If you are planning a trip from Belle to Morgantown, expect a journey spanning 167.2 miles that typically takes about 2 hours and 37 minutes to complete. This drive functions perfectly as a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. Budgeting approximately $27 for fuel will cover your transit costs as you navigate from the southeastern part of West Virginia toward your destination. Since you will be utilizing local roads like US 60, West Dupont Avenue, and Simmons Creek Road, you should prepare for a slower, more deliberate pace compared to an interstate route. It is a straightforward trip that rewards drivers who prefer staying off the major highways.
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
83.5 miles from Belle, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
148 mi
2h 38m
US 60
10.5 mi
14m
Grafton Road
2.2 mi
3m
I 77
1.9 mi
2m
University Avenue
1.5 mi
2m
I 68
0.7 mi
<1m
West Dupont Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
Old US 60
0.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
— 148 mi, about 2h 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Belle, WV and Morgantown, WV.
1
Start on CR 60/18
0.3 mi·1 min·Old US 60
2
Continue on West Dupont Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·West Dupont Avenue
3
Turn right onto Simmons Creek Road
0.2 mi·24 sec·Simmons Creek Road
4
Turn straight onto US 60
5.5 mi·7 min·US 60
5
Take the ramp onto US 60
5.0 mi·6 min·US 60
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 77
1.9 mi·2 min·I 77
Toward I 77 North: ParkersburgUse the slight right lane.
Given the turn-heavy nature of this 2-hour and 37-minute route, it is best to depart during daylight hours to ensure you have maximum visibility on the local roads. Since you only have one scheduled stop, plan your break strategically to maximize your comfort during the drive. Keep in mind that your $27 fuel budget is an estimate, so it is wise to top off your tank before leaving Belle to avoid searching for stations along the more rural stretches. Because you are staying entirely on local routes like US 60 and Simmons Creek Road, be patient with lower speed limits and potential traffic fluctuations. Flexibility is your best asset here, so don't feel pressured to rush through the winding sections of the drive.
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 83.5 miles from Belle, WV, or about 1h 35m 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 37 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83.5 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.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Belle, 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 Belle, WV
This is one driving day of about 167.1 miles and 3h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Belle, 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 11.7 and 167 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
11.7 mi into trip|~17m in|I 77
Keep slight right at fork onto I 77 toward I 77 North: Parkersburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 77 North: Parkersburg
5
13.6 mi into trip|~20m 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
4
161.6 mi into trip|~2h 59m in
Take the exit toward I 68 East: Cumberland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 68 East: Cumberland
5
162.9 mi into trip|~3h 1m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
167 mi into trip|~3h 8m in|WV 7 / Walnut Street
Turn left onto WV 7 / Walnut Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.13 one way
$52.26 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg59 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$28.57
$57.14
premium
$4.70
$30.93
$61.85
diesel
$5.61
$36.89
$73.79
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: 58.5 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
50.1
0
$17.55
$8.02
Efficient EV
41.8
0
$14.62
$6.68
EV Truck/SUV
66.8
0
$23.39
$10.69
Gas CO2
58 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Belle, WV
Late night
in Belle on Sunday
Local time
12:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Morgantown, WV
Late night
in Morgantown on Sunday
Local time
12:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°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
6 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
3h 8m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Because this route involves zero highway driving, you will spend the entire 167.2-mile journey navigating smaller, winding roads rather than cruising at high speeds. The experience is best described as a series of constant adjustments, making it a more technical drive than a standard interstate commute. You will not encounter any long, uninterrupted stretches, so be prepared for a drive that changes constantly as you transition through various local road segments. This is a hands-on driving experience that keeps you engaged with the road throughout the entire duration.
Only 8% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 148 mi on Senator Jennings Randolph Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 11.7 miles in near I 77.
Driving Effort5/10
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 167.1 miles you will encounter 9 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 11.7 miles (I 77): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.6 miles (I 79 / Senator Jennings Randolph Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 161.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Morgantown is the third largest city in West Virginia, and is the county seat of Monongalia County. It is home to West Virginia University, the state's flagship public university and university with the largest student body in the state. The city has 30,347 residents (2020). As the largest city in the northern half of West Virginia, and sitting at the junction of I-79 and I-68, Morgantown serves as a major regional cultural center and hub for business, medicine, shopping and dining.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 8m. Total distance: 167.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (8%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 148 miles on Senator Jennings Randolph Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
Mostly yes along the main roads, but rural stretches through WV can have sparse or no coverage. Before you leave, download offline Google Maps or Apple Maps for the route, and consider downloading music or podcasts instead of streaming. If you depend on data for navigation, keep a paper backup of the turn-by-turn directions.
The main spots that need attention: at 11.7 miles (I 77): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.6 miles (I 79 / Senator Jennings Randolph Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 161.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Morgantown, WV, but most travelers stay overnight.
