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Drive Time
3h 9m
Distance
168.1 mi
271 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saint Albans, WV
Wikimedia Commons
Morgantown, WV
Wikimedia Commons
Connecting Saint Albans to Morgantown, this 168.1-mile journey takes approximately 3 hours and 9 minutes to complete. Given the total duration, you can easily tackle this as a single-day trip without needing an overnight stay. You should budget about $27 for fuel to cover the distance between these two West Virginia hubs. Navigating the route involves a blend of local roads and major thoroughfares like I-64, 1st Avenue South, and the Senator Jennings Randolph Highway. It is a straightforward trip that fits well into a busy schedule, offering a practical way to traverse this portion of the state.
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
84.1 miles from Saint Albans, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 35m into the drive .
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Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as only 6% of this trip consists of highway driving. You will spend the vast majority of your time—roughly 148 miles—on the Senator Jennings Randolph Highway, which serves as the backbone of your journey. Because the route relies heavily on local infrastructure, you will need to remain alert as the road transitions through various sections. The experience behind the wheel is defined by these technical stretches, requiring more active attention than a standard high-speed commute. Prepare for a road character that values local navigation over long, uninterrupted highway speeds.
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
1,785 ft
Total Descent
1,513 ft
Highest Point
1,370 ft
~70 mi in
Elevation Range
757 ft
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 CR 60/14 / 6th Avenue.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 168.1 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 (CR 60/14 / 6th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 4.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 12.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto CR 60/14 / 6th Avenue
Navigation decision point
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
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
Keep slight right at fork onto I 79 / Senator Jennings Randolph Highway toward I 79 North: Clarksburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Senator Jennings Randolph Highway | 148 mi | 2h 38m |
| I 64 | 8.2 mi | 9m |
| 1st Avenue South | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| Grafton Road | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| University Avenue | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| I 77 | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| I 68 | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| 3rd Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Saint Albans, WV and Morgantown, WV.
Start on CR 6/16
Turn right onto CR 60/14
Turn left onto CR 6/6
Continue on The New Saint Albans-Nitro Bridge
Continue on Center Street
Turn right onto WV 25
Continue on WV 25
Take the ramp
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 64
Take the exit
Merge onto I 77
Keep slight right at fork onto I 79
Take the exit
Continue on I 68
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto US 119
Continue on US 119
Turn right onto Kirk Street
Continue on Spruce Street
Turn left onto WV 7
Turn left onto High Street
Arrive at destination
Since the trip is manageable in just over three hours, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. With only one recommended stop, you can easily pace the drive to suit your energy levels without worrying about a rigid itinerary. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the long 148-mile stretch on the Senator Jennings Randolph Highway, as local road options for refueling may be less frequent than on major interstates. If you are prone to fatigue on winding roads, consider timing your single stop for the midpoint of this technical stretch to stay refreshed. Making this a one-day excursion allows you to reach your destination in Morgantown with plenty of daylight left for your arrival.
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 80 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.1 miles or 1h 35m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Morgantown, WV than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Saint Albans, 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 Saint Albans, WV
This is one driving day of about 168.1 miles and 3h 9m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 84.1 mi from Saint Albans, WV · 1h 35m 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 84.1 miles from Saint Albans, 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 148 miles.
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.
Regular Gas
$26.29 one way
$52.57 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $28.74 | $57.48 |
| premium | $4.70 | $31.11 | $62.22 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $37.11 | $74.23 |
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 | $17.65 | $8.07 |
| Efficient EV | 42 | 0 | $14.71 | $6.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 67.2 | 0 | $23.53 | $10.76 |
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
Afternoon in Saint Albans on Tuesday
Local time
4:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Afternoon in Morgantown on Tuesday
Local time
4:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Mostly Clear
74°F
Newtown, PA
84 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
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.
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