If you are planning a trip from Morgantown to Belle, expect a journey covering 167.3 miles that typically takes about 3 hours and 8 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can anticipate a fuel budget of approximately $27 for the trip, making it a relatively affordable drive across West Virginia. Because this path relies on local roads rather than high-speed interstates, you should prepare for a slower, more deliberate pace. Both the origin and destination sit within the Southeast region, ensuring a consistent travel experience as you navigate between these two points.
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
83.7 miles from Morgantown, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 32m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
147.8 mi
2h 38m
US 60
7 mi
10m
I 77
6.5 mi
8m
Don Knotts Boulevard
1.9 mi
2m
University Avenue
1.5 mi
2m
I 68
0.4 mi
<1m
Midland Avenue
0.3 mi
1m
Old US 60
0.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
— 147.8 mi, about 2h 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Morgantown, WV and Belle, WV.
Toward US 60 East: Midland Trail, BelleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto Midland Avenue
154 ft·8 sec·Midland Avenue
12
At end of road, turn right onto Midland Avenue
0.2 mi·49 sec·Midland Avenue
13
Continue on Midland Avenue
233 ft·12 sec·Midland Avenue
14
Turn right onto CR 60/18
0.3 mi·1 min·Old US 60
15
Arrive at destination
CR 60/18
Trip Plan
Since this is a straightforward 3-hour journey, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Planning for at least one stop will help break up the technical nature of the drive and keep you refreshed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before you head out, as the $27 estimate is based on typical conditions and local road driving. Given the 167.3-mile distance, try to avoid peak local traffic hours on University Avenue to ensure a smoother transition out of Morgantown. Using your GPS is essential here, as the turn-heavy nature of the route means navigating local roads requires careful attention to signage.
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 83.7 miles from Morgantown, WV, or about 1h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 147.8 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 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83.7 miles or 1h 32m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Belle, 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 167.3 miles and 3h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 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.
The longest stretch is on Senator Jennings Randolph Highway for about 147.8 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 0.1 and 167 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Kirk Street
Turn right onto Kirk Street
Navigation decision point
5
4.6 mi into trip|~7m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I-79 S: Fairmont
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I-79 S: Fairmont
7
159.8 mi into trip|~2h 55m in|US 60
Take the exit onto US 60 toward US 60 East: Midland Trail, Belle
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 60 East: Midland Trail, Belle
5
166.8 mi into trip|~3h 5m in|Midland Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Midland Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
167 mi into trip|~3h 7m in|CR 60/18 / Old US 60
Turn right onto CR 60/18 / Old US 60
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.16 one way
$52.32 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg59 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$28.61
$57.21
premium
$4.70
$30.96
$61.93
diesel
$5.61
$36.94
$73.88
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
50.2
0
$17.57
$8.03
Efficient EV
41.8
0
$14.64
$6.69
EV Truck/SUV
66.9
0
$23.42
$10.71
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Morgantown, WV
Night
in Morgantown on Saturday
Local time
10:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Belle, WV
Night
in Belle on Saturday
Local time
10:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
58°F
Weston, WV
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
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 cooler 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?
Forget about the standard interstate grind; this route is a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention. You will be navigating streets like Kirk Street, University Avenue, and Don Knotts Boulevard, which keeps the experience engaging rather than monotonous. Since the highway share is 0%, you are trading high-speed efficiency for a more hands-on driving experience. Expect constant changes in direction as you traverse the local network, requiring you to stay alert behind the wheel. It is a technical drive that feels more like a winding local tour than a simple point-to-point transit.
Only 8% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 147.8 mi on Senator Jennings Randolph Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
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 0.1 miles in near Kirk Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 8m 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 0.1 miles (Kirk Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 159.8 miles (US 60): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
The longest stretch is about 147.8 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 0.1 miles (Kirk Street): Navigation decision point; at 4.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 159.8 miles (US 60): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Belle, WV, but most travelers stay overnight.
