Altoona, PA to Woodbourne, PA is 250.6 miles and takes about 4h 41m via Pennsylvania Turnpike and I-99, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Pennsylvania, traversing mostly highway stretches. It's a straightforward, single-day trip suitable for those looking to cover distance efficiently. With a high percentage of highway driving, expect a steady pace for most of the 250.6 miles. The estimated fuel cost of $42 makes it a budget-friendly option for a quick transit between these two points.
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
125.3 miles from Altoona, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
206 mi
3h 43m
I 99
32.1 mi
34m
Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway
3.5 mi
4m
17th Street
1.2 mi
2m
Maple Avenue
1.1 mi
2m
Lincoln Highway
1 mi
1m
Woodbourne Road
1 mi
1m
7th Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 206 mi, about 3h 43m
Traffic on I-99
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,140 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,371
Quietest
1 AM
~71 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Woodbourne, 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
206 mi·3 hr 43 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 351Toward US 1: Philadelphia, TrentonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward US 1 North: Trenton, PrincetonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto US 1
1.0 mi·1 min·Lincoln Highway
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on US 1
3.5 mi·4 min·Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway
Use the straight lane.
18
Take the exit
0.1 mi·27 sec
Toward PA 213: Maple AveUse the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight left at fork
127 ft·12 sec
Toward PA 213 North: Oxford Valley, South Flowers Mill Road, Woods School DriveUse the straight / left lanes.
20
Turn left onto PA 213
1.1 mi·2 min·Maple Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
21
Turn left onto Woodbourne Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Woodbourne Road
Use the left lane.
22
Turn right onto Butternut Lane
0.1 mi·29 sec·Butternut Lane
23
Arrive at destination
Butternut Lane
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 4h 41m drive, consider leaving Altoona in the morning to avoid potential afternoon traffic. With only one recommended stop and a long 206-mile stretch on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, plan your break strategically before or after this segment. The $42 fuel estimate is helpful for budgeting, but always check current prices. Since this trip is designed for a single day, you have flexibility; however, be aware of the increased exit density on the Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway as you get closer to Woodbourne, especially if you're arriving during peak hours.
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 125.3 miles from Altoona, PA, or about 2h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 206 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 55 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125.3 miles or 2h 19m 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 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Woodbourne, 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 250.6 miles and 4h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 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 206 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 248.5 — 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
242.9 mi into trip|~4h 26m in
Take the exit toward US 1: Philadelphia, Trenton
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 351
Toward US 1: Philadelphia, Trenton
8
243.4 mi into trip|~4h 28m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 1 North: Trenton, Princeton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 1 North: Trenton, Princeton
9
248.5 mi into trip|~4h 36m in
Keep slight left at fork toward PA 213 North: Oxford Valley, South Flowers Mill Road, Woods School Drive
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / left lanes.
Toward PA 213 North: Oxford Valley, South Flowe...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.32 one way
$88.64 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg88 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$48.54
$97.08
premium
$5.24
$51.74
$103.48
diesel
$5.35
$52.78
$105.57
Estimated Tolls: $26.78
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(206 mi)$26.78
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
$44
Tolls
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$96–$121
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 87.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
75.2
0
$26.31
$12.03
Efficient EV
62.7
0
$21.93
$10.02
EV Truck/SUV
100.2
1
$35.08
$16.04
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
29 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 May 31, 2026
Origin
Altoona, PA
Evening
in Altoona on Wednesday
Local time
6:55 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Clear
N 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Woodbourne, PA
Evening
in Woodbourne on Wednesday
Local time
6:55 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph0% chanceLive 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
6 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 41m 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.
Valley Forge National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Free
near mile 216.1
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...
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 155.6
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...
14 mi from route
~34 min detour
$1
near mile 224.7
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...
14 mi from route
~35 min detour
Free
near mile 224.7
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...
16 mi from route
~41 min detour
Free
near mile 207.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is almost entirely highway, with a 96% highway share. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on major interstates and turnpikes. The longest continuous stretch on a single highway is 206 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Expect dense exits and urban merging as you navigate I-99 and the Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway approaching your destination. The highway portion concludes after the longest stretch, transitioning to surface roads for the final miles.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 206 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 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 18 significant decision points across 250.6 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 242.9 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
1,401 ft164 ft
Total Climb
1,164 ft
Total Descent
2,164 ft
Highest Point
1,401 ft
~53.7 mi in
Elevation Range
1,238 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 Woodbourne, PA, road signs point toward Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Patp: Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh
35.1 mi in|~40m
Harrisburg
35.1 mi in|~40m
Patp: Pittsburgh
36.2 mi in|~42m
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
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 41m. Total distance: 250.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 206 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $26.78 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 18 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 Woodbourne, 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 18 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 242.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Valley Forge National Historical Park, Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument and Appalachian National Scenic Trail (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Woodbourne, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
