Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 8m
Distance
168 mi
270 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Morgantown, WV
Wikimedia Commons
Alum Creek, WV
Federated Art
The drive from Morgantown, WV to Alum Creek, WV covers 168 miles and takes about 3h 8m 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, US 119, Childress Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 147.8 miles on Senator Jennings Randolph Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.27 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
84 miles from Morgantown, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 33m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 8m. Total distance: 168 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Expect a 3h 8m drive with frequent turns across 168 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Kirk Street.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 168 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 0.1 miles (Kirk Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (US 119 / University Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 4.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto Kirk Street
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn left onto US 119 / University Avenue
Navigation decision point
Keep slight left at fork toward I-79 S: Fairmont
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the exit toward I 64 West, US 119 South: Huntington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Senator Jennings Randolph Highway | 147.8 mi | 2h 38m |
| US 119 | 8 mi | 10m |
| Childress Road | 4 mi | 6m |
| Don Knotts Boulevard | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| University Avenue | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| I 77 | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| I 64 | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| I 68 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Morgantown, WV and Alum Creek, WV.
Start on High Street
Turn right onto Kirk Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 119
Continue on US 119
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 68
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 79
Merge onto I 77
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 64
Take the exit onto US 119
Keep slight right at fork onto US 119
Turn right onto WV 214
Arrive at destination
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 37 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84 miles or 1h 33m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alum Creek, WV than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Morgantown, 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 Morgantown, WV
This is one driving day of about 168 miles and 3h 8m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 84 mi from Morgantown, WV · 1h 33m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
84 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 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 84 miles from Morgantown, WV, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Senator Jennings Randolph Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 147.8 miles.
The final approach into Alum Creek, 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 Alum Creek, 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.
Regular Gas
$26.27 one way
$52.54 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $28.73 | $57.45 |
| premium | $4.70 | $31.09 | $62.19 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $37.09 | $74.18 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 50.4 | 0 | $17.64 | $8.06 |
| Efficient EV | 42 | 0 | $14.70 | $6.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 67.2 | 0 | $23.52 | $10.75 |
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (66% 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 Morgantown on Saturday
Local time
10:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Morning in Alum Creek on Saturday
Local time
10:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
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
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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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