Grafton, WV to Martinsburg, WV is 174.4 miles and takes about 3h 14m via I 68 and Dwight D Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within West Virginia for its entirety, connecting the Southeast region of the state to itself. Expect a straightforward, highway-focused journey primarily utilizing major interstates. Given the relatively short distance and time commitment, this route is ideal for a single-day trip without feeling rushed. You'll find plenty of opportunities for gas and rest along the way to make the drive comfortable.
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
87.2 miles from Grafton, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 37m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 68
111.3 mi
2h 2m
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
20.9 mi
22m
Maryland Veterans Memorial Highway
13.2 mi
14m
Grafton Road
10.2 mi
11m
Victory Avenue
10.1 mi
11m
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
Longest stretch:
I 68
— 111.3 mi, about 2h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Grafton, WV and Martinsburg, WV.
1
Start on Saint John Street
34 ft·6 sec·Saint John Street
2
Turn left onto US 119
0.4 mi·26 sec·East Main Street
3
Continue on US 119
0.7 mi·48 sec·Lincoln Street
4
Continue on US 119
10 mi·11 min·Victory Avenue
5
Continue on US 119
10 mi·11 min·Grafton Road
6
Turn left
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I 68 East
7
Merge onto I 68
111 mi·2 hr 2 min·I 68
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 70; US 40
4.7 mi·5 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
9
Continue on I 70; US 40
3.3 mi·3 min·I 70, US 40 (Dwight D Eisenhower Highway)
10
Continue on I 70
16 mi·17 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi·15 sec
Exit 26Toward I 81: Roanoke, HarrisburgUse the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·53 sec
Toward I 81 South: RoanokeUse the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto I 81
13 mi·14 min·Maryland Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·46 sec
Toward WV 9 East
15
Turn straight onto WV 9
0.4 mi·41 sec·Hedgesville Road
16
Continue on WV 9
1.4 mi·2 min·Edwin Miller Boulevard
17
Continue on US 11; WV 9
1.2 mi·2 min·North Queen Street
18
Turn left onto East King Street
17 ft·0 sec·East King Street
19
Arrive at destination
East King Street
Trip Plan
For this 174.4-mile journey, leaving in the morning will give you ample daylight to reach Martinsburg, WV, comfortably within the estimated 3h 14m drive time. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $27, you can be quite flexible with your timing. Consider starting your drive after the morning rush hour to maximize your time on the road. The longest stretch without a break is over 111 miles, so plan a brief stop before or during that segment if needed. The most practical tip for this route is to ensure you have enough fuel before embarking on the 111.3-mile section on I 68, as services can be spaced out.
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 87.2 miles from Grafton, WV, or about 1h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111.3 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 38 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87.2 miles or 1h 37m 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 38m
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 Grafton, 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 Grafton, WV
This is one driving day of about 174.4 miles and 3h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Grafton, 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 111.3 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 0 and 157.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 119 / East Main Street
Turn left onto US 119 / East Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
21.7 mi into trip|~25m in|I 68
Merge onto I 68
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
157.2 mi into trip|~2h 53m 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
157.3 mi into trip|~2h 53m 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
157.8 mi into trip|~2h 54m 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.27 one way
$54.54 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg61 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$29.82
$59.64
premium
$4.70
$32.28
$64.56
diesel
$5.61
$38.51
$77.01
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52.3
0
$18.31
$8.37
Efficient EV
43.6
0
$15.26
$6.98
EV Truck/SUV
69.8
0
$24.42
$11.16
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 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 18, 2026
Origin
Grafton, WV
Late night
in Grafton on Sunday
Local time
12:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Martinsburg, WV
Late night
in Martinsburg on Sunday
Local time
12:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live 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
2 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 14m 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...
15 mi from route
~38 min detour
$20
near mile 174.4
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?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 66% of your travel occurring on major interstates like I 68. You'll experience the efficiency of the Dwight D Eisenhower Highway for a significant portion of the trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 111.3 miles on I 68, offering a period of consistent speed. While largely interstate, this doesn't necessarily mean monotonous; the highway will provide a smooth and direct path, allowing you to cover ground quickly. The character of the drive is one of directness and ease of travel.
66% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 111.3 mi on I 68.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
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 early in the drive near US 119 / East Main Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 174.4 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: near the start (US 119 / East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 21.7 miles (I 68): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 157.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. 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.
On the drive from Grafton, WV to Martinsburg, WV, road signs begin pointing toward Harrisburg along the way.
Harrisburg
157.2 mi in|~2h 53m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 14m. Total distance: 174.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (66%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 111.3 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.
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: near the start (US 119 / East Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 21.7 miles (I 68): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 157.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. 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 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Martinsburg, WV, but most travelers stay overnight.
