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Trip from Parkersburg, WV to Coal City, WV

Data updated 1 hour ago

Drive Time

2h 52m

Distance

144 mi

232 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$23

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min
4 AM
2h 42m ★
6 AM
2h 53m
8 AM
3h 15m
10 AM
3h 1m
12 PM
2h 58m
3 PM
3h 2m
5 PM
3h 14m
8 PM
2h 46m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in and county seat of Wood County, West Virginia

Parkersburg, WV

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Coal City, WV, WV

Coal City, WV

Braeson Holland

Trip Overview

The drive from Parkersburg, WV to Coal City, WV covers 144 miles and takes about 2h 52m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 77, US 121 FUT, West Virginia Route 95 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 130.7 miles on I 77. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.52 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

72 miles from Parkersburg, WV

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 24m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

This is a 2h 52m highway drive covering 144 miles, with most of the trip on I 77 and US 121 FUT. The longest continuous stretch is about 130.7 miles on I 77.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 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 130.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 77 and US 121 FUT. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 6th Street.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 144 miles you will encounter 16 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 16 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.
6
134.7 mi into trip | ~2h 34m in

Take the exit toward WV 16, WV 97: Mabscott

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 42 Toward WV 16, WV 97: Mabscott
7
135.2 mi into trip | ~2h 35m in | US 121 FUT

Keep slight right at fork onto US 121 FUT toward WV 16, WV 97: Mabscott

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 42 Toward WV 16, WV 97: Mabscott

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 77 130.7 mi 2h 26m
US 121 FUT 3.3 mi 4m
West Virginia Route 95 1.9 mi 3m
Independence Road 1.7 mi 4m
Coal City Road 1.5 mi 3m
WV 16 1.3 mi 2m
Camden Avenue 0.8 mi 1m
5th Street 0.7 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 77 — 130.7 mi, about 2h 26m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Parkersburg, WV and Coal City, 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

131 mi · 2 hr 26 min · I 77; WV 2
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 47 sec
Exit 42 Toward WV 16, WV 97: Mabscott
10

Continue on US 121 FUT

0.2 mi · 10 sec · Coalfields Expressway
Exit 42 Toward WV 16, WV 97: Mabscott
11

Keep slight right at fork onto US 121 FUT

3.3 mi · 4 min · US 121 FUT
Exit 42 Toward WV 16, WV 97: Mabscott
12

Take the exit onto WV 16; WV 97

0.1 mi · 21 sec · WV 16; WV 97
13

Keep slight left at fork onto WV 16

0.2 mi · 25 sec · WV 16
14

Keep slight right at fork onto WV 16

1.0 mi · 1 min · WV 16
15

At end of road, turn left onto CR 16/14

0.4 mi · 51 sec · East Main Street
16

Turn right onto CR 29/6

0.6 mi · 1 min · Independence School Road
17

Continue on CR 29/6

1.7 mi · 4 min · Independence Road
18

At end of road, turn right onto Coal City Road

1.3 mi · 3 min · Coal City Road
19

Continue on CR 29

0.3 mi · 38 sec · Coal City Road
20

Arrive at destination

CR 29

Trip Plan

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 72 miles from Parkersburg, WV, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 130.7 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 33m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 72 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 16m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Coal City, 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 144 miles and 2h 52m.

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.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 77 for about 130.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 72 mi from Parkersburg, WV · 1h 24m into the drive

suburb in Eastbourne, East Sussex, England, UK

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Meads, KY

72 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.

Pacing Suggestions

Meads, KY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Meads, KY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 72 miles from Parkersburg, WV, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 77 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 130.7 miles.

Arriving in Coal City, WV

The final approach into Coal City, 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 Coal City, WV.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Gauley River National Recreation Area

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 ~55 min detour Free near mile 104.3
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$22.52 one way

$45.04 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 50 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $24.62 $49.24
premium $4.70 $26.65 $53.30
diesel $5.61 $31.79 $63.59

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$48–$73

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 50.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 43.2 0 $15.12 $6.91
Efficient EV 36 0 $12.60 $5.76
EV Truck/SUV 57.6 0 $20.16 $9.22

Gas CO2

50 kg

EV CO2

17 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 data refreshed 37 minutes ago

Origin

Parkersburg, WV

Night in Parkersburg on Tuesday

Local time

9:29 PM

EDT

Current temp

67°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Coal City, WV

Night in Coal City on Tuesday

Local time

9:29 PM

EDT

Current temp

35°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

32 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

2h 52m 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 Parkersburg, WV to Coal City, WV covers 144 miles and takes about 2h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 77, US 121 FUT, 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 72 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 $22.52 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.
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 144 miles you will encounter 16 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 Coal City, WV does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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