Birchwood Lakes, PA to Pittsburgh, PA is 329.3 miles and takes about 6h 48m via the Keystone Shortway, with a fuel budget near $55 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region towards the western part of the state. Expect a varied driving experience that leans towards local roads, so plan for a bit of a turn-heavy journey. With a recommended one-day drive, you can certainly tackle this trip without needing an overnight stay, making it a convenient option if you're looking to get to your destination efficiently.
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
164.6 miles from Birchwood Lakes, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
98.5 mi
1h 47m
William Penn Highway
61.2 mi
1h 25m
American Legion Memorial Highway
35 mi
42m
I 99
33.8 mi
36m
I 84
33.4 mi
39m
Jacksonville Road
24.2 mi
28m
Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
13.5 mi
18m
Admiral Peary Highway
13.4 mi
19m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 98.5 mi, about 1h 47m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 18 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,145 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,582
Quietest
2 AM
~189 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.1×
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 Birchwood Lakes, PA and Pittsburgh, PA.
1
Start on Doolan Road
0.9 mi·2 min·Doolan Road
2
At end of road, turn left onto PA 739
11 mi·19 min·PA-739
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·47 sec
4
Merge onto I 84
33 mi·39 min·I 84
5
Take the exit
1.2 mi·2 min
Toward I 81 South: Wilkes-Barre
6
Merge onto I 81
35 mi·42 min·American Legion Memorial Highway
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 151BToward I-80 West: Bloomsburg
8
Merge onto I 80
99 mi·1 hr 47 min·Keystone Shortway
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·53 sec
Exit 161Toward I 99 South, US 220 South, PA 26: Bellefonte
10
Turn left onto US 220; PA 26
24 mi·28 min·Jacksonville Road
Use the straight lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220
34 mi·36 min·I 99; US 220
Toward I 99 South, US 220 South: Port Matilda, Altoona
12
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward US 22: Ebensburg, Hollidaysburg
13
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·43 sec·this road
14
Continue on US 22
16 mi·19 min·William Penn Highway
15
Continue on US 22
13 mi·19 min·Admiral Peary Highway
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on US 22
45 mi·1 hr 6 min·William Penn Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
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.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·38 sec
Exit 71BToward Second AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn straight onto Second Avenue
0.3 mi·41 sec·Second Avenue
20
At end of road, turn right onto Ross Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·Ross Street
21
Turn left onto Fifth Avenue
352 ft·10 sec·Fifth Avenue
22
Turn right onto Grant Street
513 ft·21 sec·Grant Street
Use the right lane.
23
Arrive at destination
Grant Street
Trip Plan
Given the 6h 48m estimated duration, leaving Birchwood Lakes in the morning is advisable to make the most of daylight. While the drive can be completed in one day, consider breaking it up if you prefer a more relaxed pace, though the single recommended stop suggests it's manageable in a single push. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer 98.5-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway, as services might be spaced out. A practical tip for this route: be aware that the 'Turn-heavy local drive' profile means you'll likely be navigating more intersections and varied speed limits than on a pure interstate trip, so stay alert.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 164.6 miles from Birchwood Lakes, PA, or about 3h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.5 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 72 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 164.6 miles or 3h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 21m
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 Birchwood Lakes, 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 Birchwood Lakes, PA
This is one driving day of about 329.3 miles and 6h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 72 miles from Birchwood Lakes, 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 98.5 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 180.7 and 329.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
180.7 mi into trip|~3h 34m in
Take the exit toward I 99 South, US 220 South, PA 26: Bellefonte
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 161
Toward I 99 South, US 220 South, PA 26: Bellefo...
6
205.1 mi into trip|~4h 4m in|I 99; US 220
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220 toward I 99 South, US 220 South: Port Matilda, Altoona
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 99 South, US 220 South: Port Matilda,...
8
315 mi into trip|~6h 27m 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
328.4 mi into trip|~6h 46m 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
7
329.2 mi into trip|~6h 48m in|Grant Street
Turn right onto Grant Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$52.51 one way
$105.01 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg115 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$58.11
$116.21
premium
$4.81
$62.33
$124.67
diesel
$4.80
$62.18
$124.36
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$53
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$78–$103
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 115.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
98.8
1
$34.58
$15.81
Efficient EV
82.3
0
$28.81
$13.17
EV Truck/SUV
131.7
1
$46.10
$21.08
Gas CO2
115 kg
EV CO2
39 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
Birchwood Lakes, PA
Morning
in Birchwood Lakes on Sunday
Local time
11:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Patchy Smoke
NW 5 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Pittsburgh, PA
Morning
in Pittsburgh on Sunday
Local time
11:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
91°F
Smoke
N 1 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
9 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
6h 48m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
7 mi from route
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 257.3
Situated within the most densely populated region of the United States, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area provides a unique opportunity to experience tranquil landscapes, rich human history,...
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...
27 mi from route
~68 min detour
Free
near mile 268.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a dynamic driving experience, characterized by its 'Turn-heavy local drive' profile. While about 28% of the journey involves highways, much of it will feel like navigating local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 98.5 miles along the Keystone Shortway, providing a period of more consistent travel. As you progress, be prepared for the road to transition, likely incorporating more turns and varied road conditions typical of local thoroughfares, rather than a continuous interstate cruise.
Only 28% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 98.5 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 180.7 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 329.3 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 180.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 205.1 miles (I 99; US 220): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 315 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.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
2,155 ft541 ft
Total Climb
3,019 ft
Total Descent
3,379 ft
Highest Point
2,155 ft
~258.7 mi in
Elevation Range
1,614 ft
Notable High Points
1,631 ft at ~23.5 miles+507 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Birchwood Lakes, PA and Pittsburgh, PA, road signs point toward Altoona and Hollidaysburg.
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 6h 48m. Total distance: 329.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 48m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 98.5 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 27 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 27 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 180.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 205.1 miles (I 99; US 220): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 315 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.
Yes — Johnstown Flood National Memorial, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and Flight 93 National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.8 hours each way, a round trip means 13.6 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.
