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Trip from Fairmont, WV to Charles Town, WV

Data updated 1 hour ago

Drive Time

3h 29m

Distance

172.1 mi

277 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$27

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min
4 AM
3h 17m ★
6 AM
3h 29m
8 AM
3h 54m
10 AM
3h 38m
12 PM
3h 35m
3 PM
3h 39m
5 PM
3h 53m
8 PM
3h 22m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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county seat of Marion County, West Virginia, United States

Fairmont, WV

Wikimedia Commons

city in Jefferson County, West Virginia, United States

Charles Town, WV

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Fairmont, WV to Charles Town, WV covers 172.1 miles and takes about 3h 29m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 68, Oldtown Road, North Frederick Pike for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 75 miles on I 68. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.91 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

86 miles from Fairmont, WV

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 37m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

The drive from Fairmont, WV to Charles Town, WV covers 172.1 miles and takes about 3h 29m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 37 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 68 is the longest continuous segment at about 75 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 20 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 14 miles in.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 172.1 miles you will encounter 20 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 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 89.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 126.3 miles (WV 127 / Bloomery Pike): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 20 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4
14 mi into trip | ~18m in

Take the exit toward I 68 East: Cumberland

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward I 68 East: Cumberland
5
89.4 mi into trip | ~1h 41m in

Take the exit toward MD 51: Airport

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 43B Toward MD 51: Airport
4
126.3 mi into trip | ~2h 25m in | WV 127 / Bloomery Pike

At end of road, turn left onto WV 127 / Bloomery Pike

Navigation decision point

5
171.9 mi into trip | ~3h 28m in | West Liberty Street

Turn right onto West Liberty Street

Navigation decision point

5
172 mi into trip | ~3h 29m in | WV 115 / North George Street

Turn right onto WV 115 / North George Street

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 68 75 mi 1h 22m
Oldtown Road 20.8 mi 23m
North Frederick Pike 12.1 mi 16m
Senator Jennings Randolph Highway 11.9 mi 12m
Bloomery Pike 9.8 mi 11m
Middleway Pike 8.2 mi 12m
WV 29 6.8 mi 7m
I 81 5.6 mi 6m
Longest stretch: I 68 — 75 mi, about 1h 22m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fairmont, WV and Charles Town, WV.

1

Start on Jefferson Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · Jefferson Street
2

Turn left onto WV 310

0.2 mi · 33 sec · Merchant Street
3

Continue on WV 310

1.0 mi · 2 min · East Park Avenue
4

Turn right onto WV 310

0.4 mi · 56 sec · Grafton Road
5

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 24 sec
6

Merge onto I 79

12 mi · 12 min · Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
7

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 43 sec
Toward I 68 East: Cumberland
8

Continue on I 68

75 mi · 1 hr 22 min · I 68
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 23 sec
Exit 43B Toward MD 51: Airport
10

Merge onto MD 51

2.8 mi · 5 min · Industrial Boulevard
11

Continue on MD 51

0.8 mi · 1 min · Uhl Highway Southeast
12

Continue on MD 51

0.9 mi · 58 sec · New 51 Road Southeast
13

Continue on MD 51

21 mi · 23 min · Oldtown Road
14

Continue on WV 9

1.2 mi · 1 min · Henry W. Miller Highway
15

Continue on WV 9

2.6 mi · 2 min · Paw Paw Road
16

Continue on WV 29

6.8 mi · 7 min · WV 29
17

Turn left onto CR 45/7

0.8 mi · 56 sec · Gaston Road
18

At end of road, turn left onto WV 127

9.8 mi · 11 min · Bloomery Pike
19

Turn right onto US 522

12 mi · 16 min · North Frederick Pike
20

Turn left

0.3 mi · 44 sec
Toward VA 37 North
21

Merge onto VA 37

1.6 mi · 2 min · VA 37
22

Continue on US 11

0.6 mi · 1 min · Martinsburg Pike
23

Turn left

0.2 mi · 33 sec
24

Merge onto I 81

5.6 mi · 6 min · I 81
25

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Toward SR 669: Whitehall
26

Turn right onto SR 669

301 ft · 12 sec · Rest Church Road
27

Turn left onto US 11

0.3 mi · 29 sec · Martinsburg Pike
28

Continue on US 11

2.8 mi · 4 min · Winchester Avenue
29

Continue on US 11

0.3 mi · 26 sec · Winchester Pike
30

Turn right onto CR 26

2.9 mi · 5 min · Giles Mill Road
31

Turn left onto CR 51/9

0.2 mi · 16 sec · Specks Run Road
32

Turn slight right onto WV 51

8.2 mi · 12 min · Middleway Pike
33

Continue on WV 51

0.4 mi · 40 sec · West Washington Street
34

Turn left onto North Charles Street

321 ft · 16 sec · North Charles Street
35

Turn right onto West Liberty Street

381 ft · 20 sec · West Liberty Street
36

Turn right onto WV 115

376 ft · 10 sec · North George Street
37

Arrive at destination

WV 115

Trip Plan

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 86 miles from Fairmont, WV, or about 1h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 75 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 80 miles or 1h 30m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 86 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 43m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Charles Town, 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 172.1 miles and 3h 29m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Fairmont, 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 75 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 86 mi from Fairmont, WV · 1h 37m into the drive

unincorporated community in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Montgomery Village, MD

86 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

Rockville, MD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Rockville, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 86 miles from Fairmont, WV, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 68 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 75 miles.

Arriving in Charles Town, WV

The final approach into Charles Town, WV usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Charles Town, WV.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Harpers Ferry National Historical Park

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...

7 mi from route ~17 min detour $20 near mile 172.1
Park Closure: Annual Closure to Protect Nesting Peregrine Falcons
Caution: Construction work at entrance to Visitor Center parking lot
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$26.91 one way

$53.83 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 60 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $29.43 $58.85
premium $4.70 $31.85 $63.70
diesel $5.61 $38.00 $76.00

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: 60.2 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 51.6 0 $18.07 $8.26
Efficient EV 43 0 $15.06 $6.88
EV Truck/SUV 68.8 0 $24.09 $11.01

Gas CO2

60 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 data refreshed 4 days ago

Origin

Fairmont, WV

Night in Fairmont on Tuesday

Local time

9:28 PM

EDT

Current temp

82°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Charles Town, WV

Night in Charles Town on Tuesday

Local time

9:28 PM

EDT

Current temp

42°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

40 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 29m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Fairmont, WV to Charles Town, WV covers 172.1 miles and takes about 3h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 68, Oldtown Road, North Frederick Pike. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 86 miles from Fairmont, WV. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.91 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 172.1 miles you will encounter 20 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 14 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 89.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 126.3 miles (WV 127 / Bloomery Pike): Navigation decision point.
The route from Fairmont, WV to Charles Town, WV does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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