Oklahoma Local Expert
Shana Grandstaff
“A D&D regular, she spends weekends painting tiny heroes for epic battles.”
See full bio
JourneysMoving Journeys|From OKMoving from Oklahoma|To WVMoving to West Virginia|Oklahoma → West Virginia
Relocating from Oklahoma to West Virginia: The Ultimate Moving Guide
Trading the sweeping plains of Oklahoma for the rugged, forested hollows of West Virginia is a move that carries more contrast than most people anticipate. Oklahoma offers wide open skies, a relatively low cost of living, and that unmistakable southern Great Plains energy, while West Virginia answers back with winding mountain roads, tight knit communities, and a pace of life that feels almost deliberately removed from the modern rush. The geography alone will take some getting used to, but the cultural and financial shifts deserve just as much attention before you load the truck. Our Snappy Scout team (Shana & Hannah) dug into the costs, logistics, and lifestyle changes that come with this particular journey so you can head east through the Appalachians with a clear picture of what to expect.
Who's Behind This Guide
Oklahoma to West Virginia Mileage by the Numbers
Average distance
1,150miles
Typical route
I-40 E, I-44 E, I-64 E
Popular moving routes (approx. driving distance):
Oklahoma City, OK → Charleston, WV
~1150 miles
Tulsa, OK → Charleston, WV
~1050 miles
Norman, OK → Huntington, WV
~1100 miles
Broken Arrow, OK → Morgantown, WV
~1150 miles
Lawton, OK → Parkersburg, WV
~1200 miles
Should You Move From Oklahoma to West Virginia Quiz
Take this 10 question quiz to find out if the move to West Virginia from Oklahoma is the right call for your lifestyle and preferences.
Progress1 of 10 questions
Question 1 of 10
What kind of weather makes you happiest?
0/10answered
Live score
Collecting your answers and forming an opinion. Answer another question to see the results.
How Much Do Reputable Movers Bill from Oklahoma to West Virginia?
Moving 1,150 miles from Oklahoma to West Virginia will typically cost between $2,500.00 and $4,500.00 to hire full service movers. See the breakdown below by home size.
Expected Range
$2,500.00–$4,500.00
Expected Time
3–10days
Cost by home size
Studio
$1,260.00
1 Bedroom
$1,860.00
2 Bedrooms
$3,070.00
3 Bedrooms
$4,450.00
4 Bedrooms
$6,400.00
5+ Bedrooms
$7,110.00
| Home Size | Moving Cost | Volume (ft³) | $/ft³ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,260.00 | 300 | $4.2 |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,860.00 | 450 | $4.13 |
| 2 Bedrooms | $3,070.00 | 750 | $4.09 |
| 3 Bedrooms | $4,450.00 | 1,100 | $4.05 |
| 4 Bedrooms | $6,400.00 | 1,600 | $4 |
| 5+ Bedrooms | $7,110.00 | 1,800 | $3.95 |
How we calculated these numbers: We reached out to the owners and operators of more than a dozen nationwide moving companies to figure out how they factor in mileage, weight, volume, timing, origin & termination locations, and approximate home sizes to determine a moving estimate. The results above are what the data nerds at Snappy Scout created based on that info.
Who Is the Oklahoma to West Virginia Move Actually For?
Well, it depends. If you're a Garden Club Lifetime Member, Adventure Junkie, or Farmer's Market Regular, you'll thrive in your move to West Virginia. But if you're more of a Cowboy, Binge Shopper, or Hipster, settling into your new home state may be a bit of a challenge. We scored a variety of different “personalities” on a 10-point scale to show you what to expect from a lifestyle perspective with a relocation from Oklahoma to West Virginia.
Top 3 winners and losers moving from OK to WV
Gardener
Oklahoma
7
/10
West Virginia
8.5
/10
Oklahoma
Giving up
Philbrook gardens strolls, Myriad Botanical Gardens workshops
West Virginia
Gaining
Oglebay gardens, WV Botanic Garden, Capitol Market
Recommended WV cities/areas for Garden Club Lifetime Members
Oklahoma
7
/10
West Virginia
8.5
/10
Adventure Activities
Oklahoma
9
/10
West Virginia
9.5
/10
Oklahoma
Giving up
Wichita Mountains climbs, Broken Bow boating, Turkey Mountain trails
West Virginia
Gaining
New River Gorge Bridge Day, whitewater rafting, zip-lining, hiking, skiing, camping
Recommended WV cities/areas for Adventure Junkies
FayettevilleSeneca RocksSnowshoe
Oklahoma
9
/10
West Virginia
9.5
/10
Farmer's Markets
Oklahoma
8
/10
West Virginia
8.5
/10
Oklahoma
Giving up
Cherry Street market mornings, Scissortail Park farm stands
West Virginia
Gaining
Charleston's Capitol Market produce and indoor Purple Onion market, Morgantown Farmers Market Saturdays, Lewisburg Farmers Market
Recommended WV cities/areas for Farmer's Market Regulars
Oklahoma
8
/10
West Virginia
8.5
/10
Cowboys
Oklahoma
9.5
/10
West Virginia
5
/10
Oklahoma
Giving up
Stockyards City rodeos, Guymon Pioneer Days, prairie sunsets
West Virginia
Gaining
Horseback riding, State Fair rodeos
Recommended WV cities/areas for Cowboys
Berkeley SpringsFairlea
Oklahoma
9.5
/10
West Virginia
5
/10
Shopping
Oklahoma
6
/10
West Virginia
4
/10
Oklahoma
Giving up
Penn Square splurges, Utica Square strolls, Quail Springs weekends
West Virginia
Gaining
Huntington Mall scratches itch, but fewer luxury flagships than big metros
Recommended WV cities/areas for Binge Shoppers
Oklahoma
6
/10
West Virginia
4
/10
Hipsters
Oklahoma
7.5
/10
West Virginia
6
/10
Oklahoma
Giving up
Cain's Ballroom concerts, Plaza Walls murals, First Friday Art Crawl
West Virginia
Gaining
Shepherdstown poetry nights, annual West Virginia Book Festival, Fayetteville gear swaps, Appalachian indie shows
Recommended WV cities/areas for Hipsters
Oklahoma
7.5
/10
West Virginia
6
/10
Local Perspective
What moment, smell, or ritual captures the soul of West Virginia?
For me, West Virginia is so hard to encapsulate with one image or experience, but I'm always reminded of West Virginia as home when driving on I-79, when I can wind through the hillsides and see cows grazing.
– Hannah Wyatt
West Virginia Local
Lifestyle differences between living in Oklahoma and living in West Virginia
OklahomaWest Virginia
The Unwritten Eating Rules of Eating Like a Local in Oklahoma and West Virginia
Eating Like a Local in Oklahoma
Our state dish was selected because it is the truth. We eat chicken fried steak, usually served with mashed potatoes and fried okra, and covered in cream gravy.
Shana GrandstaffOklahoma Local ExpertEating Like a Local in West Virginia
Everybody talks about pepperoni rolls when the topic of West Virginia food comes up. But there's so much more to enjoy - from springtime ramps to autumn pawpaw fruit, apple butter festivals, and more! In Helvetia - a Swiss-settled town in Randolph County - you can enjoy Swiss Appalachian cuisine in The Hütte.
Hannah WyattWest Virginia Local ExpertThe No-Nonsense Tax Difference of Moving from Oklahoma to West Virginia
Oklahoma
West Virginia
OklahomavsWest Virginia
State Income Tax
State Income TaxProgressive brackets, top rate 4.75%
Graduated rates, recently reduced, top bracket just around 5 percent
Oklahoma
Progressive brackets, top rate 4.75%
VS
West Virginia
Graduated rates, recently reduced, top bracket just around 5 percent
Property Taxes
Property TaxesLow statewide, higher in OKC metro (Oklahoma County) and Tulsa County, rural lowest
Generally low statewide, Eastern Panhandle towns slightly higher, rural counties very low
Oklahoma
Low statewide, higher in OKC metro (Oklahoma County) and Tulsa County, rural lowest
VS
West Virginia
Generally low statewide, Eastern Panhandle towns slightly higher, rural counties very low
The Real People, Politics, & Religion Comparison: Oklahoma vs West Virginia
Oklahoma
West Virginia
OklahomavsWest Virginia
People
PeoplePlainspoken, neighborly, tornado tough, Friday night lights faithful
Mountain proud, unfussy, neighborly, wave-from-the-porch friendly
Oklahoma
Plainspoken, neighborly, tornado tough, Friday night lights faithful
VS
West Virginia
Mountain proud, unfussy, neighborly, wave-from-the-porch friendly
Politics
Deep red statewide, OKC and Tulsa trend moderate blue, tribal governance distinct
Deep red statewide, with Morgantown, Charleston, and Shepherdstown pockets of blue
Oklahoma
Deep red statewide, OKC and Tulsa trend moderate blue, tribal governance distinct
VS
West Virginia
Deep red statewide, with Morgantown, Charleston, and Shepherdstown pockets of blue
Religion
ReligionMostly Christian Protestant, strong Baptist and Pentecostal, some Catholic, tribal traditions
Mostly Christian, strong Baptist and Methodist, notable Catholic in Wheeling
Oklahoma
Mostly Christian Protestant, strong Baptist and Pentecostal, some Catholic, tribal traditions
VS
West Virginia
Mostly Christian, strong Baptist and Methodist, notable Catholic in Wheeling
How Weather Change When You Move to West Virginia from Oklahoma
SUMMER
Oklahoma
windy oven, extra crispy (triple digits happen all over the state)
West Virginia
porch swing sauna (muggy in river valleys, pleasant and more breezy on high ridges)
WINTER
Oklahoma
frigid sneak attacks (OKC shivers, Panhandle blizzards, Tulsa mostly slush)
West Virginia
flannel-mandatory, with the most frigid weather in higher-elevation counties like Tucker County, home to Canaan Valley
My Favorite Thing About Winter/Spring/Summer/Fall in West Virginia
Each summer, the color of west Virginia comes alive. There's a haziness to the trees and flowers, and driving down the Interstate, you can see rows of mountain ridges against the horizon. It's a special, natural beauty unlike anything you'll find elsewhere.
Hannah WyattWest Virginia Local ExpertNext Steps
Learn More About Moving to West Virginia
By now, you're hopefully fully aware that at Snappy Scout, our moving guides aren't like the rest! Now that you've compared the aspects of leaving behind Oklahoma, take a deeper dive into the specifics of moving to West Virginia. No boring census stats... we promise! Just practical real advice from West Virginia local experts.
Moving toBeckley
Pack Your Parking Brake and Prepare for a Slower Pace of Life
Moving toCharleston
Trails, Taps, Gold Dome Views, Flood Checks
Moving toClarksburg