Origin
Fairmont, WV
Morning in Fairmont on Saturday
Local time
7:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 42m
Distance
179.8 mi
289 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fairmont, WV
Wikimedia Commons
Shannondale, WV
Jason Sherrod
Fairmont, WV to Shannondale, WV is 179.8 miles and takes about 3h 42m via I 68 and Oldtown Road, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within West Virginia, traversing the Southeast region. Expect a mixed drive that balances highway speeds with more local road conditions. With a recommended one-day drive, you'll have plenty of flexibility to depart when you're ready and complete the journey without needing an overnight stay. It's a straightforward path that connects two points within the state, making it a practical option for a single-day excursion.
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
89.9 miles from Fairmont, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 42m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 42m. Total distance: 179.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
This drive offers a blend of highway cruising and local road navigation, with 47% of the journey on major highways. You'll experience a significant stretch of 75 miles primarily on I 68, providing a consistent pace. As you transition to roads like Oldtown Road and North Frederick Pike, the character shifts to a more mixed drive, likely involving more turns and varied speed limits. This change in road type means you'll need to adjust your driving style throughout the 3h 42m trip, moving from interstate efficiency to more attentive local road awareness.
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 14 miles in.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 179.8 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 14 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 89.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 152.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the exit toward I 68 East: Cumberland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Take the exit toward MD 51: Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Take the exit toward VA 7: Winchester, Berryville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward US 340: Berryville, Charles Town
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn left onto Quail Run Road
Navigation decision point
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Fairmont, WV and Shannondale, WV, road signs point toward Berryville and Charles Town.
Berryville
Charles Town
| 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 |
| Berryville Pike | 10.8 mi | 15m |
| Bloomery Pike | 9.8 mi | 11m |
| WV 29 | 6.8 mi | 7m |
| Harry Byrd Highway | 5.2 mi | 7m |
Step-by-step road directions between Fairmont, WV and Shannondale, WV.
Start on Jefferson Street
Turn left onto WV 310
Continue on WV 310
Turn right onto WV 310
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 79
Take the exit
Continue on I 68
Take the exit
Merge onto MD 51
Continue on MD 51
Continue on MD 51
Continue on MD 51
Continue on WV 9
Continue on WV 9
Continue on WV 29
Turn left onto CR 45/7
At end of road, turn left onto WV 127
Turn right onto US 522
Turn left
Merge onto VA 37
Continue on US 11
Take the exit
Merge onto I 81
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto VA 7
Continue on VA 7
Continue on VA 7
Take the exit
Turn left onto US 340
Continue on US 340
Take the exit
Continue on Hillside Drive
Turn right onto WV 115
Turn right onto Mission Road
Turn left onto Lower Clubhouse Drive
Turn left onto Red Oak Road
Turn left onto Quail Run Road
Turn right onto Gray Fox Road
Turn left onto Gingerbread Lane
Arrive at destination
Given this is a one-day trip covering 179.8 miles, you have the advantage of flexibility with your departure time. Plan to leave Fairmont, WV with enough daylight to comfortably complete the 3h 42m drive. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 75 miles on I 68, so consider refueling before this segment if your tank is low, as services might be more spaced out. While the fuel cost is estimated at $28, it's always wise to check current prices. With only one recommended stop, you can tailor your break to your needs, whether it's a quick stretch or a meal along the way.
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.
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 40 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 89.9 miles or 1h 42m 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 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Shannondale, WV than in the middle of the route.
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 179.8 miles and 3h 42m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 89.9 mi from Fairmont, WV · 1h 42m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
90 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.
A short stop after about 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 89.9 miles from Fairmont, WV, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 68 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 75 miles.
The final approach into Shannondale, 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 Shannondale, WV.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$28.12 one way
$56.23 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $30.74 | $61.49 |
| premium | $4.70 | $33.28 | $66.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $39.70 | $79.40 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 53.9 | 0 | $18.88 | $8.63 |
| Efficient EV | 45 | 0 | $15.73 | $7.19 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 71.9 | 0 | $25.17 | $11.51 |
Gas CO2
63 kg
EV CO2
21 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Fairmont on Saturday
Local time
7:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Shannondale on Saturday
Local time
7:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
69°F
Cumberland, MD
90 mi in
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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