Origin
Summersville, WV
Evening in Summersville on Tuesday
Local time
6:02 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Summersville, WV to Charleston, WV
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
1h 23m
Distance
88.4 mi
142 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 17m
★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 37m
10 AM
1h 28m
12 PM
1h 27m
3 PM
1h 29m
5 PM
1h 36m
8 PM
1h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Summersville, WV
Wikimedia Commons
Charleston, WV
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel the 88.4 miles between Summersville and Charleston, West Virginia, expect a straightforward journey that takes approximately 1 hour and 23 minutes. This route functions perfectly as a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations. You can budget roughly $14 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Southeast locations. Navigating via Broad Street, US 60, and the Midland Trail provides a direct connection without the need for additional stops. Since the highway share is 0%, this path offers a consistent, ground-level pace through the heart of the state. It is an ideal choice for travelers looking for an uncomplicated drive that gets you to your destination efficiently.
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
44.2 miles from Summersville, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 41m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Prepare for a turn-heavy, local driving experience that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Because this trip relies entirely on local roads rather than interstate highways, you won't encounter long, monotonous stretches of high-speed pavement; in fact, the longest uninterrupted segment on Broad Street is 0 miles. The route maintains a consistent character throughout the 88.4-mile journey, favoring technical road segments over open highway cruising. As you navigate the Midland Trail and US 60, you will feel the personality of the West Virginia landscape shift beneath your tires. Expect a hands-on driving experience that demands your full attention as you transition between these two points.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Broad Street 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 Summersville, WV to Charleston, WV is easy. At 1h 23m 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 Summersville, WV to Charleston, WV is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Broad Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 60 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Midland Trail | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Kanawha Boulevard East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Virginia Turnpike | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Leon Sullivan Way | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Washington Street East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Broad Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Summersville, WV and Charleston, WV.
1
Start on Main Street
26 ft
·
3 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn right onto Broad Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Broad Street
3
Turn right
15 mi
·
17 min
4
Take the exit slight right toward US 60: Gauley Bridge, Rainelle
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
US 60: Gauley Bridge, Rainelle
5
Turn right onto Midland Trail
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Midland Trail
6
Continue on Midland Trail
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
Midland Trail
7
Continue on East Main Street
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
East Main Street
8
Continue on Midland Trail
7.6 mi
·
10 min
·
Midland Trail
9
Continue on Midland Trail
22 mi
·
34 min
·
Midland Trail
10
Continue on Kanawha Boulevard East
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Kanawha Boulevard East
11
Turn left
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
12
Take the ramp slight right
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
13
Merge slight left onto West Virginia Turnpike
15 mi
·
17 min
·
West Virginia Turnpike
14
Take the exit slight right toward Leon Sullivan Way, Capitol Street
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
Leon Sullivan Way, Capitol Street
15
Keep slight left to continue on Leon Sullivan Way
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Leon Sullivan Way
16
Turn right onto Washington Street East
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Washington Street East
17
Turn left onto Dickinson Street
413 ft
·
11 sec
·
Dickinson Street
18
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Aim to leave during daylight hours to better navigate the turns associated with this local-road route. Since there are no required stops on this 1-hour and 23-minute trek, you can easily complete the drive in one go, but keep your $14 fuel budget in mind before you head out. A helpful tip for this specific drive is to stay alert on the Midland Trail, as the lack of highway miles means you will be encountering intersections and road curves more frequently than on a standard interstate. Prioritize a well-rested start so you can comfortably manage the technical, turn-heavy nature of the roads without needing to rush.
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 44.2 miles from Summersville, WV, or about 41m 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 80 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.2 miles or 41m 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 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Charleston, WV than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Summersville, 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 Summersville, WV
This is one driving day of about 88.4 miles and 1h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Summersville, 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 44.2 mi from Summersville, WV · 41m 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
Arriving in Charleston, WV
The final approach into 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 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
$13.82 one way
$27.65 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
31 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $15.12 | $30.23 |
| premium | $4.70 | $16.36 | $32.72 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $19.52 | $39.04 |
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: 30.9 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 | 26.5 | 0 | $9.28 | $4.24 |
| Efficient EV | 22.1 | 0 | $7.74 | $3.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 35.4 | 0 | $12.38 | $5.66 |
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
Charleston, WV
Evening in Charleston on Tuesday
Local time
6:02 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
28 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
1h 23m 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 Summersville, WV to Charleston, WV covers 88.4 miles and takes about 1h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Broad Street, US 60, Midland Trail. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 44.2 miles from Summersville, WV. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.82 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 Summersville, WV to Charleston, WV is easy. At 1h 23m 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 Summersville, WV to Charleston, WV is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Summersville, WV to Charleston, WV does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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