Altoona, PA to Lawnton, PA is 139.3 miles and takes about 2h 42m via Pennsylvania Turnpike, I 99, and I 83, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Northeast region and is entirely within Pennsylvania, making it a straightforward trip. With 93% highway driving, expect a quick transit between these two points. It's a solid option if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently with minimal fuss.
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
69.6 miles from Altoona, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
90.9 mi
1h 39m
I 99
32.1 mi
34m
I 83
3.3 mi
4m
US 15
2.8 mi
4m
American Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial Highway
1.8 mi
2m
Derry Street
1.5 mi
2m
17th Street
1.2 mi
2m
7th Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 90.9 mi, about 1h 39m
Traffic on I-83
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 10 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,943 veh/hr typical
Quietest
1 AM
~241 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
12.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 45 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Altoona, PA and Lawnton, 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
0.7 mi·1 min·7th Avenue
5
Turn left onto 17th Street
1.2 mi·2 min·17th Street
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·56 sec
Toward I 99 South, US 220 South: Bedford
7
Merge onto I 99; US 220
32 mi·34 min·I 99; US 220
8
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward Pittsburgh, Harrisburg
9
Keep slight right at fork
284 ft·8 sec
Toward US 220 Business South: Bedford
10
Turn slight right onto US 220 BUS
0.2 mi·26 sec·Business 220
11
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward I 70, I 76, PATP: Pittsburgh, Harrisburg
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward I 76 East, I 70 East: Harrisburg
13
Merge onto I 70; I 76; PATP
91 mi·1 hr 39 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
14
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 236Toward US 15: Gettysburg Pike, Gettysburg, HarrisburgUse the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward US 15 North: Harrisburg
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward US 15 North: HarrisburgUse the straight lane.
17
Merge onto US 15
2.8 mi·4 min·US 15
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi·57 sec
Toward PA 581 East: Harrisburg, YorkUse the slight right lane.
19
Merge onto PA 581
1.5 mi·2 min·American Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial Highway
20
Continue on PA 581
0.3 mi·21 sec·American Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial Highway
Exit 6AToward I 83 North: Harrisburg, Hershey
21
Merge onto I 83
3.3 mi·4 min·I 83
22
Take the exit
0.1 mi·14 sec
Exit 45Toward Paxton StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Continue on South 32nd Street
0.1 mi·22 sec·South 32nd Street
24
At end of road, turn left onto Paxton Street
526 ft·18 sec·Paxton Street
25
Turn left onto City Park Drive
246 ft·4 sec·City Park Drive
Use the left lane.
26
Continue on South Paxtang Avenue
0.3 mi·35 sec·South Paxtang Avenue
27
Turn right onto Derry Street
1.5 mi·2 min·Derry Street
28
Arrive at destination
Derry Street
Trip Plan
This 2-hour, 42-minute drive is easily manageable in one day, so you have flexibility on when to leave. Aim to depart Altoona after the morning rush to maximize your daylight hours. With a fuel cost estimated around $25, plan your fill-ups accordingly, especially before that long 90.9-mile stretch on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Since it's a relatively short drive, you can afford to be spontaneous with any brief stops you might need.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 69.6 miles from Altoona, PA, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 90.9 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 31 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.6 miles or 1h 19m 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 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lawnton, 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 139.3 miles and 2h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 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 Pennsylvania Turnpike for about 90.9 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 137.1 — 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.
8
127.7 mi into trip|~2h 23m in
Take the exit toward US 15: Gettysburg Pike, Gettysburg, Harrisburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 236
Toward US 15: Gettysburg Pike, Gettysburg, Harr...
8
128.5 mi into trip|~2h 25m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 15 North: Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward US 15 North: Harrisburg
7
131.6 mi into trip|~2h 30m in
Take the exit toward PA 581 East: Harrisburg, York
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 PA 581 East: Harrisburg, York
7
137.1 mi into trip|~2h 38m in
Take the exit toward Paxton Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 45
Toward Paxton Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.64 one way
$49.27 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg49 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$26.98
$53.97
premium
$5.24
$28.76
$57.52
diesel
$5.35
$29.34
$58.68
Estimated Tolls: $11.82
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(90.9 mi)$11.82
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
$25
Tolls
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.8
0
$14.63
$6.69
Efficient EV
34.8
0
$12.19
$5.57
EV Truck/SUV
55.7
0
$19.50
$8.92
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Altoona, PA
Evening
in Altoona on Wednesday
Local time
6:35 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Clear
NW 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Lawnton, PA
Evening
in Lawnton on Wednesday
Local time
6:35 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Mostly Clear
W 1 to 5 mph0% chanceLive 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
4 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
2h 42m 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.
Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument
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...
2 mi from route
~4 min detour
Free
near mile 115.3
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...
18 mi from route
~44 min detour
Free
near mile 19.2
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...
19 mi from route
~49 min detour
Free
near mile 33.6
The Appalachian Trail is a 2,190+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by p...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 139.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on highways for 93% of this 139.3-mile drive, primarily using the Pennsylvania Turnpike, I 99, and I 83. The longest continuous stretch on the highway is 90.9 miles, all on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Expect mostly highway cruising until you reach Lawnton, PA, where the road profile will change.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 90.9 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and I 99. 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 Effort10/10
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 22 significant decision points across 139.3 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 127.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 128.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,851 ft387 ft
Total Climb
1,432 ft
Total Descent
2,208 ft
Highest Point
1,851 ft
~59.7 mi in
Elevation Range
1,464 ft
Notable High Points
1,851 ft at ~59.7 miles+779 ft prominence
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 Lawnton, PA, road signs point toward Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Patp: Pittsburgh, Gettysburg and York.
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.
Top landmarks
•Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament — church in Pennsylvania, United States
•Mishler Theatre — theater and movie theater in Altoona, Pennsylvania, United States
•Downtown Altoona Historic District — historic district in Altoona, Pennsylvania
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 42m. Total distance: 139.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 90.9 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $11.82 in tolls one way, starting with Pennsylvania 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.
Yes — we found about 12 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Lawnton, 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. There are 12 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Lexington Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 127.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 128.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument, Johnstown Flood National Memorial and Flight 93 National Memorial (4 total within detour distance). 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 Lawnton, PA before heading back.
