Colerain, PA to Pittsburgh, PA is 119.7 miles and takes about 2h 47m via William Penn Highway and I-99, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. Expect a route with frequent turns, making it more of a local road experience than a straight shot on the interstate. Given the relatively short duration and modest fuel cost, this trip is easily manageable as a single-day journey.
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
59.9 miles from Colerain, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
William Penn Highway
61.2 mi
1h 25m
I 99
19.1 mi
21m
Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
13.5 mi
18m
Admiral Peary Highway
13.4 mi
19m
Birmingham Pike
6 mi
9m
Spruce Creek Road
2.1 mi
3m
Union Furnace Road
1.4 mi
3m
Shovel Works Road
0.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
William Penn Highway
— 61.2 mi, about 1h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Colerain, PA and Pittsburgh, PA.
1
Start on PA 45
2.1 mi·3 min·Spruce Creek Road
2
Keep slight right at fork onto SR 4006
1.4 mi·3 min·Union Furnace Road
3
At end of road, turn left onto SR 4006
0.3 mi·1 min·Shovel Works Road
4
Turn right onto PA 453; PA 45 Truck
6.0 mi·9 min·Birmingham Pike
5
Turn left
0.4 mi·52 sec
6
Merge onto I 99; US 220
19 mi·21 min·I 99; US 220
7
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward US 22: Ebensburg, Hollidaysburg
8
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·43 sec·this road
9
Continue on US 22
16 mi·19 min·William Penn Highway
10
Continue on US 22
13 mi·19 min·Admiral Peary Highway
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on US 22
45 mi·1 hr 6 min·William Penn Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
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.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·38 sec
Exit 71BToward Second AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Turn straight onto Second Avenue
0.3 mi·41 sec·Second Avenue
15
At end of road, turn right onto Ross Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·Ross Street
16
Turn left onto Fifth Avenue
352 ft·10 sec·Fifth Avenue
17
Turn right onto Grant Street
513 ft·21 sec·Grant Street
Use the right lane.
18
Arrive at destination
Grant Street
Trip Plan
With a drive time under 3 hours and a fuel cost around $20, this trip offers a lot of flexibility. You can depart anytime, but leaving in the morning will give you ample daylight to navigate the numerous turns. While there's only one recommended stop, consider breaking up the 61.2-mile stretch on William Penn Highway if you need a break or a quick refreshment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before you get onto the highway sections, as service areas might be less frequent than on a pure interstate route.
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 59.9 miles from Colerain, PA, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.2 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 26 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.9 miles or 1h 19m 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 15m
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 Colerain, 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 Colerain, PA
This is one driving day of about 119.7 miles and 2h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Colerain, 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 61.2 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.6 and 119.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.6 mi into trip|~7m in|SR 4006 / Shovel Works Road
At end of road, turn left onto SR 4006 / Shovel Works Road
Navigation decision point
8
105.4 mi into trip|~2h 26m 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
118.9 mi into trip|~2h 45m 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
119.4 mi into trip|~2h 46m in|Ross Street
At end of road, turn right onto Ross Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
7
119.6 mi into trip|~2h 47m in|Grant Street
Turn right onto Grant Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.84 one way
$39.69 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$21.73
$43.47
premium
$4.93
$23.21
$46.43
diesel
$5.61
$26.43
$52.86
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.9
0
$12.57
$5.75
Efficient EV
29.9
0
$10.47
$4.79
EV Truck/SUV
47.9
0
$16.76
$7.66
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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 15, 2026
Origin
Colerain, PA
Afternoon
in Colerain on Sunday
Local time
12:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Pittsburgh, PA
Afternoon
in Pittsburgh on Sunday
Local time
12:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
47°F
Germany, PA
60 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
26 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 47m 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?
This journey is characterized by its "turn-heavy local drive" profile, with only 27% of the route being on highways like I-99 and the Penn-Lincoln Parkway East. You'll spend a significant portion of your time navigating local roads, including the longest uninterrupted stretch of 61.2 miles on the William Penn Highway. This means you'll be experiencing more varied scenery and potentially dealing with more traffic signals and intersections compared to an interstate-only drive. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience that requires your attention throughout.
Only 27% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 61.2 mi on William Penn Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.6 miles in near SR 4006 / Shovel Works Road.
Driving Effort5/10
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 119.7 miles you will encounter 11 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 3.6 miles (SR 4006 / Shovel Works Road): Navigation decision point; at 105.4 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 118.9 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.
On the drive from Colerain, PA to Pittsburgh, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Hollidaysburg along the way.
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 47m. Total distance: 119.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (27%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 61.2 miles on William Penn Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.6 miles (SR 4006 / Shovel Works Road): Navigation decision point; at 105.4 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 118.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Pittsburgh, PA before heading back.
