How far is Morgantown, WV from South Charleston, WV?

The driving distance from Morgantown, WV to South Charleston, WV is about 159.3 miles (256.3 km), with a travel time of about 02h 23m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 127.9 miles (205.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 47m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
159.26 mi
02h 23m
Flight
127.9 mi
205.83 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Morgantown.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
127.9 mi
Kilometers
205.83 km
Flight Time
00h 15m

Driving Distance

Road route
159.26 mi
Kilometers
256.3 km
Drive Time
02h 23m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 02h 23m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in South Charleston
Mon, Apr 27, 9:13 PM EDT
Return by in Morgantown
Mon, Apr 27, 11:37 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Morgantown
2026-04-27T18:49
Arrive South Charleston
Mon, Apr 27, 9:13 PM EDT
Route Timing
02h 23m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:24 AM to 12:24 PM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
1:42 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Morgantown
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Burnsville
WV

Town in West Virginia, United States

From Morgantown
79.5 mi
01h 11m
To South Charleston
79.7 mi
01h 11m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
75°F
Monday

Sunny

Starts
Mon, Apr 27 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 7 mph E
Destination
84°F
Monday

Sunny

Starts
Mon, Apr 27 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 8 mph SE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Morgantown and South Charleston.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Morgantown and South Charleston.

  1. 1

    Start on High Street

    748 ft · 29 sec · High Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Kirk Street

    577 ft · 30 sec · Kirk Street

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn left onto University Avenue

    1.5 mi · 2 min · University Avenue

  4. 4

    Continue on Don Knotts Boulevard

    1.9 mi · 3 min · Don Knotts Boulevard

  5. 5

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 68 West

    2591 ft · 1 min

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    2240 ft · 27 sec

  7. 7

    Keep slight left to continue on I-79 S: Fairmont

    1.3 km · 54 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Senator Jennings Randolph Highway

    147.8 mi · 2 hr 39 min · Senator Jennings Randolph Highway

  9. 9

    Merge slight right

    1.4 mi · 2 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 64 West, US 119 South: Huntington

    906 ft · 13 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight left

    2411 ft · 34 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight right

    2.6 mi · 3 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward Montrose Drive

    1191 ft · 32 sec

  14. 14

    Turn right onto Montrose Drive

    960 ft · 18 sec · Montrose Drive

  15. 15

    Turn left onto MacCorkle Avenue Southwest

    1.2 km · 1 min · MacCorkle Avenue Southwest

  16. 16

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · MacCorkle Avenue Southwest

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Morgantown and South Charleston.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
16 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
4 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Senator Jennings Randolph Highway
149 mi · 94%
I 64 West
3.27 mi · 2%
Don Knotts Boulevard
1.92 mi · 1%
University Avenue
1.53 mi · 1%
I 68 West
0.92 mi · 1%
I-79 S
0.84 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Senator Jennings Randolph Highway

Merge slight left onto Senator Jennings Randolph Highway

148 mi · 02h 39m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 23m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 48m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+31.4 mi
127.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Burnsville
01h 11m from Morgantown
Leave By
1:42 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Morgantown and Sunny near South Charleston.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Morgantown to South Charleston?

The road trip is about 159.3 miles (256.3 km) and usually takes 02h 23m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Burnsville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 79.5 miles from Morgantown and 79.7 miles from South Charleston.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 127.9 miles (205.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 31.4 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 1:42 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.26 one way or $44.52 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 49.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Morgantown and Sunny near South Charleston.

Stop Ideas Near Burnsville

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Burnsville, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Burnsville.

RAIL

Montgomery

95 mi away
Third Avenue and Washington Street
RAIL

Charleston

103 mi away
350 MacCorkle Avenue - Southeast
RAIL

Thurmond

107 mi away
Hwy 25 & Hwy 2
RAIL

Prince

116 mi away
Hwy 41 and County Road 25

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Morgantown and South Charleston. Straight-line distance: 127.9 mi (205.83 km).

Morgantown

#1 Morgantown

City in and county seat of Monongalia County, West Virginia, United States

Population30,847
Coordinates39.6295300, -79.9559000
Altitude271
CountryUnited States
South Charleston

#2 South Charleston

City in Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States

Population12,036
Coordinates38.3684300, -81.6995700
Altitude183
CountryUnited States
Start: High Street (-79.956076, 39.629623)
End: Maccorkle Avenue Southwest (-81.699482, 38.368315)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 256 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 18m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 58m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 11m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 39m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 16m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 59m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.62 gal
21.27 L · about $22.26
Round trip
$44.52
11.24 gal · 42.54 L
Estimated CO2
49.9 kg one way
Round trip: 99.9 kg / 220 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.96 $22.26 $44.52
Mid-grade $4.43 $24.89 $49.78
Premium $4.78 $26.85 $53.70
Diesel $5.62 $31.61 $63.21

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in West Virginia · Apr 27, 2026

There is no time difference between Morgantown and South Charleston. The current time is 18:49:43.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.