The drive from Shannondale, WV to Fairmont, WV covers 179.9 miles and takes about 3h 41m 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 $28.13 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
90 miles from Shannondale, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 41m. Total distance: 179.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Shannondale, WV to Fairmont, WV covers 179.9 miles and takes about 3h 41m, 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 44 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 0.2 miles in near Red Oak Road.
Driving Effort10/10
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 29 significant decision points across 179.9 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 0.2 miles (Red Oak Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles (WV 115 / Charles Town Road): Navigation decision point; at 6.4 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 29 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Red Oak Road
Turn right onto Red Oak Road
Navigation decision point
5
2.8 mi into trip|~6m in|WV 115 / Charles Town Road
At end of road, turn left onto WV 115 / Charles Town Road
Navigation decision point
5
6.4 mi into trip|~12m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
28.7 mi into trip|~44m 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
8
28.9 mi into trip|~44m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 11 South: Winchester
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward US 11 South: Winchester
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Shannondale, WV and Fairmont, WV, road signs point toward Stephenson and Berkeley Springs.
Stephenson
28.7 mi in|~44m
Berkeley Springs
31.2 mi in|~48m
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
US 340
11.2 mi
15m
Bloomery Pike
9.8 mi
11m
Paw Paw Road
9.5 mi
10m
Harry Byrd Highway
5.2 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
National Freeway
— 74.8 mi, about 1h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Shannondale, WV and Fairmont, WV.
1
Start on Gingerbread Lane
129 ft·7 sec·Gingerbread Lane
2
Turn right onto Gray Fox Road
0.1 mi·25 sec·Gray Fox Road
3
Turn left onto Quail Run Road
232 ft·14 sec·Quail Run Road
4
Turn right onto Red Oak Road
0.2 mi·35 sec·Red Oak Road
5
Turn right onto Lower Clubhouse Drive
0.4 mi·1 min·Lower Clubhouse Drive
6
Turn right onto Mission Road
2.1 mi·4 min·Mission Road
7
At end of road, turn left onto WV 115
3.4 mi·5 min·Charles Town Road
8
Continue on WV 115
0.2 mi·17 sec·South George Street
9
Enter roundabout
194 ft·3 sec
10
Continue
0.2 mi·30 sec
11
Merge onto US 340
11 mi·15 min·US 340
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward VA 7 West: Winchester
13
Merge onto VA 7
5.2 mi·7 min·Harry Byrd Highway
14
Continue on VA 7
3.4 mi·5 min·Berryville Pike
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
Toward I 81 North: Martinsburg
16
Merge onto I 81
1.7 mi·1 min·I 81
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·36 sec
Toward US 11: Winchester, Stephenson
18
Keep slight left at fork
154 ft·9 sec
Toward US 11 South: WinchesterUse the left lane.
19
Turn left onto US 11
0.5 mi·1 min·Martinsburg Pike
20
Keep slight right at fork onto VA 37
1.7 mi·2 min·VA 37
Toward VA 37 South
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi·47 sec
Toward US 522: Winchester, Berkeley Springs
22
Turn right onto US 522
12 mi·16 min·North Frederick Pike
23
Turn left onto VA 127
9.8 mi·11 min·Bloomery Pike
24
Turn right onto CR 45/7
0.8 mi·54 sec·Gaston Road
25
At end of road, turn right onto WV 29
9.5 mi·10 min·Paw Paw Road
26
Continue on WV 9
1.2 mi·1 min·Henry W. Miller Highway
27
Continue on MD 51
21 mi·23 min·Oldtown Road
28
Continue on MD 51
0.9 mi·58 sec·New 51 Road Southeast
29
Continue on MD 51
0.8 mi·1 min·Uhl Highway Southeast
30
Continue on MD 51
2.7 mi·5 min·Industrial Boulevard
31
Keep slight right at fork onto Queen City Drive
462 ft·15 sec·Queen City Drive
32
Continue on South Centre Street
482 ft·21 sec·South Centre Street
33
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
34
Merge onto I 68; US 40; US 220
75 mi·1 hr 21 min·National Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·53 sec
Toward I-79 S: Fairmont
36
Merge onto I 79
12 mi·13 min·Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
37
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward WV 273 North: Downtown, Fairmont
38
Turn left onto WV 273
0.4 mi·59 sec·Fairmont Gateway Connector
39
Enter roundabout onto WV 273
122 ft·2 sec·Fairmont Gateway Connector
40
Continue on WV 273
0.2 mi·23 sec·Fairmont Gateway Connector
41
Enter roundabout onto WV 273
128 ft·3 sec·Fairmont Gateway Connector
42
Continue on WV 273
0.2 mi·24 sec·Fairmont Gateway Connector
43
Continue on Jefferson Street
0.3 mi·57 sec·Jefferson Street
44
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 90 miles from Shannondale, WV, or about 2h 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 40 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 90 miles or 2h in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 4m
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 Shannondale, 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 Shannondale, WV
This is one driving day of about 179.9 miles and 3h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from Shannondale, 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 90 mi from Shannondale, WV
· 2h into the drive
The midpoint is around 90 miles from Shannondale, WV, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before National Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 74.8 miles.
Arriving in Fairmont, WV
The final approach into Fairmont, 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 Fairmont, 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
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...
6 mi from route
~16 min detour
$20
near mile 6.2
Park Closure: Annual Closure to Protect Nesting Peregrine Falcons
Caution: Construction work at entrance to Visitor Center parking lot
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.13 one way
$56.26 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg63 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$30.76
$61.52
premium
$4.70
$33.30
$66.59
diesel
$5.61
$39.72
$79.44
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
54
0
$18.89
$8.64
Efficient EV
45
0
$15.74
$7.20
EV Truck/SUV
72
0
$25.19
$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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Shannondale, WV
Late night
in Shannondale on Friday
Local time
1:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Fairmont, WV
Late night
in Fairmont on Friday
Local time
1:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
23 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 41m 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 Shannondale, WV to Fairmont, WV covers 179.9 miles and takes about 3h 41m 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 90 miles from Shannondale, WV. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $28.13 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 29 significant decision points across 179.9 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 0.2 miles (Red Oak Road): Navigation decision point; at 2.8 miles (WV 115 / Charles Town Road): Navigation decision point; at 6.4 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Between Shannondale, WV and Fairmont, WV, road signs point toward Stephenson and Berkeley Springs.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Harpers Ferry National Historical Park.
