Traveling from Altoona to Oxford covers 200.5 miles across the Pennsylvania landscape. You should anticipate a drive time of approximately 4 hours and 3 minutes, making this a manageable journey to complete in a single day. Budgeting about $32 for fuel will keep you on track for the trip. Since you will be navigating local roads like Lexington Avenue, 8th Street, and 7th Avenue rather than major interstates, the pace is steady but requires your full attention. This route is ideal for those who prefer backroad exploration over high-speed transit. It serves as a straightforward connection between these two Northeast locations, perfect for a one-day excursion.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
100.2 miles from Altoona, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
102.1 mi
1h 51m
I 99
32.1 mi
34m
PA 283
28.6 mi
33m
Kirkwood Pike
8.9 mi
12m
Beaver Valley Pike
6.9 mi
9m
Lampeter Road
4.6 mi
8m
US 30
3.7 mi
5m
West Lancaster Avenue
3.4 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 102.1 mi, about 1h 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Altoona, PA and Oxford, 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
102 mi·1 hr 51 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
14
Take the exit
0.6 mi·2 min
Exit 247Toward I 283, PA 283: Harrisburg, HersheyUse the slight right lane.
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi·45 sec
Exit 1AToward PA 283 East: Airport, Lancaster
16
Merge onto PA 283
29 mi·33 min·PA 283
17
Merge onto US 30
3.7 mi·5 min·US 30
18
Take the exit
0.1 mi·15 sec
Toward Greenfield Road
19
Keep slight left at fork
242 ft·11 sec
20
Turn left onto Greenfield Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Greenfield Road
21
Turn right onto PA 340
1.0 mi·1 min·Old Philadelphia Pike
22
Turn slight right onto PA 462
320 ft·13 sec·Lincoln Highway East
23
Turn left onto Lampeter Road
4.6 mi·8 min·Lampeter Road
24
Continue on Penn Grant Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Penn Grant Road
25
Turn left onto US 222
6.9 mi·9 min·Beaver Valley Pike
26
Continue on US 222
0.6 mi·52 sec·West 4th Street
27
Turn left onto US 222; PA 372
0.7 mi·1 min·West State Street
28
Turn right onto PA 472
0.7 mi·1 min·South Lime Street
29
Continue on PA 472
8.9 mi·12 min·Kirkwood Pike
30
Continue on PA 472
3.4 mi·6 min·West Lancaster Avenue
31
Continue on PA 472
177 ft·5 sec·East Lancaster Avenue
32
Turn right onto PA 472
267 ft·18 sec·Pine Street
33
Turn sharp left onto PA 10
33 ft·1 sec·North 3rd Street
Use the left lane.
34
Arrive at destination
PA 10
Trip Plan
Given the turn-heavy nature of this 4-hour drive, plan your departure for early in the day to ensure you finish before dusk. You have one scheduled stop available, so choose your break point carefully to refresh your focus before tackling the remainder of the route. Since you are relying entirely on local roads, keep a close eye on your fuel gauge and navigation apps to avoid missing any turns on 8th Street or 7th Avenue. Because this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your pace if traffic patterns shift on these local connectors. Staying alert at every intersection is the best way to handle this specific set of roads.
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 100.2 miles from Altoona, PA, or about 1h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 102.1 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 44 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.2 miles or 1h 53m 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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oxford, 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 200.5 miles and 4h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 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 102.1 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 24
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 200.5 — 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
36.4 mi into trip|~42m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 76 East, I 70 East: Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 76 East, I 70 East: Harrisburg
8
138.9 mi into trip|~2h 35m in
Take the exit toward I 283, PA 283: Harrisburg, Hershey
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 247
Toward I 283, PA 283: Harrisburg, Hershey
6
139.5 mi into trip|~2h 38m in
Take the exit toward PA 283 East: Airport, Lancaster
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 1A
Toward PA 283 East: Airport, Lancaster
8
200.5 mi into trip|~4h 3m in|PA 10 / North 3rd Street
Turn sharp left onto PA 10 / North 3rd Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.24 one way
$66.48 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg70 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$36.41
$72.81
premium
$4.93
$38.88
$77.77
diesel
$5.61
$44.27
$88.54
Estimated Tolls: $13.27
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(102.1 mi)$13.27
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
$33
Tolls
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.2
0
$21.05
$9.62
Efficient EV
50.1
0
$17.54
$8.02
EV Truck/SUV
80.2
1
$28.07
$12.83
Gas CO2
70 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 Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Altoona, PA
Afternoon
in Altoona on Sunday
Local time
12:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Oxford, PA
Afternoon
in Oxford on Sunday
Local time
12:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
48°F
Middlesex, PA
100 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
2 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
4h 3m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Free
near mile 117.5
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 20.7
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...
19 mi from route
~47 min detour
Free
near mile 152.1
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...
20 mi from route
~50 min detour
Free
near mile 34.6
Famous as the First State to ratify the Constitution, Delaware was born out of a conflict among three world powers for dominance of the Delaware Valley. From this beginning, the region developed a dis...
22 mi from route
~56 min detour
Free
near mile 200.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. With a 0% highway share, you won't experience the monotony of high-speed interstate travel; instead, you will navigate a series of local thoroughfares. The route is characterized by constant transitions, as there is no single long-distance stretch—even the longest segment on Lexington Avenue is 0 miles of uninterrupted road. This lack of highway segments means you will be constantly shifting and turning as you traverse the region. It is a hands-on driving experience that demands alertness throughout the entire 200.5-mile journey.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 102.1 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 24 significant decision points across 200.5 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 36.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 138.9 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 Oxford, PA, road signs point toward Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Patp: Pittsburgh, Hershey and Lancaster.
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 4h 3m. Total distance: 200.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 102.1 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $13.27 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.
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 Oxford, 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 36.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 138.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument, Johnstown Flood National Memorial and Appalachian National Scenic Trail (5 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Oxford, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
