Connecting Fairmont to Martinsburg, this 169.7-mile journey across West Virginia takes approximately 2 hours and 39 minutes to complete. Because the trip is relatively short, it functions perfectly as a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend roughly $26 on fuel for the trip, making it a budget-friendly option for travelers. The route primarily utilizes local roads like Merchant Street, East Park Avenue, and Grafton Road rather than major interstates. Since both cities are located within the Southeast region of the state, the climate and general terrain remain consistent throughout your travel. It is a straightforward, practical transit that avoids the complexity of long-haul logistics.
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
84 miles from Fairmont, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 68
112.3 mi
2h 3m
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
20.9 mi
22m
Maryland Veterans Memorial Highway
13.2 mi
14m
Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
11.9 mi
12m
I 70, US 40 (Dwight D Eisenhower Highway)
3.3 mi
3m
Edwin Miller Boulevard
1.4 mi
2m
North Queen Street
1.2 mi
2m
East Park Avenue
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 68
— 112.3 mi, about 2h 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairmont, WV and Martinsburg, WV.
1
Start on Jefferson Street
0.3 mi·1 min·Jefferson Street
2
Turn left onto WV 310
0.2 mi·33 sec·Merchant Street
3
Continue on WV 310
1.0 mi·2 min·East Park Avenue
4
Turn right onto WV 310
0.4 mi·56 sec·Grafton Road
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·24 sec
6
Merge onto I 79
12 mi·12 min·Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I 68 East: Cumberland
8
Continue on I 68
112 mi·2 hr 3 min·I 68
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 70; US 40
4.7 mi·5 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
10
Continue on I 70; US 40
3.3 mi·3 min·I 70, US 40 (Dwight D Eisenhower Highway)
11
Continue on I 70
16 mi·17 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi·15 sec
Exit 26Toward I 81: Roanoke, HarrisburgUse the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·53 sec
Toward I 81 South: RoanokeUse the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto I 81
13 mi·14 min·Maryland Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi·46 sec
Toward WV 9 East
16
Turn straight onto WV 9
0.4 mi·41 sec·Hedgesville Road
17
Continue on WV 9
1.4 mi·2 min·Edwin Miller Boulevard
18
Continue on US 11; WV 9
1.2 mi·2 min·North Queen Street
19
Turn left onto East King Street
17 ft·0 sec·East King Street
20
Arrive at destination
East King Street
Trip Plan
Given the turn-heavy nature of this 169.7-mile route, plan to leave early in the day to ensure you have plenty of daylight for navigating local roads. While the trip can be completed in under three hours, scheduling at least one stop is recommended to break up the technical driving and stretch your legs. Keep your fuel budget of $26 in mind, and consider topping off your tank before departing Fairmont to avoid unnecessary stops. Because the route lacks long highway stretches, your travel time may fluctuate based on local traffic, so maintain flexibility in your schedule. Always stay alert at intersections and on curves, as the constant turning requires more focus than standard highway driving.
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 84 miles from Fairmont, WV, or about 1h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 112.3 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 37 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84 miles or 1h 35m 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 34m
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 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 168.1 miles and 3h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 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 I 68 for about 112.3 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 14 and 164.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
14 mi into trip|~18m in
Take the exit toward I 68 East: Cumberland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 68 East: Cumberland
8
150.9 mi into trip|~2h 48m 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
151 mi into trip|~2h 48m 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
151.5 mi into trip|~2h 49m 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.
4
164.7 mi into trip|~3h 3m in
Take the exit toward WV 9 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward WV 9 East
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.29 one way
$52.57 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg59 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$28.74
$57.48
premium
$4.70
$31.11
$62.22
diesel
$5.61
$37.11
$74.23
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: 58.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
50.4
0
$17.65
$8.07
Efficient EV
42
0
$14.71
$6.72
EV Truck/SUV
67.2
0
$23.53
$10.76
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 14, 2026
Origin
Fairmont, WV
Morning
in Fairmont on Sunday
Local time
7:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Martinsburg, WV
Morning
in Martinsburg on Sunday
Local time
7:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
SW 10 mph24% 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
17 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 9m 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.
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 168.1
Park Closure: Annual Closure to Protect Nesting Peregrine Falcons
Caution: Construction work at entrance to Visitor Center parking lot
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous highway experience, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will navigate through a series of turns that keep you engaged, as the longest uninterrupted stretch on Merchant Street is effectively zero miles. Because you aren't relying on high-speed interstates, the pace of the drive is dictated by local road conditions. The road’s personality is defined by these technical, winding segments that require your full attention behind the wheel. It is a drive for those who prefer navigating through the heart of the landscape rather than cruising along a wide, paved interstate.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 112.3 mi on I 68.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 68 and Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 14 miles in.
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 168.1 miles you will encounter 8 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 14 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 150.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 151 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,767 ft451 ft
Total Climb
2,536 ft
Total Descent
3,074 ft
Highest Point
2,767 ft
~60 mi in
Elevation Range
2,316 ft
Notable High Points
1,246 ft at ~120.1 miles+507 ft prominence
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 Fairmont, WV to Martinsburg, WV, road signs begin pointing toward Harrisburg along the way.
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 9m. Total distance: 168.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 112.3 miles on I 68. 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 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. 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 14 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 150.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 151 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Martinsburg, WV, but most travelers stay overnight.
