Altoona, PA to Paupack, PA is 219.1 miles and takes about 4h 15m via Keystone Shortway, I 99, and I 81, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you across Pennsylvania from west to east, staying within the Northeast region. It's a straightforward drive that's well within the capability of a single day, making it a convenient option if you're looking for a quick transit between these two points. You'll encounter a mix of highway types, so expect a varied driving experience. Consider this route if you need a reliable and efficient way to get across the state without extensive detours.
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
109.5 miles from Altoona, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
99.3 mi
1h 47m
I 99
46.9 mi
52m
I 81
34.7 mi
42m
I 84
25.9 mi
30m
East Pleasant Valley Boulevard
2.8 mi
4m
Fairview Lake Road
2.2 mi
3m
6th Avenue
1.6 mi
2m
Gumbletown Road
1.1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 99.3 mi, about 1h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Altoona, PA and Paupack, 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
99 mi·1 hr 47 min·Keystone Shortway
15
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 260BToward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
16
Merge onto I 81
35 mi·42 min·I 81
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
Toward I-84 east, US 6 east
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·35 sec
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South: Mt Pocono, Milford
20
Merge onto I 84; I 380
3.4 mi·4 min·I 84; I 380
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 84
22 mi·26 min·I 84
Toward I 84 East: Milford
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi·36 sec
Toward PA 390: Promised Land , Tafton
23
Turn left onto PA 390
2.2 mi·3 min·Fairview Lake Road
24
Turn left onto Gumbletown Road
1.1 mi·2 min·Gumbletown Road
25
Arrive at destination
Gumbletown Road
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 15m duration, departing Altoona in the morning will comfortably get you to Paupack before evening, allowing for a single-day trip. With only one recommended stop, you have plenty of flexibility to pace yourself. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 99.3-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway, as services might be less frequent. The $36 fuel cost is an estimate, so budgeting a little extra is always wise. Since this is a relatively short drive for a single day, you can afford to take your time and enjoy the journey without feeling rushed.
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 109.5 miles from Altoona, PA, or about 2h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.3 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 48 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 109.5 miles or 2h 4m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Paupack, 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 219.1 miles and 4h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 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 99.3 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
$36.32 one way
$72.65 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$39.78
$79.57
premium
$4.93
$42.49
$84.98
diesel
$5.61
$48.37
$96.75
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
65.7
0
$23.01
$10.52
Efficient EV
54.8
0
$19.17
$8.76
EV Truck/SUV
87.6
1
$30.67
$14.02
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Evening
in Altoona on Sunday
Local time
5:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 7 to 13 mph44% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Paupack, PA
Evening
in Paupack on Sunday
Local time
5:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Williamsport, PA
110 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
20 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
4h 15m 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.
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
Situated within the most densely populated region of the United States, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area provides a unique opportunity to experience tranquil landscapes, rich human history,...
23 mi from route
~56 min detour
$10
near mile 219.1
Park Closure: Old Mine Road North Construction Closure Begins April 6, 2026
Park Closure: Dingmans Falls Trail, Road, and Access Closed for Bridge Replacement
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?
This is a mixed drive with nearly half of the journey, 49%, on highways. You'll experience a significant uninterrupted stretch of 99.3 miles on the Keystone Shortway, offering a chance to maintain a steady pace. The route transitions between different major arteries, meaning the character of the road will shift as you progress. Expect periods of faster highway driving interspersed with other road types, providing a varied feel behind the wheel. It’s not an all-interstate grind, but it’s also not a purely rural, winding road.
49% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 99.3 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 219.1 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 Paupack, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Milford along the way.
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 15m. Total distance: 219.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 99.3 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 Paupack, 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 — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and Johnstown Flood National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Paupack, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
