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Drive Time
1h 35m
Distance
78.6 mi
126 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
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.
Wheeling, WV
Wikimedia Commons
Morgantown, WV
Wikimedia Commons
Connecting Wheeling to Morgantown, this 78.6-mile journey across West Virginia is a straightforward trip that typically takes about 1 hour and 35 minutes behind the wheel. Because of its manageable length, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, eliminating any need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $13 for fuel to complete the drive. Navigating through the southeastern part of the state, you will rely primarily on I-79, the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, and the USS West Virginia Memorial Highway. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick getaway, the route offers a reliable connection between these two West Virginia hubs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
39.3 miles from Wheeling, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .
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Expect a mixed driving experience as you navigate this 78.6-mile corridor. About 50% of your time will be spent on the interstate, providing a consistent pace for a significant portion of the trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 39.2-mile segment on I-79, which allows for steady cruising. As you move along these highways, the road transitions between high-speed interstate travel and more localized segments. This combination creates a varied driving profile that keeps the journey from feeling like a monotonous highway grind.
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
1,706 ft
Total Descent
1,483 ft
Highest Point
1,370 ft
~59 mi in
Elevation Range
707 ft
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.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Wheeling, WV to Morgantown, WV is easy. At 1h 35m 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 Wheeling, WV to Morgantown, WV is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 16th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Dwight D Eisenhower Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| USS West Virginia Memorial Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 79 south | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Virginia University | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Chaplin Hill Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Monongahela Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Beechurst Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Wheeling, WV and Morgantown, WV.
Start on Chapline Street
Turn right onto 16th Street
Take the ramp straight
Merge slight left
Keep slight right
Continue straight
Merge slight left onto Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
Merge slight right onto USS West Virginia Memorial Highway
Continue on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
Take the exit slight right toward I 79 south: Waynesburg, Morgantown
Take the exit slight right toward West Virginia University
Turn left onto Chaplin Hill Road
Continue on Monongahela Boulevard
Continue on Beechurst Avenue
Turn left onto Fayette Street
Turn right onto High Street
Arrive at your destination
Since the total drive time is under two hours, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your own schedule. You will not need to worry about planning formal stops to break up the drive, as the duration is short enough to complete in one go. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before you head out, as the $13 estimate for the trip assumes you are starting with a full tank. For the smoothest experience, check local traffic reports for I-79, particularly during peak travel hours, to ensure your arrival in Morgantown remains on schedule.
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.
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 78.6 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.3 miles or 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Morgantown, WV than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Wheeling, 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 Wheeling, WV
This is one driving day of about 78.6 miles and 1h 35m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 39.3 mi from Wheeling, WV · 47m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
39 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.
Municipality of Bethel Park, PA
Fuel and coffeeA short stop after about 78.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 39.3 miles from Wheeling, WV, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$12.29 one way
$24.58 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $13.44 | $26.88 |
| premium | $4.70 | $14.55 | $29.09 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $17.35 | $34.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 23.6 | 0 | $8.25 | $3.77 |
| Efficient EV | 19.7 | 0 | $6.88 | $3.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 31.4 | 0 | $11.00 | $5.03 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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
Evening in Wheeling on Tuesday
Local time
6:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Partly Cloudy
Destination
Evening in Morgantown on Tuesday
Local time
6:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Mostly Clear
52°F
Mina, NY
39 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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