Origin
Altoona, PA
Morning in Altoona on Sunday
Local time
6:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 28m
Distance
110.1 mi
177 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hilltown, PA
Jack Pace
Connecting Altoona to Hilltown covers a 110.1-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 28 minutes to complete. Because this route stays entirely within Pennsylvania and avoids highways, it functions perfectly as a straightforward day trip. You should budget approximately $18 for fuel to make the trek between these two Northeast locations. Navigating through local roads like Lexington Avenue, 8th Street, and 7th Avenue creates a distinct experience compared to standard interstate travel. Since the entire distance is manageable in a single afternoon, there is no need to plan for an overnight stay unless you prefer a leisurely pace.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
55.1 miles from Altoona, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 5m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 99 | 32.1 mi | 34m |
| Lincoln Highway | 20.7 mi | 29m |
| Lincoln Way West | 17.2 mi | 25m |
| Pennsylvania Turnpike | 15.5 mi | 16m |
| Lincoln Way East | 10.1 mi | 16m |
| Chambersburg Road | 6.1 mi | 8m |
| I 70 | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| 17th Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Altoona, PA and Hilltown, 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 onto I 70
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto US 30
Continue on US 30
Continue on US 30
Continue on US 30
Merge onto US 30
Continue on US 30
Take the exit
Turn slight right onto High Street
Turn right onto Hilltown Road
Arrive at destination
Given the local nature of this 110.1-mile drive, flexibility is your greatest asset since you aren't tied to high-speed highway traffic patterns. Plan to depart during daylight hours, as the reliance on local roads like 7th Avenue and 8th Street makes visibility especially important for navigating turns. Because there are no scheduled stops provided for this route, ensure your tank is ready for the $18 fuel expenditure before you pull out of Altoona. Since the drive is under three hours, you can easily complete the trip in one go without needing to build in lengthy rest breaks. Keep a close eye on your navigation, as the lack of highway signage means you will be making frequent turns throughout the journey.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
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 24 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.1 miles or 1h 5m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hilltown, 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 110.1 miles and 2h 28m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
55 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 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 55.1 miles from Altoona, PA, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 54.2 — 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
Take the exit toward Pittsburgh, Harrisburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
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 onto I 70 toward US 30: Breezewood, Baltimore, Washington DC
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward US 30 East: Chambersburg, Gettysburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$18.25 one way
$36.51 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $19.99 | $39.98 |
| premium | $4.93 | $21.35 | $42.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $24.31 | $48.62 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.02
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
$18
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 33 | 0 | $11.56 | $5.28 |
| Efficient EV | 27.5 | 0 | $9.63 | $4.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 44 | 0 | $15.41 | $7.05 |
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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
Morning in Altoona on Sunday
Local time
6:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Hilltown on Sunday
Local time
6:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
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
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
National Memorial
On Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, the U.S. came under attack when four commercial airliners were hijacked and used to strike targets on the ground. Nearly 3,000 people tragically lost their live...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route features a 0% highway share, placing you squarely on local roads for the duration of the trip. You will find no long, uninterrupted stretches here, as even Lexington Avenue requires constant navigation rather than steady cruising. The character of the road is technical and consistent, favoring those who prefer active driving over high-speed transit. Prepare for a winding experience that keeps you engaged as you transition between the various local streets.
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.
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 16 significant decision points across 110.1 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 35.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 36.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Hilltown, PA, road signs point toward Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Patp: Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Washington and Gettysburg.
Pittsburgh
Harrisburg
Patp: Pittsburgh
Baltimore
Washington
Gettysburg
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 28m. Total distance: 110.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (45%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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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