Traveling from Altoona to Jim Thorpe covers 174.2 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 25 minutes. Because this is a manageable distance, you can easily complete the journey in a single day, though staying overnight allows for a more relaxed pace upon arrival. Budget approximately $29 for fuel to cover the trip across these two Northeast Pennsylvania locations. You will navigate via a combination of I-99, the Keystone Shortway, and Hudson Drive. It is a straightforward trek that transitions you from the central part of the state toward the eastern region, making it an efficient way to cross the heart of PA.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
87.1 miles from Altoona, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
95.3 mi
1h 43m
I 99
46.9 mi
52m
Hudson Drive
5.8 mi
8m
West Broad Street
3.8 mi
4m
State Route 93
3.7 mi
7m
East Pleasant Valley Boulevard
2.8 mi
4m
Hunter Street
2.8 mi
3m
East Catawissa Street
2.5 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 95.3 mi, about 1h 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Altoona, PA and Jim Thorpe, 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: WilliamsportUse the left lane.
14
Merge onto I 80; US 220
95 mi·1 hr 43 min·Keystone Shortway
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward PA 93: Conyngham, Nescopeck
16
Keep slight right at fork
444 ft·11 sec
17
Turn straight onto PA 93
0.6 mi·57 sec·Berwick Hazleton Highway
18
Continue on PA 93
3.7 mi·7 min·State Route 93
19
Continue on PA 93
0.6 mi·1 min·Valmont Parkway
20
Continue on PA 93
1.9 mi·2 min·Susquehanna Boulevard
21
Continue on PA 93
0.5 mi·43 sec·North Broad Street
22
Continue on PA 93; PA 924
3.8 mi·4 min·West Broad Street
23
Continue on PA 93
1.0 mi·1 min·Berwick Street
24
Continue on PA 93
0.5 mi·34 sec·Broad Street
25
Continue on PA 93
5.7 mi·8 min·Hudson Drive
26
Continue on State Route 93
2.8 mi·3 min·Hunter Street
27
Continue on PA 93
523 ft·13 sec·Hudson Drive
28
At end of road, turn left onto US 209
2.5 mi·3 min·East Catawissa Street
29
Continue on US 209
0.3 mi·30 sec·Lehigh Avenue
30
Turn left onto PA 903
0.6 mi·1 min·North Street
31
Turn left onto West 6th Street
135 ft·5 sec·West 6th Street
32
Arrive at destination
West 6th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour and 25-minute duration, plan to depart early to maximize your time once you reach Jim Thorpe. With only one recommended stop, you have plenty of flexibility to stretch your legs whenever you feel the need. Keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of the local roads may make the final leg feel longer than the highway portion, so pace your driving accordingly. Fill your tank before heading out to account for the $29 fuel estimate and ensure you are ready for the varied road conditions. Since the route relies on a significant portion of local roads, stay alert for changing speed limits as you transition off the Keystone Shortway.
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 87.1 miles from Altoona, PA, or about 1h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 95.3 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 38 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87.1 miles or 1h 40m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jim Thorpe, 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 174.2 miles and 3h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 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 95.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 18
5 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
$28.88 one way
$57.76 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg61 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$31.63
$63.26
premium
$4.93
$33.78
$67.57
diesel
$5.61
$38.46
$76.92
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52.3
0
$18.29
$8.36
Efficient EV
43.6
0
$15.24
$6.97
EV Truck/SUV
69.7
0
$24.39
$11.15
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Altoona, PA
Morning
in Altoona on Sunday
Local time
6:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jim Thorpe, PA
Morning
in Jim Thorpe on Sunday
Local time
6:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
60°F
Carroll, PA
87 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
3 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
3h 25m on the road
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a varied experience behind the wheel, as this 174.2-mile journey is defined by its turn-heavy local roads. While 29% of the trip is spent on highways, the remainder requires your full attention on more technical stretches. You will settle into a rhythm during the longest uninterrupted segment, which spans 95.3 miles along the Keystone Shortway. The personality of the drive shifts from the faster highway sections into more winding, local terrain as you approach your destination. Prepare for a mix of cruising and more active steering that keeps the drive engaging from start to finish.
Only 29% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 95.3 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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 Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 174.2 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.
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 Altoona, PA to Jim Thorpe, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Nescopeck along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 25m. Total distance: 174.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 95.3 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Jim Thorpe, 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Jim Thorpe, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
