Fairfax Station, VA to Charles Town, WV is 54.1 miles and takes about 1 hour 22 minutes via Charles Town Pike and Dulles Greenway, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip connects the Southeast region of Virginia to the Southeast region of West Virginia. You'll experience a mix of highway speeds and surface roads as you travel. Given its short duration, this route is ideal for a same-day excursion, offering a straightforward connection between these two areas.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Charles Town Pike
13 mi
22m
Dulles Greenway
11.7 mi
13m
Fairfax County Parkway
7 mi
10m
WV 9
5.2 mi
6m
Sully Road
4.4 mi
5m
Leesburg Pike
3.8 mi
5m
Route 50
3.2 mi
5m
East Washington Street
1.2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Charles Town Pike
— 13 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairfax Station, VA and Charles Town, WV.
1
Start on VA 123
0.1 mi·17 sec·Ox Road
2
Turn right onto SR 643
0.7 mi·1 min·Burke Centre Parkway
Use the right lane.
3
Turn right onto VA 286
7.0 mi·10 min·Fairfax County Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi·41 sec
Toward US 50 West
5
Merge onto US 50
3.2 mi·5 min·Route 50
Use the left lane.
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward VA 28 North: Dulles Airport
7
Merge onto VA 28
4.4 mi·5 min·Sully Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
1.2 mi·2 min
Toward VA 267 West: LeesburgUse the slight left lane.
9
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·22 sec·this road
10
Merge onto VA 267
12 mi·13 min·Dulles Greenway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 1AToward US 15 South, VA 7 West: LeesburgUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto US 15; VA 7
0.5 mi·39 sec·Leesburg Bypass
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on VA 7
3.8 mi·5 min·Leesburg Pike
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
14
Take the exit onto VA 7 BUS
0.2 mi·31 sec·VA 7 BUS
Toward VA 9: Hillsboro, Charles TownUse the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto VA 7 BUS
183 ft·7 sec·VA 7 BUS
Toward VA 9 East, VA 7 West
16
Enter roundabout onto VA 9
29 ft·0 sec·Charles Town Pike
Toward Charlesh Town Pike
17
Continue on VA 9
7.6 mi·12 min·Charles Town Pike
Toward Charlesh Town Pike
18
Enter roundabout onto VA 9
109 ft·6 sec·Charles Town Pike
19
Continue on VA 9
0.4 mi·1 min·Charles Town Pike
20
Enter roundabout onto VA 9
60 ft·3 sec·Charles Town Pike
21
Continue on VA 9
4.9 mi·8 min·Charles Town Pike
22
Continue on WV 9
4.4 mi·5 min·WV 9
23
Keep slight right at fork onto WV 9
0.8 mi·1 min·WV 9
Toward US 340 North, WV 9 West: Harpers Ferry, Martinsburg
24
Take the exit onto US 340
0.3 mi·45 sec·US 340
Toward US 340 North, WV 51 West: Charles Town, Harpers Ferry
25
Keep slight left at fork
352 ft·11 sec
26
Turn left onto US 340
1.2 mi·2 min·East Washington Street
27
Turn left onto WV 115
49 ft·2 sec·South George Street
28
Arrive at destination
WV 115
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 27.1 miles from Fairfax Station, VA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 16.2 and 34.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
16.2 mi into trip|~25m in
Take the exit toward VA 267 West: Leesburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward VA 267 West: Leesburg
9
29.3 mi into trip|~42m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 15 South, VA 7 West: Leesburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 1A
Toward US 15 South, VA 7 West: Leesburg
7
34.1 mi into trip|~49m in|VA 7 BUS
Take the exit onto VA 7 BUS toward VA 9: Hillsboro, Charles Town
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 VA 9: Hillsboro, Charles Town
7
34.3 mi into trip|~49m in|VA 7 BUS
Keep slight left at fork onto VA 7 BUS toward VA 9 East, VA 7 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward VA 9 East, VA 7 West
6
34.4 mi into trip|~50m in|VA 9 / Charles Town Pike
Enter roundabout onto VA 9 / Charles Town Pike toward Charlesh Town Pike
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Toward Charlesh Town Pike
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.59 one way
$17.19 round trip
$4.04/gal25.4 MPG avg19 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.40
$9.37
$18.74
premium
$4.78
$10.18
$20.36
diesel
$6.18
$13.16
$26.32
Estimated Tolls: $2.92
Dulles Greenway
(11.7 mi)$2.92
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$3
Total
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
16.2
0
$5.68
$2.60
Efficient EV
13.5
0
$4.73
$2.16
EV Truck/SUV
21.6
0
$7.57
$3.46
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Fairfax Station, VA
Late night
in Fairfax Station on Sunday
Local time
5:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Mostly Sunny
N 17 mph7% chanceLive forecast
Coastal Flood Watch
Coastal Flood Watch issued October 17 at 11:49AM EDT until October 20 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Coastal Flood Watch
Coastal Flood Watch issued October 17 at 11:49AM EDT until October 20 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Wakefield VA
Destination
Charles Town, WV
Late night
in Charles Town on Sunday
Local time
5:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Mostly Sunny
N 18 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 12:43PM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 8:09AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Baltimore MD/Washington DC
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 22m 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?
About 31% of this 54.1-mile drive is on highways. You'll encounter 13 miles on Charles Town Pike before transitioning to other road types. Expect a mix of highway cruising and surface road driving as you make your way. The profile indicates a blend of highway and surface roads, so be prepared for varying speeds and exit densities.
31% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 13 mi on Charles Town Pike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 16.2 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 54.1 miles you will encounter 19 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 16.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 29.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.1 miles (VA 7 BUS): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Charles Town is a small historic town of close to 9,000 (2024) on the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, and one of the state's most visited attractions.
Top landmarks
•Jefferson County Courthouse — courthouse in Charles Town, West Virginia
•Happy Retreat — human settlement in United States of America
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 22m. Total distance: 54.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (31%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 13 miles on Charles Town Pike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.92 in tolls one way, starting with Dulles Greenway. 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.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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 Charles Town, WV before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 16.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 29.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.1 miles (VA 7 BUS): 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 Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Charles Town, WV before heading back.
