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Trip from Morgantown, WV to Mount Hope, WV

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 41m

Distance

179.9 mi

290 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$28

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
3h 28m ★
6 AM
3h 41m
8 AM
4h 6m
10 AM
3h 50m
12 PM
3h 47m
3 PM
3h 51m
5 PM
4h 5m
8 PM
3h 33m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time
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Download GPX
city in and county seat of Monongalia County, West Virginia, United States

Morgantown, WV

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Mount Hope, WV, WV

Mount Hope, WV

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

The drive from Morgantown, WV to Mount Hope, WV covers 179.9 miles and takes about 3h 41m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Senator Jennings Randolph Highway, I 77, Slaughters Creek for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 147.8 miles on Senator Jennings Randolph Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.57 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

90 miles from Morgantown, WV

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 39m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Senator Jennings Randolph Highway 147.8 mi 2h 38m
I 77 17.8 mi 20m
Slaughters Creek 7.5 mi 29m
Don Knotts Boulevard 1.9 mi 2m
University Avenue 1.5 mi 2m
I 68 0.4 mi <1m
CR 14/02 0.3 mi 1m
3rd Avenue 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 Mount Hope, WV.

1

Start on High Street

0.1 mi · 29 sec · High Street
2

Turn right onto Kirk Street

0.1 mi · 30 sec · Kirk Street
3

At end of road, turn left onto US 119

1.5 mi · 2 min · University Avenue
4

Continue on US 119

1.9 mi · 2 min · Don Knotts Boulevard
5

Take the ramp

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward I 68 West
6

Merge onto I 68

0.4 mi · 27 sec · I 68
7

Keep slight left at fork

0.8 mi · 53 sec
Toward I-79 S: Fairmont
8

Merge onto I 79

148 mi · 2 hr 38 min · Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
9

Merge onto I 77

18 mi · 20 min · I 77
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward US 60, WV 61: Chelyan, Cedar Grove
11

Turn right

0.2 mi · 34 sec
12

Keep slight right at fork

180 ft · 6 sec
Use the right lane.
13

Turn slight right onto WV 61

0.2 mi · 29 sec · 3rd Avenue
14

Turn left onto CR 72

0.1 mi · 24 sec · Slaughters Creek
15

Keep slight right at fork onto CR 72

7.4 mi · 28 min · Slaughters Creek
16

Continue on CR 14/02

0.3 mi · 1 min · CR 14/02
17

Arrive at destination

CR 14/02

Trip Plan

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 90 miles from Morgantown, WV, or about 1h 39m 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 40 miles or 45m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 90 miles or 1h 39m 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 41m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mount Hope, 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 179.9 miles and 3h 41m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 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.

town in Webster County, West Virginia, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Webster Springs, WV

90 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Clarksburg, WV

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Webster Springs, WV

Meal break

The midpoint is around 90 miles from Morgantown, WV, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Senator Jennings Randolph Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 147.8 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 171.9 — 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
5
153.3 mi into trip | ~2h 47m in | I 77

Merge onto I 77

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
171.1 mi into trip | ~3h 8m in

Take the exit toward US 60, WV 61: Chelyan, Cedar Grove

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 60, WV 61: Chelyan, Cedar Grove
7
171.9 mi into trip | ~3h 10m in

Keep slight right at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$27.57 one way

$55.13 round trip

$3.89/gal 25.4 MPG avg 63 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.27 $30.25 $60.50
premium $4.64 $32.84 $65.68
diesel $5.60 $39.66 $79.31

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$28

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$53–$78

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 62.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.

Driving Electric?

About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 54 0 $18.89 $8.64
Efficient EV 45 0 $15.74 $7.20
EV Truck/SUV 72 0 $25.19 $11.51

Gas CO2

63 kg

EV CO2

21 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 Aug 28, 2026

Origin

Morgantown, WV

Morning in Morgantown on Friday

Local time

8:01 AM

EDT

Current temp

64°F

Areas Of Fog

W 2 mph 21% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued August 27 at 10:57PM EDT by NWS Charleston WV

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued August 27 at 10:46PM EDT by NWS Blacksburg VA

Destination

Mount Hope, WV

Morning in Mount Hope on Friday

Local time

8:01 AM

EDT

Current temp

64°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Areas Of Fog

0 mph 27% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued August 27 at 10:57PM EDT by NWS Charleston WV

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued August 27 at 10:46PM EDT by NWS Blacksburg VA

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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

3h 41m 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

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 ~66 min detour Free near mile 173.7
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

179.9 mi in 3h 41m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.

Only 10% 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 Effort 6/10

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 179.9 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 4.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 153.3 miles (I 77): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

1,654 ft 635 ft

Total Climb

1,868 ft

Total Descent

1,101 ft

Highest Point

1,654 ft

~179.9 mi in

Elevation Range

1,019 ft

About the Cities

Starting in Morgantown, WV

Full guide →

Founded 1772

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
  • • Stalnaker Hall

Arriving in Mount Hope, WV

Full guide →

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 41m. Total distance: 179.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 41m 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.

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.

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 Mount Hope, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

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 153.3 miles (I 77): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Gauley River National Recreation Area. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Mount Hope, WV, but most travelers stay overnight.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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