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

The driving distance from South Charleston, WV to Princeton, WV is about 99.7 miles (160.5 km), with a travel time of about 01h 56m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 76.5 miles (123.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 52m 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
99.76 mi
01h 56m
Flight
76.52 mi
123.15 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from South Charleston.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
76.52 mi
Kilometers
123.15 km
Flight Time
00h 09m

Driving Distance

Road route
99.76 mi
Kilometers
160.55 km
Drive Time
01h 56m

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 56m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Princeton
Tue, May 5, 4:03 PM EDT
Return by in South Charleston
Tue, May 5, 6:00 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave South Charleston
2026-05-05T14:07
Arrive Princeton
Tue, May 5, 4:03 PM EDT
Route Timing
01h 56m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:56 AM to 11:56 AM EDT

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

Leave by
2:38 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in South 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
Pax
WV

Human settlement in Fayette County, West Virginia, United States of America

From South Charleston
49.9 mi
00h 58m
To Princeton
49.9 mi
00h 58m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
81°F
Tuesday

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Tue, May 5 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 to 13 mph SW
Destination
76°F
Tuesday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Tue, May 5 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 13 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on MacCorkle Avenue Southwest

    1.1 km · 1 min · MacCorkle Avenue Southwest

  2. 2

    Turn slight right

    48 m · 6 sec

  3. 3

    Turn straight onto Montrose Drive

    1484 ft · 32 sec · Montrose Drive

  4. 4

    Take the ramp left toward I 64 East: Charleston

    1587 ft · 38 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left

    94.5 mi · 1 hr 48 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward US 460: Princeton, Pearisburg VA

    2374 ft · 1 min

  7. 7

    Turn right onto Big Laurel Highway

    2.6 mi · 3 min · Big Laurel Highway

  8. 8

    Turn right onto Princeton-Ingleside Road

    113 m · 8 sec · Princeton-Ingleside Road

  9. 9

    Continue on Ingleside Road

    2486 ft · 52 sec · Ingleside Road

  10. 10

    Continue on East Main Street

    1387 ft · 28 sec · East Main Street

  11. 11

    Turn right onto North Walker Street

    26 m · 2 sec · North Walker Street

  12. 12

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Walker Street

Car Route Details

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

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
12 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 64 East
94.8 mi · 95%
Big Laurel Highway
2.64 mi · 3%
MacCorkle Avenue Southwest
0.7 mi · 1%
Ingleside Road
0.47 mi
US 460
0.45 mi
Montrose Drive
0.28 mi
Longest Stretch

I 64 East

Merge slight left

94.5 mi · 01h 48m

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 56m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+23.2 mi
76.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Pax
00h 58m from South Charleston
Leave By
2:38 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers leaving South Charleston and Mostly Sunny near Princeton.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 99.7 miles (160.5 km) and usually takes 01h 56m 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?

Pax is a useful midpoint, sitting about 49.9 miles from South Charleston and 49.9 miles from Princeton.

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

The direct path is about 76.5 miles (123.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 23.2 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 2:38 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $13.94 one way or $27.89 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 31.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain Showers around South Charleston and Mostly Sunny near Princeton.

Stop Ideas Near Pax

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Pax, 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 Pax.

RAIL

Thurmond

17 mi away
Hwy 25 & Hwy 2
RAIL

Prince

19 mi away
Hwy 41 and County Road 25
RAIL

Montgomery

31 mi away
Third Avenue and Washington Street
RAIL

Hinton

42 mi away
Front St. and Fifth Ave.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between South Charleston and Princeton. Straight-line distance: 76.52 mi (123.15 km).

South Charleston

#1 South Charleston

City in Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States

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

#2 Princeton

City in Mercer County, Missouri

Population5,599
Coordinates37.3662300, -81.1025900
Altitude743
CountryUnited States
Start: South Charleston (-81.69957, 38.36843)
End: Princeton (-81.10259, 37.36623)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 161 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 19m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 29m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 59m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 39m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 25m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 14m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.52 gal
13.33 L · about $13.94
Round trip
$27.89
7.04 gal · 26.66 L
Estimated CO2
31.3 kg one way
Round trip: 62.6 kg / 138 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $13.94 $27.89
Mid-grade $4.43 $15.59 $31.18
Premium $4.78 $16.82 $33.64
Diesel $5.62 $19.80 $39.59

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 05, 2026

There is no time difference between South Charleston and Princeton. The current time is 14:07:17.

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.