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Trip from Morgantown, WV to Dunbar, WV

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

2h 58m

Distance

161.7 mi

260 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$25

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 34 min
4 AM
2h 47m ★
6 AM
2h 59m
8 AM
3h 21m
10 AM
3h 6m
12 PM
3h 4m
3 PM
3h 8m
5 PM
3h 20m
8 PM
2h 52m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

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

Morgantown, WV

Wikimedia Commons

town in East Lothian, Scotland, UK

Dunbar, WV

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are planning a trip from Morgantown to Dunbar, expect a straightforward journey covering 161.7 miles. The drive typically takes about 2 hours and 58 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via the Senator Jennings Randolph Highway, I-64, and Don Knotts Boulevard throughout your time on the road. With a fuel budget of approximately $26, this route is quite affordable for a quick excursion through West Virginia. Since both locations are situated within the Southeast region, the trip maintains a consistent feel from start to finish. It is a practical choice if you need to travel between these two hubs efficiently.

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

80.8 miles from Morgantown, WV

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 29m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. While only 5% of your path is spent on major highways, you will spend the bulk of your time on the Senator Jennings Randolph Highway, which accounts for a 147.8-mile stretch. The road’s personality is defined by these winding segments rather than a monotonous interstate grind. Navigating the transitions from local boulevards to the longer highway portions requires a steady hand as the terrain shifts. Expect a driving experience that feels more technical and engaging than a standard freeway cruise.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Kirk Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Morgantown, WV to Dunbar, WV is easy. At 2h 58m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Morgantown, WV to Dunbar, WV is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Kirk Street Unavailable Refreshing
University Avenue Unavailable Refreshing
Don Knotts Boulevard Unavailable Refreshing
I 68 West Unavailable Refreshing
I-79 S Unavailable Refreshing
Senator Jennings Randolph Highway Unavailable Refreshing
I 64 West Unavailable Refreshing
CR 25 Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Kirk Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on High Street

0.1 mi · 29 sec · High Street
2

Turn right onto Kirk Street

0.1 mi · 30 sec · Kirk Street
3

At the end of the road, turn left onto University Avenue

1.5 mi · 2 min · University Avenue
4

Continue on Don Knotts Boulevard

1.9 mi · 2 min · Don Knotts Boulevard
5

Take the ramp slight right toward I 68 West

0.5 mi · 1 min · I 68 West
6

Merge slight left

0.4 mi · 27 sec
7

Keep slight left to continue on I-79 S: Fairmont

0.8 mi · 54 sec · I-79 S: Fairmont
8

Merge slight left onto Senator Jennings Randolph Highway

148 mi · 2 hr 38 min · Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
9

Merge slight right

1.4 mi · 1 min
10

Take the exit slight right toward I 64 West, US 119 South: Huntington

0.2 mi · 13 sec · I 64 West, US 119 South: Huntington
11

Keep slight left

0.5 mi · 34 sec
12

Merge slight right

5.9 mi · 7 min
13

Take the exit slight right toward CR 25/25: Roxalana Road, Dunbar

0.2 mi · 20 sec · CR 25/25: Roxalana Road, Dunbar
14

Keep slight left

72 ft · 2 sec
15

Turn right onto 10th Street

0.3 mi · 36 sec · 10th Street
16

Take the ramp sharp left toward I 64 East: Charleston

72 ft · 2 sec · I 64 East: Charleston
17

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Because this is a sub-three-hour trip, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time around your personal schedule. You will only need one stop to complete the 161.7-mile distance comfortably, so plan to stretch your legs once along the way. Keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of the route can be more fatiguing than a straight interstate drive, so prioritize safety on those winding sections. Budgeting $26 for gas should keep you covered, but it is always wise to fuel up before leaving Morgantown to avoid price fluctuations on the road. Take advantage of the short duration to enjoy the drive at a relaxed pace without the pressure of an overnight itinerary.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 80.8 miles from Morgantown, WV, or about 1h 29m into the drive.

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 80 miles or 1h 28m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 80.8 miles or 1h 29m 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 26m

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

Before You Leave

+

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 161.7 miles and 2h 58m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Morgantown, 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.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 80.8 mi from Morgantown, WV · 1h 29m into the drive

Downtown Newtown, PA, PA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Newtown, PA

81 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

Newtown, PA

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 80.8 miles from Morgantown, WV, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Dunbar, WV

The final approach into Dunbar, 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 Dunbar, WV.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$25.29 one way

$50.57 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 57 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.34 $27.65 $55.30
premium $4.70 $29.93 $59.85
diesel $5.61 $35.70 $71.40

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$25

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$50–$75

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 56.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 48.5 0 $16.98 $7.76
Efficient EV 40.4 0 $14.15 $6.47
EV Truck/SUV 64.7 0 $22.64 $10.35

Gas CO2

57 kg

EV CO2

19 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 data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Morgantown, WV

Afternoon in Morgantown on Tuesday

Local time

2:04 PM

EDT

Current temp

44°F

Partly Cloudy

NE 2 mph 2% chance Live forecast

Destination

Dunbar, WV

Afternoon in Dunbar on Tuesday

Local time

2:04 PM

EDT

Current temp

45°F

Mostly Clear

NE 3 mph 1% chance Live forecast

74°F

Newtown, PA

81 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

1 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

2h 58m on the road

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Morgantown, WV to Dunbar, WV covers 161.7 miles and takes about 2h 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Kirk Street, University Avenue, Don Knotts Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 80.8 miles from Morgantown, WV. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $25.29 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Morgantown, WV to Dunbar, WV is easy. At 2h 58m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Morgantown, WV to Dunbar, WV is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Morgantown, WV to Dunbar, WV does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Dunbar, WV to Morgantown, WV

Plan the drive back the other way.

161.4 mi 2h 58m

Explore more options from Morgantown, WV or browse trips ending in Dunbar, WV.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse WV road trips.

Explore maps for Morgantown, WV or Dunbar, WV on MapSof.net.