This 137.3-mile drive from Clendenin, WV, to Morgantown, WV, is best tackled in a single day, taking approximately 2 hours and 34 minutes. You'll be navigating primarily on the Senator Jennings Randolph Highway, with segments of Grafton Road and Spencer Road also part of the journey. With a projected fuel cost of around $21, this route offers a straightforward trip within the Southeast region of West Virginia. It's a manageable distance, making it an ideal day trip without the need for an overnight stay. Plan for a single stop along the way to break up the drive.
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
68.7 miles from Clendenin, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 16m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
128.4 mi
2h 17m
Grafton Road
2.2 mi
3m
Spencer Road
2.2 mi
3m
University Avenue
1.5 mi
2m
I 68
0.7 mi
<1m
Beech Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Maywood Avenue East
0.2 mi
<1m
Charleston Clendenin Road
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
— 128.4 mi, about 2h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clendenin, WV and Morgantown, WV.
Given the 2-hour and 34-minute duration, departing in the morning allows ample time to reach Morgantown without feeling rushed. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in when and where you choose to pause. The fuel cost is estimated at $21, so ensure your tank is sufficiently full before you depart Clendenin. A key tip for this route is to remain attentive to the Senator Jennings Randolph Highway, as its continuous nature for over 128 miles means you'll want to stay focused on the road conditions and any potential turns.
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 68.7 miles from Clendenin, WV, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 128.4 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 30 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68.7 miles or 1h 16m 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 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Morgantown, WV than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
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Open the route before leaving Clendenin, 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 Clendenin, WV
This is one driving day of about 137.3 miles and 2h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Clendenin, 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 128.4 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 137.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|US 119 / Elk River Road
At end of road, turn right onto US 119 / Elk River Road
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
4
3.2 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
4
131.8 mi into trip|~2h 24m in
Take the exit toward I 68 East: Cumberland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 68 East: Cumberland
5
133.2 mi into trip|~2h 27m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
137.3 mi into trip|~2h 34m in|WV 7 / Walnut Street
Turn left onto WV 7 / Walnut Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.47 one way
$42.94 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg48 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$23.48
$46.95
premium
$4.70
$25.41
$50.82
diesel
$5.61
$30.31
$60.63
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.2
0
$14.42
$6.59
Efficient EV
34.3
0
$12.01
$5.49
EV Truck/SUV
54.9
0
$19.22
$8.79
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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 as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Clendenin, WV
Morning
in Clendenin on Sunday
Local time
6:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Morgantown, WV
Morning
in Morgantown on Sunday
Local time
6:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
58°F
Weston, WV
69 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
18 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 34m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Gauley River National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
The 25 miles of free-flowing Gauley River and the six miles of the Meadow River pass through scenic gorges and valleys containing a wide variety of natural and cultural features. The Gauley River cont...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
Free
near mile 18.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for the majority of this 137.3-mile trip. While 100% of the route is on highways, its character is not that of a high-speed interstate. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 128.4 miles on the Senator Jennings Randolph Highway, suggesting a consistent road type for a significant portion of your travel. This means you'll be actively engaged with steering and navigation throughout the journey, rather than cruising on a monotonous freeway.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 128.4 mi on Senator Jennings Randolph Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near US 119 / Elk River Road.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 34m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (US 119 / Elk River Road): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 3.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 131.8 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.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 128.4 miles on Senator Jennings Randolph Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.4 miles (US 119 / Elk River Road): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 3.2 miles: Navigation decision point; at 131.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Gauley River National Recreation Area. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Morgantown, WV before heading back.
