Connecting Fairmont to Weirton covers 96.4 miles, a journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 4 minutes to complete. Because this route is a straightforward 1-day trip, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you choose to linger. You should budget approximately $15 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Southeast West Virginia locations. The drive relies primarily on the Senator Jennings Randolph Highway, Washington Pike, and Commerce Street to get you to your destination. It is an ideal route for travelers who prefer local roads over monotonous interstate travel. Overall, this trip is best approached as a simple, efficient transit between northern West Virginia hubs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.2 miles from Fairmont, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
61.9 mi
1h 8m
Washington Pike
18 mi
26m
Commerce Street
8.3 mi
11m
WV 2
2.6 mi
5m
Jefferson Avenue
1.5 mi
3m
East Main Street
1.1 mi
1m
East Park Avenue
1 mi
2m
10th Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
— 61.9 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairmont, WV and Weirton, WV.
Exit 17Toward PA 18: Jefferson AvenueUse the slight right lane.
8
Turn right onto East Wylie Avenue
0.1 mi·28 sec·East Wylie Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Turn right onto PA 18
1.5 mi·3 min·Jefferson Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on PA 844
8.0 mi·11 min·Washington Pike
11
Continue on PA 844
1.1 mi·1 min·East Main Street
12
Continue on PA 844
10 mi·14 min·Washington Pike
13
Turn straight onto WV 27
0.5 mi·48 sec·10th Street
14
Turn right onto WV 2
8.3 mi·11 min·Commerce Street
15
Keep slight right at fork onto WV 2
2.6 mi·5 min·WV 2
Exit 2Toward WV 2 North: Downtown Weirton
16
Arrive at destination
WV 2
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short 2-hour drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily complete the entire 96.4-mile distance in one sitting, meaning there is no pressing need to plan for intermediate stops unless you prefer a break. It is wise to fuel up before you head out, keeping in mind the $15 estimated cost to ensure you reach Weirton without any stress. Pay close attention to your navigation when transitioning between the Senator Jennings Randolph Highway and the local connectors like Washington Pike. Staying alert for these road changes will help you maintain a smooth pace throughout the duration of your trip.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 48.2 miles from Fairmont, WV, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.9 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 21 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.2 miles or 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Weirton, 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 96.4 miles and 2h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Fairmont, WV.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Senator Jennings Randolph Highway for about 61.9 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.1 and 93.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.1 mi into trip|~5m in|I 79 / Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
Merge onto I 79 / Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
64 mi into trip|~1h 14m in
Take the exit toward PA 18: Jefferson Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 17
Toward PA 18: Jefferson Avenue
7
64.3 mi into trip|~1h 15m in|East Wylie Avenue
Turn right onto East Wylie Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
64.4 mi into trip|~1h 15m in|PA 18 / Jefferson Avenue
Turn right onto PA 18 / Jefferson Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
93.8 mi into trip|~1h 59m in|WV 2
Keep slight right at fork onto WV 2 toward WV 2 North: Downtown Weirton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 2
Toward WV 2 North: Downtown Weirton
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.07 one way
$30.15 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$16.48
$32.97
premium
$4.70
$17.84
$35.68
diesel
$5.61
$21.28
$42.57
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.9
0
$10.12
$4.63
Efficient EV
24.1
0
$8.44
$3.86
EV Truck/SUV
38.6
0
$13.50
$6.17
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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
5:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Partly Cloudy
E 2 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Weirton, WV
Late night
in Weirton on Sunday
Local time
5:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Partly Cloudy
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
1 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
2h 4m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a mindless highway cruise. With only about 3% of the journey spent on major highways, you will spend most of your time navigating local infrastructure. The longest stretch of the trip involves 61.9 miles on the Senator Jennings Randolph Highway, which serves as the backbone of your travel. As you progress, the road conditions shift from highway speeds to the more technical, winding nature of Washington Pike and Commerce Street. You should be prepared for a drive that changes character as you transition between these specific road types.
Only 3% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 61.9 mi on Senator Jennings Randolph Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
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 2.1 miles in near I 79 / Senator Jennings Randolph Highway.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 4m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.1 miles (I 79 / Senator Jennings Randolph Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 64 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 64.3 miles (East Wylie Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
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.
The longest stretch is about 61.9 miles on Senator Jennings Randolph Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 2.1 miles (I 79 / Senator Jennings Randolph Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 64 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 64.3 miles (East Wylie Avenue): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Weirton, WV before heading back.
