Shepherdstown, WV to Fairmont, WV is 170 miles and takes about 3 hours 16 minutes via US 40 and I-79, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within West Virginia, moving from the Southeast region to another part of the Southeast. It's primarily a highway-focused journey, making it a straightforward option for a single-day trip. Given its relatively short duration, you'll likely find yourself with ample time for an early start or a relaxed arrival. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient way to travel between these two points without extensive planning.
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
85 miles from Shepherdstown, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 41m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 40
105.8 mi
1h 56m
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
24.8 mi
26m
Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
12.4 mi
13m
Sharpsburg Pike
10.5 mi
16m
I 68
6.1 mi
6m
I 70, US 40 (Dwight D Eisenhower Highway)
3.1 mi
3m
Shepherdstown Pike
2.9 mi
4m
Fairmont Gateway Connector
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 40
— 105.8 mi, about 1h 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Shepherdstown, WV and Fairmont, WV.
1
Start on East German Street
0.3 mi·55 sec·East German Street
2
Turn right onto WV 480
0.4 mi·1 min·North Duke Street
3
Continue on MD 34
2.9 mi·4 min·Shepherdstown Pike
4
Continue on MD 34
0.6 mi·1 min·West Main Street
5
Turn left onto MD 65
0.1 mi·13 sec·North Church Street
6
Continue on MD 65
11 mi·16 min·Sharpsburg Pike
Use the left lane.
7
Turn left
0.4 mi·49 sec
Use the left lane.
8
Merge onto I 70
20 mi·21 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 70; US 40
3.1 mi·3 min·I 70, US 40 (Dwight D Eisenhower Highway)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 70; US 40
5.0 mi·5 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
11
Keep slight left at fork onto US 40
106 mi·1 hr 56 min·US 40
Toward US 40, I 68: CumberlandUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 68
6.1 mi·6 min·I 68
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·53 sec
Toward I-79 S: Fairmont
14
Merge onto I 79
12 mi·13 min·Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
15
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward WV 273 North: Downtown, Fairmont
16
Turn left onto WV 273
0.4 mi·59 sec·Fairmont Gateway Connector
17
Enter roundabout onto WV 273
122 ft·2 sec·Fairmont Gateway Connector
18
Continue on WV 273
0.2 mi·23 sec·Fairmont Gateway Connector
19
Enter roundabout onto WV 273
128 ft·3 sec·Fairmont Gateway Connector
20
Continue on WV 273
0.2 mi·24 sec·Fairmont Gateway Connector
21
Continue on Jefferson Street
0.3 mi·57 sec·Jefferson Street
22
Arrive at destination
Jefferson Street
Trip Plan
For this 1-day trip covering 170 miles, departing in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight. With a duration of just over 3 hours, you won't need to split the drive, offering flexibility in your schedule. The estimated fuel cost is around $27, so ensure your tank is full before you leave Shepherdstown. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 105.8-mile stretch on US 40, as services can be spaced out. There's only one recommended stop, suggesting this route is quite direct with minimal need for extended breaks.
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 85 miles from Shepherdstown, WV, or about 1h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 105.8 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 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85 miles or 1h 41m 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 41m
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 Shepherdstown, 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 Shepherdstown, WV
This is one driving day of about 169.9 miles and 3h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Shepherdstown, 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 US 40 for about 105.8 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 14.9 and 168.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
14.9 mi into trip|~24m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
15.3 mi into trip|~25m in|I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
Merge onto I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
43.2 mi into trip|~55m in|US 40
Keep slight left at fork onto US 40 toward US 40, I 68: Cumberland
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 40, I 68: Cumberland
5
155.1 mi into trip|~2h 58m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I-79 S: Fairmont
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I-79 S: Fairmont
5
168.3 mi into trip|~3h 12m 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
$26.57 one way
$53.14 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg59 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$29.05
$58.10
premium
$4.70
$31.44
$62.89
diesel
$5.61
$37.51
$75.02
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: 59.4 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
51
0
$17.84
$8.16
Efficient EV
42.5
0
$14.87
$6.80
EV Truck/SUV
68
0
$23.79
$10.87
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 18, 2026
Origin
Shepherdstown, WV
Morning
in Shepherdstown on Tuesday
Local time
6:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Clear
N 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Fairmont, WV
Morning
in Fairmont on Tuesday
Local time
6:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Partly Cloudy
SE 0 to 3 mph0% 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
2 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 16m 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...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
$20
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 is largely a highway-focused drive, with 68% of the route utilizing major highways like US 40 and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. You'll experience a significant uninterrupted stretch of 105.8 miles on US 40, offering a consistent pace. While the profile is highway-oriented, expect a mix as you transition between major roads. The drive progresses with a general westward trajectory, maintaining a steady momentum for most of its length. It’s designed for efficient travel rather than a meandering scenic tour.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 105.8 mi on US 40.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 40 and Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 14.9 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 169.9 miles you will encounter 10 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 14.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 15.3 miles (I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.2 miles (US 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Shepherdstown is a small historic town in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, on the Potomac River and near both the Maryland and Virginia borders. It is the oldest town in West Virginia, maintaining its historic structures and the charm of a small town but boasting of a vibrant downtown area with about a dozen restaurants, many small locally-owned shops, and an independent movie theater. The performing arts are a vital part of the town's culture, with the renowned Contemporary American Theater Festival at Shepherd University in the summer, live music at local venues throughout the year, and the historic Opera House movie theater showing independent and foreign films on weekends.
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.
Top landmarks
•Fairmont Senior High School — high school in West Virginia, United States
•Robert H. Mollohan-Jefferson Street Bridge — bridge in Fairmont, West Virginia, United States
•Masonic Temple — commercial building in Fairmont, United States of America
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 16m. Total distance: 169.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 105.8 miles on US 40. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 10 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Fairmont, 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. There are 10 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 14.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 15.3 miles (I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.2 miles (US 40): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Fairmont, WV, but most travelers stay overnight.
