How far is Welch, WV from Parkersburg, WV?

The driving distance from Welch, WV to Parkersburg, WV is about 182.1 miles (293.1 km), with a travel time of about 03h 13m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 126.7 miles (203.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 27m 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
182.12 mi
03h 13m
Flight
126.71 mi
203.92 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Welch.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
126.71 mi
Kilometers
203.92 km
Flight Time
00h 15m

Driving Distance

Road route
182.12 mi
Kilometers
293.09 km
Drive Time
03h 13m

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 03h 13m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Parkersburg
Wed, May 13, 12:13 AM EDT
Return by in Welch
Wed, May 13, 3:27 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Welch
2026-05-12T20:59
Arrive Parkersburg
Wed, May 13, 12:13 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 13m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:14 AM to 11:14 AM EDT

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

Leave by
10:32 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Welch
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
Chesapeake
WV

Town in Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States

From Welch
91 mi
01h 36m
To Parkersburg
91.2 mi
01h 36m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
43°F
Overnight

Clear

Starts
Tue, May 12 12:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 mph SE
Destination
73°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 to 5 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Wyoming Street

    722 ft · 12 sec · Wyoming Street

  2. 2

    Turn straight onto McDowell Street

    1910 ft · 34 sec · McDowell Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Stewart Street

    17.2 mi · 26 min · Stewart Street

  4. 4

    At the end of the road, turn left onto River Drive Avenue

    1.3 km · 57 sec · River Drive Avenue

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Main Avenue

    1668 ft · 22 sec · Main Avenue

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Twin Falls Road

    6.7 mi · 8 min · Twin Falls Road

  7. 7

    Turn left

    5.4 mi · 6 min

  8. 8

    Continue straight

    5.8 mi · 7 min

  9. 9

    Turn slight right onto Slab Fork Road

    2.2 mi · 5 min · Slab Fork Road

  10. 10

    Turn left onto Coalfields Expressway

    4.4 mi · 5 min · Coalfields Expressway

  11. 11

    Continue on Robert C. Byrd Drive

    3.1 mi · 4 min · Robert C. Byrd Drive

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right

    2721 ft · 58 sec

  13. 13

    Keep slight right

    1665 ft · 41 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto West Virginia Turnpike

    58.2 mi · 1 hr 9 min · West Virginia Turnpike

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on I 77 North: Parkersburg

    1.9 mi · 2 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on I 77 North: Parkersburg

    70 mi · 1 hr 15 min

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward WV 95: Downtown Parkersburg

    1654 ft · 42 sec

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Camden Avenue

    57 m · 7 sec · Camden Avenue

  19. 19

    Turn left onto West Virginia Route 95

    2.1 mi · 3 min · West Virginia Route 95

  20. 20

    Continue on Camden Avenue

    1.3 km · 2 min · Camden Avenue

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Division Street

    1.6 km · 2 min · Division Street

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Ann Street

    132 m · 23 sec · Ann Street

  23. 23

    Turn left onto 4th Street

    131 m · 22 sec · 4th Street

  24. 24

    Turn left onto Juliana Street

    103 m · 11 sec · Juliana Street

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Juliana Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
25 steps
15 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 77 North
71.9 mi · 39%
West Virginia Turnpike
58.2 mi · 32%
Stewart Street
17.2 mi · 9%
Twin Falls Road
12.5 mi · 7%
Coalfields Expressway
4.41 mi · 2%
Robert C. Byrd Drive
3.92 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 77 North

Keep slight left to continue on I 77 North: Parkersburg

70 mi · 01h 15m

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
03h 13m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 28m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+55.4 mi
126.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Chesapeake
01h 36m from Welch
Leave By
10:32 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Clear leaving Welch and Sunny near Parkersburg.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 182.1 miles (293.1 km) and usually takes 03h 13m 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?

Chesapeake is a useful midpoint, sitting about 91 miles from Welch and 91.2 miles from Parkersburg.

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

The direct path is about 126.7 miles (203.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 55.4 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 10:32 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $25.47 one way or $50.94 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 57.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Clear around Welch and Sunny near Parkersburg.

Stop Ideas Near Chesapeake

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Chesapeake and the surrounding midpoint area.
Parks and Recreation
Scenic stop 10.1 mi away

Parks and Recreation

Charleston , WV
1900 Kanawha Blvd E Unit 3, Charleston, WV 25305
Rating 4.6/5 12 reviews State government office,Recreation center,Tourist attraction
Kanawha County Magistrate Court
Meeting point 11.7 mi away

Kanawha County Magistrate Court

Charleston , WV
111 Court St, Charleston, WV 25301
Rating 2.1/5 30 reviews Magistrates' court,County government office
Charleston Sanitary Board
Nearby stop 14.3 mi away

Charleston Sanitary Board

Charleston , WV
208 26th St W, Charleston, WV 25387
Rating 3.1/5 112 reviews Water utility company
Belle City Offices
Scenic stop 1.7 mi away

Belle City Offices

Belle , WV
1100 E Dupont Ave, Belle, WV 25015
Rating 3.7/5 7 reviews Park

Transit and Meeting Points

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

RAIL

Charleston

17 mi away
350 MacCorkle Avenue - Southeast
RAIL

Montgomery

19 mi away
Third Avenue and Washington Street
RAIL

Thurmond

50 mi away
Hwy 25 & Hwy 2
RAIL

Prince

59 mi away
Hwy 41 and County Road 25

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Welch and Parkersburg. Straight-line distance: 126.71 mi (203.92 km).

Welch

#1 Welch

City in McDowell County, West Virginia, United States

Population1,575
Coordinates37.4328900, -81.5845500
Altitude402
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: Wyoming Street (-81.584555, 37.43289)
End: Juliana Street (-81.56142, 39.266643)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 293 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 04m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 33m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 38m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 02m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 36m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 16m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.43 gal
24.33 L · about $25.47
Round trip
$50.94
12.86 gal · 48.66 L
Estimated CO2
57.1 kg one way
Round trip: 114.3 kg / 252 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $25.47 $50.94
Mid-grade $4.43 $28.48 $56.96
Premium $4.78 $30.72 $61.45
Diesel $5.62 $36.16 $72.32

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 · May 13, 2026

There is no time difference between Welch and Parkersburg. The current time is 20:59:46.

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.