Trip from Fairmont, WV to MacArthur, WV

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

3h 10m

Distance

161 mi

259 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$25

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min

4 AM

2h 58m ★

6 AM

3h 10m

8 AM

3h 34m

10 AM

3h 18m

12 PM

3h 16m

3 PM

3h 20m

5 PM

3h 32m

8 PM

3h 3m

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

MacArthur, WV

Jason Sherrod

Trip Overview

The drive from Fairmont, WV to MacArthur, WV covers 161 miles and takes about 3h 10m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Senator Jennings Randolph Highway, US 19, Upper Millcreek Telsa Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 77.6 miles on Senator Jennings Randolph Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.18 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

80.5 miles from Fairmont, WV

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 29m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 10m. Total distance: 161 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

The drive from Fairmont, WV to MacArthur, WV covers 161 miles and takes about 3h 10m, 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 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Senator Jennings Randolph Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 77.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near WV 273 / Fairmont Gateway Connector.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 161 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.5 miles (WV 273 / Fairmont Gateway Connector): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 0.7 miles (WV 273 / Fairmont Gateway Connector): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 146.7 miles (US 19): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

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

0.5 mi into trip | ~1m in | WV 273 / Fairmont Gateway Connector

Enter roundabout onto WV 273 / Fairmont Gateway Connector

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

0.7 mi into trip | ~1m in | WV 273 / Fairmont Gateway Connector

Enter roundabout onto WV 273 / Fairmont Gateway Connector

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

146.7 mi into trip | ~2h 49m in | US 19

Take the exit onto US 19 toward US 19 South, WV 16: Bradley, North Beckley

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 19 South, WV 16: Bradley, North Beckl...

154.8 mi into trip | ~3h 2m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 64 West: Bluefield, Charleston

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 64 West: Bluefield, Charleston

158.4 mi into trip | ~3h 7m in | I 64

Keep slight right at fork onto I 64 toward I 64 West, I 77 North: Charleston

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 64 West, I 77 North: Charleston

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 Fairmont, WV to MacArthur, WV, road signs begin pointing toward Beckley along the way.

Beckley

146.7 mi in | ~2h 49m | via US 19

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Senator Jennings Randolph Highway	77.6 mi	1h 23m
US 19	59.2 mi	1h 13m
Upper Millcreek Telsa Road	8.6 mi	9m
Joe L. Smith Drive	4.6 mi	7m
I 64	3.7 mi	4m
Robert C. Byrd Drive	3 mi	5m
West Virginia Turnpike	2.1 mi	2m
Fairmont Gateway Connector	0.8 mi	1m

Longest stretch: Senator Jennings Randolph Highway — 77.6 mi, about 1h 23m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on Jefferson Street

0.3 mi · 59 sec · Jefferson Street

Continue on WV 273

0.2 mi · 23 sec · Fairmont Gateway Connector

Enter roundabout onto WV 273

129 ft · 3 sec · Fairmont Gateway Connector

Continue on WV 273

0.2 mi · 23 sec · Fairmont Gateway Connector

Enter roundabout onto WV 273

128 ft · 3 sec · Fairmont Gateway Connector

Continue on WV 273

0.4 mi · 54 sec · Fairmont Gateway Connector

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min

Merge onto I 79

78 mi · 1 hr 23 min · Senator Jennings Randolph Highway

Take the exit onto US 19

0.3 mi · 41 sec · US 19

Toward US 19 South: Beckley

Keep slight left at fork

318 ft · 8 sec

Turn right onto Upper Millcreek Telsa Road

8.6 mi · 9 min · Upper Millcreek Telsa Road

Continue on US 19

58 mi · 1 hr 11 min · US 19

Use the straight lane.

Take the exit onto US 19

0.4 mi · 59 sec · US 19

Toward US 19 South, WV 16: Bradley, North Beckley

Turn left onto US 19; WV 16

3.0 mi · 5 min · Robert C. Byrd Drive

Turn left onto US 19 BYP

4.6 mi · 7 min · Joe L. Smith Drive

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 48 sec

Toward I 64 West: Bluefield, Charleston

Merge onto I 64

3.3 mi · 3 min · I 64

Keep slight right at fork onto I 64

0.4 mi · 50 sec · I 64

Toward I 64 West, I 77 North: Charleston Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 64; I 77

2.1 mi · 2 min · West Virginia Turnpike

Arrive at destination

I 64; I 77

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 80.5 miles from Fairmont, WV, or about 1h 29m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 77.6 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 35 miles or 39m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 80.5 miles or 1h 29m 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 31m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near MacArthur, 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 161 miles and 3h 10m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 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 Senator Jennings Randolph Highway for about 77.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 80.5 mi from Fairmont, WV · 1h 29m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Craigsville, WV

81 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

Buckhannon, WV

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Craigsville, WV

Meal break

The midpoint is around 80.5 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 Senator Jennings Randolph Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 77.6 miles.

Arriving in MacArthur, WV

The final approach into MacArthur, 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 MacArthur, 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.

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...

6 mi from route ~14 min detour Free near mile 122.2

View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$25.18 one way

$50.35 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 56 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.34	$27.53	$55.06
premium	$4.70	$29.80	$59.60
diesel	$5.61	$35.55	$71.09

Estimated Tolls: $0.15

West Virginia Turnpike (2.1 mi) $0.15

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$25

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$50–$75

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 56.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	48.3	$16.90	$7.73
Efficient EV	40.3	$14.09	$6.44
EV Truck/SUV	64.4	$22.54	$10.30

Gas CO2

56 kg

EV CO2

19 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 16, 2026

Origin

Fairmont, WV

Evening in Fairmont on Thursday

Local time

5:22 PM

EDT

Current temp

70°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

MacArthur, WV

Evening in MacArthur on Thursday

Local time

5:22 PM

EDT

Current temp

56°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

14 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 10m 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 MacArthur, WV covers 161 miles and takes about 3h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Senator Jennings Randolph Highway, US 19, Upper Millcreek Telsa Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 80.5 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 $25.18 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.