Altoona, PA to New Brighton, PA is 125 miles and takes about 2h 54m via William Penn Highway and US 22, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. The route offers a mix of highway and surface road driving, making it a straightforward, single-day excursion. With only 1 stop recommended, you can expect a relatively uninterrupted drive for the 125 miles. Consider this trip if you're looking for an efficient way to travel between these two Pennsylvania locations without needing an overnight stay.
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
62.5 miles from Altoona, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 28m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
William Penn Highway
43 mi
1h 3m
US 22
30.5 mi
39m
Pennsylvania Turnpike
27.7 mi
29m
Ohio River Boulevard
5.5 mi
7m
Freedom Crider Road
4.4 mi
6m
6th Avenue
3.6 mi
6m
Freedom Road
2.6 mi
4m
7th Avenue
1.8 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
William Penn Highway
— 43 mi, about 1h 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Altoona, PA and New Brighton, 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
30 mi·39 min·US 22
Toward US 22 West: EbensburgUse the slight right lane.
9
Continue on US 22
43 mi·1 hr 3 min·William Penn Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn left onto Northern Pike
1.8 mi·3 min·Northern Pike
Use the left lane.
11
Turn right onto PA 48; Orange Belt
0.1 mi·10 sec·Mosside Boulevard
12
Turn right onto Daugherty Drive
183 ft·12 sec·Daugherty Drive
13
Turn right
421 ft·36 sec
14
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·54 sec
Toward I 76 West: OhioUse the straight lane.
16
Merge onto I 76; PATP
28 mi·29 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Exit 28Toward I 79, US 19: Erie, Pittsburgh, Warrendale, CranberryUse the slight right lane.
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·34 sec
Toward US 19: Warrendale, Cranberry
19
Turn slight left
149 ft·5 sec
Use the left lane.
20
Turn left onto US 19
0.5 mi·1 min·Perry Highway
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
21
Turn left onto Freedom Road
2.6 mi·4 min·Freedom Road
Use the left lane.
22
Continue on Freedom Crider Road
2.4 mi·3 min·Freedom Crider Road
23
Enter roundabout onto Freedom Crider Road
98 ft·1 sec·Freedom Crider Road
24
Continue on Freedom Crider Road
2.0 mi·2 min·Freedom Crider Road
25
Turn straight onto Crows Run Road
1.5 mi·2 min·Crows Run Road
26
Turn right onto PA 65
5.5 mi·7 min·Ohio River Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Turn left onto 15th Street
200 ft·12 sec·15th Street
28
Turn right onto 2nd Avenue
0.2 mi·53 sec·2nd Avenue
29
Turn slight right onto 13th Street
219 ft·9 sec·13th Street
30
Arrive at destination
13th Street
Trip Plan
Given the short 2h 54m estimated drive time, you have flexibility with your departure. Leaving mid-morning should allow you to arrive with plenty of daylight, and the $21 fuel estimate means your budget is unlikely to be strained. The route involves a longest stretch of 43 miles on William Penn Highway, so plan for that section to be your primary surface road experience. With only one stop suggested, you can easily complete this drive in a single day without feeling rushed. Keep an eye out for the transition points between highway and surface roads to adjust your driving accordingly.
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 62.5 miles from Altoona, PA, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43 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 28 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.5 miles or 1h 28m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New Brighton, 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 125 miles and 2h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 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 William Penn Highway for about 43 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 110 — 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
8
81.8 mi into trip|~1h 58m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 76 West: Ohio
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 76 West: Ohio
8
109.8 mi into trip|~2h 29m in
Take the exit toward I 79, US 19: Erie, Pittsburgh, Warrendale, Cranberry
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 28
Toward I 79, US 19: Erie, Pittsburgh, Warrendal...
7
110 mi into trip|~2h 29m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 19: Warrendale, Cranberry
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 19: Warrendale, Cranberry
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.72 one way
$41.45 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$22.70
$45.39
premium
$4.93
$24.24
$48.48
diesel
$5.61
$27.60
$55.20
Estimated Tolls: $3.61
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(27.7 mi)$3.61
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
$21
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.5
0
$13.13
$6.00
Efficient EV
31.3
0
$10.94
$5.00
EV Truck/SUV
50
0
$17.50
$8.00
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 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 20, 2026
Origin
Altoona, PA
Morning
in Altoona on Tuesday
Local time
6:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
New Brighton, PA
Morning
in New Brighton on Tuesday
Local time
6:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°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
12 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
2h 54m 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.
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...
8 mi from route
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 30.2
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...
26 mi from route
~65 min detour
Free
near mile 34.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 47% of this 125-mile drive is on highways, meaning you'll encounter a good amount of surface road cruising. The longest continuous stretch on a surface road is 43 miles along William Penn Highway. You'll transition between highway speeds and more local road conditions, so be prepared for varying traffic patterns and potential for more frequent intersections after leaving the highway sections. This mixed profile suggests a drive that balances efficiency with a more grounded feel as you approach your destination.
47% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 43 mi on William Penn Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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.
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 21 significant decision points across 125 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 6.5 miles (US 22): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 81.8 miles: 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.
Between Altoona, PA and New Brighton, PA, road signs point toward Pittsburgh, Warrendale and Cranberry.
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 2h 54m. Total distance: 125 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (47%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 43 miles on William Penn Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.61 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 3 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 New Brighton, 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 3 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 6.5 miles (US 22): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 81.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Johnstown Flood National Memorial and Flight 93 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 New Brighton, PA before heading back.
