Connecting Parkersburg to Dunbar is a straightforward, efficient journey that spans 82.7 miles through West Virginia. You can easily complete this drive in about 1 hour and 34 minutes, making it an ideal candidate for a quick day trip. Since both cities are located within the Southeast region of the state, you won't encounter significant shifts in terrain or climate. Budgeting approximately $13 for fuel should cover your needs for the trip. Because the duration is relatively short, there is no need to plan for an overnight stay unless you have additional business or activities to attend to at either end. Overall, this is a highly practical transit route designed for those looking to reach their destination with minimal fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.3 miles from Parkersburg, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 48m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 34m. Total distance: 82.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 96% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will navigate a mix of I-77, I-64, and West Virginia Route 95 to complete your journey. The most significant portion of your time behind the wheel will be spent on a 71.7-mile stretch along I-77, which provides a consistent, steady pace. While the drive is efficient, expect a standard interstate experience rather than a winding backroad excursion. The transition between these major roads is designed for connectivity, ensuring you maintain good momentum from the moment you leave Parkersburg until you arrive in Dunbar.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 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 71.7 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
832 ft596 ft
Total Climb
505 ft
Total Descent
522 ft
Highest Point
832 ft
~68.9 mi in
Elevation Range
236 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 77 and I 64. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 6th Street.
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 82.7 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.1 miles (6th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Green Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.4 miles (WV 14 / 5th Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|6th Street
Turn right onto 6th Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|Green Street
At end of road, turn right onto Green Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
5
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|WV 14 / 5th Street
Turn left onto WV 14 / 5th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
75.7 mi into trip|~1h 25m in
Take the exit toward I 64 West, US 119 South: Huntington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 64 West, US 119 South: Huntington
6
82.7 mi into trip|~1h 34m in
Take the ramp toward I 64 East: Charleston
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Toward I 64 East: Charleston
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 77
71.7 mi
1h 17m
I 64
5.9 mi
7m
West Virginia Route 95
1.9 mi
3m
Camden Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
5th Street
0.7 mi
1m
10th Street
0.3 mi
<1m
6th Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Juliana Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 77
— 71.7 mi, about 1h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Parkersburg, WV and Dunbar, WV.
1
Start on WV 68; WV 618
449 ft·21 sec·Juliana Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
2
Turn right onto 6th Street
0.2 mi·50 sec·6th Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto Green Street
363 ft·19 sec·Green Street
4
Turn left onto WV 14
0.7 mi·1 min·5th Street
Use the left lane.
5
Turn left onto WV 95
0.8 mi·1 min·Camden Avenue
6
Continue on WV 95
1.9 mi·3 min·West Virginia Route 95
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 77, WV 2: Charleston
8
Merge onto I 77; WV 2
72 mi·1 hr 17 min·I 77; WV 2
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·12 sec
Toward I 64 West, US 119 South: Huntington
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·34 sec
11
Merge onto I 64
5.9 mi·7 min·I 64
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·19 sec
Toward CR 25/25: Roxalana Road, Dunbar
13
Keep slight left at fork
72 ft·2 sec
14
Turn right onto CR 25/25
0.3 mi·35 sec·10th Street
15
Take the ramp
73 ft·1 sec
Toward I 64 East: Charleston
16
Arrive at destination
Toward I 64 East: Charleston
Trip Plan
Since this is a short, sub-two-hour drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You can comfortably make the trip without any scheduled stops, though you should keep an eye on your fuel levels before merging onto the long 71.7-mile stretch of I-77. If you prefer to avoid heavy traffic, plan your departure to steer clear of typical morning or evening commuter windows near the larger hubs. Because the route relies so heavily on interstates, stay alert for standard highway merging patterns throughout the transition from I-77 to I-64. Keeping your pace steady along the highway segments will help you arrive in Dunbar feeling refreshed and ready for whatever your day holds.
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 41.3 miles from Parkersburg, WV, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 71.7 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 80 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.3 miles or 48m 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dunbar, WV than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Parkersburg, 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 Parkersburg, WV
This is one driving day of about 82.7 miles and 1h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Parkersburg, WV.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 77 for about 71.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 41.3 mi from Parkersburg, WV
· 48m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.93 one way
$25.86 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$14.14
$28.28
premium
$4.70
$15.31
$30.61
diesel
$5.61
$18.26
$36.52
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.8
0
$8.68
$3.97
Efficient EV
20.7
0
$7.24
$3.31
EV Truck/SUV
33.1
0
$11.58
$5.29
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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 14, 2026
Origin
Parkersburg, WV
Late night
in Parkersburg on Saturday
Local time
12:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
SW 14 mph62% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Dunbar, WV
Late night
in Dunbar on Saturday
Local time
12:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°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
14 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
1h 34m on the road
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Parkersburg, WV to Dunbar, WV covers 82.7 miles and takes about 1h 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 77, I 64, West Virginia Route 95. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 41.3 miles from Parkersburg, WV. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.93 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 82.7 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.1 miles (6th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Green Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.4 miles (WV 14 / 5th Street): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Parkersburg, WV to Dunbar, WV does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 596 ft to 832 ft elevation with about 505 ft of total climbing.
