Traveling from Fairmont to Hinton covers 180.5 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 37 minutes. Because this is a relatively manageable distance, you can easily complete the journey in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via the Senator Jennings Randolph Highway, US 19, and I-64. Budgeting approximately $29 for fuel should keep you covered for the duration of the trip. Since both cities are located within the Southeast region of West Virginia, you will experience a consistent transition through the state's interior landscape. This route offers a straightforward, practical path for those looking to connect two distinct areas of the region efficiently.
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
90.3 miles from Fairmont, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
77.6 mi
1h 23m
US 19
59.2 mi
1h 13m
I 64
14.3 mi
15m
Upper Millcreek Telsa Road
8.6 mi
9m
Meadow Creek Road
6.8 mi
10m
Joe L. Smith Drive
4.6 mi
7m
Robert C. Byrd Drive
3 mi
5m
WV 20
1.7 mi
2m
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 Hinton, WV.
Planning your departure for the morning is your best bet to ensure a comfortable pace before traffic patterns shift. With only one scheduled stop recommended, you have plenty of flexibility to stretch your legs or refuel whenever you feel the need. Keep a close eye on your odometer during the long 77.6-mile stretch on the Senator Jennings Randolph Highway, as it is easy to lose track of your progress on such a sustained section. Since the total trip cost is estimated at $29, filling up before you leave Fairmont will simplify your journey significantly. Use that single planned stop as a mid-way point to reset your focus before finishing the final leg into Hinton.
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 90.3 miles from Fairmont, WV, or about 1h 40m 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 40 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 90.3 miles or 1h 40m 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 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hinton, 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 180.5 miles and 3h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.5 and 169.8 — 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
5
146.7 mi into trip|~2h 49m in|US 19
Take the exit onto US 19 toward US 19 South, WV 16: Bradley, North Beckley
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 19 South, WV 16: Bradley, North Beckl...
5
154.8 mi into trip|~3h 2m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 64 East: Lewisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 64 East: Lewisburg
5
169.8 mi into trip|~3h 19m in
Take the exit toward WV 20: Hinton, Sandstone
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward WV 20: Hinton, Sandstone
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.23 one way
$56.45 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg63 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$30.86
$61.73
premium
$4.70
$33.41
$66.81
diesel
$5.61
$39.85
$79.70
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
54.2
0
$18.95
$8.66
Efficient EV
45.1
0
$15.79
$7.22
EV Truck/SUV
72.2
0
$25.27
$11.55
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 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 12, 2026
Origin
Fairmont, WV
Late night
in Fairmont on Sunday
Local time
12:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hinton, WV
Late night
in Hinton on Sunday
Local time
12:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Mostly Clear
NE 2 mph2% 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
23 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 37m 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.
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...
6 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 118.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip offers a mixed driving profile that transitions between different road types as you head south. You will spend about 42% of your journey on highways, providing a balance between steady cruising and local navigation. The longest uninterrupted section involves 77.6 miles on the Senator Jennings Randolph Highway, which serves as the backbone of your trek. Expect the road quality and traffic flow to shift as you move from the initial highway segments onto the secondary routes. Being behind the wheel requires staying alert to these changes, as the character of the pavement and the pace of travel evolve throughout the 180.5-mile drive.
42% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
25 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?
6/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 16 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 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 180.5 miles you will encounter 16 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 146.7 miles (US 19): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,645 ft837 ft
Total Climb
2,943 ft
Total Descent
2,470 ft
Highest Point
2,645 ft
~157.9 mi in
Elevation Range
1,808 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Fairmont, WV and Hinton, WV, road signs point toward Beckley and Sandstone.
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 37m. Total distance: 180.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface 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.
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 Hinton, 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. 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: 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 146.7 miles (US 19): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Hinton, WV, but most travelers stay overnight.
