South Midway Service Plaza
0 mi from route
Trip from Abington, PA to Altoona, PA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 23m
Distance
235.3 mi
379 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 10m
★
6 AM
4h 23m
8 AM
4h 50m
10 AM
4h 32m
12 PM
4h 30m
3 PM
4h 34m
5 PM
4h 48m
8 PM
4h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Abington, PA
Michael Taccetta
Altoona, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Abington, PA to Altoona, PA is 235.3 miles and takes about 4h 23m via Pennsylvania Turnpike and I 99, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, primarily traversing Pennsylvania. Given the mostly highway profile and manageable duration, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion. You'll find most of the driving is straightforward, making it an efficient option for getting from point A to point B without extensive planning.
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
117.7 miles from Abington, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 12m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike | 194.4 mi | 3h 30m |
| I 99 | 32.7 mi | 35m |
| Susquehanna Road | 3.1 mi | 7m |
| 17th Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| 6th Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Old York Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Business 220 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Virginia Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 194.4 mi, about 3h 30m
Traffic on I-99
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,140 veh/hr typical · worst 1,371
Quietest
1 AM
~71 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Abington, PA and Altoona, PA.
1
Start on this road
19 ft
·
6 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto Keith Road
85 ft
·
5 sec
·
Keith Road
3
Turn left onto PA 611
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Old York Road
4
Turn right onto Susquehanna Road
3.1 mi
·
7 min
·
Susquehanna Road
5
Turn left onto Virginia Drive
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Virginia Drive
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Toward I 276 Toll West, PATP Toll West: Valley Forge
7
Merge onto I 276; PATP
194 mi
·
3 hr 30 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Toward Altoona, Johnstown
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn left onto US 220 BUS
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Business 220
10
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward I 99, US 220: Cumberland, Altoona
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
12
Merge onto I 99; US 220
33 mi
·
35 min
·
I 99; US 220
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward 17th Street
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward Altoona
15
Turn straight onto 17th Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
17th Street
16
Turn right onto PA 764
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
6th Avenue
17
Turn left onto 7th Street
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
7th Street
18
Arrive at destination
7th Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 4h 23m drive, consider leaving Abington in the morning to avoid potential afternoon traffic. With a total distance of 235.3 miles, it's a comfortable one-day trip, so you have flexibility with your departure time. The longest stretch without a major road change is 194.4 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, so plan for a fuel or stretch break before or after this segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $39 estimated cost suggests a need for at least one stop, likely before embarking on the longest highway section.
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 117.7 miles from Abington, PA, or about 2h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 194.4 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 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 117.7 miles or 2h 12m 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 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Altoona, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Abington, PA 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 Abington, PA
This is one driving day of about 235.3 miles and 4h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Abington, PA.
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 Pennsylvania Turnpike for about 194.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
118 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 52 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 117.7 miles from Abington, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Pennsylvania Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 194.4 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
North Midway Service Plaza
0 mi from route
Blue Mountain Service Plaza
0 mi from route
Lawn Service Plaza
0 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
King of Prussia Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Valley Forge Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Sideling Hill Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Peter J. Camiel Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.2 mi from route
Bomansville Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Cumberland Valley Service Plaza
0.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.4 mi from route
TA
0.6 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.6 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.6 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
1.1 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 3.8 and 199.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.8 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the ramp toward I 276 Toll West, PATP Toll West: Valley Forge
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 276 Toll West, PATP Toll West: Valley...
5
4.2 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
I 276; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike
Merge onto I 276; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
198.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 40m in
Take the exit toward Altoona, Johnstown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Altoona, Johnstown
6
199.2 mi into trip
|
~3h 41m in
Take the ramp toward I 99, US 220: Cumberland, Altoona
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 99, US 220: Cumberland, Altoona
7
199.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 42m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.52 one way
$75.04 round trip
$4.05/gal
25.4 MPG avg
82 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $41.52 | $83.04 |
| premium | $4.81 | $44.54 | $89.08 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $44.43 | $88.86 |
Estimated Tolls: $25.27
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(194.4 mi)
$25.27
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Tolls
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$88–$113
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 82.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 70.6 | 0 | $24.71 | $11.29 |
| Efficient EV | 58.8 | 0 | $20.59 | $9.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 94.1 | 1 | $32.94 | $15.06 |
Gas CO2
82 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.
Origin
Abington, PA
Morning in Abington on Sunday
Local time
6:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Smoke
SW 5 to 10 mph
92% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 11:52AM EDT by NWS State College PA
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 11:32AM EDT until July 18 at 2:30PM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA
Destination
Altoona, PA
Morning in Altoona on Sunday
Local time
6:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 8 to 12 mph
76% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 11:52AM EDT by NWS State College PA
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 11:32AM EDT until July 18 at 2:30PM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA
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
2 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 23m 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.
Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument
National Monument
More than 7,800 children from 140 Tribes went to the Carlisle School from 1879 to 1918. The National Park Service will collaborate with families, affiliated Tribal Nations, the US Army, historians, an...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 121.7
View on nps.gov
Valley Forge National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Valley Forge is the place where George Washington and the Continental Army took refuge during the winter of 1777-1778. Today the park protects 3,500 acres of meadows, woodlands, historic landscapes, a...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 16.2
View on nps.gov
Independence National Historical Park
National Historical Park
The park represents the founding ideals of the nation, and preserves national and international symbols of freedom and democracy, including Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. The Declaration of I...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
$1
View on nps.gov
Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial
National Memorial
Visit the house where wounded Polish freedom fighter Thaddeus Kosciuszko lived and hear how this brilliant military engineer designed successful fortifications during the American Revolution. See the...
12 mi from route
~31 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
The Appalachian Trail is a 2,190+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by p...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 73
View on nps.gov
First State National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Famous as the First State to ratify the Constitution, Delaware was born out of a conflict among three world powers for dominance of the Delaware Valley. From this beginning, the region developed a dis...
17 mi from route
~43 min detour
Free
near mile 24.3
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is almost entirely on highways, with a 97% highway share. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, covering a continuous stretch of 194.4 miles. Once you transition to I 99, you'll notice a shift to more rural cruising as the exits become less frequent. The Pennsylvania Turnpike itself features a consistent, multi-lane environment suitable for steady progress.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 194.4 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and I 99. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 235.3 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.2 miles (I 276; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 198.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,255 ft
156 ft
Total Climb
1,445 ft
Total Descent
625 ft
Highest Point
1,255 ft
~218.5 mi in
Elevation Range
1,099 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Abington, PA to Altoona, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Johnstown along the way.
Johnstown
198.6 mi in
|
~3h 40m
About the Cities
Starting in Abington, PA
Full guide →Arriving in Altoona, PA
Full guide →Founded 1849
Altoona is a city in central Pennsylvania. Altoona was founded as a railroad town by the Pennsylvania Railroad as the site of their Altoona Works shops, and its history as a railroad town still shows in the town today despite the decline of the railroad and its eventual absorption into Penn Central, Conrail, and now Norfolk Southern.
Top landmarks
- • Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament — church in Pennsylvania, United States
- • Mishler Theatre — theater and movie theater in Altoona, Pennsylvania, United States
- • Downtown Altoona Historic District — historic district in Altoona, Pennsylvania
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 23m. Total distance: 235.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 194.4 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $25.27 in tolls one way, starting with Pennsylvania Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 18 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.2 miles (I 276; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 198.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument, Valley Forge National Historical Park and Independence National Historical Park (6 total within detour distance). 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 Altoona, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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