Origin
Altoona, PA
Late night in Altoona on Sunday
Local time
12:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Altoona, PA to Damascus, PA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 51m
Distance
236.8 mi
381 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$39
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 38m
★
6 AM
4h 52m
8 AM
5h 18m
10 AM
5h 1m
12 PM
4h 58m
3 PM
5h 2m
5 PM
5h 17m
8 PM
4h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Damascus, PA
Sami Raad
Trip Overview
Traveling from Altoona to Damascus covers 236.8 miles across Pennsylvania, making for a manageable one-day journey that clocks in at approximately 4 hours and 51 minutes. You will primarily navigate via I-99, the Keystone Shortway, and I-81, moving through the Northeast region of the state. With a total fuel budget of about $39, this trip is quite economical for a solo driver or a small group. Because the duration is under five hours, you can easily complete the drive in a single day without the need for an overnight stay. Whether you are heading out for a weekend getaway or a quick change of scenery, this route offers a straightforward path between these two points.
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
118.4 miles from Altoona, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 14m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Keystone Shortway | 99.3 mi | 1h 47m |
| I 99 | 46.9 mi | 52m |
| I 81 | 34.7 mi | 42m |
| Governor Robert P. Casey Highway | 15.4 mi | 18m |
| Roosevelt Highway | 11.3 mi | 20m |
| Hancock Highway | 9.2 mi | 13m |
| Cochecton Turnpike | 9 mi | 15m |
| East Pleasant Valley Boulevard | 2.8 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 99.3 mi, about 1h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Altoona, PA and Damascus, PA.
1
Start on 7th Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
7th Street
2
Turn left onto Lexington Avenue
257 ft
·
16 sec
·
Lexington Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Turn left onto 8th Street
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
8th Street
4
Turn left onto PA 764
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
6th Avenue
5
Turn right onto Greenwood Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Greenwood Road
6
Turn left onto PA 764
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
East Walton Avenue
7
Turn left onto US 220 Business; PA 764
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
East Pleasant Valley Boulevard
8
Turn right onto PA 764
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Sabbath Rest Road
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Tyrone
10
Merge onto I 99; US 220
31 mi
·
32 min
·
I 99; US 220
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220; US 322
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
I 99; US 220; US 322
Use the straight lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220
12 mi
·
14 min
·
I 99; US 220
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Bellefonte
13
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 80 East, US 220 North: Williamsport
Use the left lane.
14
Merge onto I 80; US 220
99 mi
·
1 hr 47 min
·
Keystone Shortway
15
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 260B
Toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
16
Merge onto I 81
35 mi
·
42 min
·
I 81
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Toward I-84 east, US 6 east
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
Toward US 6 East: Carbondale
20
Continue on US 6
15 mi
·
18 min
·
Governor Robert P. Casey Highway
Use the straight lane.
21
Continue on US 6
11 mi
·
20 min
·
Roosevelt Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Continue on US 6
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
West Park Street
23
Turn left onto PA 191
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
Use the left lane.
24
Continue on PA 191
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Fair Avenue
25
Continue on PA 191
9.2 mi
·
13 min
·
Hancock Highway
26
Turn right onto PA 371
9.0 mi
·
15 min
·
Cochecton Turnpike
27
Turn right onto River Road
130 ft
·
5 sec
·
River Road
28
Arrive at destination
River Road
Trip Plan
Planning your departure for early in the morning is your best strategy to maintain a steady pace across the 236.8-mile distance. Since the route includes one planned stop, use that time to stretch your legs and refuel, keeping your $39 budget in mind for the total trip. Be particularly mindful of the transition between the Keystone Shortway and I-81, as traffic patterns can fluctuate significantly on these major arteries. Flexibility is a major advantage here; since the drive is under five hours, you have the freedom to adjust your departure time based on local weather or traffic reports. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the 99.3-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway to ensure you don't need to exit prematurely.
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 118.4 miles from Altoona, PA, or about 2h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.3 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 52 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 118.4 miles or 2h 14m 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 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Damascus, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 236.8 miles and 4h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Altoona, 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 Keystone Shortway for about 99.3 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 118.4 miles from Altoona, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Keystone Shortway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 99.3 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 215 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 53.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Lexington Avenue
Turn left onto Lexington Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
6.4 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the ramp toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Tyrone
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Tyrone
6
37.3 mi into trip
|
~44m in
|
I 99; US 220; US 322
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220; US 322
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
41.2 mi into trip
|
~48m in
|
I 99; US 220
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220 toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Bellefonte
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Bellefonte
7
53.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
Turn left toward I 80 East, US 220 North: Williamsport
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 80 East, US 220 North: Williamsport
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.26 one way
$78.52 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
83 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $43.00 | $85.99 |
| premium | $4.93 | $45.92 | $91.85 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $52.28 | $104.56 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.63
Cochecton Turnpike
(9 mi)
$0.63
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
$39
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 82.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 71 | 0 | $24.86 | $11.37 |
| Efficient EV | 59.2 | 0 | $20.72 | $9.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 94.7 | 1 | $33.15 | $15.16 |
Gas CO2
83 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.
Destination
Damascus, PA
Late night in Damascus on Sunday
Local time
12:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 51m 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.
Johnstown Flood National Memorial
National Memorial
The South Fork Dam failed on Friday, May 31, 1889, and unleashed 20,000,000 tons of water that devastated Johnstown, PA. The flood killed 2,209 people but it brought the nation and the world together...
23 mi from route
~58 min detour
Free
Park Closure: North Abutment Overlook Closure
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip features a mixed drive profile, balancing efficient interstate travel with more varied road conditions. You will spend roughly 38% of your time on highways, providing a consistent pace for a significant portion of the trip. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on the Keystone Shortway, where you can cover 99.3 miles without needing to change your route. As you transition between I-99 and I-81, expect the road personality to shift from faster, high-capacity lanes to sections that require a bit more attention. It is a functional drive that trades constant scenery for steady progress toward your destination.
38% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 99.3 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. 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.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 236.8 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 6.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.3 miles (I 99; US 220; US 322): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 51m. Total distance: 236.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 99.3 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.63 in tolls one way, starting with Cochecton 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Damascus, PA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Lexington Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.3 miles (I 99; US 220; US 322): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Johnstown Flood National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Damascus, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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