Fairmont to Alderson is 164.8 miles and takes about 3h 36m via Senator Jennings Randolph Highway and US 19, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within West Virginia, moving from the Southeast region to the Southeast region. Expect a route with frequent turns and a local feel, rather than a high-speed interstate journey. With a recommended single day for completion, this trip is ideal for those looking for a direct, manageable drive through WV's varied landscapes.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
82.4 miles from Fairmont, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 31m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
77.6 mi
1h 23m
US 19
19.4 mi
24m
Levasy Road
12.3 mi
21m
Arbuckle Road
11.4 mi
20m
Brushy Ridge Road
11.2 mi
19m
Upper Millcreek Telsa Road
8.6 mi
9m
Greenbrier Street
6 mi
8m
Main Street
5.5 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
— 77.6 mi, about 1h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairmont, WV and Alderson, WV.
Given the 3h 36m estimated drive time, leaving Fairmont in the morning allows ample time to reach Alderson before evening. While the total distance is manageable for a single day, factor in the 'turn-heavy' nature of the route; it's wise to take a short break around the halfway point. With a fuel cost estimated at $26, ensure your tank is full before departing Fairmont, as there's only one suggested stop and the longest stretch covers a significant portion of the journey. Pay close attention to GPS navigation, especially as you transition between Senator Jennings Randolph Highway, US 19, and Levasy Road.
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 82.4 miles from Fairmont, WV, or about 1h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 77.6 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 36 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 82.4 miles or 1h 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alderson, WV than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
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Open the route before leaving Fairmont, WV so your first major turns are already loaded.
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Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
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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 Fairmont, WV
This is one driving day of about 164.8 miles and 3h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Fairmont, 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 77.6 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 152.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.5 mi into trip|~1m in|WV 273 / Fairmont Gateway Connector
Enter roundabout onto WV 273 / Fairmont Gateway Connector
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in|WV 273 / Fairmont Gateway Connector
Enter roundabout onto WV 273 / Fairmont Gateway Connector
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
4
79.2 mi into trip|~1h 27m in|US 19
Take the exit onto US 19 toward US 19 South: Beckley
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 19 South: Beckley
6
152.7 mi into trip|~3h 15m in
Take the exit toward WV 12: Alta, Alderson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 161
Toward WV 12: Alta, Alderson
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.77 one way
$51.54 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg58 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$28.18
$56.36
premium
$4.70
$30.50
$61.00
diesel
$5.61
$36.39
$72.77
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
49.4
0
$17.30
$7.91
Efficient EV
41.2
0
$14.42
$6.59
EV Truck/SUV
65.9
0
$23.07
$10.55
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
19 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 16, 2026
Origin
Fairmont, WV
Late night
in Fairmont on Sunday
Local time
12:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Alderson, WV
Late night
in Alderson on Sunday
Local time
12:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live 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
26 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
3h 36m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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.
Gauley River National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 108
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a turn-heavy local drive, with only 17% of the route on highways. You'll experience a mix of Senator Jennings Randolph Highway, US 19, and Levasy Road, requiring your attention with frequent adjustments. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 77.6 miles on Senator Jennings Randolph Highway, offering a period of more consistent travel before more localized roads take over. Be prepared for a driving experience that feels more connected to the local terrain and communities.
Only 17% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 77.6 mi on Senator Jennings Randolph Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near WV 273 / Fairmont Gateway Connector.
Driving Effort5/10
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 164.8 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.5 miles (WV 273 / Fairmont Gateway Connector): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.7 miles (WV 273 / Fairmont Gateway Connector): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
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 3h 36m. Total distance: 164.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (17%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 77.6 miles on Senator Jennings Randolph Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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 0.5 miles (WV 273 / Fairmont Gateway Connector): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.7 miles (WV 273 / Fairmont Gateway Connector): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Gauley River National Recreation Area. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Alderson, WV, but most travelers stay overnight.
