The Cost of Driving from Charleston, WV to Estes Park, CO: Based on Current Gas Prices

Are you planning a road trip from Charleston, West Virginia to Estes Park, Colorado? Whether you're going for a vacation or moving to start a new life in the mountains, it's important to know the cost of driving to your destination. With gas prices fluctuating constantly, it's difficult to predict how much you'll be spending on fuel. However, we've done the research for you and calculated the cost of driving based on current gas prices. Below, we've highlighted different routes, their distances, estimated travel time, and total cost.

Route 1: I-64 W, I-70 W, I-25 N

If you want to take the most direct route to Estes Park, you'll be driving on interstates for most of the trip. The total distance by this route is approximately 1,530 miles, with an estimated travel time of around 23 hours. Gas prices in Charleston are currently around $2.40 per gallon, while gas prices in Estes Park are around $3.50 per gallon. With a fuel economy of 25 miles per gallon, the total cost for gas for this trip is around $195. You'll also encounter several toll booths along the way, which will add a total of about $50 to your expenses.

Route 2: I-64 W, I-70 W, US-40 W, US-34 W

If you want to take a more scenic route, you can head west on US-40 at Denver and drive across through Rocky Mountain National Park. This route adds about 35 miles to your trip, for a total distance of 1,565 miles. The estimated travel time is around 24 hours. Gas prices in Charleston are around $2.40 per gallon, while gas prices in Estes Park are around $3.50 per gallon. With a fuel economy of 25 miles per gallon, you'll spend around $198 on gas. This route has only one toll booth, which will cost you about $6.

Route 3: I-64 W, I-70 W, US-40 W, CO-7 W

If you want to take the scenic route, but avoid the toll booth on Route 2, you can take Hwy 7 from Estes Park into the mountains. This route also adds about 35 miles to your trip, for a total distance of 1,565 miles. The estimated travel time is around 24 hours. Gas prices in Charleston are around $2.40 per gallon, while gas prices in Estes Park are around $3.50 per gallon. With a fuel economy of 25 miles per gallon, you'll spend around $198 on gas. This route does not have any toll booths.

Route 4: I-64 W, I-70 W, US-36 W

If you want to take a scenic route that avoids the toll booths altogether, you can stay on US-36 from Denver to Estes Park. This route is about the same distance as Route 2 and 3, at approximately 1,580 miles, but the estimated travel time is around 25 hours. Gas prices in Charleston are around $2.40 per gallon, while gas prices in Estes Park are around $3.50 per gallon. With a fuel economy of 25 miles per gallon, you'll spend around $200 on gas. This route does not have any toll booths.

Conclusion

The cost of driving from Charleston, WV to Estes Park, CO varies depending on the route you choose and current gas and toll prices. The most direct route takes about 23 hours and costs around $195 for gas and $50 in tolls. If you're looking for a more scenic route with fewer tolls, expect to pay around $198 - $200 for gas. Regardless of which route you choose, make sure to enjoy the journey and the beautiful scenery along the way!