Origin
Fairmont, WV
Late night in Fairmont on Sunday
Local time
12:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fairmont, WV to Shannondale, WV
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 42m
Distance
179.8 mi
289 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 30m
★
6 AM
3h 43m
8 AM
4h 8m
10 AM
3h 52m
12 PM
3h 49m
3 PM
3h 53m
5 PM
4h 7m
8 PM
3h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fairmont, WV
Wikimedia Commons
Shannondale, WV
Jason Sherrod
Trip Overview
Fairmont, WV to Shannondale, WV is 179.8 miles and takes about 3h 42m via I 68 and Oldtown Road, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within West Virginia, traversing the Southeast region. Expect a mixed drive that balances highway speeds with more local road conditions. With a recommended one-day drive, you'll have plenty of flexibility to depart when you're ready and complete the journey without needing an overnight stay. It's a straightforward path that connects two points within the state, making it a practical option for a single-day excursion.
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
89.9 miles from Fairmont, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 42m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 68 | 75 mi | 1h 22m |
| Oldtown Road | 20.8 mi | 23m |
| North Frederick Pike | 12.1 mi | 16m |
| Senator Jennings Randolph Highway | 11.9 mi | 12m |
| Berryville Pike | 10.8 mi | 15m |
| Bloomery Pike | 9.8 mi | 11m |
| WV 29 | 6.8 mi | 7m |
| Harry Byrd Highway | 5.2 mi | 7m |
Longest stretch:
I 68
— 75 mi, about 1h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairmont, WV and Shannondale, 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
75 mi
·
1 hr 22 min
·
I 68
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 43B
Toward MD 51: Airport
10
Merge onto MD 51
2.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Industrial Boulevard
11
Continue on MD 51
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Uhl Highway Southeast
12
Continue on MD 51
0.9 mi
·
58 sec
·
New 51 Road Southeast
13
Continue on MD 51
21 mi
·
23 min
·
Oldtown Road
14
Continue on WV 9
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Henry W. Miller Highway
15
Continue on WV 9
2.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Paw Paw Road
16
Continue on WV 29
6.8 mi
·
7 min
·
WV 29
17
Turn left onto CR 45/7
0.8 mi
·
56 sec
·
Gaston Road
18
At end of road, turn left onto WV 127
9.8 mi
·
11 min
·
Bloomery Pike
19
Turn right onto US 522
12 mi
·
16 min
·
North Frederick Pike
20
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward VA 37 North
21
Merge onto VA 37
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
VA 37
22
Continue on US 11
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
Martinsburg Pike
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
24
Merge onto I 81
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
I 81
25
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Toward VA 7: Winchester, Berryville
26
Keep slight left at fork
139 ft
·
5 sec
27
Turn left onto VA 7
400 ft
·
12 sec
·
Berryville Avenue
28
Continue on VA 7
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Berryville Pike
29
Continue on VA 7
5.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Harry Byrd Highway
30
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward US 340: Berryville, Charles Town
Use the slight right lane.
31
Turn left onto US 340
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Lord Fairfax Highway
32
Continue on US 340
7.2 mi
·
10 min
·
Berryville Pike
33
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Toward WV 115: Charles Town
34
Continue on Hillside Drive
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Hillside Drive
35
Turn right onto WV 115
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Charles Town Road
36
Turn right onto Mission Road
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Mission Road
37
Turn left onto Lower Clubhouse Drive
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Lower Clubhouse Drive
38
Turn left onto Red Oak Road
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
Red Oak Road
39
Turn left onto Quail Run Road
232 ft
·
10 sec
·
Quail Run Road
40
Turn right onto Gray Fox Road
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
Gray Fox Road
41
Turn left onto Gingerbread Lane
129 ft
·
5 sec
·
Gingerbread Lane
42
Arrive at destination
Gingerbread Lane
Trip Plan
Given this is a one-day trip covering 179.8 miles, you have the advantage of flexibility with your departure time. Plan to leave Fairmont, WV with enough daylight to comfortably complete the 3h 42m drive. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 75 miles on I 68, so consider refueling before this segment if your tank is low, as services might be more spaced out. While the fuel cost is estimated at $28, it's always wise to check current prices. With only one recommended stop, you can tailor your break to your needs, whether it's a quick stretch or a meal along the way.
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 89.9 miles from Fairmont, WV, or about 1h 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 75 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 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 89.9 miles or 1h 42m 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 Shannondale, 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 179.8 miles and 3h 42m.
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 I 68 for about 75 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
90 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 89.9 miles from Fairmont, WV, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 68 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 75 miles.
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 245 decision points cluster between mile 14 and 179.6 — 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
5
89.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 41m in
Take the exit toward MD 51: Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 43B
Toward MD 51: Airport
5
152.5 mi into trip
|
~2h 59m in
Take the exit toward VA 7: Winchester, Berryville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward VA 7: Winchester, Berryville
7
161.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 13m in
Take the exit toward US 340: Berryville, 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 US 340: Berryville, Charles Town
5
179.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 42m in
|
Quail Run Road
Turn left onto Quail Run Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.12 one way
$56.23 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
63 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $30.74 | $61.49 |
| premium | $4.70 | $33.28 | $66.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $39.70 | $79.40 |
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: 62.9 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 | 53.9 | 0 | $18.88 | $8.63 |
| Efficient EV | 45 | 0 | $15.73 | $7.19 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 71.9 | 0 | $25.17 | $11.51 |
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.
Destination
Shannondale, WV
Late night in Shannondale on Sunday
Local time
12:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
69°F
Cumberland, MD
90 mi in
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 42m 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.
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...
6 mi from route
~16 min detour
$20
near mile 173.6
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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive offers a blend of highway cruising and local road navigation, with 47% of the journey on major highways. You'll experience a significant stretch of 75 miles primarily on I 68, providing a consistent pace. As you transition to roads like Oldtown Road and North Frederick Pike, the character shifts to a more mixed drive, likely involving more turns and varied speed limits. This change in road type means you'll need to adjust your driving style throughout the 3h 42m trip, moving from interstate efficiency to more attentive local road awareness.
47% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
42 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 75 mi on I 68.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 14 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 179.8 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 14 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 89.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 152.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Shannondale, WV, road signs point toward Berryville and Charles Town.
Berryville
152.5 mi in
|
~2h 59m
Charles Town
161.9 mi in
|
~3h 13m
About the Cities
Starting in Fairmont, WV
Full guide →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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 42m. Total distance: 179.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 75 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 Shannondale, 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 89.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 152.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Shannondale, WV, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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