Altoona to Sharon Hill is 231.9 miles and takes about 4h 36m via Pennsylvania Turnpike and I-99, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Pennsylvania, beginning in the Northeast region and ending in the same area. You'll be on the highway for most of this trip, making it a straightforward option if you're looking for efficient travel. With only one recommended stop and a mostly highway profile, this route is well-suited for a single-day trip.
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
116 miles from Altoona, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
174.3 mi
3h 9m
I 99
32.1 mi
34m
Darby Paoli Road
3.7 mi
6m
West Springfield Road
2.7 mi
6m
Lancaster Avenue
2.2 mi
4m
Sproul Road
2.1 mi
4m
Newtown Street Road
1.5 mi
2m
North Clifton Avenue
1.4 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 174.3 mi, about 3h 9m
Traffic on I-99
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,099 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,386
Quietest
1 AM
~71 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 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 Sharon Hill, 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
174 mi·3 hr 9 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
14
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 320Toward PA 29: Phoenixville, MalvernUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn left onto PA 29
1.3 mi·2 min·North Morehall Road
16
Continue on PA 29
0.6 mi·1 min·South Morehall Road
Use the left lane.
17
Turn left onto US 30
2.2 mi·4 min·Lancaster Avenue
18
Turn right onto Darby Road
0.8 mi·1 min·Darby Road
19
Turn right onto PA 252
3.7 mi·6 min·Darby Paoli Road
20
Continue on PA 252
1.5 mi·2 min·Newtown Street Road
21
Turn left onto PA 3
1.4 mi·2 min·West Chester Pike
Use the left lane.
22
Turn slight right onto Springfield Road
0.8 mi·1 min·Springfield Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
23
Continue on PA 320
2.1 mi·4 min·Sproul Road
Use the straight lane.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto West Springfield Road
2.7 mi·6 min·West Springfield Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
25
Continue on North Springfield Road
1.1 mi·2 min·North Springfield Road
26
Turn right onto North Clifton Avenue
1.4 mi·4 min·North Clifton Avenue
27
At end of road, turn left onto US 13
359 ft·14 sec·Chester Pike
28
Turn right onto Sharon Avenue
0.2 mi·29 sec·Sharon Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
29
Arrive at destination
Sharon Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 4.5-hour drive, leaving in the morning will give you plenty of time to arrive before evening. Given the relatively short duration and the 174.3-mile stretch on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, you might only need one break. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially before getting onto the longer highway segments, as the estimated cost is $39. Pay attention to exit signs as you get closer to Sharon Hill, as the transition from I-99 to local roads can be busy.
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 116 miles from Altoona, PA, or about 2h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 174.3 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 51 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 116 miles or 2h 9m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sharon Hill, 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 231.9 miles and 4h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 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 174.3 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 231.7 — 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
211.1 mi into trip|~3h 52m in
Take the exit toward PA 29: Phoenixville, Malvern
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 320
Toward PA 29: Phoenixville, Malvern
6
226.4 mi into trip|~4h 22m in|West Springfield Road
Keep slight left at fork onto West Springfield Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
7
231.7 mi into trip|~4h 36m in|Sharon Avenue
Turn right onto Sharon Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.50 one way
$81.00 round trip
$4.44/gal25.4 MPG avg81 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.86
$44.34
$88.69
premium
$5.20
$47.44
$94.88
diesel
$6.28
$57.30
$114.60
Estimated Tolls: $22.66
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(174.3 mi)$22.66
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
$41
Tolls
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$88–$113
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
69.6
0
$24.35
$11.13
Efficient EV
58
0
$20.29
$9.28
EV Truck/SUV
92.8
1
$32.47
$14.84
Gas CO2
81 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Altoona, PA
Morning
in Altoona on Friday
Local time
7:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Widespread Frost then Sunny
N 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 18 at 10:42PM EDT until October 19 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS State College PA
Destination
Sharon Hill, PA
Morning
in Sharon Hill on Friday
Local time
7:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Sunny
N 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 18 at 10:42PM EDT until October 19 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS State College PA
64°F
Harrisburg, PA
116 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 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 36m 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...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 119.9
Valley Forge is the place where George Washington and the Continental Army took refuge during the winter of 1777-1778. Today the park protects 3,500 acres of meadows, woodlands, historic landscapes, a...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 215.9
The park represents the founding ideals of the nation, and preserves national and international symbols of freedom and democracy, including Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. The Declaration of I...
Visit the house where wounded Polish freedom fighter Thaddeus Kosciuszko lived and hear how this brilliant military engineer designed successful fortifications during the American Revolution. See the...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 231.9
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...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 159.9
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...
15 mi from route
~36 min detour
Free
near mile 223.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway, with 89% of the 231.9 miles on major roadways. You'll encounter a long stretch of 174.3 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, which is where you'll spend the bulk of your time. Expect a continuous highway experience for most of the drive, with exits becoming more frequent as you approach your destination. The transition to surface roads like Darby Paoli Road will occur later in the trip.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 174.3 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 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 231.9 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 211.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,231 ft74 ft
Total Climb
187 ft
Total Descent
1,276 ft
Highest Point
1,231 ft
~16.6 mi in
Elevation Range
1,156 ft
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 Sharon Hill, PA, road signs point toward Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Patp: Pittsburgh and Malvern.
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 4h 36m. Total distance: 231.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 174.3 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $22.66 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 16 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 Sharon Hill, 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 16 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 36.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 211.1 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, Valley Forge National Historical Park and Independence National Historical Park (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Sharon Hill, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
