This 123.8-mile drive from Summersville, WV to Morgantown, WV takes approximately 2 hours and 21 minutes. It's a manageable day trip, so you won't need an overnight stay. You'll primarily navigate Senator Jennings Randolph Highway and US 19, with a portion on Grafton Road. Expect to spend around $19 on fuel for this journey. The route offers a local driving feel as you traverse through the Southeast region of West Virginia. Its manageable length and straightforward navigation make it a convenient option for a quick trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
61.9 miles from Summersville, WV
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
90.3 mi
1h 37m
US 19
26 mi
30m
Grafton Road
2.2 mi
3m
University Avenue
1.5 mi
2m
Webster Road
1.2 mi
2m
I 68
0.7 mi
<1m
West Webster Road
0.3 mi
<1m
Main Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
— 90.3 mi, about 1h 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Summersville, WV and Morgantown, WV.
Given the 2 hour and 21 minute duration, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion. You can depart at your leisure, perhaps mid-morning, to avoid any potential rush hour traffic. There are no designated stops in the data, so plan to fuel up before you leave Summersville to cover the estimated $19 fuel cost. Keep an eye on your navigation, as the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile suggests frequent adjustments. The 90.3-mile stretch on Senator Jennings Randolph Highway is your best bet for a longer, consistent drive segment.
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 61.9 miles from Summersville, WV, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 90.3 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 27 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61.9 miles or 1h 11m 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 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Morgantown, WV than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Summersville, 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 Summersville, WV
This is one driving day of about 123.8 miles and 2h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Summersville, WV.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Senator Jennings Randolph Highway for about 90.3 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 27.7 and 123.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
27.7 mi into trip|~34m in
Take the exit toward I 79, US 19 North: Clarksburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 79, US 19 North: Clarksburg
4
118.3 mi into trip|~2h 11m in
Take the exit toward I 68 East: Cumberland
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 68 East: Cumberland
4
119.4 mi into trip|~2h 13m in
Take the exit toward US 119: Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 119: Downtown
5
119.7 mi into trip|~2h 14m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
123.8 mi into trip|~2h 21m in|WV 7 / Walnut Street
Turn left onto WV 7 / Walnut Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.36 one way
$38.72 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg43 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.34
$21.17
$42.34
premium
$4.70
$22.91
$45.83
diesel
$5.61
$27.33
$54.67
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.1
0
$13.00
$5.94
Efficient EV
31
0
$10.83
$4.95
EV Truck/SUV
49.5
0
$17.33
$7.92
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 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 15, 2026
Origin
Summersville, WV
Morning
in Summersville on Sunday
Local time
6:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Morgantown, WV
Morning
in Morgantown on Sunday
Local time
6:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
58°F
Weston, WV
62 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
7 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 21m 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.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a turn-heavy local drive, meaning you'll encounter frequent road changes rather than a steady interstate cruise. With only 22% of the route on highways, you'll spend most of your time on more direct, local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 90.3 miles on the Senator Jennings Randolph Highway, offering a period of more consistent travel before you transition to other sections. The road's character shifts as you progress, requiring your attention to navigation and local road conditions.
Only 22% 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: 90.3 mi on Senator Jennings Randolph Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 27.7 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 21m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 27.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 118.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 119.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Summersville is a town of 3,300 people (as of 2019) in West Virginia.
Summersville is adjacent to Summersville Lake, the largest lake in West Virginia.
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.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 90.3 miles on Senator Jennings Randolph Highway. 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 27.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 118.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 119.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Gauley River National Recreation Area. 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 Morgantown, WV before heading back.
