Skip to main content

Trip from Barboursville, WV to South Charleston, WV

Data updated 4 hours ago

Drive Time

44m

Distance

38 mi

61 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 11 min
4 AM
0h 40m ★
6 AM
0h 44m
8 AM
0h 51m
10 AM
0h 47m
12 PM
0h 46m
3 PM
0h 47m
5 PM
0h 51m
8 PM
0h 42m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

village in Cabell County, West Virginia, United States

Barboursville, WV

Wikimedia Commons

city in Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States

South Charleston, WV

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This quick 38-mile drive from Barboursville to South Charleston, WV, will only take about 44 minutes, making it an easy day trip. The route is heavily focused on I-64, with about 93% of it being highway driving. You can expect a fuel cost of around $6 for this journey. Given its short duration and straightforward path, it's ideal for a single-day excursion without needing an overnight stay. This drive stays within the Southeast region, offering a consistent feel throughout.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

19 miles from Barboursville, WV

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 21m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

Prepare for a highway-focused experience, as 93% of this 38-mile route is on interstates and major roads. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 35.3 miles on I-64, offering a chance to settle in for a solid period of driving. While largely an interstate experience, you will also navigate sections of MacCorkle Avenue Southwest and Main Street, which may offer a slight change of pace from the high-speed driving. Expect a consistent driving profile for the majority of your trip.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 64 is the longest continuous segment at about 35.3 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

754 ft 581 ft

Total Climb

312 ft

Total Descent

290 ft

Highest Point

754 ft

~29.9 mi in

Elevation Range

172 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 64 and MacCorkle Avenue Southwest. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near US 60 / Midland Trail.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 44m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (US 60 / Midland Trail): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (WV 193 / Big Ben Bowen Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 6 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

3
0.5 mi into trip | ~1m in | US 60 / Midland Trail

Turn right onto US 60 / Midland Trail

Navigation decision point

6
0.7 mi into trip | ~1m in | WV 193 / Big Ben Bowen Highway

Turn left onto WV 193 / Big Ben Bowen Highway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
7
0.9 mi into trip | ~2m in

Take the ramp

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
5
36.4 mi into trip | ~40m in

Take the exit toward US 60: MacCorkle Avenue, Jefferson Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 60: MacCorkle Avenue, Jefferson Road
5
36.7 mi into trip | ~41m in

Keep slight right at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 64 35.3 mi 38m
MacCorkle Avenue Southwest 1.2 mi 1m
Main Street 0.5 mi 1m
Midland Trail 0.2 mi <1m
Big Ben Bowen Highway 0.2 mi <1m
Maccorkle Avenue Southwest <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 64 — 35.3 mi, about 38m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Barboursville, WV and South Charleston, WV.

1

Start on Main Street

381 ft · 17 sec · Main Street
2

Continue on Main Street

0.4 mi · 53 sec · Main Street
3

Turn right onto Midland Trail

0.2 mi · 26 sec · Midland Trail
4

Turn left onto Big Ben Bowen Highway

0.2 mi · 29 sec · Big Ben Bowen Highway
5

Take the ramp right

0.2 mi · 28 sec
6

Merge slight left

35 mi · 38 min
7

Take the exit slight right toward US 60: MacCorkle Avenue, Jefferson Road

0.3 mi · 1 min · US 60: MacCorkle Avenue, Jefferson Road
8

Keep slight right

203 ft · 9 sec
9

Turn straight onto Maccorkle Avenue Southwest

295 ft · 7 sec · Maccorkle Avenue Southwest
10

Continue on MacCorkle Avenue Southwest

1.2 mi · 1 min · MacCorkle Avenue Southwest
11

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

With a duration of just 44 minutes, this trip offers a lot of flexibility. You could easily leave in the morning and be back by lunch, or depart in the afternoon for an evening arrival. The $6 fuel cost is minimal, so you likely won't need to worry about frequent refueling stops. Given the majority of the drive is on I-64, plan to maintain highway speeds. A specific tip for this route: pay close attention to the transition off I-64 onto MacCorkle Avenue Southwest in South Charleston, as this is where the road character shifts significantly.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 19 miles from Barboursville, WV, or about 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.3 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 38 miles or 44m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 19 miles or 21m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 36m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Charleston, WV than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Barboursville, WV so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Barboursville, WV

This is one driving day of about 38 miles and 44m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Barboursville, WV.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on I 64 for about 35.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 19 mi from Barboursville, WV · 21m into the drive

suburb in Eastbourne, East Sussex, England, UK

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Meads, KY

19 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Meads, KY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Meads, KY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 19 miles from Barboursville, WV, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in South Charleston, WV

The final approach into South Charleston, WV usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around South Charleston, WV.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$6.08 one way

$12.16 round trip

$4.07/gal 25.4 MPG avg 13 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.43 $6.63 $13.25
premium $4.78 $7.15 $14.30
diesel $5.64 $8.44 $16.88

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$6

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$31–$56

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 13.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 11.4 0 $3.99 $1.82
Efficient EV 9.5 0 $3.32 $1.52
EV Truck/SUV 15.2 0 $5.32 $2.43

Gas CO2

13 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (69% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 5 days ago

Origin

Barboursville, WV

Afternoon in Barboursville on Tuesday

Local time

4:54 PM

EDT

Current temp

89°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

South Charleston, WV

Afternoon in South Charleston on Tuesday

Local time

4:54 PM

EDT

Current temp

90°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

1 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

44m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Barboursville, WV to South Charleston, WV covers 38 miles and takes about 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 64, MacCorkle Avenue Southwest, Main Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 19 miles from Barboursville, WV. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.08 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 44m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (US 60 / Midland Trail): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (WV 193 / Big Ben Bowen Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Barboursville, WV to South Charleston, WV does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Return Trip

South Charleston, WV to Barboursville, WV

Plan the drive back the other way.

38.3 mi 44m

Explore more options from Barboursville, WV or browse trips ending in South Charleston, WV.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse WV road trips.

Explore maps for Barboursville, WV or South Charleston, WV on MapSof.net.