Embarking on a journey from Amity, PA, to Pittsburgh, PA, covers 294 miles and is estimated to take around 4 hours and 54 minutes. This drive is best suited as a single-day trip, offering a manageable distance and duration for most travelers. The estimated fuel cost for this route is approximately $49, making it a relatively budget-friendly option. You'll navigate primarily using local roads like Old Bethlehem Road, Leithsville Road, and Apples Church Road, with no highway driving involved. This route offers a consistent local driving experience throughout its entirety within the Northeast region.
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
148 miles from Amity, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
170.5 mi
3h 7m
I 78
53.3 mi
1h 3m
I 81
36.6 mi
44m
Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
13.2 mi
18m
PA 309
9.6 mi
14m
Old Bethlehem Road
2.9 mi
5m
Taylor Drive
2 mi
3m
Leithsville Road
2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 170.5 mi, about 3h 7m
Traffic on I-81
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 28 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,785 veh/hr typical
Quietest
1 AM
~380 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.3×
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 Amity, PA and Pittsburgh, PA.
1
Start on Roundhouse Road
45 ft·1 sec·Roundhouse Road
2
Turn straight onto Old Bethlehem Road
2.3 mi·4 min·Old Bethlehem Road
3
Keep slight left at fork onto Old Bethlehem Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Old Bethlehem Road
4
Continue on PA 412
2.0 mi·3 min·Leithsville Road
5
Turn left onto Apples Church Road
0.8 mi·1 min·Apples Church Road
6
Continue on Taylor Drive
2.0 mi·3 min·Taylor Drive
7
Continue on Flint Hill Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Flint Hill Road
8
Turn right onto Passer Road
340 ft·9 sec·Passer Road
9
Turn right onto PA 309
3.4 mi·5 min·PA 309
10
Take the exit onto PA 309
6.2 mi·8 min·PA 309
Toward I 78 West, PA 309 North: Harrisburg, Tamaqua
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 78
53 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 78
Toward I 78 West: HarrisburgUse the straight lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·49 sec
Exit 1BToward I 81 South: Harrisburg
13
Merge onto I 81
37 mi·44 min·I 81
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·48 sec
Exit 52Toward US 11: New Kingstown, MiddlesexUse the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork
201 ft·7 sec
Toward US 11 SouthUse the right lane.
16
Merge onto US 11
1.0 mi·2 min·Harrisburg Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 76, PATP
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·37 sec
Toward I 76 West: PittsburghUse the slight right lane.
19
Merge onto I 76; PATP
171 mi·3 hr 7 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
20
Take the exit
0.6 mi·2 min
Exit 57Toward I 376 West, US 22: Pittsburgh, MonroevilleUse the slight right lane.
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward US 22 Business, I 376 West, US 22 West: Monroeville, Pittsburgh
22
Keep slight right at fork
353 ft·8 sec
Toward I 376 West, US 22 West: Pittsburgh
23
Merge onto I 376; US 22
13 mi·18 min·Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
Use the slight left lane.
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi·38 sec
Exit 71BToward Second AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Turn straight onto Second Avenue
0.3 mi·41 sec·Second Avenue
26
At end of road, turn right onto Ross Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·Ross Street
27
Turn left onto Fifth Avenue
352 ft·10 sec·Fifth Avenue
28
Turn right onto Grant Street
513 ft·21 sec·Grant Street
Use the right lane.
29
Arrive at destination
Grant Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour and 54-minute duration, this trip is easily achievable in a single day from Amity to Pittsburgh. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize daylight and allow ample time for any unscheduled stops or unexpected delays on the local roads. With only one recommended stop and no specified longest stretch, you have the flexibility to pace yourself. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you'll be relying on local roads for the entire 294 miles, and plan your fuel stops accordingly before entering areas with fewer services. A good tip is to download offline maps, as cell service can be spotty on some of the more rural local roads.
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 148 miles from Amity, PA, or about 3h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 170.5 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 65 miles or 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 148 miles or 3h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pittsburgh, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Amity, 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 Amity, PA
This is one driving day of about 295.9 miles and 5h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 miles from Amity, 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 170.5 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 18 and 281.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
18 mi into trip|~28m in|I 78
Keep slight left at fork onto I 78 toward I 78 West: Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 78 West: Harrisburg
8
108.5 mi into trip|~2h 17m in
Take the exit toward US 11: New Kingstown, Middlesex
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 52
Toward US 11: New Kingstown, Middlesex
8
108.8 mi into trip|~2h 18m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 11 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward US 11 South
7
110.3 mi into trip|~2h 22m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 76 West: Pittsburgh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 76 West: Pittsburgh
8
281.1 mi into trip|~5h 30m in
Take the exit toward I 376 West, US 22: Pittsburgh, Monroeville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 57
Toward I 376 West, US 22: Pittsburgh, Monroevil...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.18 one way
$94.36 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg104 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$52.21
$104.43
premium
$4.81
$56.01
$112.02
diesel
$4.80
$55.87
$111.74
Estimated Tolls: $22.17
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(170.5 mi)$22.17
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
$47
Tolls
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$94–$119
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 103.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
88.8
1
$31.07
$14.20
Efficient EV
74
0
$25.89
$11.84
EV Truck/SUV
118.4
1
$41.43
$18.94
Gas CO2
104 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Amity, PA
Afternoon
in Amity on Sunday
Local time
4:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Smoke
0 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 3:59PM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 1:40PM EDT until July 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Destination
Pittsburgh, PA
Afternoon
in Pittsburgh on Sunday
Local time
4:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Smoke
N 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 3:59PM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 1:40PM EDT until July 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
82°F
Martinsburg, PA
148 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
22 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
5h 53m 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...
1 mi from route
~2 min detour
Free
near mile 112.2
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...
5 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 71.4
On Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, the U.S. came under attack when four commercial airliners were hijacked and used to strike targets on the ground. Nearly 3,000 people tragically lost their live...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 214.3
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...
24 mi from route
~59 min detour
Free
near mile 193.9
The battle at Fort Necessity in the summer of 1754 was the opening action of the French and Indian War. This war was a clash of British, French and American Indian cultures. It ended with the removal...
25 mi from route
~62 min detour
Free
near mile 244.9
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized by its frequent turns and local road focus, meaning you won't encounter any highway driving as it has a 0% highway share. The drive is a 'turn-heavy local drive,' so expect a dynamic experience behind the wheel rather than long stretches of monotonous cruising. While the longest uninterrupted stretch isn't specified, the nature of the route suggests a constant engagement with changing road conditions and direction. You'll be experiencing a more intimate connection with the landscape as you traverse these local byways.
96% 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: 170.5 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and I 78. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 18 miles in near I 78.
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 22 significant decision points across 295.9 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 18 miles (I 78): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 108.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 108.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,086 ft414 ft
Total Climb
2,410 ft
Total Descent
2,116 ft
Highest Point
2,086 ft
~232.5 mi in
Elevation Range
1,672 ft
Notable High Points
1,824 ft at ~169.1 miles+622 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Amity, PA and Pittsburgh, PA, road signs point toward Middlesex, Patp and Monroeville.
The pleasure of Pittsburgh remains a well-kept secret. Though not built up by reputation, the city's unique combination of bridges, steep hills, and broad rivers make it one of the most naturally scenic cities in the country. Cheap food and beer abound in this true sports town and the locals are amazingly friendly. A city of about 303,000 (2021) in Allegheny County, at the center of a metro area of about 2.4 million in southwestern Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh is situated at the confluence of three rivers: the Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers, which meet to form the Ohio River. The city's unique terrain has resulted in an unusual city design and a hodge-podge of unique neighborhood "pockets" with diverse ethnic and architectural heritage.
Top landmarks
•Carnegie Museum of Natural History — natural history museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
•Allegheny Observatory — historic observatory of the University of Pittsburgh
•Carnegie Museum of Art — museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 53m. Total distance: 295.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 53m 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 170.5 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $22.17 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 24 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 Pittsburgh, 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 24 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 18 miles (I 78): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 108.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 108.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument, Appalachian National Scenic Trail and Flight 93 National Memorial (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Pittsburgh, PA before the return drive.
