How far is South Charleston, WV from Dunbar, WV?

The driving distance from South Charleston, WV to Dunbar, WV is about 2.9 miles (4.6 km), with a travel time of about 00h 04m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 2.1 miles (3.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 00h 09m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This is an easy same-day return drive. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
2.89 mi
00h 04m
Flight
2.12 mi
3.41 km direct

This is an easy same-day return drive.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from South Charleston.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
2.12 mi
Kilometers
3.41 km
Flight Time

Driving Distance

Road route
2.89 mi
Kilometers
4.65 km
Drive Time
00h 04m

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 00h 04m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Dunbar
Tue, Apr 14, 8:46 PM EDT
Return by in South Charleston
Tue, Apr 14, 8:51 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave South Charleston
2026-04-14T20:42
Arrive Dunbar
Tue, Apr 14, 8:46 PM EDT
Route Timing
00h 04m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT
Leave when it suits your day
Arrive between
7:05 AM to 7:05 PM EDT

This is a short drive, so your comfort window is wide. Traffic and current weather matter more than the clock.

Leave by
8:20 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 01h 30m at the destination.
Back in South Charleston
10:00 PM EDT
Flexible departure

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
Charleston
WV

The capital of West Virginia.

From South Charleston
1.4 mi
00h 02m
To Dunbar
1.4 mi
00h 02m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
64°F
Tonight

Mostly Clear

Starts
Tue, Apr 14 6:00 PM EDT
Wind
3 to 10 mph SW
Destination
63°F
Tonight

Mostly Clear

Starts
Tue, Apr 14 6:00 PM EDT
Wind
6 to 10 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between South Charleston and Dunbar.

  1. 1

    Start on MacCorkle Avenue Southwest

    1.1 mi · 2 min · MacCorkle Avenue Southwest

  2. 2

    Continue on Maccorkle Avenue Southwest

    1210 ft · 25 sec · Maccorkle Avenue Southwest

  3. 3

    Continue on MacCorkle Avenue

    1.4 km · 2 min · MacCorkle Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Maple Street

    49 m · 3 sec · Maple Street

  5. 5

    Turn slight right

    128 m · 7 sec

  6. 6

    Turn slight right onto Dunbar Bridge

    1563 ft · 26 sec · Dunbar Bridge

  7. 7

    Continue on 10th Street

    1059 ft · 20 sec · 10th Street

  8. 8

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 64 East: Charleston

    22 m · 2 sec

  9. 9

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Turn-heavy local drive

The route has frequent decision points for its length, so lane choice and turn timing will matter more than cruising speed.

Directions
9 steps
3 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
1
0 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
310.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
MacCorkle Avenue Southwest
1.38 mi · 48%
MacCorkle Avenue
0.89 mi · 31%
Dunbar Bridge
0.3 mi · 10%
10th Street
0.2 mi · 7%
Maple Street
0.03 mi · 1%
I 64 East
0.01 mi
Longest Stretch

MacCorkle Avenue Southwest

Start on MacCorkle Avenue Southwest

1.15 mi · 00h 02m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A short regional drive

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

Drive Time
00h 04m
Quick drive
Same-Day Return
00h 10m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+0.8 mi
2.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Charleston
00h 02m from South Charleston
Leave By
8:20 PM EDT
Flexible departure
Weather Watch

Mostly Clear leaving South Charleston and Mostly Clear near Dunbar.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from South Charleston to Dunbar?

The road trip is about 2.9 miles (4.6 km) and usually takes 00h 04m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route is short enough to handle as a quick errand, commute, or easy same-day return without much planning overhead.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Charleston is a useful midpoint, sitting about 1.4 miles from South Charleston and 1.4 miles from Dunbar.

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

The direct path is about 2.1 miles (3.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 0.8 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 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:20 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $0.40 one way or $0.79 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 0.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Clear around South Charleston and Mostly Clear near Dunbar.

Stop Ideas Near Charleston

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Charleston and the surrounding midpoint area.
City Park
Scenic stop 1.1 mi away

City Park

Dunbar , WV
1300 City Park Rd, Dunbar, WV 25064
Rating 4.2/5 108 reviews Tourist attraction,Park
Stop photo coming soon
Meeting point 5.8 mi away

St Albans Municipal Utility

Saint Albans , WV
1499 MacCorkle Ave, St Albans, WV 25177
Rating 2.6/5 9 reviews Government office,Water utility company
Charleston Sanitary Board
Nearby stop 2.5 mi away

Charleston Sanitary Board

Charleston , WV
208 26th St W, Charleston, WV 25387
Rating 3.1/5 112 reviews Water utility company
Parks and Recreation
Scenic stop 6.1 mi away

Parks and Recreation

Charleston , WV
1900 Kanawha Blvd E Unit 3, Charleston, WV 25305
Rating 4.6/5 12 reviews State government office,Recreation center,Tourist attraction

Transit and Meeting Points

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

RAIL

Charleston

1 mi away
350 MacCorkle Avenue - Southeast
RAIL

Montgomery

33 mi away
Third Avenue and Washington Street
RAIL

Thurmond

65 mi away
Hwy 25 & Hwy 2
RAIL

Huntington

71 mi away
1050 8th Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between South Charleston and Dunbar. Straight-line distance: 2.12 mi (3.41 km).

South Charleston

#1 South Charleston

City in Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States

Population12,036
Coordinates38.3684300, -81.6995700
Altitude183
CountryUnited States
Dunbar

#2 Dunbar

Town in East Lothian, Scotland

Population6,951
Coordinates38.3606500, -81.7373500
Altitude181
CountryUnited States
Start: South Charleston (-81.69957, 38.36843)
End: Dunbar (-81.73735, 38.36065)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 5 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)00h 05m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)00h 04m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 03m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 02m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 02m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 02m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
0.1 gal
0.39 L · about $0.40
Round trip
$0.79
0.2 gal · 0.78 L
Estimated CO2
0.9 kg one way
Round trip: 1.8 kg / 4 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $0.40 $0.79
Mid-grade $4.43 $0.44 $0.89
Premium $4.78 $0.48 $0.96
Diesel $5.62 $0.56 $1.12

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 · Apr 15, 2026

There is no time difference between South Charleston and Dunbar. The current time is 20:42:01.

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.