Morgantown, WV to Kenova, WV is 213 miles and takes about 3 hours 54 minutes via Senator Jennings Randolph Highway and I 64, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within West Virginia, traversing the Southeast region from start to finish. Expect a drive that's mostly on surface roads, offering a more local feel compared to a pure interstate cruise. With only one recommended stop and a manageable duration, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion when you want to see more of the state's less-traveled byways.
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
106.5 miles from Morgantown, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
147.8 mi
2h 38m
I 64
56.8 mi
1h 3m
Don Knotts Boulevard
1.9 mi
2m
University Avenue
1.5 mi
2m
I 77
1.4 mi
1m
WV 75
0.6 mi
<1m
I 68
0.4 mi
<1m
US 52
0.2 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 Kenova, WV.
Consider starting your drive in Morgantown mid-morning to allow for a relaxed pace and arrive in Kenova before evening. With a total drive time under 4 hours, you can easily complete this in one day, but the mostly surface road profile means you might want to break it up if you prefer a slower journey. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer stretches on the Senator Jennings Randolph Highway, as services can be more spread out. The single recommended stop is a good place to refuel and stretch your legs before the final leg of your trip.
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 106.5 miles from Morgantown, WV, or about 1h 57m 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 47 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 106.5 miles or 1h 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kenova, WV than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
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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.
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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 213 miles and 3h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 212.1 — 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
4
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|US 119 / University Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto US 119 / University Avenue
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
5
154.7 mi into trip|~2h 49m in
Take the exit toward I 64 West, US 119 South: Huntington
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 64 West, US 119 South: Huntington
5
212.1 mi into trip|~3h 53m in|US 52
Take the exit onto US 52 toward US 52 South, WV 75: Kenova, Ceredo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 52 South, WV 75: Kenova, Ceredo
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.45 one way
$62.89 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg75 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.12
$34.56
$69.12
premium
$4.49
$37.67
$75.34
diesel
$4.80
$40.22
$80.44
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.9
0
$22.37
$10.22
Efficient EV
53.3
0
$18.64
$8.52
EV Truck/SUV
85.2
1
$29.82
$13.63
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Morgantown, WV
Late night
in Morgantown on Sunday
Local time
5:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
W 2 to 9 mph88% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 7:21PM EDT until July 18 at 7:45PM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 7:19PM EDT until July 18 at 8:15PM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA
Destination
Kenova, WV
Late night
in Kenova on Sunday
Local time
5:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
W 1 to 6 mph78% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 7:21PM EDT until July 18 at 7:45PM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 7:19PM EDT until July 18 at 8:15PM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA
85°F
Spencer, WV
107 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
3 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 54m on the road
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.
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
~68 min detour
Free
near mile 117.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly surface roads at 72% of the total mileage, with 28% on highways like I 64. You'll experience a significant stretch of 147.8 miles on the Senator Jennings Randolph Highway before transitioning to other road types. The highway portion will involve navigating more developed areas with frequent exits, while the bulk of the drive will be more rural cruising.
Only 28% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 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?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Kirk Street.
Driving Effort6/10
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 213 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.1 miles (Kirk Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (US 119 / University Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 4.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,219 ft556 ft
Total Climb
686 ft
Total Descent
1,017 ft
Highest Point
1,219 ft
~45.6 mi in
Elevation Range
663 ft
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
The Blue Moose Cafe
Cafe
Near the start, right off the route
0 mi from route
Morgantown, WV
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Hours: Mo-Th 07:00-21:00; Fr 07:00-22:00; Sa 08...
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.
Top landmarks
•Men's Hall — historic dormitory associated with the West Virginia University
•Metropolitan Theatre — theater and movie theater in Morgantown, West Virginia
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 54m. Total distance: 213 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
Yes — we found about 12 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Kenova, WV before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 12 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 0.3 miles (US 119 / University Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 4.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Gauley River National Recreation Area. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Kenova, WV, but most travelers stay overnight.
