Origin
Clarksburg, WV
Afternoon in Clarksburg on Tuesday
Local time
4:28 PM
EDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
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Drive Time
3h 49m
Distance
191.3 mi
308 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clarksburg, WV
Wikimedia Commons
Charles Town, WV
Wikimedia Commons
Spanning 191.3 miles across West Virginia, this drive connects Clarksburg to Charles Town in approximately 3 hours and 49 minutes. Because the total duration is under four hours, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, though you have the flexibility to stretch it into an overnight stay if you prefer a slower pace. You should budget roughly $31 for fuel to cover the distance. The route keeps you entirely within the Southeast region, moving from the western interior toward the eastern edge of the state. It is a straightforward, manageable journey that serves as an efficient way to cross the state while maintaining a practical travel budget.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
95.6 miles from Clarksburg, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 46m into the drive .
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This trip offers a mixed driving profile, balancing high-speed interstate travel with more localized highway segments. You will spend about 47% of your time on highways, with your longest uninterrupted stint covering 75 miles on I-68. The experience shifts as you transition between the interstate and stretches of the Senator Jennings Randolph Highway and Oldtown Road. Expect a varied pace behind the wheel, moving from the open, high-speed flow of the interstate into the more technical, road-focused environment of the secondary highways. It is neither a monotonous grind nor a purely rural crawl, providing a balanced experience for the driver.
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
Total Climb
3,351 ft
Total Descent
3,833 ft
Highest Point
2,713 ft
~95.6 mi in
Elevation Range
2,252 ft
Notable High Points
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 23 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near South Third Street.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 191.3 miles you will encounter 23 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 0.3 miles (South Third Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 108.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto South Third Street
Navigation decision point
Take the exit toward I 79 North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Take the exit toward MD 51: Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Turn right onto West Liberty Street
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto WV 115 / North George Street
Navigation decision point
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 68 | 75 mi | 1h 22m |
| Senator Jennings Randolph Highway | 29 mi | 31m |
| Oldtown Road | 20.8 mi | 23m |
| North Frederick Pike | 12.1 mi | 16m |
| Bloomery Pike | 9.8 mi | 11m |
| Middleway Pike | 8.2 mi | 12m |
| WV 29 | 6.8 mi | 7m |
| I 81 | 5.6 mi | 6m |
Step-by-step road directions between Clarksburg, WV and Charles Town, WV.
Start on WV 20
Turn left onto South Third Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 50
Take the exit
Merge onto I 79
Take the exit
Continue on I 68
Take the exit
Merge onto MD 51
Continue on MD 51
Continue on MD 51
Continue on MD 51
Continue on WV 9
Continue on WV 9
Continue on WV 29
Turn left onto CR 45/7
At end of road, turn left onto WV 127
Turn right onto US 522
Turn left
Merge onto VA 37
Continue on US 11
Turn left
Merge onto I 81
Take the exit
Turn right onto SR 669
Turn left onto US 11
Continue on US 11
Continue on US 11
Turn right onto CR 26
Turn left onto CR 51/9
Turn slight right onto WV 51
Continue on WV 51
Turn left onto North Charles Street
Turn right onto West Liberty Street
Turn right onto WV 115
Arrive at destination
Since the drive is relatively short, aim to leave in the morning to maximize your time once you arrive in Charles Town. Plan for at least one stop along the way to break up the 3-hour and 49-minute duration, which helps keep you alert during the transition between major roads. Because highway driving accounts for nearly half of your journey, keep a close eye on your fuel levels before merging onto I-68 to ensure you don't have to hunt for a station during the 75-mile stretch. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, so adjust your departure time based on local traffic patterns to ensure the smoothest transit possible.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 80 miles or 1h 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 95.6 miles or 1h 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Charles Town, WV than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Clarksburg, 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 Clarksburg, WV
This is one driving day of about 191.3 miles and 3h 49m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 95.6 mi from Clarksburg, WV · 1h 46m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
96 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 95.6 miles from Clarksburg, WV, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 68 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 75 miles.
The final approach into Charles Town, 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 Charles Town, WV.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$30.62 one way
$61.23 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.43 | $33.36 | $66.71 |
| premium | $4.78 | $35.99 | $71.97 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $42.50 | $85.00 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 66.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 57.4 | 0 | $20.09 | $9.18 |
| Efficient EV | 47.8 | 0 | $16.74 | $7.65 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 76.5 | 0 | $26.78 | $12.24 |
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (67% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Clarksburg on Tuesday
Local time
4:28 PM
EDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Charles Town on Tuesday
Local time
4:28 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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