Origin
South Charleston, WV
Afternoon in South Charleston on Tuesday
Local time
4:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from South Charleston, WV to Barboursville, WV
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
44m
Distance
38.3 mi
62 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
4 AM
0h 41m
★
6 AM
0h 44m
8 AM
0h 52m
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.
South Charleston, WV
Wikimedia Commons
Barboursville, WV
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick excursion within West Virginia, the 38.3-mile trip from South Charleston to Barboursville is an efficient choice. You can comfortably complete this journey in about 44 minutes, making it a perfect one-day outing that requires no overnight stay. Budgeting about $6 for fuel is sufficient for the trip, keeping costs very low. Because both locations are situated within the Southeast region, you will remain in a familiar geographic setting throughout your travel. This route is straightforward and practical, serving as a reliable way to connect the two areas without the need for complex planning or extended travel time.
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
19.1 miles from South Charleston, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 22m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate haul on this 38.3-mile route. You will navigate via WV 2, the Big Ben Bowen Highway, and the Midland Trail, as the highway share for this trip is zero percent. Because you are avoiding major high-speed interstates, you should prepare for a more hands-on driving experience that requires your full attention. The road lacks long, uninterrupted stretches, meaning you will stay engaged with the local landscape from start to finish. This is a journey defined by its local character, offering a change of pace from standard highway driving.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 9 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
WV 2 is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from South Charleston, WV to Barboursville, WV is easy. At 44m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from South Charleston, WV to Barboursville, WV is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| WV 2 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Big Ben Bowen Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Midland Trail | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Farmdale Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
WV 2
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Charleston, WV and Barboursville, WV.
1
Start on MacCorkle Avenue Southwest
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
MacCorkle Avenue Southwest
2
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
3
Merge slight left
35 mi
·
38 min
4
Take the exit slight right toward WV 2, WV 193: Barboursville
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
WV 2, WV 193: Barboursville
5
Turn left onto Big Ben Bowen Highway
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
Big Ben Bowen Highway
6
Turn right onto Midland Trail
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
Midland Trail
7
Turn left onto Farmdale Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Farmdale Road
8
Continue on Main Street
381 ft
·
15 sec
·
Main Street
9
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Since the trip takes less than an hour, you have maximum flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily complete the drive in one go without needing to plan for intermediate stops or rest breaks. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, prioritize driving during daylight hours to ensure you have clear visibility of the road ahead. Keep in mind that with no highway driving involved, your travel time may fluctuate slightly based on local traffic conditions. Use your $6 fuel budget to top off your tank before you leave South Charleston, as this ensures a worry-free arrival in Barboursville.
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 19.1 miles from South Charleston, WV, or about 22m into the drive.
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 38.3 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 19.1 miles or 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Barboursville, WV than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving South Charleston, 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 South Charleston, WV
This is one driving day of about 38.3 miles and 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from South Charleston, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 19.1 mi from South Charleston, WV · 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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
Arriving in Barboursville, WV
The final approach into Barboursville, 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 Barboursville, 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
$5.99 one way
$11.98 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $6.55 | $13.10 |
| premium | $4.70 | $7.09 | $14.18 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.46 | $16.91 |
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: 13.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.02 | $1.84 |
| Efficient EV | 9.6 | 0 | $3.35 | $1.53 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.3 | 0 | $5.36 | $2.45 |
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.
Destination
Barboursville, WV
Afternoon in Barboursville on Tuesday
Local time
4:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
89°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 cooler 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 South Charleston, WV to Barboursville, WV covers 38.3 miles and takes about 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are WV 2, Big Ben Bowen Highway, Midland Trail. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 19.1 miles from South Charleston, WV. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.99 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.
The drive from South Charleston, WV to Barboursville, WV is easy. At 44m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from South Charleston, WV to Barboursville, WV is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from South Charleston, WV to Barboursville, WV does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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