The Cost of a Trip between Charles Town, WV and Ely, MN: Navigating the Routes Based on Gas Prices

If you're looking to make a journey from Charles Town, West Virginia to Ely, Minnesota, you're in for a long drive: the two cities are separated by roughly 1,150 miles. But if you're planning a road trip, it's worth considering the cost of gas as you determine the best route to take. Below, we'll look at the cost and distance of several potential routes, allowing you to make an informed choice about how you'll travel.

Route 1: The Direct Route

The most straightforward way to get from Charles Town to Ely is to make your way up I-81, then hop on I-80 as you cross into Pennsylvania, continue through Ohio, and cross into Indiana and Illinois. Once you hit Chicagoland, you'll connect to I-94, which will bring you all the way up to Duluth, Minnesota. From there, it's a short 120 miles up MN-1 to get to Ely. In total, this route covers 1,148 miles.

Assuming an average gas mileage of 25 miles per gallon in a car that gets regular unleaded fuel, you'll be looking at spending roughly 46 gallons of gas on this trek. Based on the national average gas price at the time of writing this article, which is $3.13 per gallon, this means you will spend an estimated $144. For travel in an RV or truck that gets 10 to 20 miles per gallon of diesel, the cost for this journey will be between $344 and $688.

Route 2: The Southern Scenic Route

A more scenic option will take you southeast out of Charles Town on US-340/US-522, which you will follow west until you hit I-64. Head to Louisville, Kentucky via I-64, then continue on I-65 north up to downtown Indianapolis. From there, take West US Route 30 across northern Indiana past farms and fields, cross into Illinois and take I-39 until you get to US-51. Follow this scenic route past forests and along the Wisconsin River up until Tomahawk, Wisconsin. From Tomahawk follow US-8 east up until Rhinelander where you can connect with US-51 north. In Minocqua connect with WI-70 and head east through shopping and recreation areas, then cross into Michigan via US-2. Head north on US-45 which will take you past Lower Michigan before crossing the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Here you will connect with US-2 West towards Duluth where you can follow the direct route north on I-35 to reach Ely. This route covers 1,342 miles.

Based on gas mileage assumptions suggested above, this route will take roughly 54 gallons of gas. The cost of gas to get to your destination on this route will be approximately $169.5.

Route 3: The Northern Scenic Route

For a truly beautiful drive, you can take a more northerly route. Take I-68 West from Charles Town until you reach I-79 North and follow it to Pittsburgh. Then continue on I-79 past the Ohio border until you reach I-90 East and cross through Ashtabula, Cleveland and into Erie, Pennsylvania. From Erie, take I-86 west across New York past Chautauqua Lake, continue on US Route 219 south, which can take you around the Ellicottville ski resorts before arriving at the Allegheny National Forest. US 219 will connect with US-6 in northwestern Pennsylvania, take a right onto PA-62 to Warren, and continue on PA-59 to I-86 in New York. Follow I-86 until you reach I-81, then take I-81 North and follow it until it intersects with I-90 in Syracuse. Once on I-90, take US-2 West at Duluth to reach Ely after a 1,321-mile journey.

Based on the same gas mileage guidelines stated above, this route requires 53 gallons of gas, which should cost you around $166.46.

Recommendations

While each of these routes has its appeal, the direct route offers the shortest distance and most reasonable gas prices. Route two is the most expensive, going over 130 miles farther than the first route. Route three requires an extra hour of driving than the direct route and using almost as much gas as the southern route.

Conclusion

In the end, the best route for you depends on your priorities: Do you mind spending more time and money if it means you get to see some beautiful landscapes, or do you prefer a quick, cost-effective trip? Regardless, you can rest easy knowing roughly how much you'll be paying for gas as you make your way to Ely. But expect this trip, no matter which route you choose to take, to take at least 16 or 17 hours of constant driving. Taking into account taking breaks, making stops, sightseeing, and needing to rest makes this trip realistically a two to three-day journey.