The drive from Clendenin, WV to Wheeling, WV covers 179.2 miles and takes about 3h 27m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 77, North State Rt. 2, Senator Jennings Randolph Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 76.2 miles on I 77.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.02 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
89.6 miles from Clendenin, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 40m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 27m. Total distance: 179.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (50%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Clendenin, WV to Wheeling, WV covers 179.2 miles and takes about 3h 27m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 77 is the longest continuous segment at about 76.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near US 119 / Elk River 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 179.2 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.4 miles (US 119 / Elk River Road): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 99 miles (WV 2): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 99.4 miles (WV 2): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|US 119 / Elk River Road
At end of road, turn right onto US 119 / Elk River Road
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
99 mi into trip|~1h 50m in|WV 2
Take the exit onto WV 2 toward WV 2 North, WV 68 South: Vienna, North Parkersburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward WV 2 North, WV 68 South: Vienna, North P...
6
99.4 mi into trip|~1h 50m in|WV 2
Keep slight right at fork onto WV 2 toward WV 2 North, WV 68 South: Vienna, North Parkersburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward WV 2 North, WV 68 South: Vienna, North P...
5
179.1 mi into trip|~3h 26m in|17th Street
Turn left onto 17th Street
Navigation decision point
5
179.1 mi into trip|~3h 26m in|WV 2 / Chapline Street
Turn right onto WV 2 / Chapline Street
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 Clendenin, WV to Wheeling, WV, road signs begin pointing toward Parkersburg along the way.
Parkersburg
99 mi in|~1h 50m|via WV 2
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 77
76.2 mi
1h 21m
North State Rt. 2
23.7 mi
29m
Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
18.2 mi
19m
2nd Street
16.9 mi
19m
State Route 2
11.7 mi
13m
Wheeling Avenue
9.4 mi
12m
Emerson Avenue
5 mi
5m
Wells Street
5 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 77
— 76.2 mi, about 1h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clendenin, WV and Wheeling, WV.
1
Start on CR 4/1
0.2 mi·54 sec·Maywood Avenue East
2
Turn right onto French Street
0.1 mi·33 sec·French Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto US 119
163 ft·2 sec·Elk River Road
4
Continue on US 119
0.2 mi·36 sec·Charleston Clendenin Road
5
Turn left onto US 119
0.4 mi·46 sec·Beech Street
6
Continue on US 119
2.2 mi·3 min·Spencer Road
7
Turn straight onto CR 13/15
269 ft·4 sec·CR 13/15
8
Continue on Cort 5/3
0.1 mi·9 sec·Cort 5/3
9
Continue on CR 5/3
0.1 mi·11 sec·Bufflick Road
10
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·46 sec
11
Merge onto I 79
18 mi·19 min·Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
12
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 77 North: Parkersburg
13
Merge onto I 77
76 mi·1 hr 21 min·I 77
14
Take the exit onto WV 2
0.4 mi·47 sec·WV 2
Toward WV 2 North, WV 68 South: Vienna, North Parkersburg
15
Keep slight right at fork onto WV 2
136 ft·3 sec·WV 2
Toward WV 2 North, WV 68 South: Vienna, North Parkersburg
16
Continue on WV 2
5.0 mi·5 min·Emerson Avenue
17
Continue on WV 2
12 mi·13 min·State Route 2
18
Continue on WV 2
17 mi·19 min·2nd Street
19
Turn right onto WV 2
5.0 mi·5 min·Wells Street
20
Continue on WV 2
4.3 mi·4 min·Vine Street
21
Continue on WV 2
2.0 mi·2 min·3rd Street
22
Continue on WV 2
1.3 mi·1 min·North State Route 2
23
Continue on WV 2
24 mi·29 min·North State Rt. 2
24
Continue on US 250; WV 2
9.4 mi·12 min·Wheeling Avenue
25
Take the exit onto WV 2
0.3 mi·42 sec·WV 2
26
Turn left onto 17th Street
333 ft·16 sec·17th Street
27
Turn right onto WV 2
323 ft·5 sec·Chapline Street
28
Arrive at destination
WV 2
Trip Plan
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 89.6 miles from Clendenin, WV, or about 1h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76.2 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 39 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 89.6 miles or 1h 40m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wheeling, WV than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Clendenin, 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 Clendenin, WV
This is one driving day of about 179.2 miles and 3h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Clendenin, 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 76.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 89.6 mi from Clendenin, WV
· 1h 40m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.02 one way
$56.05 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg63 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$30.64
$61.28
premium
$4.70
$33.17
$66.33
diesel
$5.61
$39.57
$79.13
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
5 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: good
ChargePoint Charging Station
South Charleston, West Virginia
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Charleston, West Virginia
Tesla
1 DCFC
EV Connect Charging Station
Charleston, West Virginia
EV Connect
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
South Charleston, West Virginia
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
South Charleston, West Virginia
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint: 3
Tesla: 1
EV Connect: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
53.8
0
$18.82
$8.60
Efficient EV
44.8
0
$15.68
$7.17
EV Truck/SUV
71.7
0
$25.09
$11.47
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (67% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Clendenin, WV
Afternoon
in Clendenin on Friday
Local time
1:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Wheeling, WV
Afternoon
in Wheeling on Friday
Local time
1:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
66°F
Vienna, WV
90 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
13 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
3h 27m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Clendenin, WV to Wheeling, WV covers 179.2 miles and takes about 3h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 77, North State Rt. 2, Senator Jennings Randolph Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 89.6 miles from Clendenin, WV. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $28.02 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 179.2 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (US 119 / Elk River Road): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 99 miles (WV 2): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 99.4 miles (WV 2): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Clendenin, WV to Wheeling, WV, road signs begin pointing toward Parkersburg along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
