If you are planning a trip from Ellwood City to Altoona, expect a straightforward journey spanning 125.5 miles. You should set aside approximately 2 hours and 25 minutes of drive time to complete this trek. Because the route is relatively short, it functions perfectly as a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking overnight accommodations. Budgeting around $20 for fuel will cover your transit across this Northeast corridor. Since the route avoids highways entirely, it offers a more personal, local travel experience compared to major interstates. It is an ideal choice if you prefer staying off the beaten path while navigating between these two Pennsylvania destinations.
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
62.7 miles from Ellwood City, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 31m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 422
85.8 mi
1h 56m
William Penn Highway
16.4 mi
19m
Portersville Road
9.5 mi
16m
I 99
4.4 mi
4m
East Portersville Road
1.8 mi
3m
17th Street
1.4 mi
2m
6th Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
Pleasant Valley Road
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 422
— 85.8 mi, about 1h 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ellwood City, PA and Altoona, PA.
1
Start on Keystone Way
36 ft·7 sec·Keystone Way
2
Turn left onto PA 65; PA 288; PA 351 Truck
0.4 mi·58 sec·Fountain Avenue
3
Continue on PA 488
9.5 mi·16 min·Portersville Road
4
At end of road, turn right onto US 19; PA 488
0.2 mi·21 sec·Perry Highway
5
Turn slight left onto PA 488
1.8 mi·3 min·East Portersville Road
Use the left lane.
6
Turn slight left onto Pleasant Valley Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Pleasant Valley Road
7
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·17 sec
8
Merge onto US 422
35 mi·47 min·US 422
9
Take the exit onto US 422
0.3 mi·33 sec·US 422
Toward US 422 East, US 422 Business West: Indiana
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 422
51 mi·1 hr 8 min·US 422
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on West High Street
0.7 mi·1 min·West High Street
12
Turn slight right onto Rowena Drive
0.6 mi·1 min·Rowena Drive
13
Merge onto Admiral Peary Highway
0.2 mi·28 sec·Admiral Peary Highway
Toward US 22 East: Hollidaysburg
14
Turn left
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward US 22 East: HollidaysburgUse the left lane.
15
Merge onto US 22
16 mi·19 min·William Penn Highway
16
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·45 sec·this road
Toward I 99, US 220: Altoona, Bedford
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
18
Merge onto I 99; US 220
4.4 mi·4 min·I 99; US 220
19
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward 17th Street
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward Altoona
21
Turn straight onto 17th Street
1.4 mi·2 min·17th Street
22
Turn right onto PA 764
0.7 mi·1 min·6th Avenue
23
Turn left onto 7th Street
0.2 mi·18 sec·7th Street
24
Arrive at destination
7th Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable 2-hour and 25-minute trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever it suits your schedule. You won't face the stress of long-distance fatigue, but keep in mind that the local roads lack the predictable flow of a major expressway. Aim to keep your fuel tank topped off before leaving Ellwood City, as the $20 estimated cost is a baseline for the direct distance. Because the journey is entirely local, be prepared for more frequent turns and varying speed limits compared to a typical highway drive. Make sure to account for extra travel time if you encounter local traffic along the turn-heavy sections of Perry Highway.
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 62.7 miles from Ellwood City, PA, or about 1h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 85.8 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 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.7 miles or 1h 31m 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 26m
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 Ellwood City, 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 Ellwood City, PA
This is one driving day of about 125.4 miles and 2h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Ellwood City, 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 US 422 for about 85.8 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 47.8 and 123 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
47.8 mi into trip|~1h 10m in|US 422
Take the exit onto US 422 toward US 422 East, US 422 Business West: Indiana
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 422 East, US 422 Business West: India...
6
48 mi into trip|~1h 11m in|US 422
Keep slight right at fork onto US 422
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
100 mi into trip|~2h 23m in
Turn left toward US 22 East: Hollidaysburg
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward US 22 East: Hollidaysburg
6
117.2 mi into trip|~2h 43m 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
5
123 mi into trip|~2h 51m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Altoona
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Altoona
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.79 one way
$41.58 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$22.77
$45.54
premium
$4.93
$24.32
$48.64
diesel
$5.61
$27.69
$55.37
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: 43.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.6
0
$13.17
$6.02
Efficient EV
31.4
0
$10.97
$5.02
EV Truck/SUV
50.2
0
$17.56
$8.03
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 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 18, 2026
Origin
Ellwood City, PA
Morning
in Ellwood City on Sunday
Local time
11:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Altoona, PA
Morning
in Altoona on Sunday
Local time
11:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 7 to 13 mph44% chanceLive forecast
55°F
Ford City, PA
63 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
11 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 55m 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...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
Free
near mile 99.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous highway cruise, this route relies on Fountain Avenue, Portersville Road, and Perry Highway to reach your destination. Because the highway share is 0%, you can expect a steady rhythm of local roads rather than high-speed interstate travel. You will not find any lengthy, uninterrupted stretches, as the longest segment on Fountain Avenue is 0 miles. This configuration creates a technical feel that requires your full attention as you transition through the regional landscape.
72% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 85.8 mi on US 422.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 422 and William Penn Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 47.8 miles in near US 422.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 125.4 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 47.8 miles (US 422): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 48 miles (US 422): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 100 miles: 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 Ellwood City, 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 55m. Total distance: 125.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (72%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 85.8 miles on US 422. 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. 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 47.8 miles (US 422): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 48 miles (US 422): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 100 miles: 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 Altoona, PA before heading back.
