Clendenin, WV to Martinsburg, WV is 285.9 miles and takes about 5h 16m via Senator Jennings Randolph Highway and I-68, with a fuel budget near $47 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within West Virginia, connecting two points in the Southeast region. Expect a mix of highway cruising and surface roads as you make your way across the state. With only one recommended stop and a drive time under six hours, this is a very manageable one-day trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
143 miles from Clendenin, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 37m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
128.4 mi
2h 17m
I 68
112.3 mi
2h 3m
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
20.9 mi
22m
Maryland Veterans Memorial Highway
13.2 mi
14m
I 70, US 40 (Dwight D Eisenhower Highway)
3.3 mi
3m
Spencer Road
2.2 mi
3m
Edwin Miller Boulevard
1.4 mi
2m
North Queen Street
1.2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
— 128.4 mi, about 2h 17m
Traffic on I-68
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~983 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,330
Quietest
2 AM
~84 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clendenin, WV and Martinsburg, WV.
3.3 mi·3 min·I 70, US 40 (Dwight D Eisenhower Highway)
14
Continue on I 70
16 mi·17 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
15
Take the exit
0.1 mi·15 sec
Exit 26Toward I 81: Roanoke, HarrisburgUse the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·53 sec
Toward I 81 South: RoanokeUse the slight right lane.
17
Merge onto I 81
13 mi·14 min·Maryland Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi·46 sec
Toward WV 9 East
19
Turn straight onto WV 9
0.4 mi·41 sec·Hedgesville Road
20
Continue on WV 9
1.4 mi·2 min·Edwin Miller Boulevard
21
Continue on US 11; WV 9
1.2 mi·2 min·North Queen Street
22
Turn left onto East King Street
17 ft·0 sec·East King Street
23
Arrive at destination
East King Street
Trip Plan
Consider an early morning departure from Clendenin to maximize daylight and allow for a relaxed pace, especially since this is a single-day trip. The longest stretch without a major road change is over 128 miles, so plan your fuel stops accordingly, keeping in mind the estimated $47 fuel cost. While there's only one stop suggested, you have the flexibility to pull over whenever needed. Be aware that the profile is a mix of highway and surface roads, so your speed will vary.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 143 miles from Clendenin, WV, or about 2h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 128.4 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 63 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 143 miles or 2h 37m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Martinsburg, WV than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Clendenin, 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 Clendenin, WV
This is one driving day of about 285.9 miles and 5h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Clendenin, WV.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Senator Jennings Randolph Highway for about 128.4 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 269.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|US 119 / Elk River Road
At end of road, turn right onto US 119 / Elk River Road
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
4
3.2 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
8
268.7 mi into trip|~4h 54m in
Take the exit toward I 81: Roanoke, Harrisburg
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 26
Toward I 81: Roanoke, Harrisburg
7
268.8 mi into trip|~4h 54m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 81 South: Roanoke
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 81 South: Roanoke
5
269.3 mi into trip|~4h 55m in|I 81 / Maryland Veterans Memorial Highway
Merge onto I 81 / Maryland Veterans Memorial Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.21 one way
$84.42 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg100 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$46.39
$92.77
premium
$4.49
$50.56
$101.12
diesel
$4.80
$53.98
$107.97
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 100 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
85.8
1
$30.02
$13.72
Efficient EV
71.5
0
$25.02
$11.44
EV Truck/SUV
114.4
1
$40.03
$18.30
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Clendenin, WV
Night
in Clendenin on Saturday
Local time
9:27 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
SW 2 mph20% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 7:10PM EDT until July 17 at 9:30PM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
Destination
Martinsburg, WV
Night
in Martinsburg on Saturday
Local time
9:27 PM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Smoke
SE 2 mph15% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 17 at 7:10PM EDT until July 17 at 9:30PM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
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
3 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 16m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
National Historical Park
At the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers, on the ancestral home of the Tuscarora and Shawnee people, lies Harpers Ferry. Here you can explore John Brown's Raid against slavery. Find your...
15 mi from route
~38 min detour
$20
near mile 285.9
Park Closure: Annual Closure to Protect Nesting Peregrine Falcons
The 25 miles of free-flowing Gauley River and the six miles of the Meadow River pass through scenic gorges and valleys containing a wide variety of natural and cultural features. The Gauley River cont...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
Free
near mile 19.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 40% of your drive on highways, with the longest stretch of uninterrupted driving being 128.4 miles on Senator Jennings Randolph Highway. The route transitions from highway to surface roads at some point, so be prepared for a change in driving pace. Expect some rural cruising and potentially some urban merging as you approach your destination.
40% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 128.4 mi on Senator Jennings Randolph Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near US 119 / Elk River Road.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 285.9 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (US 119 / Elk River Road): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 3.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 268.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,348 ft430 ft
Total Climb
2,349 ft
Total Descent
2,521 ft
Highest Point
2,348 ft
~164 mi in
Elevation Range
1,918 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Clendenin, WV to Martinsburg, WV, road signs begin pointing toward Harrisburg along the way.
Martinsburg is a city of 17,000 people (as of 2019) in West Virginia. Founded in 1778, it was named in honor of Colonel Thomas Bryan Martin, a nephew of Lord Fairfax from Kent, who had moved to the general area around 1735.
Top landmarks
•Baltimore and Ohio and Related Industries Historic District — historic district in West Virginia, United States
•Adam Stephen House — building in West Virginia, United States
•Apollo Civic Theatre — theater and former movie theater in Martinsburg, West Viriginia, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 16m. Total distance: 285.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 128.4 miles on Senator Jennings Randolph Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 18 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Martinsburg, 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 18 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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: at 0.4 miles (US 119 / Elk River Road): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 3.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 268.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Harpers Ferry National Historical Park and Gauley River National Recreation Area. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Martinsburg, WV before the return drive.
