Connecting Morgantown to Parkersburg, this 113-mile journey takes approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes to complete. Because the route stays entirely within West Virginia, you can easily manage the trip in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to budget around $18 for fuel, making this a budget-friendly excursion between the two cities. You will navigate through local roads rather than high-speed interstates, which keeps the experience grounded in the regional landscape. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick change of scenery, this straightforward drive offers a practical way to traverse the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
55.5 miles from Morgantown, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Corridor D
75.2 mi
1h 28m
Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
28.9 mi
31m
Don Knotts Boulevard
1.9 mi
2m
University Avenue
1.5 mi
2m
WV 14
0.5 mi
1m
I 68
0.4 mi
<1m
High Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Juliana Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Corridor D
— 75.2 mi, about 1h 28m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Morgantown, WV and Parkersburg, 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
29 mi·31 min·Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward US 50: Clarksburg, Bridgeport
10
Keep slight right at fork
357 ft·8 sec
11
Merge onto US 50
75 mi·1 hr 28 min·Corridor D
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward WV 14: Downtown
13
Turn right onto WV 14
0.5 mi·1 min·WV 14
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn left onto Market Street
0.1 mi·28 sec·Market Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
15
Turn right onto North 3rd Street
237 ft·12 sec·North 3rd Street
16
Continue on 3rd Street
224 ft·12 sec·3rd Street
17
Turn right onto WV 68
0.1 mi·27 sec·Juliana Street
Use the straight lane.
18
Arrive at destination
WV 68; WV 618
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule best. Keep in mind that because the entire route consists of local roads, travel times can fluctuate based on local traffic patterns, so check your GPS for real-time updates before heading out. There are no mandatory stops included in this 113-mile itinerary, but you may want to stretch your legs given the technical nature of the turns. Since your fuel budget is capped at about $18, topping off your tank in Morgantown before you depart is a smart way to avoid searching for stations along the more winding segments. Prioritize comfort, as the continuous turning requires more physical engagement than a typical highway cruise.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 55.5 miles from Morgantown, WV, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 75.2 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 24 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.5 miles or 1h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Parkersburg, 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 110.9 miles and 2h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Morgantown, WV.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Corridor D for about 75.2 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 110.8 — 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
34.3 mi into trip|~39m in
Take the exit toward US 50: Clarksburg, Bridgeport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 50: Clarksburg, Bridgeport
6
110.6 mi into trip|~2h 10m in|Market Street
Turn left onto Market Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
110.8 mi into trip|~2h 11m in|WV 68 / Juliana Street
Turn right onto WV 68 / Juliana Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.34 one way
$34.68 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$18.96
$37.92
premium
$4.70
$20.53
$41.05
diesel
$5.61
$24.49
$48.97
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.3
0
$11.64
$5.32
Efficient EV
27.7
0
$9.70
$4.44
EV Truck/SUV
44.4
0
$15.53
$7.10
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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 18, 2026
Origin
Morgantown, WV
Morning
in Morgantown on Sunday
Local time
11:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Parkersburg, WV
Morning
in Parkersburg on Sunday
Local time
11:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live 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
1 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 12m 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?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route relies on local thoroughfares like Kirk Street, University Avenue, and Don Knotts Boulevard. With a highway share of 0%, you won’t find any long, high-speed stretches to zone out on; in fact, the longest stretch on Kirk Street is 0 miles. The road’s personality is defined by constant adjustments and local navigation rather than rapid transit. You should anticipate a hands-on driving experience that keeps you engaged with the road from start to finish.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 75.2 mi on Corridor D.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Kirk Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 110.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway 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 34.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,193 ft613 ft
Total Climb
545 ft
Total Descent
818 ft
Highest Point
1,193 ft
~7.9 mi in
Elevation Range
580 ft
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 Parkersburg, WV, road signs begin pointing toward Bridgeport 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.
Parkersburg is a city of 30,000 people (as of 2018) in West Virginia. It was known as "Newport" when it was founded, later to be renamed Parkersburg in 1810. The city sits where the Little Kanawha River meets the Ohio river; the town of Belpre lies just across the river in Ohio. Among Parkersburg's more famous residents is Morgan Spurlock, director of the 2004 film Super Size Me; the city's film connections continued with the 2006 film Bubble, which was filmed in the area and starred local residents. The area also has a long history with oil drilling, and is the home of the first documented commercial use of oil in the US.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 12m. Total distance: 110.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 75.2 miles on Corridor D. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Parkersburg, 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. 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 34.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Parkersburg, WV before heading back.
