Connecting Chester to Fairmont, this 103-mile trek takes approximately 1 hour and 59 minutes to complete. Because the duration is under two hours, you can easily tackle this drive as a straightforward day trip without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via Carolina Avenue, US 22 East, and PA Turnpike 576 West. Budget roughly $16 for fuel to cover the distance between these two West Virginia locations. Whether you are heading south for business or a visit, this route offers a direct path that keeps you within the state's southeastern region for the duration of your journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
56 miles from Chester, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 79
58.8 mi
1h 4m
Southern Beltway
11.7 mi
12m
Raymond P Shafer Highway
11.6 mi
15m
PA 168
7.8 mi
13m
US 22
5.8 mi
7m
US 30
5 mi
8m
PA 18
4.3 mi
7m
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
3 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 79
— 58.8 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chester, WV and Fairmont, WV.
1
Start on this road
36 ft·8 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto WV 2
0.2 mi·39 sec·Carolina Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
4
Merge onto US 30
5.0 mi·8 min·US 30
5
Turn right onto PA 168
7.8 mi·13 min·PA 168
6
Continue on PA 18
4.3 mi·7 min·PA 18
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward US 22 East: Pittsburgh
8
Merge onto US 22
5.8 mi·7 min·US 22
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·50 sec
Toward PA Turnpike 576 West: Washington Pennsylvania, AirportUse the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·53 sec
Toward PA Tpke 576 East: Washington Pennsylvania
11
Merge onto PA Tpke 576
12 mi·12 min·Southern Beltway
12
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 79 South: Washington
13
Merge onto I 79
12 mi·15 min·Raymond P Shafer Highway
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 79
0.5 mi·1 min·I 79
Toward I 70 East, I 79 South: New Stanton, MorgantownUse the slight left lane.
15
Merge onto I 70; I 79
3.0 mi·4 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
16
Take the exit onto I 79
58 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 79
Exit 21Toward I 79 south: Waynesburg, MorgantownUse the slight right lane.
17
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward WV 273 North: Downtown, Fairmont
18
Turn left onto WV 273
0.4 mi·59 sec·Fairmont Gateway Connector
19
Enter roundabout onto WV 273
122 ft·2 sec·Fairmont Gateway Connector
20
Continue on WV 273
0.2 mi·23 sec·Fairmont Gateway Connector
21
Enter roundabout onto WV 273
128 ft·3 sec·Fairmont Gateway Connector
22
Continue on WV 273
0.2 mi·24 sec·Fairmont Gateway Connector
23
Continue on Jefferson Street
0.3 mi·57 sec·Jefferson Street
24
Arrive at destination
Jefferson Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip with no scheduled stops, you have plenty of flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. Keep that $16 fuel estimate in mind as you head out, and ensure your tank is ready for the technical, turn-heavy nature of the route. Because you won't be spending time on major interstates, plan for a steady pace rather than quick highway transit. A helpful tip for this specific drive is to stay alert on Carolina Avenue early on, as the lack of long, straight stretches means you will be navigating bends from the very beginning of your departure.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 56 miles from Chester, WV, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 58.8 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 25 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56 miles or 1h 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fairmont, WV than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Chester, WV so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Chester, WV
This is one driving day of about 111.9 miles and 2h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Chester, WV.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 79 for about 58.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 52 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|WV 2 / Carolina Avenue
Turn left onto WV 2 / Carolina Avenue
Navigation decision point
7
23.7 mi into trip|~39m in
Take the exit toward PA Turnpike 576 West: Washington Pennsylvania, Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward PA Turnpike 576 West: Washington Pennsyl...
5
24 mi into trip|~40m in
Keep slight right at fork toward PA Tpke 576 East: Washington Pennsylvania
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward PA Tpke 576 East: Washington Pennsylvani...
8
48.5 mi into trip|~1h 11m in|I 79
Keep slight left at fork onto I 79 toward I 70 East, I 79 South: New Stanton, Morgantown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 70 East, I 79 South: New Stanton, Morg...
8
52 mi into trip|~1h 16m in|I 79
Take the exit onto I 79 toward I 79 south: Waynesburg, Morgantown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 21
Toward I 79 south: Waynesburg, Morgantown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.50 one way
$35.00 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$19.13
$38.27
premium
$4.70
$20.71
$41.42
diesel
$5.61
$24.71
$49.41
Estimated Tolls: $0.82
Southern Beltway
(11.7 mi)$0.82
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.6
0
$11.75
$5.37
Efficient EV
28
0
$9.79
$4.48
EV Truck/SUV
44.8
0
$15.67
$7.16
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 14, 2026
Origin
Chester, WV
Late night
in Chester on Sunday
Local time
3:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fairmont, WV
Late night
in Fairmont on Sunday
Local time
3:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 6 mph6% chanceLive forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
5 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 23m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise on this journey. With a 0% highway share, you will remain on local roads throughout the entire 103-mile trip. The drive demands your full attention as you navigate winding segments, particularly since there are no long, straight stretches like the zero-mile uninterrupted run on Carolina Avenue. You will find that the road's personality remains consistent, favoring technical, localized driving over high-speed highway travel. Keep your hands on the wheel and be prepared for frequent adjustments as you progress through the turns.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 58.8 mi on I 79.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 79 and Southern Beltway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near WV 2 / Carolina Avenue.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 111.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (WV 2 / Carolina Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 23.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Chester, WV and Fairmont, WV, road signs point toward Pa Turnpike 576 West: Washington Pennsylvania, Airport, Pa Tpke 576 East: Washington Pennsylvania and Morgantown.
Fairmont, nicknamed the "Friendly City", is a city of 18,313 people (as of 2020) in West Virginia, and the county seat of Marion County (pop. 56,000). It was established in 1820 as Middletown, and changed in 1843 to Fairmont, short for "Fair Mountain". The city is located on the Monongahela River at its origin at the confluence of the Tygart Valley River flowing northwest from Grafton, and the West Fork River flowing north from Clarksburg. Fairmont claims to be the origin of the Pepperoni Roll, West Virginia's official state food. Mary Lou Retton — a gold-medalist gymnast in the 1984 Olympics, who was highly popular around the country and particularly in West Virginia — came from Fairmont.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 23m. Total distance: 111.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 58.8 miles on I 79. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.82 in tolls one way, starting with Southern Beltway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Fairmont, WV before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through WV can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (WV 2 / Carolina Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 23.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Fairmont, WV before heading back.
