Spanning 151.5 miles across West Virginia, this drive connects Morgantown to Martinsburg in roughly 2 hours and 52 minutes. Given the manageable duration, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $24 on fuel, making it a budget-friendly option for your travel plans. Since both cities are located within the Southeast region, the journey offers a consistent geographic experience. Whether you are commuting or heading out for a weekend getaway, the trip is straightforward and efficient.
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
75.7 miles from Morgantown, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 68
105.1 mi
1h 55m
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
20.9 mi
22m
Maryland Veterans Memorial Highway
13.2 mi
14m
I 70, US 40 (Dwight D Eisenhower Highway)
3.3 mi
3m
Edwin Miller Boulevard
1.4 mi
2m
Willey Street
1.2 mi
2m
Mileground Road
1.2 mi
2m
Cheat Road
1.2 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 68
— 105.1 mi, about 1h 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Morgantown, WV and Martinsburg, WV.
1
Start on High Street
358 ft·19 sec·High Street
2
Turn left onto US 119; WV 7
303 ft·12 sec·Pleasant Street
3
Turn left onto US 119; WV 7
0.3 mi·57 sec·Spruce Street
4
Turn right onto US 119
1.2 mi·2 min·Willey Street
5
Continue on US 119
0.4 mi·38 sec·Mileground Road
6
Enter roundabout onto US 119
20 ft·0 sec·Mileground Road
7
Continue on US 119
0.8 mi·1 min·Mileground Road
8
Continue on US 119; CR 857
0.5 mi·1 min·Easton Hill Road
9
Continue on CR 857
1.2 mi·1 min·Cheat Road
10
Turn left
0.4 mi·48 sec
11
Merge onto I 68
105 mi·1 hr 55 min·I 68
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 70; US 40
4.7 mi·5 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
13
Continue on I 70; US 40
3.3 mi·3 min·I 70, US 40 (Dwight D Eisenhower Highway)
14
Continue on I 70
16 mi·17 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
15
Take the exit
0.1 mi·15 sec
Exit 26Toward I 81: Roanoke, HarrisburgUse the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·53 sec
Toward I 81 South: RoanokeUse the slight right lane.
17
Merge onto I 81
13 mi·14 min·Maryland Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi·46 sec
Toward WV 9 East
19
Turn straight onto WV 9
0.4 mi·41 sec·Hedgesville Road
20
Continue on WV 9
1.4 mi·2 min·Edwin Miller Boulevard
21
Continue on US 11; WV 9
1.2 mi·2 min·North Queen Street
22
Turn left onto East King Street
17 ft·0 sec·East King Street
23
Arrive at destination
East King Street
Trip Plan
To keep your travel efficient, plan for at least one stop during your 151.5-mile journey to stretch your legs. Because the route relies heavily on major interstates, keep a close eye on traffic reports before you depart to avoid potential delays on high-speed sections. Since the total drive time is under three hours, you have the flexibility to leave in the morning or afternoon without feeling rushed. Always top off your tank before hitting the road to stay within your $24 fuel budget. A helpful tip for this specific route is to prepare for the long 105.1-mile stretch on I-68 by ensuring you have your preferred music or podcasts ready before you merge.
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 75.7 miles from Morgantown, WV, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 105.1 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 33 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.7 miles or 1h 27m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Martinsburg, 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 151.5 miles and 2h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 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 I 68 for about 105.1 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 134.4 — 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|US 119; WV 7 / Pleasant Street
Turn left onto US 119; WV 7 / Pleasant Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 119; WV 7 / Spruce Street
Turn left onto US 119; WV 7 / Spruce Street
Navigation decision point
5
5 mi into trip|~9m in|I 68
Merge onto I 68
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
134.3 mi into trip|~2h 30m in
Take the exit toward I 81: Roanoke, Harrisburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 26
Toward I 81: Roanoke, Harrisburg
7
134.4 mi into trip|~2h 31m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 81 South: Roanoke
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 81 South: Roanoke
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.69 one way
$47.38 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$25.90
$51.81
premium
$4.70
$28.04
$56.08
diesel
$5.61
$33.45
$66.90
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.4
0
$15.91
$7.27
Efficient EV
37.9
0
$13.26
$6.06
EV Truck/SUV
60.6
0
$21.21
$9.70
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 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 14, 2026
Origin
Morgantown, WV
Late night
in Morgantown on Sunday
Local time
12:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Martinsburg, WV
Late night
in Martinsburg on Sunday
Local time
12:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
SW 10 mph24% chanceLive 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
30 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
2h 52m 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.
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
National Historical Park
At the confluence of the Shenandoah and Potomac rivers, on the ancestral home of the Tuscarora and Shawnee people, lies Harpers Ferry. Here you can explore John Brown's Raid against slavery. Find your...
15 mi from route
~38 min detour
$20
near mile 151.5
Park Closure: Annual Closure to Protect Nesting Peregrine Falcons
Caution: Construction work at entrance to Visitor Center parking lot
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 72% of your travel taking place on major thoroughfares. You will spend a significant portion of your time on I-68, which features the route’s longest uninterrupted stretch of 105.1 miles. As you navigate the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and the Maryland Veterans Memorial Highway, expect a consistent pace that favors speed over winding local roads. The personality of this drive is functional and direct, prioritizing time-saving interstate travel. You can settle in for a steady, predictable experience behind the wheel.
72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 105.1 mi on I 68.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 68 and Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near US 119; WV 7 / Pleasant Street.
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 151.5 miles you will encounter 11 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 (US 119; WV 7 / Pleasant Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 119; WV 7 / Spruce Street): Navigation decision point; at 5 miles (I 68): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
2,616 ft434 ft
Total Climb
3,188 ft
Total Descent
3,623 ft
Highest Point
2,616 ft
~56.8 mi in
Elevation Range
2,182 ft
Notable High Points
2,222 ft at ~12.6 miles+519 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Morgantown, WV to Martinsburg, WV, road signs begin pointing toward Harrisburg along the way.
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 2h 52m. Total distance: 151.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 105.1 miles on I 68. 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 0.1 miles (US 119; WV 7 / Pleasant Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 119; WV 7 / Spruce Street): Navigation decision point; at 5 miles (I 68): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. 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 Martinsburg, WV before heading back.
