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Trip from Summersville, 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 40m

Distance

72 mi

116 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$11

one way

EV Charging

Good

7 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min
4 AM
1h 33m ★
6 AM
1h 40m
8 AM
1h 55m
10 AM
1h 46m
12 PM
1h 44m
3 PM
1h 46m
5 PM
1h 55m
8 PM
1h 36m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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town in Nicholas County, West Virginia, United States

Summersville, WV

Wikimedia Commons

capital city of West Virginia, United States

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.

Midpoint

36 miles from Summersville, WV

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 49m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Midland Trail 35 mi 51m
US 19 15.4 mi 17m
West Virginia Turnpike 15.1 mi 17m
East Main Street 2.7 mi 5m
Broad Street 1.1 mi 2m
Kanawha Boulevard East 0.7 mi 1m
100 0.4 mi <1m
Washington Street East 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Midland Trail — 35 mi, about 51m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Summersville, WV and Charleston, WV.

1

Start on WV 39

26 ft · 2 sec · Main Street
2

Turn right onto WV 39; WV 41

1.1 mi · 2 min · Broad Street
3

Turn right onto US 19; WV 41

15 mi · 17 min · US 19; WV 41
4

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 53 sec
Toward US 60: Gauley Bridge, Rainelle
5

Turn right onto US 60

4.9 mi · 6 min · Midland Trail
6

Continue on US 60

0.3 mi · 24 sec · Midland Trail
7

Continue on US 60

2.7 mi · 5 min · East Main Street
8

Continue on US 60

7.6 mi · 10 min · Midland Trail
9

Continue on US 60

22 mi · 34 min · Midland Trail
10

Continue on US 60

0.7 mi · 1 min · Kanawha Boulevard East
11

Turn left

0.5 mi · 50 sec
12

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 34 sec
13

Merge onto I 64; I 77

15 mi · 17 min · West Virginia Turnpike
14

Take the exit onto 100

0.4 mi · 56 sec · 100
Toward Leon Sullivan Way, Capitol Street
15

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Toward Leon Sullivan Way
16

Turn right onto US 60

0.1 mi · 18 sec · Washington Street East
17

Turn left onto Dickinson Street

414 ft · 9 sec · Dickinson Street
18

Arrive at destination

Dickinson Street

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 36 miles from Summersville, WV, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35 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 16 miles or 19m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 36 miles or 49m 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 26m

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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Summersville, WV

This is one driving day of about 72 miles and 1h 40m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Summersville, WV.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Midland Trail for about 35 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

town in and the county seat of Fayette County, West Virginia

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Fayetteville, WV

36 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

Fayette, WV

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Montgomery, WV

Meal break

The midpoint is around 36 miles from Summersville, 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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

First Watch

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Charleston, West Virginia

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 72

Hours: 7 am–2:30 pm

+13043433447

Visit website

Sitar of India

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Charleston, West Virginia

0.1 mi

Laury's Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Charleston, West Virginia

0.4 mi

First Watch

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 72

Charleston, West Virginia

Hours: 7 am–2:30 pm

+13043433447

Visit website

Sitar of India

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 72

Charleston, West Virginia

Hours: 11 am–2 pm

+13043463745

Visit website

Laury's Restaurant

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $50 to $10 mile 72

Charleston, West Virginia

Hours: 5–10 pm

+13043430055

Visit website

Chick-fil-A

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour Inexpensiv mile 72

Charleston, West Virginia

Hours: 11 am–7:30 pm

+13043440868

Visit website

Noah's Restaurant & Lounge

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $30 to $50 mile 72

Charleston, West Virginia

Hours: 4–9 pm

+13043436558

Visit website

Main Kwong | Chinese Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 72

Charleston, West Virginia

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+13043428899

1010 Bridge

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 72

Charleston, West Virginia

Hours: 4–10 pm

+16812650599

Visit website

Fazio's

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour Expensive mile 72

Charleston, West Virginia

Hours: 5–9 pm

+13043443071

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 72

Charleston, West Virginia

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 72

Charleston, West Virginia

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18668167584

Visit website

InCharge Energy Charging Station

2.8 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Later in the drive, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 56.6

Cabin Creek, West Virginia

+18333994638

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.3 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour

Summersville, West Virginia

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~10 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 72

South Charleston, West Virginia

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.4 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 72

South Charleston, West Virginia

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~10 min detour

3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 72

South Charleston, West Virginia

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

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 0 and 71.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | WV 39; WV 41 / Broad Street

Turn right onto WV 39; WV 41 / Broad Street

Navigation decision point

5
16.5 mi into trip | ~19m in

Take the exit toward US 60: Gauley Bridge, Rainelle

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 60: Gauley Bridge, Rainelle
5
71.2 mi into trip | ~1h 38m 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
71.6 mi into trip | ~1h 39m in

Keep slight left at fork toward Leon Sullivan Way

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward Leon Sullivan Way
5
71.8 mi into trip | ~1h 39m in | US 60 / Washington Street East

Turn right onto US 60 / Washington Street East

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$11.26 one way

$22.52 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 25 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $12.31 $24.62
premium $4.70 $13.33 $26.65
diesel $5.61 $15.90 $31.79

Estimated Tolls: $1.06

West Virginia Turnpike (15.1 mi) $1.06

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$11

Tolls

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$37–$62

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 25.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 21.6 0 $7.56 $3.46
Efficient EV 18 0 $6.30 $2.88
EV Truck/SUV 28.8 0 $10.08 $4.61

Gas CO2

25 kg

EV CO2

8 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Summersville, WV

Late night in Summersville on Sunday

Local time

12:26 AM

EDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Charleston, WV

Late night in Charleston on Sunday

Local time

12:26 AM

EDT

Current temp

69°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

46°F

Fayetteville, WV

36 mi in

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

5 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 40m 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?

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.

42% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35 mi on Midland Trail.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near WV 39; WV 41 / Broad Street.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 1h 40m 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: near the start (WV 39; WV 41 / Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 16.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 71.2 miles (100): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Summersville, WV to Charleston, WV, road signs begin pointing toward Rainelle along the way.

Rainelle

16.5 mi in | ~19m

About the Cities

Starting in Summersville, WV

Full guide →

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.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 40m. Total distance: 72 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (42%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 35 miles on Midland Trail. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $1.06 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: near the start (WV 39; WV 41 / Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 16.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 71.2 miles (100): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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