Altoona, PA to Kittanning, PA is 77.3 miles and takes about 1h 47m via Ben Franklin Highway, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, traversing the Northeast region. Expect a drive that involves frequent turns and local road segments, rather than a straightforward interstate journey. It's a relatively short trip, making it a good option for a single-day excursion when you want to get from point A to point B without a major time commitment.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.6 miles from Altoona, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Ben Franklin Highway
44.6 mi
59m
US 22
16.6 mi
19m
Benjamin Franklin Highway
6 mi
8m
6th Avenue
3.6 mi
6m
7th Avenue
1.8 mi
2m
Indiana Road
1.3 mi
1m
South Water Street
0.7 mi
1m
East High Street
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Ben Franklin Highway
— 44.6 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Altoona, PA and Kittanning, 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
0.3 mi·34 sec·8th Street
4
Turn right onto PA 764
1.8 mi·2 min·7th Avenue
5
Continue on PA 764
3.6 mi·6 min·6th Avenue
Use the straight lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·30 sec
Toward US 22 West: Ebensburg
7
Continue on US 22
0.3 mi·21 sec·US 22
8
Keep slight right at fork onto US 22
16 mi·19 min·US 22
Toward US 22 West: EbensburgUse the slight right lane.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward Ebensburg, LorettoUse the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork
450 ft·12 sec
Toward Ebensburg, LorettoUse the straight lane.
11
Merge onto Rowena Drive
0.6 mi·1 min·Rowena Drive
Toward Ebensburg
12
Continue on East High Street
0.6 mi·1 min·East High Street
13
Take the exit
183 ft·8 sec
14
Continue on Ben Franklin Highway
1.7 mi·2 min·Ben Franklin Highway
15
Merge onto US 422
6.0 mi·8 min·Benjamin Franklin Highway
16
Continue on US 422
43 mi·56 min·Ben Franklin Highway
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on US 422 Business
1.3 mi·1 min·Indiana Road
18
Turn straight onto US 422 Business
0.7 mi·1 min·South Water Street
19
Turn right onto Market Street
411 ft·18 sec·Market Street
20
Turn left onto North Jefferson Street
0.2 mi·45 sec·North Jefferson Street
21
Arrive at destination
North Jefferson Street
Trip Plan
Given the 1h 47m duration, this route is easily manageable in a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. You can leave in the morning and still have plenty of daylight to reach Kittanning. While there are no designated stops in the provided data, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as local roads can sometimes have fewer services than major highways. The longest stretch is over 44 miles, so plan for potential refueling before you start or be aware of service availability along that segment of the Ben Franklin Highway.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 38.6 miles from Altoona, PA, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 44.6 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 17 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.6 miles or 55m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kittanning, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Altoona, PA
This is one driving day of about 77.3 miles and 1h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Altoona, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Ben Franklin Highway for about 44.6 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 77.1 — 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.
7
6.5 mi into trip|~11m in|US 22
Keep slight right at fork onto US 22 toward US 22 West: Ebensburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 22 West: Ebensburg
7
22.7 mi into trip|~30m in
Take the exit toward Ebensburg, Loretto
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 Ebensburg, Loretto
8
23.1 mi into trip|~31m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Ebensburg, Loretto
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward Ebensburg, Loretto
5
77.1 mi into trip|~1h 46m in|North Jefferson Street
Turn left onto North Jefferson Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.82 one way
$25.63 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$14.04
$28.07
premium
$4.93
$14.99
$29.98
diesel
$5.61
$17.07
$34.13
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.2
0
$8.12
$3.71
Efficient EV
19.3
0
$6.76
$3.09
EV Truck/SUV
30.9
0
$10.82
$4.95
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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
Afternoon
in Altoona on Sunday
Local time
1:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Partly Cloudy
E 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Kittanning, PA
Afternoon
in Kittanning on Sunday
Local time
1:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°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
1 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
1h 47m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is characterized by its 'turn-heavy local drive' profile. With only 21% of the route on highways, you'll spend most of your time navigating local roads, which means a dynamic driving experience. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 44.6 miles on the Ben Franklin Highway, offering a brief period of more consistent travel before returning to more winding conditions. Be prepared for frequent adjustments in direction and speed as you make your way through communities and varied terrain.
Only 21% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 44.6 mi on Ben Franklin Highway.
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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 77.3 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.2 miles (Lexington Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.5 miles (US 22): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Altoona, PA and Kittanning, PA, road signs point toward Ebensburg and Loretto.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 47m. Total distance: 77.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 44.6 miles on Ben Franklin Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Kittanning, PA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Lexington Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.5 miles (US 22): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Johnstown Flood National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Kittanning, PA before heading back.
