Traveling from Annville to Altoona covers 156.6 miles through the heart of Pennsylvania. You can expect a drive time of approximately 3 hours and 9 minutes, making this a straightforward journey that fits perfectly into a single day. Since the route stays entirely within the Northeast region, you won't face major climate or terrain shifts, though you will transition from the rolling landscape near Annville toward the mountainous terrain of the Altoona area. Budgeting about $26 for fuel should keep you covered for the trip. Because the drive is relatively short, you don't need to worry about booking overnight stays, leaving you plenty of flexibility to explore once you arrive.
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
78.3 miles from Annville, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
90.9 mi
1h 39m
I 99
32.7 mi
35m
US 322
7 mi
9m
East Main Street
5.4 mi
9m
Hersheypark Drive
5.1 mi
8m
I 83
4.3 mi
5m
US 15
3.2 mi
4m
American Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial Highway
2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 90.9 mi, about 1h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Annville, PA and Altoona, PA.
1
Start on US 422
5.4 mi·9 min·East Main Street
2
Turn right onto North Lingle Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·North Lingle Avenue
3
Turn left onto Hersheypark Drive
5.1 mi·8 min·Hersheypark Drive
Use the straight lane.
4
Keep right at fork
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward US 322 West: Harrisburg
5
Merge onto US 322
7.0 mi·9 min·US 322
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on I 83
4.3 mi·5 min·I 83
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto PA 581
2.0 mi·2 min·American Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial Highway
Exit 41AToward PA 581 West: Camp Hill, GettysburgUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 5B-AToward US 15 South, US 11 North, US 15 North: Gettysburg, Camp HillUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 5BToward US 15 South: GettysburgUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on US 15
3.2 mi·4 min·US 15
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward I 76, PATP: Philadelphia, PittsburghUse the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward I 76 West: PittsburghUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 76; PATP
91 mi·1 hr 39 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward Altoona, JohnstownUse the slight right lane.
15
Turn left onto US 220 BUS
0.3 mi·42 sec·Business 220
16
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 99, US 220: Cumberland, Altoona
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
18
Merge onto I 99; US 220
33 mi·35 min·I 99; US 220
19
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward 17th Street
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward Altoona
21
Turn straight onto 17th Street
1.4 mi·2 min·17th Street
22
Turn right onto PA 764
0.7 mi·1 min·6th Avenue
23
Turn left onto 7th Street
0.2 mi·18 sec·7th Street
24
Arrive at destination
7th Street
Trip Plan
For a smooth trip, aim to depart in the morning to avoid peak traffic periods on the turnpike. Since the entire route takes just over three hours, a single well-timed stop is usually sufficient to stretch your legs and refresh. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge during the longest 90.9-mile stretch, as services can be spaced out along the turnpike. With only one recommended stop, you have the freedom to decide exactly when you need a break, allowing you to reach Altoona feeling relaxed. Planning your break around the transition from the turnpike to US 322 can help you break up the monotony of the highway driving.
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 78.3 miles from Annville, PA, or about 1h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 90.9 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 34 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 78.3 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 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Altoona, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Annville, 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 Annville, PA
This is one driving day of about 156.6 miles and 3h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Annville, 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 90.9 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 22.7 and 28.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
22.7 mi into trip|~35m in|PA 581 / American Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto PA 581 / American Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial Highway toward PA 581 West: Camp Hill, Gettysburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 41A
Toward PA 581 West: Camp Hill, Gettysburg
8
24.6 mi into trip|~38m in
Take the exit toward US 15 South, US 11 North, US 15 North: Gettysburg, Camp Hill
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 5B-A
Toward US 15 South, US 11 North, US 15 North: G...
8
24.9 mi into trip|~38m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 15 South: Gettysburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 5B
Toward US 15 South: Gettysburg
7
28.5 mi into trip|~44m in
Take the exit toward I 76, PATP: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 76, PATP: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh
7
28.8 mi into trip|~46m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 76 West: Pittsburgh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 76 West: Pittsburgh
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.96 one way
$51.92 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg55 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$28.43
$56.87
premium
$4.93
$30.37
$60.74
diesel
$5.61
$34.58
$69.15
Estimated Tolls: $11.82
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(90.9 mi)$11.82
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
$26
Tolls
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47
0
$16.44
$7.52
Efficient EV
39.2
0
$13.70
$6.26
EV Truck/SUV
62.6
0
$21.92
$10.02
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 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 16, 2026
Origin
Annville, PA
Afternoon
in Annville on Sunday
Local time
3:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Altoona, PA
Afternoon
in Altoona on Sunday
Local time
3:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 13 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
38 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 9m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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...
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...
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...
18 mi from route
~45 min detour
Free
near mile 135
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...
20 mi from route
~49 min detour
Free
near mile 124.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 88% of your time spent on high-speed roads. You will rely on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, I-99, and US 322 to navigate across the state. The most significant portion of your travel is a 90.9-mile stretch on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, which allows for consistent cruising speeds. As you transition onto I-99 and US 322, the character of the drive shifts from the expansive, multi-lane turnpike to the corridors leading into the Altoona region. Expect a efficient, utilitarian experience behind the wheel that prioritizes speed and directness over winding backroads.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 90.9 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 99. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 22.7 miles in near PA 581 / American Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial Highway.
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 19 significant decision points across 156.6 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 22.7 miles (PA 581 / American Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.9 miles: 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 Annville, PA and Altoona, PA, road signs point toward Gettysburg, Camp Hill, Patp: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Johnstown.
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 9m. Total distance: 156.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 90.9 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $11.82 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.
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 Altoona, 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 22.7 miles (PA 581 / American Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument, Appalachian National Scenic Trail and Johnstown Flood National Memorial (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Altoona, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
