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Could somebody tell me what the drive is like on US 50 from Parkersburg to Bridgeport? Within the next few weeks I have to make a trip that involves that stretch of road.
Is it very mountainous, 4 lane all the way?
Thank you for the information. Just trying to prepare for my trip.
The first time isn't bad, as it is a pretty landscape. Mostly rolling hills, some larger ones, and a few farms here and there. Really not much on the drive, but it is 4 lanes from the Ohio border to I-79 in Bridgeport.
If you're driving at night, be careful for deer - there's plenty of them. Also, cops like to sit right before the descent to Mountwood Park, around Ellenboro, near Doddridge County Middle School, and near Clarksburg. Everywhere else might as well be Montana with curves.
Route 50 has some curves here and there, but it's more hilly than mountainous.
It goes across some of West Virginia's most rural counties population wise (Doddridge and Ritchie). Ellenboro has a few gas stations and restaurants and it's about 30 miles from Parkersburg and 40 from Bridgeport.
Other than that, it's just a normal rural road. Once you hit Clarksburg, traffic picks up. Route 50 through Clarksburg can get a little busy. Some of the ramps are very short and drivers are jockeying for their position on the road. Watch out for the bad drivers on that stretch through Clarksburg.
Once the expressway ends, you hit one of busiest intersections in the state, Route 50 and I-79. Although Bridgeport is small, it has a lot of traffic passing through its city limits. Emily Drive (in Clarksburg but borders on Bridgeport) can get busy because that's where a bulk of Clarksburg's retail activity is located. Bridgeport has a mall, which is located at the Meadowbrook Rd/Johnson Ave exit off I-79.
The posts above nailed it as those guys are more familiar with that highway. But I have been across route 50 plenty of times myself. There is def some pretty scenery and some large hills. One thing I always wondered is why the area in between Parkersburg and Clarksburg never developed more. Sort of how Teays Valley sprung up on I-64. But in a smaller scale of course.
... One thing I always wondered is why the area in between Parkersburg and Clarksburg never developed more. Sort of how Teays Valley sprung up on I-64. But in a smaller scale of course.
No major natural resources to exploit, until oil/gas ~1900. And once the wells are drilled, there's not much permanent employment unless the processing is done there too. The oil/gas from that region was transported to the Ohio River, which led to all those chemical plants up and down the river from Parkersburg.
Being from Clarksburg and living in Parkersburg I've driven Route 50 a thousand times to the point I could do it blindfolded. It's not the most exciting 60 miles of highway in the country, but I've learned to just make it a relaxing drive and enjoy the scenery along the way. The road is mostly up and down over the hills and valleys with a few flat stretches. I'm surprised too that there hasn't been more development, especially around Ritchie County. Traffic seems to have picked up a lot the last couple of years with the completion of the new Blennerhasset Bridge at Washington (Parkersburg) and the shale boom. At one time you could go several miles and hardly pass a car either direction, but those days are gone. Hopefully the increased traffic will result in more restaurants and nicer gas stations.
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