EXHIBIT 23.01

               CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Annual Report (Form 10-K)
of Martin Marietta Materials, Inc., of our report dated January 27, 2004
included in the 2003 Annual Report to Shareholders of Martin Marietta Materials,
Inc. and subsidiaries.

Our audit also included the financial statement schedule of Martin Marietta
Materials, Inc. and subsidiaries listed in Item 15(d). This schedule is the
responsibility of the Corporation's management. Our responsibility is to express
an opinion based on our audits. In our opinion, the financial statement schedule
referred to above, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements
taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set
forth therein.

We also consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement
(Form S-8 No. 333-85608) pertaining to the Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.
Common Stock Purchase Plan for Directors; Registration Statement (Form S-8 No.
33-83516) pertaining to the Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. Omnibus Securities
Award Plan, as amended; in the Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-15429)
pertaining to the Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. Common Stock Purchase Plan for
Directors, Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. Performance Sharing Plan and the
Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. Savings and Investment Plan for Hourly
Employees; in the Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-79039) pertaining to
the Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. Stock-Based Award Plan, as amended; and in
the Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-37886) pertaining to the Martin
Marietta Materials, Inc. Southwest Division 401(k) Plan, of our report dated
January 27, 2004, with respect to the consolidated financial statements
incorporated herein by reference, and our report included in the preceding
paragraph with respect to the financial statement schedule included in this
Annual Report (Form 10-K) of Martin Marietta Materials, Inc., for the year ended
December 31, 2003.

                                ERNST & YOUNG LLP

Raleigh, North Carolina
March 10, 2004