Clarksburg to Summersville is 92.1 miles and takes about 1 hour 45 minutes via Senator Jennings Randolph Highway and US 19, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within West Virginia, traversing the Southeast region. Expect a local feel with plenty of turns, making it a good option if you prefer a more engaging road over straight highway cruising. It's a straightforward journey, perfect for a single day trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46.1 miles from Clarksburg, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
59.8 mi
1h 4m
US 19
18 mi
21m
Upper Millcreek Telsa Road
8.6 mi
9m
West Main Street
1.6 mi
2m
Webster Road
1.2 mi
2m
Philippi Pike
1 mi
1m
Philippi PIke
0.6 mi
<1m
Broadway Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
— 59.8 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clarksburg, WV and Summersville, WV.
Since this is a relatively short drive of just under 2 hours, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience. You won't need to worry about splitting the drive, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading out, as there are no designated stops mentioned. The longest continuous stretch is nearly 60 miles, so plan accordingly if you prefer more frequent breaks. Heading out in the morning will give you ample time to reach Summersville and explore without feeling rushed.
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 46.1 miles from Clarksburg, WV, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.8 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 20 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.1 miles or 51m 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 24m
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 Clarksburg, WV so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Clarksburg, WV
This is one driving day of about 92.1 miles and 1h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Clarksburg, 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 59.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.9 and 90.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1.9 mi into trip|~3m in|CR 23/9 / Philippi Pike
At end of road, turn right onto CR 23/9 / Philippi Pike
Navigation decision point
6
3.7 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the ramp toward I 79 South
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Toward I 79 South
4
63.8 mi into trip|~1h 10m in|US 19
Take the exit onto US 19 toward US 19 South: Beckley
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 19 South: Beckley
4
64.1 mi into trip|~1h 11m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
90.4 mi into trip|~1h 42m in|CR 19/11 / West Webster Road
Turn right onto CR 19/11 / West Webster Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.40 one way
$28.80 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$15.75
$31.50
premium
$4.70
$17.05
$34.09
diesel
$5.61
$20.33
$40.67
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: 32.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.6
0
$9.67
$4.42
Efficient EV
23
0
$8.06
$3.68
EV Truck/SUV
36.8
0
$12.89
$5.89
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (66% 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 as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Clarksburg, WV
Afternoon
in Clarksburg on Sunday
Local time
12:31 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Summersville, WV
Afternoon
in Summersville on Sunday
Local time
12:31 PM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
NW 8 mph98% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued April 18 at 2:04PM EDT until April 20 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Charleston WV
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued April 18 at 12:56PM EDT until April 20 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA
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
18 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 45m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Gauley River National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
The 25 miles of free-flowing Gauley River and the six miles of the Meadow River pass through scenic gorges and valleys containing a wide variety of natural and cultural features. The Gauley River cont...
10 mi from route
~24 min detour
Free
near mile 92.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route leans into its 'Turn-heavy local drive' profile, with only 20% of the journey on highways. You'll primarily navigate Senator Jennings Randolph Highway and US 19. The longest stretch without a significant turn or change in road type covers 59.8 miles on Senator Jennings Randolph Highway, offering a good period of consistent driving before the road becomes more dynamic. Be prepared for frequent adjustments as you travel through varied terrain.
Only 20% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 59.8 mi on Senator Jennings Randolph Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.9 miles in near CR 23/9 / Philippi Pike.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 45m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.9 miles (CR 23/9 / Philippi Pike): Navigation decision point; at 3.7 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 63.8 miles (US 19): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Summersville is a town of 3,300 people (as of 2019) in West Virginia.
Summersville is adjacent to Summersville Lake, the largest lake in West Virginia.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 59.8 miles on Senator Jennings Randolph Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through WV can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.9 miles (CR 23/9 / Philippi Pike): Navigation decision point; at 3.7 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 63.8 miles (US 19): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Gauley River National Recreation Area. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Summersville, WV before heading back.
