Trip from Wheeling, WV to Dunbar, WV

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

3h 9m

Distance

165.6 mi

267 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$26

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min

4 AM

2h 58m ★

6 AM

3h 10m

8 AM

3h 33m

10 AM

3h 18m

12 PM

3h 16m

3 PM

3h 19m

5 PM

3h 32m

8 PM

3h 3m

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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Trip Overview

Connecting Wheeling to Dunbar, this 165.6-mile journey across West Virginia is a straightforward trip that typically takes about 3 hours and 9 minutes. Since the entire drive stays within the state, you won't need to worry about crossing regional borders, making it an efficient travel option. Budgeting roughly $27 for fuel should cover your needs for the one-day transit. Because the duration is relatively short, you can easily complete this drive in a single day without requiring an overnight stay. It is a practical, highway-focused route that serves as a reliable link between these two West Virginia communities.

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

82.8 miles from Wheeling, WV

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 34m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused experience, as 79% of your total travel time will be spent on major roads. You will rely primarily on WV 2, Chelsea Street, and 3rd Street to navigate between your start and end points. The most significant portion of your journey involves a 122.6-mile stretch on WV 2, which dictates the overall pace of the trip. While the route is designed for efficiency, the transition between these specific roads provides a consistent driving rhythm. You should anticipate a steady, predictable flow behind the wheel as you cover the distance across the state.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Elizabeth Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

835 ft 596 ft

Total Climb

666 ft

Total Descent

733 ft

Highest Point

835 ft

~151.8 mi in

Elevation Range

239 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Wheeling, WV to Dunbar, WV is easy. At 3h 9m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Wheeling, WV to Dunbar, WV is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Elizabeth Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
Chelsea Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
3rd Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
Emerson Avenue	Unavailable	Refreshing
I 64 West	Unavailable	Refreshing
CR 25	Unavailable	Refreshing
10th Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
I 64 East	Unavailable	Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Elizabeth Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Wheeling, WV and Dunbar, WV.

1

Start on Chapline Street

479 ft · 10 sec · Chapline Street

2

Take the ramp straight

46 mi · 56 min

3

Turn left onto Elizabeth Street

269 ft · 4 sec · Elizabeth Street

4

Turn right onto Chelsea Street

17 mi · 19 min · Chelsea Street

5

Continue on 3rd Street

12 mi · 13 min · 3rd Street

6

Continue on Emerson Avenue

5.1 mi · 5 min · Emerson Avenue

7

Take the exit right

77 mi · 1 hr 22 min

8

Continue straight

2.3 mi · 2 min

9

Take the exit slight right toward I 64 West, US 119 South: Huntington

0.2 mi · 13 sec · I 64 West, US 119 South: Huntington

10

Keep slight left

0.5 mi · 34 sec

11

Merge slight right

5.9 mi · 7 min

12

Take the exit slight right toward CR 25/25: Roxalana Road, Dunbar

0.2 mi · 20 sec · CR 25/25: Roxalana Road, Dunbar

13

Keep slight left

72 ft · 2 sec

14

Turn right onto 10th Street

0.3 mi · 36 sec · 10th Street

15

Take the ramp sharp left toward I 64 East: Charleston

72 ft · 2 sec · I 64 East: Charleston

16

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Planning for this 165.6-mile trip is simple, as the route is manageable for a single driver in one go. Since you only have one planned stop, make sure to time your break effectively to keep your energy levels consistent throughout the 3-hour and 9-minute drive. Keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is smart, though the $27 estimated cost makes it easy to budget for a round trip if necessary. Because WV 2 accounts for the vast majority of your mileage, check local traffic reports for that specific corridor before you depart. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, allowing you to hit the road whenever it best suits your schedule.

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 82.8 miles from Wheeling, WV, or about 1h 34m into the drive.

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 31m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 82.8 miles or 1h 34m 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 35m

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 Wheeling, 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 Wheeling, WV

This is one driving day of about 165.6 miles and 3h 9m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Wheeling, 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.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 82.8 mi from Wheeling, WV · 1h 34m into the drive

city in Jackson County, Ohio, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Wellston, OH

83 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.

Wellston, OH

Meal break

The midpoint is around 82.8 miles from Wheeling, WV, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Dunbar, WV

The final approach into Dunbar, 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 Dunbar, WV.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$25.90 one way

$51.79 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 58 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.34	$28.31	$56.63
premium	$4.70	$30.65	$61.30
diesel	$5.61	$36.56	$73.12

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$26

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$51–$76

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 57.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	49.7	$17.39	$7.95
Efficient EV	41.4	$14.49	$6.62
EV Truck/SUV	66.2	$23.18	$10.60

Gas CO2

58 kg

EV CO2

19 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 data refreshed 20 hours ago

Origin

Wheeling, WV

Afternoon in Wheeling on Tuesday

Local time

2:04 PM

EDT

Current temp

36°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Dunbar, WV

Afternoon in Dunbar on Tuesday

Local time

2:04 PM

EDT

Current temp

40°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

4 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

3h 9m 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 Wheeling, WV to Dunbar, WV covers 165.6 miles and takes about 3h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Elizabeth Street, Chelsea Street, 3rd Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 82.8 miles from Wheeling, WV. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $25.90 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.

The drive from Wheeling, WV to Dunbar, WV is easy. At 3h 9m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Wheeling, WV to Dunbar, WV is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Wheeling, 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 835 ft elevation with about 666 ft of total climbing.

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