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Trip from Barboursville, WV to Morgantown, WV

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

3h 37m

Distance

196.6 mi

316 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$31

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
3h 25m ★
6 AM
3h 38m
8 AM
4h 3m
10 AM
3h 46m
12 PM
3h 44m
3 PM
3h 48m
5 PM
4h 1m
8 PM
3h 30m

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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village in Cabell County, West Virginia, United States

Barboursville, WV

Wikimedia Commons

city in and county seat of Monongalia County, West Virginia, United States

Morgantown, WV

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Barboursville, WV to Morgantown, WV covers 196.6 miles and takes about 3h 37m 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, I 64, Grafton Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 148 miles on Senator Jennings Randolph Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.74 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

98.3 miles from Barboursville, WV

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 48m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 37m. Total distance: 196.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

Expect a 3h 37m drive with frequent turns across 196.6 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
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 148 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near WV 193 / Big Ben Bowen Highway.

Driving Effort 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 196.6 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (WV 193 / Big Ben Bowen Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 41.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

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

6
0.7 mi into trip | ~1m in | WV 193 / Big Ben Bowen Highway

Turn left onto WV 193 / Big Ben Bowen Highway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
7
0.9 mi into trip | ~2m in

Take the ramp

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
5
41.2 mi into trip | ~46m in

Take the exit toward I 77 North, I 79: Parkersburg

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

Toward I 77 North, I 79: Parkersburg
5
43.1 mi into trip | ~49m in | I 79 / Senator Jennings Randolph Highway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 79 / Senator Jennings Randolph Highway toward I 79 North: Clarksburg

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward I 79 North: Clarksburg
5
192.5 mi into trip | ~3h 30m in

Keep slight left at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Senator Jennings Randolph Highway 148 mi 2h 38m
I 64 40.1 mi 44m
Grafton Road 2.2 mi 3m
University Avenue 1.5 mi 2m
I 77 1.5 mi 1m
I 68 0.7 mi <1m
Main Street 0.5 mi 1m
Midland Trail 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Senator Jennings Randolph Highway — 148 mi, about 2h 38m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Barboursville, WV and Morgantown, WV.

1

Start on Main Street

379 ft · 17 sec · Main Street
2

Continue on CR 60/9

0.4 mi · 53 sec · Main Street
3

Turn right onto US 60

0.2 mi · 26 sec · Midland Trail
4

Turn left onto WV 193

0.2 mi · 28 sec · Big Ben Bowen Highway
Use the left lane.
5

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 27 sec
Use the right lane.
6

Merge onto I 64

40 mi · 44 min · I 64
7

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 30 sec
Toward I 77 North, I 79: Parkersburg
8

Merge onto I 77

1.5 mi · 1 min · I 77
9

Keep slight right at fork onto I 79

148 mi · 2 hr 38 min · Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
Toward I 79 North: Clarksburg
10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 43 sec
Toward I 68 East: Cumberland
11

Continue on I 68

0.7 mi · 45 sec · I 68
12

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 45 sec
Toward US 119: Downtown
13

Keep slight left at fork

106 ft · 4 sec
14

Turn left onto US 119

2.2 mi · 3 min · Grafton Road
15

Continue on US 119

1.5 mi · 2 min · University Avenue
16

Turn right onto Kirk Street

0.2 mi · 32 sec · Kirk Street
17

Continue on Spruce Street

0.2 mi · 34 sec · Spruce Street
18

Turn left onto WV 7

300 ft · 12 sec · Walnut Street
19

Turn left onto High Street

64 ft · 2 sec · High Street
20

Arrive at destination

High 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 98.3 miles from Barboursville, WV, or about 1h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 148 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 43 miles or 48m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 98.3 miles or 1h 48m 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 55m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Morgantown, WV than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Barboursville, 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 Barboursville, WV

This is one driving day of about 196.6 miles and 3h 37m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 miles from Barboursville, 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 148 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 98.3 mi from Barboursville, WV · 1h 48m into the drive

Downtown Craigsville, WV, WV

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Craigsville, WV

98 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

Meads, KY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Newtown, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 98.4 miles from Barboursville, WV, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Morgantown, WV

The final approach into Morgantown, 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 Morgantown, WV.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

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

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...

27 mi from route ~67 min detour Free near mile 81.4
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$30.74 one way

$61.49 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 69 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $33.62 $67.23
premium $4.70 $36.39 $72.77
diesel $5.61 $43.41 $86.81

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$31

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$56–$81

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 68.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 59 0 $20.64 $9.44
Efficient EV 49.2 0 $17.20 $7.86
EV Truck/SUV 78.6 0 $27.52 $12.58

Gas CO2

69 kg

EV CO2

23 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

Barboursville, WV

Afternoon in Barboursville on Thursday

Local time

3:11 PM

EDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Morgantown, WV

Afternoon in Morgantown on Thursday

Local time

3:11 PM

EDT

Current temp

62°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

9 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 37m 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 Barboursville, WV to Morgantown, WV covers 196.6 miles and takes about 3h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Senator Jennings Randolph Highway, I 64, Grafton Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 98.3 miles from Barboursville, WV. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $30.74 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 196.6 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (WV 193 / Big Ben Bowen Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 41.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Barboursville, WV to Morgantown, WV does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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