Origin
Shady Spring, WV
Late night in Shady Spring on Sunday
Local time
5:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Shady Spring, WV to Charleston, WV
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 28m
Distance
68.5 mi
110 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 21m
★
6 AM
1h 28m
8 AM
1h 42m
10 AM
1h 33m
12 PM
1h 32m
3 PM
1h 34m
5 PM
1h 41m
8 PM
1h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Shady Spring, WV
Federated Art
Charleston, WV
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Shady Spring to Charleston, West Virginia, is a straightforward 68.5-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 28 minutes. Because of the relatively short distance, this trip is perfectly suited as a simple one-day excursion. You will primarily navigate via the West Virginia Turnpike, Ritter Drive, and South Fayette Street. With fuel costs estimated at around $11, it is a budget-friendly route that keeps you within the Southeast region for the duration of the trip. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a quick getaway, the logistics are simple enough that you won't need to plan for an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Virginia Turnpike | 57.4 mi | 1h 8m |
| Ritter Drive | 5.8 mi | 10m |
| South Fayette Street | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Robert C. Byrd Drive | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| 100 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| 2nd Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| 3rd Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Coalfields Expressway | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
West Virginia Turnpike
— 57.4 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Shady Spring, WV and Charleston, WV.
1
Start on this road
115 ft
·
4 sec
·
this road
2
Turn straight onto US 19; WV 3
5.8 mi
·
10 min
·
Ritter Drive
3
Continue on US 19; WV 3
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
South Eisenhower Drive
4
Turn left onto WV 3
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
South Fayette Street
5
Turn left onto WV 3
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
2nd Street
6
Turn left onto WV 3
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
3rd Avenue
7
Turn left onto WV 16
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Robert C. Byrd Drive
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
9
Continue on US 121 FUT
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
·
Coalfields Expressway
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
11
Merge onto I 64; I 77
57 mi
·
1 hr 8 min
·
West Virginia Turnpike
12
Take the exit onto 100
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
100
Toward Leon Sullivan Way, Capitol Street
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward Leon Sullivan Way
14
Turn right onto US 60
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Washington Street East
15
Turn left onto Dickinson Street
414 ft
·
9 sec
·
Dickinson Street
16
Arrive at destination
Dickinson Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 34.3 miles from Shady Spring, WV, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 6 and 68.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
6 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
WV 3 / South Fayette Street
Turn left onto WV 3 / South Fayette Street
Navigation decision point
4
10 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
67.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m in
|
100
Take the exit onto 100 toward Leon Sullivan Way, Capitol Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Leon Sullivan Way, Capitol Street
5
68.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Leon Sullivan Way
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Leon Sullivan Way
5
68.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
|
US 60 / Washington Street East
Turn right onto US 60 / Washington Street East
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.71 one way
$21.42 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $11.71 | $23.42 |
| premium | $4.70 | $12.68 | $25.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.12 | $30.25 |
Estimated Tolls: $4.02
West Virginia Turnpike
(57.4 mi)
$4.02
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Tolls
$4
Total
$15
Estimated CO2 emission: 24 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.6 | 0 | $7.19 | $3.29 |
| Efficient EV | 17.1 | 0 | $5.99 | $2.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.4 | 0 | $9.59 | $4.38 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Charleston, WV
Late night in Charleston on Sunday
Local time
5:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
59°F
Montgomery, WV
34 mi in
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
23 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 28m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 84% of this route consists of high-speed travel. You will spend the vast majority of your time on the West Virginia Turnpike, which accounts for a significant 57.4-mile uninterrupted stretch. The road feels efficient and direct, moving you quickly through the landscape without the technical complexity of winding local roads. While the start and end points involve navigating Ritter Drive and South Fayette Street, the core of the drive is defined by the steady, consistent pace of the interstate. It is a functional, no-nonsense path designed to get you between these two points with minimal distraction.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 57.4 mi on West Virginia Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on West Virginia Turnpike and Ritter Drive. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 6 miles in near WV 3 / South Fayette Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 68.5 miles you will encounter 9 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 6 miles (WV 3 / South Fayette Street): Navigation decision point; at 10 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 67.7 miles (100): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,698 ft
596 ft
Total Climb
557 ft
Total Descent
2,660 ft
Highest Point
2,698 ft
Elevation Range
2,102 ft
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 28m. Total distance: 68.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 57.4 miles on West Virginia Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.02 in tolls one way, starting with West Virginia Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 6 miles (WV 3 / South Fayette Street): Navigation decision point; at 10 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 67.7 miles (100): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Charleston, WV before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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