This 236.9-mile journey from Morgantown, WV, to Williamson, WV, will take you approximately 4 hours and 24 minutes of driving time. Primarily utilizing Senator Jennings Randolph Highway and US 119, this route is well-suited for a single-day trip, with an estimated fuel cost of $37. The drive offers a mixed experience, making it a manageable day trip for most travelers. You'll traverse within the Southeast region for the entire duration, keeping the scenery consistent. With only one recommended stop, you can maintain a good pace on this relatively straightforward drive.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
118.4 miles from Morgantown, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
147.8 mi
2h 38m
US 119
80.7 mi
1h 33m
Don Knotts Boulevard
1.9 mi
2m
University Avenue
1.5 mi
2m
I 77
1.4 mi
1m
I 64
0.6 mi
<1m
I 68
0.4 mi
<1m
Harvey Street
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 Williamson, WV.
For this 4-hour and 24-minute drive, starting your day after morning rush hour in Morgantown would be ideal. The 236.9-mile distance allows for a single day trip, so you have flexibility in timing your departure. Given the $37 fuel cost, ensure your tank is full before leaving Morgantown to minimize stops. The longest stretch of 147.8 miles on Senator Jennings Randolph Highway means you can cover significant ground without needing to pull over frequently. Plan to use your single recommended stop strategically, perhaps around the halfway point, to stretch your legs and refuel if necessary.
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 118.4 miles from Morgantown, WV, or about 2h 10m 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 52 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 118.4 miles or 2h 10m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Williamson, 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 236.9 miles and 4h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 154.9 — 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
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
4
154.9 mi into trip|~2h 49m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.05 one way
$74.09 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg83 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$40.51
$81.01
premium
$4.70
$43.85
$87.69
diesel
$5.61
$52.30
$104.61
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 82.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
71.1
0
$24.87
$11.37
Efficient EV
59.2
0
$20.73
$9.48
EV Truck/SUV
94.8
1
$33.17
$15.16
Gas CO2
83 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
9:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Williamson, WV
Night
in Williamson on Saturday
Local time
9:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
69°F
Charleston, WV
118 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
4 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
4h 24m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 114.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
The drive features a 35% highway share, meaning you'll experience a blend of faster-paced road and more local routes. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 147.8 miles on Senator Jennings Randolph Highway, offering extended periods of consistent travel. This mixed drive profile suggests you'll encounter varied road conditions, from open highway to potentially more winding or slower sections as you get closer to your destination. Don Knotts Boulevard is also part of your route, indicating some urban or town driving segments.
35% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
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?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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 13 significant decision points across 236.9 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 0.3 miles (US 119 / University Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 4.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 4h 24m. Total distance: 236.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface 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 Williamson, 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 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 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Williamson, WV, but most travelers stay overnight.
