How far is Ranson, WV from Parkersburg, WV?

The driving distance from Ranson, WV to Parkersburg, WV is about 278.4 miles (448 km), with a travel time of about 04h 30m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 197.9 miles (318.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 01m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
278.35 mi
04h 30m
Flight
197.93 mi
318.54 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Ranson.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
197.93 mi
Kilometers
318.54 km
Flight Time
00h 23m

Driving Distance

Road route
278.35 mi
Kilometers
447.96 km
Drive Time
04h 30m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 04h 30m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Parkersburg
Thu, Apr 23, 6:57 AM EDT
Return by in Ranson
Thu, Apr 23, 11:28 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Ranson
2026-04-23T02:26
Arrive Parkersburg
Thu, Apr 23, 6:57 AM EDT
Route Timing
04h 30m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:31 AM to 12:31 PM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
7:58 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Ranson
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Brandonville
WV

Human settlement in Preston County, West Virginia, United States of America

From Ranson
132 mi
02h 15m
To Parkersburg
146.4 mi
02h 15m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph N
Destination
81°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 6 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Ranson and Parkersburg.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ranson and Parkersburg.

  1. 1

    Start on Lancaster Circle

    153 m · 9 sec · Lancaster Circle

  2. 2

    Exit the rotary onto South Fairfax Boulevard

    1059 ft · 18 sec · South Fairfax Boulevard

  3. 3

    Continue on North George Street

    1298 ft · 28 sec · North George Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto West Washington Street

    2362 ft · 42 sec · West Washington Street

  5. 5

    Turn slight right onto Martin Luther King Boulevard

    8.2 mi · 12 min · Martin Luther King Boulevard

  6. 6

    Turn slight left onto Specks Run Road

    804 ft · 16 sec · Specks Run Road

  7. 7

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Giles Mill Road

    2.9 mi · 5 min · Giles Mill Road

  8. 8

    Turn left onto Winchester Pike

    1347 ft · 23 sec · Winchester Pike

  9. 9

    Continue on Winchester Avenue

    2.8 mi · 4 min · Winchester Avenue

  10. 10

    Continue on Martinsburg Pike

    1584 ft · 33 sec · Martinsburg Pike

  11. 11

    Turn right onto Rest Church Road

    835 ft · 26 sec · Rest Church Road

  12. 12

    Take the ramp left toward I 81 South

    996 ft · 24 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left

    5.6 mi · 6 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward US 11: Winchester, Stephenson

    1206 ft · 34 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight right

    100 m · 8 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto Martinsburg Pike

    1751 ft · 41 sec · Martinsburg Pike

  17. 17

    Keep slight right to continue on VA 37 South

    1.7 mi · 2 min

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward US 522: Winchester, Berkeley Springs

    1821 ft · 47 sec

  19. 19

    Turn right onto North Frederick Pike

    12 mi · 17 min · North Frederick Pike

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Bloomery Pike

    9.8 mi · 11 min · Bloomery Pike

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Gaston Road

    1.3 km · 55 sec · Gaston Road

  22. 22

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Paw Paw Road

    9.5 mi · 11 min · Paw Paw Road

  23. 23

    Continue on Henry W. Miller Highway

    1.2 mi · 1 min · Henry W. Miller Highway

  24. 24

    Continue on Oldtown Road

    20.8 mi · 24 min · Oldtown Road

  25. 25

    Continue on New 51 Road Southeast

    1.4 km · 59 sec · New 51 Road Southeast

  26. 26

    Continue on Uhl Highway Southeast

    1.4 km · 1 min · Uhl Highway Southeast

  27. 27

    Continue on Industrial Boulevard

    2.7 mi · 5 min · Industrial Boulevard

  28. 28

    Keep slight right to continue on Queen City Drive

    141 m · 16 sec · Queen City Drive

  29. 29

    Continue on South Centre Street

    147 m · 22 sec · South Centre Street

  30. 30

    Take the exit left

    1028 ft · 25 sec

  31. 31

    Merge slight left onto National Freeway

    74.8 mi · 1 hr 22 min · National Freeway

  32. 32

    Keep slight left to continue on I-79 S: Fairmont

    1.3 km · 54 sec

  33. 33

    Merge slight left onto Senator Jennings Randolph Highway

    28.9 mi · 31 min · Senator Jennings Randolph Highway

  34. 34

    Take the exit slight right toward US 50: Clarksburg, Bridgeport

    1045 ft · 26 sec

  35. 35

    Keep slight right

    109 m · 9 sec

  36. 36

    Merge slight left onto Corridor D

    75.2 mi · 1 hr 28 min · Corridor D

  37. 37

    Take the exit slight right toward WV 14: Downtown

    1411 ft · 37 sec

  38. 38

    Turn right

    2857 ft · 1 min

  39. 39

    Turn left onto Market Street

    733 ft · 29 sec · Market Street

  40. 40

    Turn right onto North 3rd Street

    72 m · 12 sec · North 3rd Street

  41. 41

    Continue on 3rd Street

    68 m · 12 sec · 3rd Street

  42. 42

    Turn right onto Juliana Street

    740 ft · 27 sec · Juliana Street

  43. 43

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Juliana Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Ranson and Parkersburg.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
43 steps
15 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
12
5 merges, 7 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Corridor D
75.2 mi · 27%
National Freeway
74.8 mi · 27%
Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
28.9 mi · 10%
Oldtown Road
20.8 mi · 7%
North Frederick Pike
12 mi · 4%
Bloomery Pike
9.81 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

Corridor D

Merge slight left onto Corridor D

75.2 mi · 01h 28m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 30m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 02m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+80.5 mi
197.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Brandonville
02h 15m from Ranson
Leave By
7:58 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Ranson and Sunny near Parkersburg.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Ranson to Parkersburg?

The road trip is about 278.4 miles (448 km) and usually takes 04h 30m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Brandonville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 132 miles from Ranson and 146.4 miles from Parkersburg.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 197.9 miles (318.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 80.5 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:58 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $38.90 one way or $77.79 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 87.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Ranson and Sunny near Parkersburg.

Stop Ideas Near Brandonville

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Brandonville, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Brandonville.

RAIL

Connellsville station

39 mi away
North Water Street and West Peach Street
BUS

Grantsville, MD

45 mi away
3000 Chestnut Ridge Road
BUS

Frostburg, MD

59 mi away
101 Braddock Road
RAIL

Greensburg

71 mi away
Harrison Ave. and Seton Hill Dr.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Ranson and Parkersburg. Straight-line distance: 197.93 mi (318.54 km).

Ranson

#1 Ranson

City in West Virginia

Population4,941
Coordinates39.2951000, -77.8605500
Altitude158
CountryUnited States
Parkersburg

#2 Parkersburg

City in and county seat of Wood County, West Virginia

Population29,009
Coordinates39.2667400, -81.5615100
Altitude187
CountryUnited States
Start: Lancaster Circle (-77.860577, 39.295064)
End: Juliana Street (-81.56142, 39.266643)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 448 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 16m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 57m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 34m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 38m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 58m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 28m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.82 gal
37.18 L · about $38.90
Round trip
$77.79
19.64 gal · 74.36 L
Estimated CO2
87.3 kg one way
Round trip: 174.5 kg / 385 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $38.90 $77.79
Mid-grade $4.43 $43.49 $86.99
Premium $4.78 $46.92 $93.84
Diesel $5.62 $55.23 $110.46

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in West Virginia · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Ranson and Parkersburg. The current time is 02:26:34.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.