WV 20
1.0 mi·1 min·Richwood Road
18
Continue on WV 20
5.5 mi·9 min·Main Street
19
At end of road, turn left onto US 60
184 ft·3 sec·Midland West Trail
20
Continue on US 60
4.1 mi·6 min·State Route 20
21
Continue on US 60
6.0 mi·8 min·Greenbrier Street
22
Turn left
0.3 mi·34 sec
23
Merge onto I 64
4.9 mi·5 min·I 64
24
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
Exit 161Toward WV 12: Alta, Alderson
25
Turn right onto WV 12
11 mi·19 min·Brushy Ridge Road
26
Continue on WV 12
0.4 mi·32 sec·East Riverside Drive
27
Continue on WV 12
0.1 mi·11 sec·East Riverview Avenue
28
Arrive at destination
WV 12
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour-plus drive time, consider an early morning departure from Weirton to maximize daylight and potentially avoid afternoon traffic. You'll have one recommended stop, which is ample for this distance, but feel free to adjust based on your personal needs. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 136.3-mile stretch on I 79, as services can sometimes be spaced out. Since this is a single-day trip, flexibility is key; you can easily adjust your pace or add an extra short stop 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 129.2 miles from Weirton, WV, or about 2h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 136.3 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 57 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 129.2 miles or 2h 36m 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 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alderson, WV than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Weirton, 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, WV
This is one driving day of about 258.3 miles and 5h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from Weirton, 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 79 for about 136.3 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.5 and 246.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
2.5 mi into trip|~5m in|WV 2
Keep slight right at fork onto WV 2 toward WV 2 South: Follansbee, Wheeling
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 1
Toward WV 2 South: Follansbee, Wheeling
4
10.9 mi into trip|~17m in|WV 27 / 10th Street
Turn left onto WV 27 / 10th Street
Navigation decision point
4
32.1 mi into trip|~49m in
Take the ramp toward I 70 East: New Stanton
Navigation decision point
Toward I 70 East: New Stanton
8
36.5 mi into trip|~56m in|I 79
Take the exit onto I 79 toward I 79 south: Waynesburg, Morgantown
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 21
Toward I 79 south: Waynesburg, Morgantown
6
246.2 mi into trip|~5h 11m in
Take the exit toward WV 12: Alta, Alderson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 161
Toward WV 12: Alta, Alderson
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.39 one way
$80.78 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg90 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$44.17
$88.33
premium
$4.70
$47.81
$95.61
diesel
$5.61
$57.03
$114.06
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 90.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
77.5
0
$27.12
$12.40
Efficient EV
64.6
0
$22.60
$10.33
EV Truck/SUV
103.3
1
$36.16
$16.53
Gas CO2
90 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 16, 2026
Origin
Weirton, WV
Night
in Weirton on Saturday
Local time
9:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 8 to 13 mph65% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Alderson, WV
Night
in Alderson on Saturday
Local time
9:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live 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
37 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
5h 32m 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...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 204.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 67% of the route utilizing major roadways like I 79 and US 19. You'll experience a longest stretch of 136.3 miles on I 79, offering a chance for consistent speed and fewer interruptions. While the majority is highway, expect some transitions onto roads like Washington Pike. The character of the drive shifts from interstate cruising to potentially more varied road conditions as you progress, so stay aware of changing speed limits and traffic patterns.
67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 136.3 mi on I 79.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 79 and US 19. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.5 miles in near WV 2.
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 258.3 miles you will encounter 15 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 2.5 miles (WV 2): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.9 miles (WV 27 / 10th Street): Navigation decision point; at 32.1 miles: Navigation decision point.
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 Weirton, WV to Alderson, WV, road signs begin pointing toward Morgantown along the way.
Morgantown
36.5 mi in|~56m|via I 79
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 32m. Total distance: 258.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 136.3 miles on I 79. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Alderson, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 2.5 miles (WV 2): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.9 miles (WV 27 / 10th Street): Navigation decision point; at 32.1 miles: Navigation decision point.
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 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 11.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Alderson, WV before the return drive.
