Origin
Charleston, WV
Evening in Charleston on Friday
Local time
6:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Charleston, WV to Summersville, WV
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 40m
Distance
87.8 mi
141 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 33m
★
6 AM
1h 41m
8 AM
1h 56m
10 AM
1h 46m
12 PM
1h 44m
3 PM
1h 47m
5 PM
1h 55m
8 PM
1h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Charleston, WV
Wikimedia Commons
Summersville, WV
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Charleston, WV to Summersville, WV covers 87.8 miles and takes about 1h 40m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Senator Jennings Randolph Highway, US 19, I 77 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 57 miles on Senator Jennings Randolph Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.73 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.9 miles from Charleston, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 40m. Total distance: 87.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (32%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile.
Drive Character
The drive from Charleston, WV to Summersville, WV covers 87.8 miles and takes about 1h 40m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Senator Jennings Randolph Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 57 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Christopher Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 87.8 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Christopher Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Capitol Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (I 77): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Christopher Street
At end of road, turn left onto Christopher Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Capitol Street
Turn right onto Capitol Street
Navigation decision point
7
0.7 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 77
Keep slight right at fork onto I 77 toward I 77 North: Parkersburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 77 North: Parkersburg
5
2.6 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 79 / Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 79 / Senator Jennings Randolph Highway toward I 79 North: Clarksburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 79 North: Clarksburg
5
59.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Senator Jennings Randolph Highway | 57 mi | 1h 1m |
| US 19 | 26.1 mi | 30m |
| I 77 | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Webster Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| West Webster Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Dickinson Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Smith Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
— 57 mi, about 1h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Charleston, WV and Summersville, WV.
1
Start on Dickinson Street
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Dickinson Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto Christopher Street
264 ft
·
13 sec
·
Christopher Street
3
Turn right onto Capitol Street
311 ft
·
17 sec
·
Capitol Street
4
Turn left onto Smith Street
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Smith Street
5
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
6
Merge onto I 64; I 77
0.1 mi
·
7 sec
·
I 64; I 77
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 77
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
I 77
Toward I 77 North: Parkersburg
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 79
57 mi
·
1 hr 1 min
·
Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
Toward I 79 North: Clarksburg
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward US 19 South: Beckley
10
Keep slight right at fork
262 ft
·
6 sec
11
Merge onto US 19
26 mi
·
30 min
·
US 19
12
Turn right onto CR 19/11
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
West Webster Road
13
At end of road, turn left onto WV 41
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Webster Road
14
Turn right onto WV 41
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Main Street
15
Arrive at destination
WV 39
Trip Plan
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 43.9 miles from Charleston, WV, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57 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 19 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.9 miles or 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Summersville, WV than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Charleston, WV so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Charleston, WV
This is one driving day of about 87.8 miles and 1h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Charleston, WV.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Senator Jennings Randolph Highway for about 57 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 43.9 mi from Charleston, WV · 48m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
44 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 43.9 miles from Charleston, WV, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Summersville, WV
The final approach into Summersville, WV usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.73 one way
$27.46 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
31 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $15.01 | $30.02 |
| premium | $4.70 | $16.25 | $32.50 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $19.39 | $38.77 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 26.3 | 0 | $9.22 | $4.21 |
| Efficient EV | 22 | 0 | $7.68 | $3.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 35.1 | 0 | $12.29 | $5.62 |
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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.
Destination
Summersville, WV
Evening in Summersville on Friday
Local time
6:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°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
5 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 40m 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 Charleston, WV to Summersville, WV covers 87.8 miles and takes about 1h 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Senator Jennings Randolph Highway, US 19, I 77. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 43.9 miles from Charleston, WV. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.73 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 87.8 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Christopher Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Capitol Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.7 miles (I 77): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Charleston, WV to Summersville, WV does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Summersville, WV
Explore more options from Charleston, WV or browse trips ending in Summersville, WV.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse WV road trips.