WV I-77 toll road

WVbassmistress wrote:
If you are not in a hurry, want to see beautiful scenery and object to $7.50...go right ahead and try to by-pass it. (I wouldn't even think about it towing something) The next trip you will be willing to pay $10.

Totally agree. I did this a few years ago just for the change of scenery-if I remember correctly it took around 6 hours from Charleston to Bluefield. One small town after another(35mph speed limit). thought I'd never get to Va. Tell DW every once in awhile we're going to do it again-just get the LOOK:E:E

The first time I drove the WV pike was 1974. There was a sign at the beginning that said IIRC, This is a modern two lane highway with some three and four lane sections. Before it was fully widened, you could drive the old road the whole way beside it.

Mark

Mark...That is my favorite memory of the old Turnpike "modern 2 lane road with some 3 and 4 lane sections". WV Public TV often plays a documentary of the building of the turnpike. Really interesting and gives an appreciation of what it took to tame this state.

the OLD way thru WV,,, was by motorcycle... scenic, slow, lots of maneuvering , did I say scenic and slow...

I rode the NEW turnpike the first year it was open.. removed 5 hours from my trips.

I went on it in November 2015,, and will return hone on it again next week.
but in November.. over an hour in lines. bad timing on my part.

The West Virginia Turnpike is a good road cut through beautiful mountains. Hey this is not Kansas! If $7.50 is beyond your budget maybe you should consider staying home.

Don't even think about passing through WV on secondary roads. Use the toll road. It's worth every penny.

Two years ago, I decided to not use the toll road to cross WV into Virginia. Decided to take US 50 instead. That was a huge lapse in judgement. US 50, for the first roughly 1/3 of WV was great. it was a 4 lane highway.

However, the last roughly 2/3 heading towards Virginia was the worse road I've ever had to drive on, while pulling my TT. Tons of hair pin curves. Going up a mountain was sometimes limited to 30 mph. Not because my truck could pull the TT up the mountain. It was because there was a hairpin curve after a hairpin curve. Plus there were 9% grades and at the crest of the mountain, a pull off where truckers could check their brakes.

Never again will I cross WV on anything but the toll road.

Matt_Colie wrote:
I have two questions I hope someone can answer with local knowledge.

The West Virginia Turnpike says it has three tolls in its length and they will hit me up for 2.50$ at each. (Is this correct?)
That makes 7.50$us to be abused for about 60 miles.
Is this worth doing if we are in no hurry?

Are the by roads that by-pass so terrible that it is a consideration?

This is not intended to offend any residents of WV, but it is an honest question.

Matt