Traveling from Clairton to Altoona covers 100.4 miles, a journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 28 minutes. Because this is a manageable distance, it serves perfectly as a straightforward day trip, requiring no overnight stays. You will navigate via 5th Avenue, the Admiral Peary Highway, and the William Penn Highway to reach your destination. Budget approximately $17 for fuel to complete the trip. Since both cities are located within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania, the drive maintains a consistent cultural feel throughout. It is an ideal choice for travelers who prefer a direct, local connection over the congestion of major interstates.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
50.2 miles from Clairton, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
William Penn Highway
59.7 mi
1h 22m
Admiral Peary Highway
13.7 mi
19m
5th Avenue
4.5 mi
8m
I 99
4.4 mi
4m
Mosside Boulevard
2.7 mi
4m
Monongahela Avenue
1.9 mi
3m
Broadway Boulevard
1.8 mi
2m
State Street
1.8 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
William Penn Highway
— 59.7 mi, about 1h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clairton, PA and Altoona, PA.
1
Start on 3rd Street
43 ft·4 sec·3rd Street
2
Turn left onto Saint Clair Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·Saint Clair Avenue
3
Turn left onto PA 837
1.6 mi·2 min·State Street
4
Turn right onto Clairton-Glassport Bridge
0.5 mi·1 min·Clairton-Glassport Bridge
5
Turn left onto Ohio Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·Ohio Avenue
6
Turn right onto Monongahela Avenue
1.9 mi·3 min·Monongahela Avenue
7
Continue on Yellow Belt
0.7 mi·1 min·West 5th Avenue
8
Continue on Yellow Belt
0.1 mi·13 sec·Jerome Street Bridge
9
Continue on Yellow Belt
1.1 mi·2 min·Lysle Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on PA 148; Yellow Belt
4.5 mi·8 min·5th Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn right onto Yellow Belt
0.2 mi·20 sec·Patton Street
12
Turn right onto Avenue U
214 ft·6 sec·Avenue U
13
At end of road, turn right onto Avenue U
229 ft·11 sec·Avenue U
14
Turn left onto Watkins Avenue
0.1 mi·16 sec·Watkins Avenue
15
Continue on State Street
0.2 mi·36 sec·State Street
16
Continue on PA 130
1.8 mi·2 min·Broadway Boulevard
17
Turn left onto PA 48; Orange Belt
2.7 mi·4 min·Mosside Boulevard
18
Turn straight
0.1 mi·25 sec
19
At end of road, turn right onto Northern Pike
1.7 mi·3 min·Northern Pike
20
Turn right onto US 22
43 mi·1 hr 2 min·William Penn Highway
Use the right lane.
21
Continue on US 22
14 mi·19 min·Admiral Peary Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Continue on US 22
17 mi·19 min·William Penn Highway
23
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·45 sec·this road
Toward I 99, US 220: Altoona, Bedford
24
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
25
Merge onto I 99; US 220
4.4 mi·4 min·I 99; US 220
26
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward 17th Street
27
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward Altoona
28
Turn straight onto 17th Street
1.4 mi·2 min·17th Street
29
Turn right onto PA 764
0.7 mi·1 min·6th Avenue
30
Turn left onto 7th Street
0.2 mi·18 sec·7th Street
31
Arrive at destination
7th Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a non-stop route with no official designated stops, ensure your vehicle is fueled up before departing to cover the estimated $17 cost. Leaving early in the morning is your best bet to navigate the local roads while traffic is lighter. Given the turn-heavy profile of the drive, take advantage of the flexibility this short trip offers by building in your own breaks whenever you feel the need to stretch. Keep a close eye on your GPS, as the reliance on local highways like the Admiral Peary and William Penn requires frequent navigation checks. Your primary goal should be steady pacing, as the technical nature of the path makes it difficult to recover time if you fall behind schedule.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 50.2 miles from Clairton, PA, or about 1h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.7 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 22 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.2 miles or 1h 20m 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 5m
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 Clairton, 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 Clairton, PA
This is one driving day of about 100.4 miles and 2h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Clairton, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on William Penn Highway for about 59.7 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 11.6 and 92.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
11.6 mi into trip|~21m in|Avenue U
At end of road, turn right onto Avenue U
Navigation decision point
5
11.6 mi into trip|~21m in|Watkins Avenue
Turn left onto Watkins Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
16.5 mi into trip|~30m in|Northern Pike
At end of road, turn right onto Northern Pike
Navigation decision point
5
18.2 mi into trip|~34m in|US 22 / William Penn Highway
Turn right onto US 22 / William Penn Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
92.1 mi into trip|~2h 16m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.65 one way
$33.29 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg35 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$18.23
$36.46
premium
$4.93
$19.47
$38.94
diesel
$5.61
$22.17
$44.33
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.1
0
$10.54
$4.82
Efficient EV
25.1
0
$8.79
$4.02
EV Truck/SUV
40.2
0
$14.06
$6.43
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (66% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Clairton, PA
Morning
in Clairton on Tuesday
Local time
8:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Altoona, PA
Morning
in Altoona on Tuesday
Local time
8:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
48°F
Snyder, PA
50 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
9 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 28m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Only 4% of this 100.4-mile trek consists of highway driving, meaning you will spend the vast majority of your time on winding secondary roads. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on the William Penn Highway, spanning 59.7 miles of the total distance. The personality of this route is defined by its technical nature rather than high-speed cruising. Be prepared for a hands-on driving experience where the road surface and navigation require constant engagement as you transition between local thoroughfares.
Only 4% 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: 59.7 mi on William Penn Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 11.6 miles in near Avenue U.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 100.4 miles you will encounter 17 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 11.6 miles (Avenue U): Navigation decision point; at 11.6 miles (Watkins Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 16.5 miles (Northern Pike): Navigation decision point.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Clairton, PA to Altoona, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Bedford along the way.
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 2h 28m. Total distance: 100.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 59.7 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 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 11.6 miles (Avenue U): Navigation decision point; at 11.6 miles (Watkins Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 16.5 miles (Northern Pike): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Altoona, PA before heading back.
