How far is Charleston, WV from Parkersburg, WV?

The driving distance from Charleston, WV to Parkersburg, WV is about 81.4 miles (131 km), with a travel time of about 01h 15m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 63.4 miles (102.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 30m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
81.39 mi
01h 15m
Flight
63.47 mi
102.14 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Charleston.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
63.47 mi
Kilometers
102.14 km
Flight Time
00h 07m

Driving Distance

Road route
81.39 mi
Kilometers
130.98 km
Drive Time
01h 15m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 01h 15m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Parkersburg
Tue, May 12, 8:06 PM EDT
Return by in Charleston
Tue, May 12, 9:21 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Charleston
2026-05-12T18:50
Arrive Parkersburg
Tue, May 12, 8:06 PM EDT
Route Timing
01h 15m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:15 AM to 11:15 AM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
4:00 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Charleston
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Ripley
WV

Town in West Virginia

From Charleston
38.6 mi
00h 37m
To Parkersburg
42.8 mi
00h 37m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
75°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 mph NW
Destination
73°F
Tuesday

Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 12 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 to 5 mph SE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Charleston and Parkersburg.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Charleston and Parkersburg.

  1. 1

    Start on Dickinson Street

    1242 ft · 41 sec · Dickinson Street

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Christopher Street

    81 m · 14 sec · Christopher Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Capitol Street

    95 m · 18 sec · Capitol Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Smith Street

    554 ft · 19 sec · Smith Street

  5. 5

    Turn left

    965 ft · 23 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    551 ft · 8 sec

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on I 77 North: Parkersburg

    1.9 mi · 2 min

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on I 77 North: Parkersburg

    70 mi · 1 hr 15 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward WV 95: Downtown Parkersburg

    1654 ft · 42 sec

  10. 10

    Turn left onto Camden Avenue

    57 m · 7 sec · Camden Avenue

  11. 11

    Turn left onto West Virginia Route 95

    2.1 mi · 3 min · West Virginia Route 95

  12. 12

    Continue on Camden Avenue

    1.3 km · 2 min · Camden Avenue

  13. 13

    Turn right onto Division Street

    1.6 km · 2 min · Division Street

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Ann Street

    132 m · 23 sec · Ann Street

  15. 15

    Turn left onto 4th Street

    131 m · 22 sec · 4th Street

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Juliana Street

    103 m · 11 sec · Juliana Street

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Juliana Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Charleston and Parkersburg.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
17 steps
10 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
1 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
20.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 77 North
71.9 mi · 88%
West Virginia Route 95
2.09 mi · 3%
Division Street
0.99 mi · 1%
Camden Avenue
0.86 mi · 1%
WV 95
0.31 mi
Dickinson Street
0.24 mi
Longest Stretch

I 77 North

Keep slight left to continue on I 77 North: Parkersburg

70 mi · 01h 15m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 15m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+18 mi
63.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Ripley
00h 37m from Charleston
Leave By
4:00 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Charleston and Sunny near Parkersburg.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Charleston to Parkersburg?

The road trip is about 81.4 miles (131 km) and usually takes 01h 15m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Ripley is a useful midpoint, sitting about 38.6 miles from Charleston and 42.8 miles from Parkersburg.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 63.4 miles (102.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 18 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 4:00 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $11.37 one way or $22.74 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 25.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Charleston and Sunny near Parkersburg.

Stop Ideas Near Ripley

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Ripley, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Ripley.

RAIL

Charleston

52 mi away
350 MacCorkle Avenue - Southeast
RAIL

Huntington

78 mi away
1050 8th Avenue
RAIL

Montgomery

79 mi away
Third Avenue and Washington Street
RAIL

Ashland Transportation Center

89 mi away
99 15th Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Charleston and Parkersburg. Straight-line distance: 63.47 mi (102.14 km).

Charleston

#1 Charleston

The capital of West Virginia.

Population45,879
Coordinates38.3498200, -81.6326200
Altitude182
CountryUnited States
Parkersburg

#2 Parkersburg

City in and county seat of Wood County, West Virginia

Population29,009
Coordinates39.2667400, -81.5615100
Altitude187
CountryUnited States
Start: Dickinson Street (-81.632578, 38.349779)
End: Juliana Street (-81.56142, 39.266643)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 131 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 42m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 02m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 37m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 21m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 09m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 00m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.87 gal
10.87 L · about $11.37
Round trip
$22.74
5.74 gal · 21.74 L
Estimated CO2
25.5 kg one way
Round trip: 51 kg / 112 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $11.37 $22.74
Mid-grade $4.43 $12.71 $25.42
Premium $4.78 $13.71 $27.43
Diesel $5.62 $16.14 $32.28

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in West Virginia · May 12, 2026

There is no time difference between Charleston and Parkersburg. The current time is 18:50:47.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.