Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
53m
Distance
33.5 mi
54 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Terra Alta, WV
Jason Sherrod
Morgantown, WV
Wikimedia Commons
If you are looking for a quick excursion through West Virginia, the 33.5-mile journey from Terra Alta to Morgantown is a straightforward option. Expect to spend about 53 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will navigate primarily via South Main Street, State Route 7, and Morgantown Street to complete the trek. With a fuel budget of approximately $5, it is an incredibly economical route to traverse. Since both towns reside within the Southeast region, you will experience a consistent local feel throughout the entire drive.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Main Street | 11.8 mi | 19m |
| State Route 7 | 9.3 mi | 13m |
| Morgantown Street | 6.3 mi | 9m |
| Veterans Memorial Highway | 3 mi | 4m |
| West State Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Powell Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| East Brockway Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North Robert Stone Way | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Terra Alta, WV and Morgantown, WV.
Start on CR 53
Turn left onto WV 7
Continue on WV 7
Continue on WV 7
Continue on WV 7
Continue on WV 7
Turn right onto WV 7
Continue on WV 7
Continue on WV 7
Continue on WV 7
Continue on WV 7
Continue on WV 7
Turn right onto WV 7
Turn right onto WV 7
Turn left onto High Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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.
A short stop after about 33.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 16.8 miles from Terra Alta, WV, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
4 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 33.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto WV 7 / West State Avenue
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto WV 7 / North Robert Stone Way
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto WV 7 / East Brockway Avenue
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto High Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$5.24 one way
$10.48 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.34 | $5.73 | $11.46 |
| premium | $4.70 | $6.20 | $12.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.40 | $14.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10 | 0 | $3.52 | $1.61 |
| Efficient EV | 8.4 | 0 | $2.93 | $1.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.69 | $2.14 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Terra Alta on Sunday
Local time
1:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Chance Rain Showers
Destination
Afternoon in Morgantown on Sunday
Local time
1:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a mindless highway cruise. Only about 28% of this trip consists of highway travel, meaning you will spend the majority of your time navigating local roads. The longest uninterrupted section is an 11.8-mile stretch on South Main Street, which serves as the primary backbone of your journey. Because the route is technical and winding, you should anticipate a drive that feels much more personal and engaged than a standard interstate commute. Enjoy the steady transition as you move from the quieter streets of Terra Alta toward your destination in Morgantown.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near WV 7 / West State Avenue.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Terra Alta, WV to Morgantown, WV is easy. At 53m with 28% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (WV 7 / West State Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 17.6 miles (WV 7 / North Robert Stone Way): Navigation decision point; at 32.8 miles (WV 7 / East Brockway Avenue): Navigation decision point.
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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 53m. Total distance: 33.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (28%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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