Coolbaugh, PA to Altoona, PA is 209.4 miles and takes about 4h 5m via Keystone Shortway, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to another part of the same state. It's a fairly straightforward drive that utilizes a mix of major routes and surface roads. Expect a manageable drive that can easily be completed in a single day, making it a convenient option for point-to-point travel.
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
104.7 miles from Coolbaugh, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
148.3 mi
2h 47m
Jacksonville Road
24.2 mi
28m
I 99
23.3 mi
24m
Seven Bridge Road
3.1 mi
6m
Milford Road
3 mi
5m
East Pleasant Valley Boulevard
2.8 mi
4m
Marshalls Creek Bypass
0.8 mi
1m
Greenwood Road
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 148.3 mi, about 2h 47m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 44 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,111 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,553
Quietest
2 AM
~186 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6×
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 Coolbaugh, PA and Altoona, PA.
1
Start on Keystone Road
264 ft·11 sec·Keystone Road
2
Turn left onto US 209
3.0 mi·5 min·Milford Road
3
Continue on US 209
0.8 mi·1 min·Marshalls Creek Bypass
4
Enter roundabout onto US 209
176 ft·6 sec·Seven Bridge Road
5
Continue on US 209
3.1 mi·5 min·Seven Bridge Road
6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 209
0.3 mi·36 sec·US 209
7
Merge onto I 80
3.6 mi·5 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
145 mi·2 hr 42 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
23 mi·24 min·I 99; US 220
Toward I 99 South, US 220 South: Port Matilda, Altoona
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Toward PA 764 South: Pinecroft
13
Turn right onto PA 764
0.5 mi·52 sec·Sabbath Rest Road
14
Turn left onto US 220 Business; PA 764
2.8 mi·4 min·East Pleasant Valley Boulevard
15
Turn right onto PA 764
174 ft·3 sec·Rutgers Lane
16
Continue on PA 764
0.1 mi·14 sec·East Walton Avenue
17
Turn right onto Greenwood Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Greenwood Road
18
At end of road, turn left onto 6th Avenue Road
0.6 mi·53 sec·6th Avenue Road
19
Continue on East 6th Avenue
0.3 mi·22 sec·East 6th Avenue
20
Continue on Bellwood Avenue
0.2 mi·19 sec·Bellwood Avenue
21
Turn slight left onto PA 764
0.4 mi·43 sec·7th Avenue
22
Turn right onto 7th Street
0.1 mi·11 sec·7th Street
23
Arrive at destination
7th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 5m estimated drive time, starting your trip in the morning will give you plenty of flexibility for stops. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $34, this is a very manageable one-day drive. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you move away from the highway sections, as services can be more spread out on surface roads. The 148.3-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway is your longest continuous segment, so plan any breaks before or after that part.
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 104.7 miles from Coolbaugh, PA, or about 2h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 148.3 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 46 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.7 miles or 2h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 21m
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 Coolbaugh, 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 Coolbaugh, PA
This is one driving day of about 209.4 miles and 4h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Coolbaugh, 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 148.3 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 7.3 and 207.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
7.3 mi into trip|~13m in|I 80 / Keystone Shortway
Merge onto I 80 / Keystone Shortway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
155.6 mi into trip|~3h 1m 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...
5
155.9 mi into trip|~3h 2m in|US 220; PA 26 / Jacksonville Road
Turn left onto US 220; PA 26 / Jacksonville Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
180 mi into trip|~3h 31m 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,...
5
207.7 mi into trip|~4h 3m in|6th Avenue Road
At end of road, turn left onto 6th Avenue Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.39 one way
$66.78 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg73 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$36.95
$73.90
premium
$4.81
$39.64
$79.28
diesel
$4.80
$39.54
$79.08
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
62.8
0
$21.99
$10.05
Efficient EV
52.4
0
$18.32
$8.38
EV Truck/SUV
83.8
1
$29.32
$13.40
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Coolbaugh, PA
Late night
in Coolbaugh on Monday
Local time
4:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Patchy Smoke
SW 5 mph70% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 8:27PM EDT until July 18 at 11:30PM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued July 18 at 8:18PM EDT until July 18 at 9:00PM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA
Destination
Altoona, PA
Late night
in Altoona on Monday
Local time
4:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Showers And Thunderstorms then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 6 to 12 mph86% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 8:27PM EDT until July 18 at 11:30PM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued July 18 at 8:18PM EDT until July 18 at 9:00PM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA
84°F
Newberry, PA
105 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 5m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
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,...
8 mi from route
~19 min detour
$10
Park Closure: Old Mine Road North Construction Closure Begins April 6, 2026
Park Closure: Dingmans Falls Trail, Road, and Access Closed for Bridge Replacement
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
~58 min detour
Free
near mile 209.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly surface roads, with only about 11% on highways. You'll spend the majority of your time on local roads, with the longest stretch on the Keystone Shortway measuring 148.3 miles. This means you'll likely encounter more traffic signals and varying speed limits as you transition between Jacksonville Road and I-99. Be prepared for the shift from more open cruising to navigating through towns and intersections.
Only 11% 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: 148.3 mi on Keystone Shortway.
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 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 7.3 miles in near I 80 / Keystone Shortway.
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 209.4 miles you will encounter 15 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 7.3 miles (I 80 / Keystone Shortway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 155.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 155.9 miles (US 220; PA 26 / Jacksonville Road): Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Top landmarks
•Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament — church in Pennsylvania, United States
•Mishler Theatre — theater and movie theater in Altoona, Pennsylvania, United States
•Downtown Altoona Historic District — historic district in Altoona, Pennsylvania
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 5m. Total distance: 209.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (11%). 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 148.3 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 22 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.
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 7.3 miles (I 80 / Keystone Shortway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 155.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 155.9 miles (US 220; PA 26 / Jacksonville Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and Johnstown Flood National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Altoona, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
