Connecting Wheeling and Parkersburg, this 109.8-mile journey is a straightforward trip that typically takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes to complete. Because the duration is relatively short, you can easily handle this as a single-day excursion without needing an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $17 for fuel to cover the distance between these two West Virginia cities. Both the origin and destination are situated within the Southeast region, ensuring a consistent travel environment throughout your trip. This route is best suited for drivers who prefer local roads over major interstates, as the entire journey is completed without relying on highway travel. It is a practical and efficient way to travel between these points if you prefer to stay off the beaten path.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.9 miles from Wheeling, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
WV 2
49.4 mi
1h
Chelsea Street
16.8 mi
19m
3rd Street
11.8 mi
13m
Emerson Avenue
5.1 mi
5m
Corridor D
3.1 mi
3m
WV 14
0.5 mi
1m
Juliana Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Market Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
WV 2
— 49.4 mi, about 1h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wheeling, WV and Parkersburg, 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
3.4 mi·3 min·WV 2
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward US 50: Downtown Parkersburg
9
Turn right onto US 50
3.1 mi·3 min·Corridor D
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward WV 14: Downtown
11
Turn right onto WV 14
0.5 mi·1 min·WV 14
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn left onto Market Street
0.1 mi·28 sec·Market Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
13
Turn right onto North 3rd Street
237 ft·12 sec·North 3rd Street
14
Continue on 3rd Street
224 ft·12 sec·3rd Street
15
Turn right onto WV 68
0.1 mi·27 sec·Juliana Street
Use the straight lane.
16
Arrive at destination
WV 68; WV 618
Trip Plan
Since this 1 hour and 40-minute drive is quite manageable, you have significant flexibility regarding your departure time. You do not need to worry about complex stop planning, as there are 0 designated stops required to complete the 109.8-mile distance. We recommend keeping a close eye on your fuel gauge before you head out, given the $17 estimated cost, to ensure you can complete the trip without needing to hunt for stations along the local roads. Because the route is entirely non-highway, it is wise to factor in extra time for potential traffic on local streets during peak hours. Staying alert for the frequent turns required on Elizabeth Street and 3rd Street will make your journey much smoother and more predictable.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 43.9 miles from Wheeling, WV, or about 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.4 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 19 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.9 miles or 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Parkersburg, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Wheeling, WV
This is one driving day of about 87.8 miles and 1h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Wheeling, WV.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on WV 2 for about 49.4 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 83.2 and 87.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
83.2 mi into trip|~1h 39m in
Take the exit toward US 50: Downtown Parkersburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 50: Downtown Parkersburg
4
86.7 mi into trip|~1h 43m in
Take the exit toward WV 14: Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward WV 14: Downtown
5
86.9 mi into trip|~1h 44m in|WV 14
Turn right onto WV 14
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
87.5 mi into trip|~1h 46m in|Market Street
Turn left onto Market Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
87.7 mi into trip|~1h 46m in|WV 68 / Juliana Street
Turn right onto WV 68 / Juliana Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.73 one way
$27.46 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$15.01
$30.02
premium
$4.70
$16.25
$32.50
diesel
$5.61
$19.39
$38.77
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.3
0
$9.22
$4.21
Efficient EV
22
0
$7.68
$3.51
EV Truck/SUV
35.1
0
$12.29
$5.62
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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 19, 2026
Origin
Wheeling, WV
Afternoon
in Wheeling on Sunday
Local time
4:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Parkersburg, WV
Afternoon
in Parkersburg on Sunday
Local time
4:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°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
1 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
1h 47m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate experience, as this route relies entirely on local roads like Elizabeth Street, Chelsea Street, and 3rd Street. With a highway share of 0%, your focus will remain on navigating local traffic and changing road conditions rather than high-speed cruising. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 0 miles on Elizabeth Street, which confirms that you will be navigating frequent turns and transitions throughout the duration of the trip. The character of the drive is technical and engaging, requiring your full attention as you move through the various local segments. You will not find long, straight stretches here, so prepare for a hands-on driving experience from start to finish.
57% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 49.4 mi on WV 2.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 83.2 miles in.
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 87.8 miles you will encounter 9 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 83.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 86.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 86.9 miles (WV 14): Lane positioning matters here.
Wheeling, also known as the "Friendly City" or the "Nail City", is a city of 26,000 people (as of 2019) in West Virginia. Wheeling is known for having more Victorian architecture than any other city in the United States.
Parkersburg is a city of 30,000 people (as of 2018) in West Virginia. It was known as "Newport" when it was founded, later to be renamed Parkersburg in 1810. The city sits where the Little Kanawha River meets the Ohio river; the town of Belpre lies just across the river in Ohio. Among Parkersburg's more famous residents is Morgan Spurlock, director of the 2004 film Super Size Me; the city's film connections continued with the 2006 film Bubble, which was filmed in the area and starred local residents. The area also has a long history with oil drilling, and is the home of the first documented commercial use of oil in the US.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 47m. Total distance: 87.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (57%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 49.4 miles on WV 2. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 83.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 86.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 86.9 miles (WV 14): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Parkersburg, WV before heading back.
