This 196.2-mile drive from Altoona, PA, to Northampton, PA, is estimated to take just under 4 hours, making it a manageable day trip. You'll primarily navigate local roads, with no highway driving involved, so expect a more engaging and turn-heavy experience. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $32. With only one recommended stop, this route is well-suited for a single day of travel within the Northeast region. This trip offers a consistent local feel from start to finish, perfect for those who prefer a more direct, non-interstate experience.
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
98.1 miles from Altoona, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
95.3 mi
1h 43m
I 99
46.9 mi
52m
Riverview Drive
7.2 mi
9m
PA 248
7 mi
9m
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
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 95.3 mi, about 1h 43m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 18 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,145 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,582
Quietest
2 AM
~189 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Northampton, 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·24 sec·Lehigh Avenue
30
Continue on US 209
0.5 mi·39 sec·Lehigh Street
31
Turn left onto US 209
0.3 mi·34 sec·Susquehanna Street
32
Continue on US 209
1.9 mi·2 min·Mauch Chunk Street
33
Continue on US 209
0.9 mi·1 min·North 1st Street
34
Continue on US 209
0.5 mi·1 min·North First Street
35
Continue on US 209
0.2 mi·21 sec·Bankway Street
36
Continue on US 209
0.5 mi·1 min·East Bridge Street
Use the left lane.
37
Turn right onto PA 248
7.0 mi·9 min·PA 248
Use the right lane.
38
Take the exit
268 ft·7 sec
39
Merge onto PA 145
1.4 mi·1 min·Riverview Drive
40
Continue on PA 145
0.4 mi·32 sec·North Best Avenue
41
Continue on PA 145
1.0 mi·1 min·South Best Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
42
Continue on PA 145
5.8 mi·8 min·Riverview Drive
43
Turn left onto 2nd Street
1.4 mi·3 min·2nd Street
44
Turn left onto PA 329
0.2 mi·30 sec·Main Street
45
Continue on PA 329
0.3 mi·54 sec·21st Street
46
Turn right onto Main Street
0.3 mi·37 sec·Main Street
47
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour and 58-minute duration and the local road profile, departing from Altoona in the morning will allow you to reach Northampton with ample time to spare. Plan for your single recommended stop to break up the drive, perhaps around the halfway point, to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially since this is a 196.2-mile trip with a projected fuel cost of $32, and local roads can sometimes lead to slightly less predictable fuel consumption compared to highways. The flexibility of this route means you can adjust your departure and stop times easily to suit your preferences.
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 98.1 miles from Altoona, PA, or about 1h 52m 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 43 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 98.1 miles or 1h 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Northampton, 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 196.2 miles and 3h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 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 23
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
$34.70 one way
$69.40 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg69 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$38.00
$76.01
premium
$5.24
$40.51
$81.01
diesel
$5.35
$41.33
$82.65
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 68.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
58.9
0
$20.60
$9.42
Efficient EV
49.1
0
$17.17
$7.85
EV Truck/SUV
78.5
0
$27.47
$12.56
Gas CO2
69 kg
EV CO2
23 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 2, 2026
Origin
Altoona, PA
Evening
in Altoona on Wednesday
Local time
5:42 PM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Sunny
N 6 mph14% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Northampton, PA
Evening
in Northampton on Wednesday
Local time
5:42 PM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Partly Sunny
N 10 mph5% chanceLive forecast
74°F
White Deer, PA
98 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 58m 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?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive for the entirety of this 196.2-mile journey, as the highway share is 0%. You'll be navigating through towns and local streets, utilizing roads like Lexington Avenue, 8th Street, and 6th Avenue. Since there are no long highway stretches, you can anticipate a consistent pace with frequent turns and adjustments. This type of driving experience means you'll be more connected to the local landscape and communities along the way, rather than experiencing the typical speed and monotony of interstate travel.
30% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
47 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?
9/10
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 Effort9/10
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 23 significant decision points across 196.2 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.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,664 ft324 ft
Total Climb
1,843 ft
Total Descent
2,683 ft
Highest Point
1,664 ft
~84.1 mi in
Elevation Range
1,340 ft
Notable High Points
1,664 ft at ~84.1 miles+808 ft prominence
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 Northampton, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Nescopeck along the way.
Nescopeck
149.1 mi in|~2h 47m
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
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 3h 58m. Total distance: 196.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface 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.
Yes — we found about 15 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 Northampton, 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 15 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 6.4 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 4.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Northampton, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
