Origin
Altoona, PA
Morning in Altoona on Tuesday
Local time
9:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Altoona, PA to Sandy, PA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 34m
Distance
55.8 mi
90 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 28m
★
6 AM
1h 35m
8 AM
1h 49m
10 AM
1h 40m
12 PM
1h 38m
3 PM
1h 40m
5 PM
1h 48m
8 PM
1h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sandy, PA
Egor Komarov
Trip Overview
Altoona, PA to Sandy, PA is 55.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 34 minutes via Tyrone Pike, Glendale Valley Boulevard, and Chestnut Grove Highway, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Pennsylvania, offering a mostly local road experience. With a relatively short duration, it's ideal for a single-day trip. Expect a journey characterized by frequent turns rather than long, straight stretches. This route is best suited for those who prefer a more engaging, less highway-intensive drive.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
27.9 miles from Altoona, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 49m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Tyrone Pike | 9.8 mi | 17m |
| Glendale Valley Boulevard | 7.6 mi | 10m |
| Chestnut Grove Highway | 6.5 mi | 9m |
| Wopsy Road | 6 mi | 8m |
| Juniata Gap Road | 5.1 mi | 9m |
| Grandview Road | 3.9 mi | 6m |
| Carson Hill Road | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| Coal Hill Road (US 219) | 2.6 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Tyrone Pike
— 9.8 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Altoona, PA and Sandy, PA.
1
Start on 7th Street
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
7th Street
2
Turn right onto Chestnut Avenue
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Chestnut Avenue
3
Turn left onto Juniata Gap Road
5.1 mi
·
9 min
·
Juniata Gap Road
4
Continue on Wopsy Road
6.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Wopsy Road
5
Turn right onto PA 53
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Clearfield Valley Boulevard
6
Turn straight onto PA 53
7.6 mi
·
10 min
·
Glendale Valley Boulevard
7
Continue on PA 53
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
North Glendale Boulevard
8
Continue on PA 53
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
9
Turn right onto PA 53
345 ft
·
12 sec
·
Dorsey Avenue
10
Continue on PA 53
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Dorsey Avenue
11
Turn left onto Henrys Road
2.4 mi
·
9 min
·
Henrys Road
12
At end of road, turn left onto PA 729
9.8 mi
·
17 min
·
Tyrone Pike
13
At end of road, turn left onto PA 729; PA 969
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
Lumber City Highway
14
Turn right onto PA 729
3.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Grandview Road
15
Continue on US 219
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
Main Street
16
Continue on US 219
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
North Street
17
Continue on US 219
6.5 mi
·
9 min
·
Chestnut Grove Highway
18
Continue on US 219
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Coal Hill Road (US 219)
19
Turn slight left onto US 322; US 219
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
Luthersburg-Rockton Road
20
Continue on US 219; US 322
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Carson Hill Road
21
Continue on US 219
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Watson Highway
22
Continue on US 219
0.8 mi
·
59 sec
·
South Brady Street
23
Turn right onto Overdorf Street
56 ft
·
2 sec
·
Overdorf Street
24
Arrive at destination
Overdorf Street
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour 34 minute duration, this trip is easily manageable in a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. Plan to refuel before you leave Altoona, as the estimated fuel cost is only $9, and there are no designated stops on this route. The longest stretch without a significant turn is just under 10 miles, so keep an eye on your navigation to anticipate upcoming directional changes. Enjoy the local feel of this drive, as it's designed for engagement rather than speed.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 27.9 miles from Altoona, PA, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 9.8 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 12 miles or 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 27.9 miles or 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sandy, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Altoona, PA
This is one driving day of about 55.8 miles and 1h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 12 miles from Altoona, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Tyrone Pike for about 9.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.9 miles from Altoona, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 12 and 55.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
12 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
PA 53 / Clearfield Valley Boulevard
Turn right onto PA 53 / Clearfield Valley Boulevard
Navigation decision point
4
22.5 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
PA 53 / Dorsey Avenue
Turn right onto PA 53 / Dorsey Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
27 mi into trip
|
~48m in
|
PA 729 / Tyrone Pike
At end of road, turn left onto PA 729 / Tyrone Pike
Navigation decision point
4
36.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
|
PA 729; PA 969 / Lumber City Highway
At end of road, turn left onto PA 729; PA 969 / Lumber City Highway
Navigation decision point
4
55.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 34m in
|
Overdorf Street
Turn right onto Overdorf Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.25 one way
$18.50 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $10.13 | $20.26 |
| premium | $4.93 | $10.82 | $21.64 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.32 | $24.64 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$34–$59
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.7 | 0 | $5.86 | $2.68 |
| Efficient EV | 14 | 0 | $4.88 | $2.23 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.3 | 0 | $7.81 | $3.57 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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.
Destination
Sandy, PA
Morning in Sandy on Tuesday
Local time
9:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°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
15 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
1h 34m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is a turn-heavy local drive, with only about 5% of the 55.8 miles on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 9.8 miles on Tyrone Pike. As you progress, the drive will feel more like navigating local roads, characterized by a series of turns rather than sustained high-speed travel. This profile suggests a more intimate connection with the landscape as you transition between Tyrone Pike, Glendale Valley Boulevard, and Chestnut Grove Highway.
Only 5% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 9.8 mi on Tyrone Pike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 12 miles in near PA 53 / Clearfield Valley Boulevard.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 34m drive. You will face about 9 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 12 miles (PA 53 / Clearfield Valley Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 22.5 miles (PA 53 / Dorsey Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 27 miles (PA 729 / Tyrone Pike): Navigation decision point.
About the Cities
Starting in Altoona, PA
Full guide →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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 34m. Total distance: 55.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (5%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 9.8 miles on Tyrone Pike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 12 miles (PA 53 / Clearfield Valley Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 22.5 miles (PA 53 / Dorsey Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 27 miles (PA 729 / Tyrone Pike): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Sandy, PA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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