Origin
Fairmont, WV
Late night in Fairmont on Tuesday
Local time
5:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 49m
Distance
150.8 mi
243 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fairmont, WV
Wikimedia Commons
Belle, WV
Wikimedia Commons
Fairmont to Belle is 150.8 miles and takes about 2 hours 49 minutes via Senator Jennings Randolph Highway and US 60, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Southeast region, connecting two points in West Virginia. Expect a route that involves frequent turns, characteristic of local drives rather than a straight shot. With a recommended one-day duration, this journey offers a practical way to travel between these two locations without requiring an overnight stay.
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
75.4 miles from Fairmont, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 23m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Senator Jennings Randolph Highway | 135.1 mi | 2h 25m |
| US 60 | 7 mi | 10m |
| I 77 | 6.5 mi | 8m |
| Fairmont Gateway Connector | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Jefferson Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Midland Avenue | 0.3 mi | 1m |
| Old US 60 | 0.3 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Fairmont, WV and Belle, WV.
Start on Jefferson Street
Continue on WV 273
Enter roundabout onto WV 273
Continue on WV 273
Enter roundabout onto WV 273
Continue on WV 273
Take the exit
Merge onto I 79
Merge onto I 77
Take the exit onto US 60
Turn left onto Midland Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Midland Avenue
Continue on Midland Avenue
Turn right onto CR 60/18
Arrive at destination
Given the 2 hour 49 minute estimated drive time and 150.8 miles, starting in the morning is ideal to allow for flexibility. While the drive is under three hours, the 'turn-heavy' nature suggests planning for potential delays. The fuel cost is estimated at $24, so ensure your tank is sufficiently full before departing, especially considering the longest stretch is 135.1 miles on Senator Jennings Randolph Highway, where fuel stops might be less frequent. Factor in one stop to break up the drive and stay refreshed.
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.
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 33 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.4 miles or 1h 23m 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 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Belle, WV than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Fairmont, 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 Fairmont, WV
This is one driving day of about 150.8 miles and 2h 49m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
75 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 75.4 miles from Fairmont, WV, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Senator Jennings Randolph Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 135.1 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 150.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Enter roundabout onto WV 273 / Fairmont Gateway Connector
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Enter roundabout onto WV 273 / Fairmont Gateway Connector
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Take the exit onto US 60 toward US 60 East: Midland Trail, Belle
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
At end of road, turn right onto Midland Avenue
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto CR 60/18 / Old US 60
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$23.58 one way
$47.16 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $25.78 | $51.57 |
| premium | $4.70 | $27.91 | $55.82 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $33.29 | $66.59 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 45.2 | 0 | $15.83 | $7.24 |
| Efficient EV | 37.7 | 0 | $13.20 | $6.03 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 60.3 | 0 | $21.11 | $9.65 |
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Fairmont on Tuesday
Local time
5:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Belle on Tuesday
Local time
5:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' with only a 9% share of highway driving. The majority of your journey will be on local roads, demanding your attention with frequent directional changes. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a considerable 135.1 miles on Senator Jennings Randolph Highway, meaning you'll have a significant segment of consistent driving before needing to navigate more complex intersections. Be prepared for a driving experience that is more engaging than a typical interstate cruise.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near WV 273 / Fairmont Gateway Connector.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 49m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 143.2 miles (US 60): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 49m. Total distance: 150.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (9%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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