Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 26m
Distance
227.7 mi
366 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Brookhaven, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Altoona, PA to Brookhaven, PA is 227.7 miles and takes about 4h 26m via Pennsylvania Turnpike and I 99, with a fuel budget near $38 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a highway-focused drive that stays within Pennsylvania, connecting two points in the Northeast region. With a recommended one-day trip, this route is ideal for a straightforward journey where efficiency is key. Expect a mostly high-speed experience, making it a practical option for getting from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
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
113.9 miles from Altoona, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 7m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike | 166.7 mi | 3h |
| I 99 | 32.1 mi | 34m |
| Pottstown Pike | 7.1 mi | 11m |
| Middletown Road | 5.8 mi | 9m |
| West Chester Pike | 3.4 mi | 6m |
| South New Middletown Road | 2.9 mi | 5m |
| US 202 | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| 17th Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Altoona, PA and Brookhaven, PA.
Start on 7th Street
Turn left onto Lexington Avenue
Turn left onto 8th Street
Turn right onto PA 764
Turn left onto 17th Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 99; US 220
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn slight right onto US 220 BUS
Take the ramp
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 70; I 76; PATP
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto PA 100
Merge onto US 202
Take the exit
Turn right onto PA 3
Turn right onto PA 352
Continue on PA 352
Continue on PA 352
Continue on PA 352
Arrive at destination
Given the 4-hour 26-minute estimated drive time, starting your journey in Altoona, PA, in the morning will allow ample time to reach Brookhaven, PA, before evening. The route is primarily highway, so plan your fuel stops accordingly, particularly before embarking on the longest stretch of 166.7 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. While this is a single-day trip, consider a brief stop for a break, perhaps around the halfway point, to stay refreshed. Keep an eye out for toll plazas, especially on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, as they are a notable feature of this route.
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.
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 50 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113.9 miles or 2h 7m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brookhaven, PA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Altoona, 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 Altoona, PA
This is one driving day of about 227.7 miles and 4h 26m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
114 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 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 113.9 miles from Altoona, 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 166.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 213.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto Lexington Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward I 76 East, I 70 East: Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward PA 100: Downingtown, Pottstown, West Chester
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward PA 100 South: Downingtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward PA 3: Newtown Square
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$37.75 one way
$75.50 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $41.34 | $82.69 |
| premium | $4.93 | $44.16 | $88.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $50.27 | $100.55 |
Estimated Tolls: $21.67
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
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$84–$109
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 68.3 | 0 | $23.91 | $10.93 |
| Efficient EV | 56.9 | 0 | $19.92 | $9.11 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 91.1 | 1 | $31.88 | $14.57 |
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Altoona on Tuesday
Local time
5:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Late night in Brookhaven on Tuesday
Local time
5:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
46°F
Middlesex, PA
114 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
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
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 88% of the journey on high-speed roads. You'll experience a largely uninterrupted stretch of 166.7 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, offering a consistent cruising experience. The route primarily utilizes the Pennsylvania Turnpike and I 99, indicating a fast-paced, efficient travel profile. While the majority is highway, the inclusion of Pottstown Pike suggests a brief transition to more local road conditions as you near your destination.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and I 99. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Lexington Avenue.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 227.7 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 0.2 miles (Lexington Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 36.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 203.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Altoona, PA and Brookhaven, PA, road signs point toward Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Patp: Pittsburgh, Pottstown and Chester.
Pittsburgh
Harrisburg
Patp: Pittsburgh
Pottstown
Chester
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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 26m. Total distance: 227.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Altoona, PA or browse trips ending in Brookhaven, PA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse PA road trips.
