Bedford, PA 70 West through Wheeling WV

[lots2seeinmyrv]

Are there any steep grades on 70 West from Bedford, PA going through Wheeling, WV and then we head up 77N to Ohio. (Will take the 470 bypass around Wheeling).

We are in Cumberland, MD and would like to avoid 68 West through Morgantown to Wheeling. A lot of steep grades that route.

Would 70 be a better way to go? Towing a 29' travel trailer.

Thank you for input.

[0rion]

I make that haul a couple times a year (columbus oh area to breezewood). I take the 470 bypass....grades aren't that bad. Nothing I would go out of my way to avoid. Only a few miles long. Depending on the time of day you miss a ton of traffic and terrible roads taking the bypass. I did the tunnel once....once. I tow a 38' fifth wheel.

[lots2seeinmyrv]

Thank you! I don't mind paying the toll. Have not been on the 470 bypass so we were not sure the grades but did drive through 70E Wheeling in the car down 79 to 68. Steep short grades in the car and a lot of them.

I would take the Sierra's and Cascades anytime. 68 to 79 has tons of semi's, lots of ups and downs.

[purplekeenah]

I'd definitely pay the turnpike toll from Bedford to New Stanton, in my opinion you'll be pulling more gear because there's a lot more grades to pull on I68 and I79 up to Washington. I avoid I470 around Wheeling and go through the tunnel in Wheeling. I've driven the I70 route many times and I've never needed anything below 5th gear, can't say that about I68 the one time I took I-68.

[cbshoestring]

Route: Wheeling Tunnel (at I-70)
Restricted Route, Class 1 - Explosives, Class 3 - Flammable, Class 4 - Flammable Solid/Combustible

I could swear I have seen MANY Rvers go thru that tunnel. I hate 270, because you have to climb the hills twice, whereas only once on I-70.

ANY WHO: Once you climb out of Cumberland...you have I-68 licked.

The trip up to the T/P and across I-70, will put you in the same place as I-68, I-79 and I-70. The hills and traffic on the T/P are just as bad as I-68. Lots of construction between New Stanton and Washington.

They took that wicked bend out of the I-79/I-70 split, making the transition to I-70 a much more pleasurable experience. Washington into WV is still a bumby SOB but you would hit that either way.

Since the only thing you will avoid going north is Morgantown, I don't think it is worth it. If you have an adversion to Morgantown...consider taking T/P 43 just east of Morgantown, up to I-70. Cost you a couple bucks that way.

[COLOR=]A quick EDIT: Tolls, TOLLS, TOLLS... check out this LINK for tolls.

[Richert]

I don't think there is a lot of difference either way, sometimes there will be more traffic on I 70 both in Washington, PA and Morgantown, WV.