Origin
Weirton, WV
Late night in Weirton on Friday
Local time
3:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Weirton, WV to Fairlea, WV
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 25m
Distance
257.7 mi
415 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$39
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 12m
★
6 AM
5h 26m
8 AM
5h 53m
10 AM
5h 35m
12 PM
5h 32m
3 PM
5h 36m
5 PM
5h 51m
8 PM
5h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Weirton, WV
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Weirton, WV to Fairlea, WV is 257.7 miles and takes about 5h 25m via WV 2 South, 10th Street, and Washington Pike, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within West Virginia, traversing the Southeast region from start to finish. Expect a drive that primarily uses surface roads, so plan for a more leisurely pace than you might on the interstate. It's a straightforward, single-day option for getting between these two points in the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
128.9 miles from Weirton, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 35m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 79 | 136.3 mi | 2h 26m |
| US 19 | 19.4 mi | 24m |
| Washington Pike | 18 mi | 26m |
| I 64 | 12.9 mi | 13m |
| Levasy Road | 12.3 mi | 21m |
| Arbuckle Road | 11.4 mi | 20m |
| Upper Millcreek Telsa Road | 8.6 mi | 9m |
| WV 2 | 8.4 mi | 12m |
Longest stretch:
I 79
— 136.3 mi, about 2h 26m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,108 veh/hr typical · worst 2,520
Quietest
2 AM
~206 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 102 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Weirton, WV and Fairlea, WV.
1
Start on WV 2
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Main Street
2
Keep slight right at fork onto WV 2
8.4 mi
·
12 min
·
WV 2
Exit 1
Toward WV 2 South: Follansbee, Wheeling
3
Turn left onto WV 27
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
10th Street
4
Continue on WV 27
10 mi
·
14 min
·
Washington Pike
5
Continue on PA 844
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Jefferson Avenue
6
Continue on PA 844
8.0 mi
·
11 min
·
Washington Pike
7
Continue on PA 844
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Jefferson Avenue
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 70 East: New Stanton
9
Merge onto I 70
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
10
Take the exit onto I 79
136 mi
·
2 hr 26 min
·
I 79
Exit 21
Toward I 79 south: Waynesburg, Morgantown
Use the slight right lane.
11
Take the exit onto US 19
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
US 19
Toward US 19 South: Beckley
12
Keep slight left at fork
318 ft
·
8 sec
13
Turn right onto Upper Millcreek Telsa Road
8.6 mi
·
9 min
·
Upper Millcreek Telsa Road
14
Continue on US 19
19 mi
·
23 min
·
US 19
15
Turn left onto WV 39
11 mi
·
20 min
·
Arbuckle Road
16
Turn right onto WV 20
12 mi
·
21 min
·
Levasy Road
17
Continue on WV 20
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Richwood Road
18
Continue on WV 20
5.5 mi
·
9 min
·
Main Street
19
At end of road, turn left onto US 60
184 ft
·
3 sec
·
Midland West Trail
20
Continue on US 60
4.1 mi
·
6 min
·
State Route 20
21
Continue on US 60
6.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Greenbrier Street
22
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
23
Merge onto I 64
13 mi
·
13 min
·
I 64
24
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward US 219: Lewisburg, Ronceverte
25
Turn right onto US 219
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
North Jefferson Street
26
Continue on US 219
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Seneca Trail
27
Continue on US 219
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
Maplewood Avenue
28
Turn left onto CR 37/4
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
West Anderson Street
29
Arrive at destination
CR 37/4
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 25m estimated drive time, you can comfortably complete this trip in a single day. Leaving in the morning will give you ample time to reach Fairlea before evening. With only one recommended stop and no long stretches of highway, you have flexibility in when and where you might pull over. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $39, and plan your fill-ups accordingly, especially since you'll be on surface roads for the entire journey.
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 128.9 miles from Weirton, WV, or about 2h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 136.3 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 57 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 128.9 miles or 2h 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fairlea, WV than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Weirton, 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 Weirton, WV
This is one driving day of about 257.7 miles and 5h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from Weirton, 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 79 for about 136.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
129 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 57 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 128.9 miles from Weirton, WV, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 79 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 136.3 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 165 decision points cluster between mile 2.5 and 254.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
2.5 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
WV 2
Keep slight right at fork onto WV 2 toward WV 2 South: Follansbee, Wheeling
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 1
Toward WV 2 South: Follansbee, Wheeling
4
10.9 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
WV 27 / 10th Street
Turn left onto WV 27 / 10th Street
Navigation decision point
4
32.1 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Take the ramp toward I 70 East: New Stanton
Navigation decision point
Toward I 70 East: New Stanton
8
36.5 mi into trip
|
~56m in
|
I 79
Take the exit onto I 79 toward I 79 south: Waynesburg, Morgantown
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 21
Toward I 79 south: Waynesburg, Morgantown
5
254.2 mi into trip
|
~5h 19m in
Take the exit toward US 219: Lewisburg, Ronceverte
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 219: Lewisburg, Ronceverte
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.49 one way
$78.97 round trip
$3.89/gal
25.4 MPG avg
90 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.27 | $43.33 | $86.66 |
| premium | $4.64 | $47.05 | $94.09 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $56.81 | $113.61 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 90.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 77.3 | 0 | $27.06 | $12.37 |
| Efficient EV | 64.4 | 0 | $22.55 | $10.31 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 103.1 | 1 | $36.08 | $16.49 |
Gas CO2
90 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Fairlea, WV
Late night in Fairlea on Friday
Local time
3:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
83°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
19 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
5h 25m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
Gauley River National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
The 25 miles of free-flowing Gauley River and the six miles of the Meadow River pass through scenic gorges and valleys containing a wide variety of natural and cultural features. The Gauley River cont...
12 mi from route
~31 min detour
Free
near mile 204.4
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
With a highway share of 0%, this route is entirely on surface roads. You'll be navigating local streets and state highways for the full 257.7 miles. Expect to encounter a steady flow of local traffic and potentially more frequent intersections as you make your way south. This profile means you'll be driving at lower average speeds for the entire duration.
70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 136.3 mi on I 79.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 79 and US 19. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.5 miles in near WV 2.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 257.7 miles you will encounter 16 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 2.5 miles (WV 2): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.9 miles (WV 27 / 10th Street): Navigation decision point; at 32.1 miles: Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,890 ft
754 ft
Total Climb
2,763 ft
Total Descent
1,348 ft
Highest Point
2,890 ft
~220.9 mi in
Elevation Range
2,135 ft
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.
On the drive from Weirton, WV to Fairlea, WV, road signs begin pointing toward Morgantown along the way.
Morgantown
36.5 mi in
|
~56m
|
via I 79
About the Cities
Starting in Weirton, WV
Full guide →Founded 1947
Weirton is a city in the northern panhandle of West Virginia. This city is built on the steel industry which you can find along the Ohio River and is origin location of Weirton Steel. Areas of Weirton may also be recognised for their role as a filming location for the movie Super 8.
Arriving in Fairlea, WV
Full guide →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 5h 25m. Total distance: 257.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 136.3 miles on I 79. 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 Fairlea, 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 2.5 miles (WV 2): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.9 miles (WV 27 / 10th Street): Navigation decision point; at 32.1 miles: Navigation decision point.
Yes — Gauley River National Recreation Area. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Fairlea, WV before the return drive.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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