The drive from Ranson, WV to Fairmont, WV covers 172.7 miles and takes about 3h 28m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on National Freeway, Oldtown Road, Senator Jennings Randolph Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 74.8 miles on National Freeway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.01 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
86.4 miles from Ranson, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 51m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 28m. Total distance: 172.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Drive Character
The drive from Ranson, WV to Fairmont, WV covers 172.7 miles and takes about 3h 28m, 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 41 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
National Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 74.8 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 15.7 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 172.7 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 15.7 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 21.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 24 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
15.7 mi into trip|~24m in
Take the ramp toward I 81 South
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Toward I 81 South
5
21.6 mi into trip|~31m in
Take the exit toward US 11: Winchester, Stephenson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 11: Winchester, Stephenson
5
21.8 mi into trip|~31m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
22.2 mi into trip|~32m in|VA 37
Keep slight right at fork onto VA 37 toward VA 37 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward VA 37 South
5
23.9 mi into trip|~34m in
Take the exit toward US 522: Winchester, Berkeley Springs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 522: Winchester, Berkeley Springs
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Ranson, WV and Fairmont, WV, road signs point toward Stephenson and Berkeley Springs.
Stephenson
21.6 mi in|~31m
Berkeley Springs
23.9 mi in|~34m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
National Freeway
74.8 mi
1h 21m
Oldtown Road
20.8 mi
23m
Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
12.4 mi
13m
North Frederick Pike
12 mi
16m
Bloomery Pike
9.8 mi
11m
Paw Paw Road
9.5 mi
10m
Martin Luther King Boulevard
8.2 mi
12m
I 81
5.6 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
National Freeway
— 74.8 mi, about 1h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ranson, WV and Fairmont, WV.
1
Start on WV 115
501 ft·9 sec·Lancaster Circle
2
Continue on WV 115
0.2 mi·17 sec·South Fairfax Boulevard
3
Continue on WV 115
0.2 mi·28 sec·North George Street
4
Turn right onto WV 51
0.4 mi·42 sec·West Washington Street
5
Turn slight right onto WV 51
8.2 mi·12 min·Martin Luther King Boulevard
6
Turn slight left onto CR 51/9
0.2 mi·16 sec·Specks Run Road
7
At end of road, turn right onto CR 26
2.9 mi·5 min·Giles Mill Road
8
Turn left onto US 11
0.3 mi·22 sec·Winchester Pike
9
Continue on US 11
2.8 mi·4 min·Winchester Avenue
10
Continue on US 11
0.3 mi·33 sec·Martinsburg Pike
11
Turn right onto SR 669
0.2 mi·26 sec·Rest Church Road
12
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward I 81 South
13
Merge onto I 81
5.6 mi·6 min·I 81
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
Toward US 11: Winchester, Stephenson
15
Keep slight right at fork
328 ft·8 sec
16
Merge onto US 11
0.3 mi·41 sec·Martinsburg Pike
17
Keep slight right at fork onto VA 37
1.7 mi·2 min·VA 37
Toward VA 37 South
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·47 sec
Toward US 522: Winchester, Berkeley Springs
19
Turn right onto US 522
12 mi·16 min·North Frederick Pike
20
Turn left onto VA 127
9.8 mi·11 min·Bloomery Pike
21
Turn right onto CR 45/7
0.8 mi·54 sec·Gaston Road
22
At end of road, turn right onto WV 29
9.5 mi·10 min·Paw Paw Road
23
Continue on WV 9
1.2 mi·1 min·Henry W. Miller Highway
24
Continue on MD 51
21 mi·23 min·Oldtown Road
25
Continue on MD 51
0.9 mi·58 sec·New 51 Road Southeast
26
Continue on MD 51
0.8 mi·1 min·Uhl Highway Southeast
27
Continue on MD 51
2.7 mi·5 min·Industrial Boulevard
28
Keep slight right at fork onto Queen City Drive
462 ft·15 sec·Queen City Drive
29
Continue on South Centre Street
482 ft·21 sec·South Centre Street
30
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
31
Merge onto I 68; US 40; US 220
75 mi·1 hr 21 min·National Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·53 sec
Toward I-79 S: Fairmont
33
Merge onto I 79
12 mi·13 min·Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
34
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward WV 273 North: Downtown, Fairmont
35
Turn left onto WV 273
0.4 mi·59 sec·Fairmont Gateway Connector
36
Enter roundabout onto WV 273
122 ft·2 sec·Fairmont Gateway Connector
37
Continue on WV 273
0.2 mi·23 sec·Fairmont Gateway Connector
38
Enter roundabout onto WV 273
128 ft·3 sec·Fairmont Gateway Connector
39
Continue on WV 273
0.2 mi·24 sec·Fairmont Gateway Connector
40
Continue on Jefferson Street
0.3 mi·57 sec·Jefferson Street
41
Arrive at destination
Jefferson Street
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 86.4 miles from Ranson, WV, or about 1h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 74.8 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 38 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.4 miles or 1h 51m 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 Fairmont, WV than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ranson, 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 Ranson, WV
This is one driving day of about 172.7 miles and 3h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Ranson, 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 National Freeway for about 74.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 86.4 mi from Ranson, WV
· 1h 51m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.01 one way
$54.01 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg60 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$29.53
$59.06
premium
$4.70
$31.96
$63.93
diesel
$5.61
$38.13
$76.26
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: 60.4 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
51.8
0
$18.13
$8.29
Efficient EV
43.2
0
$15.11
$6.91
EV Truck/SUV
69.1
0
$24.18
$11.05
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 as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Ranson, WV
Night
in Ranson on Friday
Local time
11:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fairmont, WV
Night
in Fairmont on Friday
Local time
11:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
69°F
Cumberland, MD
86 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
21 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 28m 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 Ranson, WV to Fairmont, WV covers 172.7 miles and takes about 3h 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are National Freeway, Oldtown Road, Senator Jennings Randolph Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 86.4 miles from Ranson, WV. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $27.01 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 is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 172.7 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 15.7 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 21.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Between Ranson, WV and Fairmont, WV, road signs point toward Stephenson and Berkeley Springs.
