Connecting Saint Albans to Fairmont, this 151.7-mile journey across West Virginia typically takes about 2 hours and 50 minutes. Because it is a manageable distance, you can easily complete the trip in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend roughly $24 on fuel for the trek, which utilizes the Senator Jennings Randolph Highway, I-64, and 1st Avenue South. While both cities are located within the Southeast region, the route transitions you through the state's interior. It is a straightforward trip that balances interstate travel with local road navigation, making it a practical choice for those looking to reach Fairmont 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
75.8 miles from Saint Albans, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 26m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
135.1 mi
2h 25m
I 64
8.2 mi
9m
1st Avenue South
3.1 mi
4m
I 77
1.5 mi
1m
Fairmont Gateway Connector
1.2 mi
2m
Jefferson Street
0.3 mi
<1m
3rd Street
0.3 mi
<1m
The New Saint Albans-Nitro Bridge
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
— 135.1 mi, about 2h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Albans, WV and Fairmont, WV.
Since this is a sub-three-hour drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Plan for at least one dedicated stop during your 151.7-mile journey to break up the technical, turn-heavy sections. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge early, as the $24 estimated cost can fluctuate based on your vehicle's efficiency and local station pricing. Because the longest stretch is over 135 miles on the Senator Jennings Randolph Highway, ensure you are comfortable with extended periods on non-interstate roads before heading out. Prioritize a daytime departure to better navigate the turns safely and comfortably.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 75.8 miles from Saint Albans, WV, or about 1h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 135.1 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 33 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.8 miles or 1h 26m 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fairmont, WV than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Saint Albans, 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 Saint Albans, WV
This is one driving day of about 151.7 miles and 2h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Saint Albans, 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 135.1 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 149.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|CR 60/14 / 6th Avenue
Turn right onto CR 60/14 / 6th Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
4.2 mi into trip|~7m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
12.7 mi into trip|~18m in
Take the exit toward I 77 North, I 79: Parkersburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 77 North, I 79: Parkersburg
5
14.6 mi into trip|~20m in|I 79 / Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 79 / Senator Jennings Randolph Highway toward I 79 North: Clarksburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 79 North: Clarksburg
5
149.7 mi into trip|~2h 45m in
Take the exit toward WV 273 North: Downtown, Fairmont
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward WV 273 North: Downtown, Fairmont
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.72 one way
$47.45 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$25.94
$51.88
premium
$4.70
$28.08
$56.15
diesel
$5.61
$33.49
$66.99
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.5
0
$15.93
$7.28
Efficient EV
37.9
0
$13.27
$6.07
EV Truck/SUV
60.7
0
$21.24
$9.71
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 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 11, 2026
Origin
Saint Albans, WV
Night
in Saint Albans on Saturday
Local time
10:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Mostly Clear
NE 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Fairmont, WV
Night
in Fairmont on Saturday
Local time
10:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
70°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
24 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
2h 50m 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 behind the wheel. Only 6% of this journey is spent on major highways, meaning you will spend the vast majority of your time navigating secondary roads. The most significant portion of your travel occurs on the Senator Jennings Randolph Highway, which accounts for a 135.1-mile stretch of the total distance. Unlike a monotonous interstate cruise, this route offers a more technical driving experience as you transition between local paths. Stay alert, as the winding nature of the roads provides a distinct personality compared to faster, high-speed corridors.
Only 6% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 135.1 mi on Senator Jennings Randolph Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near CR 60/14 / 6th Avenue.
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 151.7 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.1 miles (CR 60/14 / 6th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 4.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 12.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 2h 50m. Total distance: 151.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (6%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 135.1 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 0.1 miles (CR 60/14 / 6th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 4.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 12.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Fairmont, WV before heading back.
