If you are planning a trip from Altoona to West Penn, PA, expect a 174.4-mile journey that takes approximately 3 hours and 28 minutes to complete. Because this route relies entirely on local roads rather than interstates, it is best suited for a single-day commitment. You should budget about $29 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating through the Northeast, you will find this path offers a direct, if slower, alternative to major highways. It is a straightforward trip that fits easily into a weekend schedule, allowing you to arrive at your destination without needing an overnight stay.
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
87.2 miles from Altoona, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
95.3 mi
1h 43m
I 99
46.9 mi
52m
I 81
7.4 mi
8m
Claremont Avenue
5.3 mi
9m
State Route 93
3.6 mi
6m
East Pleasant Valley Boulevard
2.8 mi
4m
Clamtown Road
1.8 mi
3m
West Penn Pike
1.6 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 95.3 mi, about 1h 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Altoona, PA and West Penn, 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
3.6 mi·6 min·State Route 93
19
Turn right onto Tomhicken Road
0.1 mi·12 sec·Tomhicken Road
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
21
Merge onto I 81
7.4 mi·8 min·I 81
22
Take the exit
1.4 mi·3 min
Toward PA 309: McAdoo, Tamaqua
23
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·22 sec
24
Merge onto PA 309
1.2 mi·1 min·Mile Hill Road
25
Continue on PA 309
5.3 mi·9 min·Claremont Avenue
26
Continue on PA 309
1.5 mi·3 min·Center Street
27
Continue on PA 309
1.6 mi·2 min·West Penn Pike
28
Turn right onto PA 443
1.8 mi·3 min·Clamtown Road
29
Arrive at destination
PA 443
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 174.4-mile trek, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and break up the turn-heavy segments. Leaving early in the day is your best strategy, as local roads can be unpredictable and require more active driving than highway travel. Keep your $29 fuel budget in mind, but ensure you have a little extra set aside for any unexpected detours or idling in local traffic. Since you are staying off the highways for the entire duration, be prepared for a slower pace that prioritizes local navigation over speed. Use your single scheduled stop to refresh, as the technical nature of these local roads can be more fatiguing than a standard interstate cruise.
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 87.2 miles from Altoona, PA, or about 1h 40m 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 38 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87.2 miles or 1h 40m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Penn, 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 174.4 miles and 3h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 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 21
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
$28.91 one way
$57.83 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg61 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$31.67
$63.33
premium
$4.93
$33.82
$67.65
diesel
$5.61
$38.51
$77.01
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52.3
0
$18.31
$8.37
Efficient EV
43.6
0
$15.26
$6.98
EV Truck/SUV
69.8
0
$24.42
$11.16
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 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
Morning
in Altoona on Sunday
Local time
10:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
West Penn, PA
Morning
in West Penn on Sunday
Local time
10:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
60°F
Carroll, PA
87 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
11 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
3h 28m 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.
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 that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Since this route features a 0% highway share, you will spend the entire 3-hour and 28-minute duration navigating local infrastructure rather than cruising at high speeds. You will primarily follow Lexington Avenue, 8th Street, and 6th Avenue throughout the transit. Unlike the monotonous pace of a major interstate, this journey requires constant engagement with changing road conditions. Expect a technical experience that keeps you focused on the path ahead as you transition between these specific local thoroughfares.
33% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
29 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?
10/10
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 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 21 significant decision points across 174.4 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.
Between Altoona, PA and West Penn, PA, road signs point toward Nescopeck and Tamaqua.
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 3h 28m. Total distance: 174.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 28m 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.
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 West Penn, 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 — Johnstown Flood National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.0 hours — manageable with a long break at West Penn, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
