How far is Summersville, WV from Charleston, WV?

The driving distance from Summersville, WV to Charleston, WV is about 88.4 miles (142.3 km), with a travel time of about 01h 23m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 42.6 miles (68.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 47m 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
88.43 mi
01h 23m
Flight
42.55 mi
68.48 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Summersville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
42.55 mi
Kilometers
68.48 km
Flight Time
00h 05m

Driving Distance

Road route
88.43 mi
Kilometers
142.31 km
Drive Time
01h 23m

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 23m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Charleston
Thu, Apr 16, 1:09 AM EDT
Return by in Summersville
Thu, Apr 16, 2:32 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Summersville
2026-04-15T23:45
Arrive Charleston
Thu, Apr 16, 1:09 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 23m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:24 AM to 11:24 AM EDT

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

Leave by
3:42 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Summersville
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
Gauley Bridge
WV

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

From Summersville
36 mi
00h 41m
To Charleston
52.4 mi
00h 41m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
60°F
Overnight

Mostly Clear

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 12:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 mph S
Destination
89°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 9 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Main Street

    8 m · 3 sec · Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Broad Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Broad Street

  3. 3

    Turn right

    15.4 mi · 18 min

  4. 4

    Take the exit slight right toward US 60: Gauley Bridge, Rainelle

    1907 ft · 54 sec

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Midland Trail

    4.9 mi · 7 min · Midland Trail

  6. 6

    Continue on Midland Trail

    1548 ft · 24 sec · Midland Trail

  7. 7

    Continue on East Main Street

    2.7 mi · 6 min · East Main Street

  8. 8

    Continue on Midland Trail

    7.6 mi · 11 min · Midland Trail

  9. 9

    Continue on Midland Trail

    22.2 mi · 34 min · Midland Trail

  10. 10

    Continue on Kanawha Boulevard East

    1.2 km · 1 min · Kanawha Boulevard East

  11. 11

    Turn left

    2528 ft · 51 sec

  12. 12

    Take the ramp slight right

    1392 ft · 34 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto West Virginia Turnpike

    15.1 mi · 17 min · West Virginia Turnpike

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward Leon Sullivan Way, Capitol Street

    2329 ft · 57 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on Leon Sullivan Way

    992 ft · 26 sec

  16. 16

    Turn right onto Washington Street East

    657 ft · 18 sec · Washington Street East

  17. 17

    Turn left onto Dickinson Street

    126 m · 11 sec · Dickinson Street

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Dickinson Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Straightforward drive

The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.

Directions
18 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
1 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
20.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Midland Trail
35 mi · 40%
West Virginia Turnpike
15.1 mi · 17%
East Main Street
2.75 mi · 3%
Broad Street
1.12 mi · 1%
Kanawha Boulevard East
0.99 mi · 1%
Leon Sullivan Way
0.63 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Midland Trail

Continue on Midland Trail

22.2 mi · 00h 34m

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 23m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 48m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+45.8 mi
42.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Gauley Bridge
00h 41m from Summersville
Leave By
3:42 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Clear leaving Summersville and Sunny near Charleston.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 88.4 miles (142.3 km) and usually takes 01h 23m 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?

Gauley Bridge is a useful midpoint, sitting about 36 miles from Summersville and 52.4 miles from Charleston.

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

The direct path is about 42.6 miles (68.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 45.8 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:42 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $12.36 one way or $24.72 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 27.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Clear around Summersville and Sunny near Charleston.

Stop Ideas Near Gauley Bridge

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

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

RAIL

Montgomery

11 mi away
Third Avenue and Washington Street
RAIL

Thurmond

26 mi away
Hwy 25 & Hwy 2
RAIL

Prince

37 mi away
Hwy 41 and County Road 25
RAIL

Charleston

44 mi away
350 MacCorkle Avenue - Southeast

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Summersville and Charleston. Straight-line distance: 42.55 mi (68.48 km).

Summersville

#1 Summersville

Town in Nicholas County, West Virginia, United States

Population3,225
Coordinates38.2812200, -80.8526000
Altitude573
CountryUnited States
Charleston

#2 Charleston

The capital of West Virginia.

Population45,879
Coordinates38.3498200, -81.6326200
Altitude182
CountryUnited States
Start: Main Street (-80.852602, 38.281187)
End: Dickinson Street (-81.632578, 38.349779)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 142 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 56m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 12m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 46m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 28m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 15m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 06m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.12 gal
11.81 L · about $12.36
Round trip
$24.72
6.24 gal · 23.62 L
Estimated CO2
27.7 kg one way
Round trip: 55.5 kg / 122 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $12.36 $24.72
Mid-grade $4.43 $13.82 $27.64
Premium $4.78 $14.91 $29.81
Diesel $5.62 $17.55 $35.09

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 16, 2026

There is no time difference between Summersville and Charleston. The current time is 23:45:29.

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.