Spanning 176.8 miles across Pennsylvania, this trip connects Altoona to Lansford in approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes. Given the manageable duration, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations. You should budget roughly $29 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Northeast locations. Navigating this route involves a combination of I-99, the Keystone Shortway, and Hudson Drive. It offers a straightforward travel experience that balances efficiency with local character, making it a reliable choice for drivers looking to cross the state in a single session.
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
88.4 miles from Altoona, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 41m 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
Market Street
2.3 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 Lansford, 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·9 sec·Hudson Drive
28
At end of road, turn right onto US 209
1.6 mi·3 min·East Catawissa Street
29
Turn left onto US 209
2.3 mi·3 min·Market Street
30
Continue on US 209
2.2 mi·4 min·East Patterson Street
31
Turn left onto PA 902
75 ft·2 sec·Spring Garden Street
32
Arrive at destination
PA 902
Trip Plan
Since this is a 3.5-hour journey, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule to depart whenever it suits your plans. I recommend planning for at least one dedicated stop to break up the drive, especially during the more turn-heavy sections where you will want to stay alert. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, keeping that $29 estimate in mind as you navigate the transition between the highway and local roads. Because the route relies on a specific sequence of I-99 and the Keystone Shortway, double-check your GPS before leaving to ensure you stay on track during the transition onto Hudson Drive. Taking the time to pace yourself will ensure you arrive in Lansford feeling refreshed rather than fatigued.
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 88.4 miles from Altoona, PA, or about 1h 41m 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 39 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 88.4 miles or 1h 41m 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 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lansford, 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 176.8 miles and 3h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 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 17
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
$29.31 one way
$58.62 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg62 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$32.10
$64.20
premium
$4.93
$34.29
$68.58
diesel
$5.61
$39.04
$78.07
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: 61.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
53
0
$18.56
$8.49
Efficient EV
44.2
0
$15.47
$7.07
EV Truck/SUV
70.7
0
$24.75
$11.32
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (66% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Altoona, PA
Late night
in Altoona on Sunday
Local time
4:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 13 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Lansford, PA
Late night
in Lansford on Sunday
Local time
4:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
60°F
Carroll, PA
88 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
42 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 30m 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?
Expect a varied driving experience that transitions from high-speed corridors to more technical segments. With 29% of the trip spent on highways, you will encounter a mix of open stretches and more focused, turn-heavy local driving. The longest continuous leg occurs on the Keystone Shortway, which accounts for 95.3 miles of your journey. As you move away from the major interstates, the road demands more engagement from the driver, shifting the pace from a steady cruise to a more deliberate, winding path. This contrast keeps the drive interesting without feeling like an endless interstate grind.
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 17 significant decision points across 176.8 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.
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 Lansford, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Nescopeck along the way.
Nescopeck
149.1 mi in|~2h 47m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 30m. Total distance: 176.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
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 Lansford, 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 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Lansford, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
