This 129.1-mile journey from Ashland to Pittsburgh is a straightforward, one-day road trip, estimated to take around 2 hours and 54 minutes. With a fuel cost of approximately $21, it's an economical option for a quick getaway. The route primarily utilizes local roads, including the William Penn Highway and Dowler Highway, with a smaller percentage on parkways like Penn-Lincoln Parkway East. Given its manageable length and duration, this drive is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. You'll be navigating a more hands-on driving experience rather than a high-speed interstate cruise.
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
64.5 miles from Ashland, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
William Penn Highway
29.6 mi
45m
Dowler Highway
20.1 mi
23m
Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
13.5 mi
18m
Buffalo-Pittsburgh Highway
10.3 mi
12m
Mahaffey Grampian Highway
9.8 mi
11m
Route 286 Highway East
6.7 mi
7m
Crooked Sewer Road
6 mi
8m
PA 286 Truck
5.2 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
William Penn Highway
— 29.6 mi, about 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ashland, PA and Pittsburgh, PA.
1
Start on Parsonville Road
0.1 mi·22 sec·Parsonville Road
2
Turn left onto SR 2014
3.3 mi·8 min·Red Schoolhouse Road
3
At end of road, turn right onto PA 153
6.0 mi·8 min·Crooked Sewer Road
4
Continue on PA 153
4.1 mi·6 min·Krebs Highway
5
Continue on PA 153
0.5 mi·55 sec·Ogden Avenue
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·33 sec
7
Turn left onto PA 879
1.2 mi·2 min·Clearfield Shawville Highway
8
Turn left onto PA 879
2.0 mi·2 min·Clearfield Curwensville Highway
9
Continue on PA 879
0.4 mi·24 sec·Curwensville Grampain Highway
10
Continue on PA 879
2.6 mi·2 min·Curwensville Grampian Highway
11
Continue on PA 879
4.7 mi·5 min·Curwensville Grampian Road
12
Continue on PA 879
0.7 mi·47 sec·1st Street
13
Continue on US 219
9.8 mi·11 min·Mahaffey Grampian Highway
14
Continue on US 219
0.6 mi·39 sec·West Main Street
15
Continue on US 219; PA 36
1.9 mi·2 min·Colonel Drake Highway
16
Continue on US 219
515 ft·6 sec·Burnside - McGees Highway
17
Continue on US 219
4.2 mi·4 min·Burnside McGee Highway
18
Keep slight right at fork onto PA 286
20 mi·23 min·Dowler Highway
19
Continue on PA 286
6.7 mi·7 min·Route 286 Highway East
20
Keep slight left at fork onto PA 286 Truck
1.0 mi·1 min·PA 286 Truck
Toward Punxsutawney, Blairsville
21
Keep slight right at fork onto PA 286 Truck
4.1 mi·4 min·PA 286 Truck
Toward US 119 South: Blairsville
22
Continue on US 119; PA 56; US 422 Business
10 mi·12 min·Buffalo-Pittsburgh Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Take the exit onto US 119
0.4 mi·40 sec·US 119
Toward US 22 West, US 119 South: Blairsville, Pittsburgh
24
Merge onto US 22; US 119
30 mi·45 min·William Penn Highway
Use the straight lane.
25
Keep slight right at fork onto I 376; US 22
13 mi·18 min·Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
Toward I 376 West, US 22 West: PittsburghUse the slight left lane.
26
Take the exit
0.2 mi·38 sec
Exit 71BToward Second AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Turn straight onto Second Avenue
0.3 mi·41 sec·Second Avenue
28
At end of road, turn right onto Ross Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·Ross Street
29
Turn left onto Fifth Avenue
352 ft·10 sec·Fifth Avenue
30
Turn right onto Grant Street
513 ft·21 sec·Grant Street
Use the right lane.
31
Arrive at destination
Grant Street
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour and 54-minute drive, leaving in the morning will give you ample time to reach Pittsburgh and settle in. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without a major road change is nearly 30 miles. A practical tip for this route: be prepared for more frequent turns and potential traffic slowdowns on the local road segments, especially as you get closer to urban areas. The $21 fuel cost is a good estimate, but always factor in a little extra for unforeseen detours or local exploration once you arrive.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 64.5 miles from Ashland, PA, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 29.6 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 28 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.5 miles or 1h 23m 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 20m
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 Ashland, 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 Ashland, PA
This is one driving day of about 129.1 miles and 2h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Ashland, 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 William Penn Highway for about 29.6 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 69.2 and 129 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
69.2 mi into trip|~1h 28m in|PA 286 Truck
Keep slight left at fork onto PA 286 Truck toward Punxsutawney, Blairsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Punxsutawney, Blairsville
8
114.8 mi into trip|~2h 33m in|I 376; US 22 / Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
Keep slight right at fork onto I 376; US 22 / Penn-Lincoln Parkway East toward I 376 West, US 22 West: Pittsburgh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 376 West, US 22 West: Pittsburgh
7
128.2 mi into trip|~2h 52m in
Take the exit toward Second Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 71B
Toward Second Avenue
6
128.7 mi into trip|~2h 53m in|Ross Street
At end of road, turn right onto Ross Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
7
129 mi into trip|~2h 54m in|Grant Street
Turn right onto Grant Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.40 one way
$42.81 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$23.44
$46.88
premium
$4.93
$25.04
$50.07
diesel
$5.61
$28.50
$57.01
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38.7
0
$13.56
$6.20
Efficient EV
32.3
0
$11.30
$5.16
EV Truck/SUV
51.6
0
$18.07
$8.26
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Ashland, PA
Morning
in Ashland on Sunday
Local time
9:40 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Mostly Clear
SE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Pittsburgh, PA
Morning
in Pittsburgh on Sunday
Local time
9:40 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Greenwich, PA
65 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
21 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
2h 54m 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.
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...
23 mi from route
~59 min detour
Free
near mile 80.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for most of this 129.1-mile route, with only 20% of the journey on highways. Your longest uninterrupted stretch will be 29.6 miles along the William Penn Highway, offering a taste of consistent travel before the landscape shifts. As you progress, the road will likely transition, moving from more direct local routes to eventually incorporating parkways as you approach Pittsburgh. This character suggests a drive where you'll be more engaged with steering and navigation, rather than simply cruising on an interstate.
Only 20% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 29.6 mi on William Penn Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 69.2 miles in near PA 286 Truck.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 129.1 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 69.2 miles (PA 286 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 114.8 miles (I 376; US 22 / Penn-Lincoln Parkway East): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 128.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Ashland, PA and Pittsburgh, PA, road signs point toward Punxsutawney and Blairsville.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 54m. Total distance: 129.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 29.6 miles on William Penn Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 69.2 miles (PA 286 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 114.8 miles (I 376; US 22 / Penn-Lincoln Parkway East): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 128.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Johnstown Flood National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Pittsburgh, PA before heading back.
