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Trip from Parkersburg, WV to Shady Spring, WV

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

2h 53m

Distance

143 mi

230 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$22

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

8 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 59m
3 PM
3h 2m
5 PM
3h 14m
8 PM
2h 47m

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 Shady Spring, WV, WV

Shady Spring, WV

Federated Art

Trip Overview

The drive from Parkersburg, WV to Shady Spring, WV covers 143 miles and takes about 2h 53m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 77, Ritter Drive, West Virginia Route 95 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 128.1 miles on I 77. At current regular gas prices, budget about $22.36 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

71.5 miles from Parkersburg, WV

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 23m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 53m. Total distance: 143 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (91%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

This is a 2h 53m highway drive covering 143 miles, with most of the trip on I 77 and Ritter Drive. The longest continuous stretch is about 128.1 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 19 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 128.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 77 and Ritter Drive. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 6th Street.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 2h 53m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

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 13 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
4 mi into trip | ~8m in | I 77; WV 2

Merge onto I 77; WV 2

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
142.9 mi into trip | ~2h 53m in

Turn sharp left

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 77 128.1 mi 2h 24m
Ritter Drive 5.9 mi 10m
West Virginia Route 95 1.9 mi 3m
Harper Road 1.9 mi 4m
South Fayette Street 1.8 mi 3m
Camden Avenue 0.8 mi 1m
5th Street 0.7 mi 1m
2nd Street 0.5 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 77 — 128.1 mi, about 2h 24m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Parkersburg, WV and Shady Spring, 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

128 mi · 2 hr 24 min · I 77; WV 2
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 45 sec
Exit 44 Toward WV 3: Beckley
10

Turn left onto WV 3

1.9 mi · 4 min · Harper Road
11

Continue on WV 3

0.3 mi · 33 sec · West Neville Street
12

Turn right onto WV 3

498 ft · 14 sec · 3rd Avenue
13

Turn left onto WV 3

0.5 mi · 48 sec · 2nd Street
14

Continue on WV 3

1.8 mi · 3 min · South Fayette Street
15

Turn right onto US 19; WV 3

0.1 mi · 17 sec · South Eisenhower Drive
16

Continue on US 19; WV 3

5.9 mi · 10 min · Ritter Drive
17

Turn left onto WV 3

113 ft · 9 sec · Hinton Road
18

Turn sharp left

108 ft · 3 sec
19

Arrive at destination

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 71.5 miles from Parkersburg, WV, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 128.1 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 31 miles or 38m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 71.5 miles or 1h 23m 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 15m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Shady Spring, 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 143 miles and 2h 53m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 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 128.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 71.5 mi from Parkersburg, WV · 1h 23m into the drive

capital city of West Virginia, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Charleston, WV

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

Ravenswood, WV

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Charleston, WV

Meal break

The midpoint is around 71.5 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 128.1 miles.

Arriving in Shady Spring, WV

The final approach into Shady Spring, 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 Shady Spring, 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 ~54 min detour Free near mile 103.5
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$22.36 one way

$44.72 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 50 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $24.45 $48.90
premium $4.70 $26.47 $52.93
diesel $5.61 $31.57 $63.15

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$22

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$47–$72

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 50 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

8 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

ChargePoint Charging Station

South Charleston, West Virginia

ChargePoint

1 DCFC

DC-America Charging Station

Beckley, West Virginia

Other

1 DCFC

Tesla Supercharger

Mt Hope, West Virginia

Tesla

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

InCharge Energy Charging Station

Cabin Creek, West Virginia

InCharge

1 DCFC

ChargePoint: 3 Tesla: 2 Other: 1 EV Connect: 1 InCharge: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

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

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 42.9 0 $15.01 $6.86
Efficient EV 35.8 0 $12.51 $5.72
EV Truck/SUV 57.2 0 $20.02 $9.15

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 as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Parkersburg, WV

Night in Parkersburg on Thursday

Local time

9:36 PM

EDT

Current temp

67°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Shady Spring, WV

Night in Shady Spring on Thursday

Local time

9:36 PM

EDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

69°F

Charleston, WV

72 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

21 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 53m 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 Shady Spring, WV covers 143 miles and takes about 2h 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 77, Ritter Drive, 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 71.5 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 $22.36 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 is a straightforward 2h 53m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 Shady Spring, WV does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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