Spanning 222.5 miles across West Virginia, this drive from Wheeling to Daniels is a straightforward trip that typically takes about 4 hours and 23 minutes. Because the journey is relatively manageable, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to budget roughly $36 for fuel, depending on your vehicle's efficiency. You will rely primarily on I-77 and WV 2 to navigate between these two points in the Southeast region. Whether you are heading south for business or a change of scenery, this route offers a practical, no-nonsense path through the state. It is an ideal choice for travelers who prefer a direct transit over a slow-paced sightseeing tour.
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
111.2 miles from Wheeling, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
WV 2
122.6 mi
2h 19m
I 77
58.6 mi
1h 9m
Chelsea Street
16.8 mi
19m
3rd Street
11.7 mi
13m
Emerson Avenue
5.1 mi
5m
Ritter Drive
2.5 mi
4m
Harper Road
1.9 mi
4m
South Fayette Street
1.8 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
WV 2
— 122.6 mi, about 2h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wheeling, WV and Daniels, WV.
1
Start on WV 2
480 ft·10 sec·Chapline Street
2
Take the ramp onto WV 2
46 mi·56 min·WV 2
3
Turn left onto WV 2
269 ft·4 sec·Elizabeth Street
4
Turn right onto WV 2
17 mi·19 min·Chelsea Street
5
Continue on WV 2
12 mi·13 min·3rd Street
6
Continue on WV 2
5.1 mi·5 min·Emerson Avenue
7
Take the exit onto WV 2
77 mi·1 hr 22 min·WV 2
8
Continue on I 77
59 mi·1 hr 9 min·I 77
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Exit 44Toward WV 3: Beckley
10
Turn left onto WV 3
1.9 mi·4 min·Harper Road
11
Continue on WV 3
0.3 mi·33 sec·West Neville Street
12
Turn right onto WV 3
498 ft·14 sec·3rd Avenue
13
Turn left onto WV 3
0.5 mi·48 sec·2nd Street
14
Continue on WV 3
1.8 mi·3 min·South Fayette Street
15
Turn right onto US 19; WV 3
0.1 mi·17 sec·South Eisenhower Drive
16
Continue on US 19; WV 3
2.5 mi·4 min·Ritter Drive
17
Turn right onto Burgess Drive
249 ft·10 sec·Burgess Drive
18
Arrive at destination
Burgess Drive
Trip Plan
Since this is a one-day trip, plan your departure to avoid peak traffic hours to ensure you stay within your 4 hour and 23 minute estimate. You are limited to one recommended stop, so choose your break wisely to maximize your comfort during the long stretches on WV 2. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition between the major highway segments, to ensure you stay within your estimated $36 budget. Because the route is so highway-heavy, flexibility is your greatest advantage; feel free to adjust your departure time to suit your personal schedule. Prioritize a well-timed mid-trip break to maintain focus during the 222.5-mile trek.
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 111.2 miles from Wheeling, WV, or about 2h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 122.6 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 49 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 111.2 miles or 2h 9m 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Daniels, WV than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Wheeling, 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 Wheeling, WV
This is one driving day of about 222.5 miles and 4h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Wheeling, 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 WV 2 for about 122.6 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 46 and 222.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
46 mi into trip|~57m in|WV 2 / Elizabeth Street
Turn left onto WV 2 / Elizabeth Street
Navigation decision point
3
46.1 mi into trip|~57m in|WV 2 / Chelsea Street
Turn right onto WV 2 / Chelsea Street
Navigation decision point
5
215 mi into trip|~4h 7m in
Take the exit toward WV 3: Beckley
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 44
Toward WV 3: Beckley
5
217.5 mi into trip|~4h 13m in|WV 3 / 3rd Avenue
Turn right onto WV 3 / 3rd Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
222.4 mi into trip|~4h 23m in|Burgess Drive
Turn right onto Burgess Drive
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.79 one way
$69.59 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg78 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$38.04
$76.09
premium
$4.70
$41.18
$82.36
diesel
$5.61
$49.13
$98.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.8
0
$23.36
$10.68
Efficient EV
55.6
0
$19.47
$8.90
EV Truck/SUV
89
1
$31.15
$14.24
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 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 18, 2026
Origin
Wheeling, WV
Night
in Wheeling on Saturday
Local time
9:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Daniels, WV
Night
in Daniels on Saturday
Local time
9:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Point Pleasant, WV
111 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
12 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
4h 23m 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
~56 min detour
Free
near mile 199.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 81% of your total mileage is spent on major thoroughfares. The journey features a significant 122.6-mile stretch on WV 2, which serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of your drive. While the route transitions into I-77 and eventually Chelsea Street, the core personality of the trip remains steady and consistent. You will spend most of your time maintaining highway speeds, making this a reliable drive rather than a technical, winding mountain road. Prepare for a steady pace that favors efficiency, allowing you to cover the distance with minimal navigation stress.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 122.6 mi on WV 2.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on WV 2 and I 77. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 46 miles in near WV 2 / Elizabeth Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 23m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 46 miles (WV 2 / Elizabeth Street): Navigation decision point; at 46.1 miles (WV 2 / Chelsea Street): Navigation decision point; at 215 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,452 ft617 ft
Total Climb
2,050 ft
Total Descent
340 ft
Highest Point
2,452 ft
~213.2 mi in
Elevation Range
1,835 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 23m. Total distance: 222.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 122.6 miles on WV 2. 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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 46 miles (WV 2 / Elizabeth Street): Navigation decision point; at 46.1 miles (WV 2 / Chelsea Street): Navigation decision point; at 215 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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Daniels, WV, but most travelers stay overnight.
