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Drive Time
2h 55m
Distance
154.5 mi
249 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dunbar, WV
Wikimedia Commons
Moundsville, WV
Wikimedia Commons
Traveling from Dunbar to Moundsville covers a 154.5-mile journey that typically takes 2 hours and 55 minutes to complete. Because this route is a straightforward highway-focused drive, it works perfectly as a manageable one-day trip. You should budget approximately $25 for fuel to cover the distance between these two West Virginia locations. Both the starting point and destination are situated within the Southeast region, offering a consistent feel throughout the journey. Whether you are heading north for business or personal travel, this route provides a reliable connection across the state without the need for an overnight split.
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
77.2 miles from Dunbar, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 24m into the drive .
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Expect a trip defined by efficiency, as roughly 63% of your time will be spent on highways. Your journey begins with a significant 78.4-mile stretch on I-77, which serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of the drive. As you transition onto North State Rt. 2 and eventually 2nd Street, the pace shifts from high-speed interstate travel to more localized driving. This mix ensures you spend the bulk of your time making steady progress before navigating the final segments closer to your destination. You will find that the road maintains a predictable character, favoring highway speed over technical or winding backroads.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
535 ft
Total Descent
437 ft
Highest Point
770 ft
~64.4 mi in
Elevation Range
174 ft
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 77 and North State Rt. 2. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 6 miles in.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 154.5 miles you will encounter 10 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 6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.9 miles (I 77): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 84.8 miles (WV 2): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the exit toward I 77 North, I 79: Parkersburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto I 77 toward I 77 North: Parkersburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
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
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
Turn left onto 5th Street
Navigation decision point
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Dunbar, WV to Moundsville, WV, road signs begin pointing toward Parkersburg along the way.
Parkersburg
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 77 | 78.4 mi | 1h 24m |
| North State Rt. 2 | 22.8 mi | 27m |
| 2nd Street | 16.9 mi | 19m |
| State Route 2 | 11.7 mi | 13m |
| I 64 | 5.8 mi | 7m |
| Emerson Avenue | 5 mi | 5m |
| Wells Street | 5 mi | 5m |
| Vine Street | 4.3 mi | 4m |
Step-by-step road directions between Dunbar, WV and Moundsville, WV.
Start on this road
Merge onto I 64
Take the exit
Merge onto I 77
Keep slight left at fork onto I 77
Take the exit onto WV 2
Keep slight right at fork onto WV 2
Continue on WV 2
Continue on WV 2
Continue on WV 2
Turn right onto WV 2
Continue on WV 2
Continue on WV 2
Continue on WV 2
Continue on WV 2
Turn right onto CH 250/88
Turn left onto CH 250/88
Turn left onto 5th Street
Arrive at destination
Since this is a sub-three-hour trip, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time around traffic patterns. I recommend scheduling at least one stop to break up the drive, especially during the 78.4-mile interstate stretch, to keep yourself refreshed. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge when leaving Dunbar, as the $25 estimate is based on standard consumption and may vary depending on your vehicle's efficiency. Because you are navigating primarily via I-77 and State Rt. 2, ensure your navigation is set before merging onto the interstate to avoid missing key transitions. Taking advantage of the single planned stop will make the nearly three-hour duration feel much shorter and more comfortable.
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.
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 80 miles or 1h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 77.2 miles or 1h 24m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Moundsville, WV than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Dunbar, 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 Dunbar, WV
This is one driving day of about 154.5 miles and 2h 55m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 77.2 mi from Dunbar, WV · 1h 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
77 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 77.2 miles from Dunbar, WV, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 77 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 78.4 miles.
The final approach into Moundsville, WV usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Moundsville, WV.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$24.16 one way
$48.32 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $26.42 | $52.83 |
| premium | $4.70 | $28.59 | $57.19 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $34.11 | $68.22 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 46.4 | 0 | $16.22 | $7.42 |
| Efficient EV | 38.6 | 0 | $13.52 | $6.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 61.8 | 0 | $21.63 | $9.89 |
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Dunbar on Tuesday
Local time
2:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Afternoon in Moundsville on Tuesday
Local time
2:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Partly Cloudy
74°F
Newtown, PA
77 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
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.
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