Enola, PA to Altoona, PA is 131.8 miles and takes about 2h 33m via Pennsylvania Turnpike and I 99, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, specifically within Pennsylvania, making it a straightforward journey. For the most part, you'll be on well-maintained highways, so expect a consistent driving experience. It’s a manageable distance for a single-day trip, perfect if you're looking for a relatively quick transit between these two points.
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
65.9 miles from Enola, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
81.1 mi
1h 29m
I 99
32.7 mi
35m
American Legion Memorial Highway
8.7 mi
10m
Wertzville Road
2.8 mi
4m
17th Street
1.4 mi
2m
Harrisburg Pike
1 mi
2m
6th Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
Business 220
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 81.1 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Enola, PA and Altoona, PA.
1
Start on North Enola Drive
0.2 mi·34 sec·North Enola Drive
2
Turn sharp right onto PA 944
2.8 mi·4 min·Wertzville Road
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward I 81 South: Carlisle
4
Merge onto I 81
8.7 mi·10 min·American Legion Memorial Highway
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·48 sec
Exit 52Toward US 11: New Kingstown, MiddlesexUse the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork
201 ft·7 sec
Toward US 11 SouthUse the right lane.
7
Merge onto US 11
1.0 mi·2 min·Harrisburg Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 76, PATP
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·37 sec
Toward I 76 West: PittsburghUse the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto I 76; PATP
81 mi·1 hr 29 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward Altoona, JohnstownUse the slight right lane.
12
Turn left onto US 220 BUS
0.3 mi·42 sec·Business 220
13
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 99, US 220: Cumberland, Altoona
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
15
Merge onto I 99; US 220
33 mi·35 min·I 99; US 220
16
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward 17th Street
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward Altoona
18
Turn straight onto 17th Street
1.4 mi·2 min·17th Street
19
Turn right onto PA 764
0.7 mi·1 min·6th Avenue
20
Turn left onto 7th Street
0.2 mi·18 sec·7th Street
21
Arrive at destination
7th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 33m duration, leaving Enola in the morning should get you to Altoona with plenty of daylight to spare. There's one recommended stop, so plan for a brief break to stretch your legs. The fuel cost is estimated at $22, which is quite economical for this distance. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 81.1-mile stretch on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, as services can sometimes be spaced out on long highway segments. This is an easy day trip, so you have flexibility with your departure time.
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 65.9 miles from Enola, PA, or about 1h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 81.1 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 29 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65.9 miles or 1h 18m 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 Enola, 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 Enola, PA
This is one driving day of about 131.8 miles and 2h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Enola, 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 Pennsylvania Turnpike for about 81.1 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 12 and 95.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
12 mi into trip|~16m in
Take the exit toward US 11: New Kingstown, Middlesex
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 52
Toward US 11: New Kingstown, Middlesex
8
12.2 mi into trip|~16m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 11 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward US 11 South
7
13.7 mi into trip|~20m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 76 West: Pittsburgh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 76 West: Pittsburgh
7
95.1 mi into trip|~1h 50m in
Take the exit toward Altoona, Johnstown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Altoona, Johnstown
7
95.8 mi into trip|~1h 51m in
Keep slight right 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
$21.85 one way
$43.70 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg46 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$23.93
$47.86
premium
$4.93
$25.56
$51.12
diesel
$5.61
$29.10
$58.20
Estimated Tolls: $10.54
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(81.1 mi)$10.54
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Tolls
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
39.5
0
$13.84
$6.33
Efficient EV
33
0
$11.53
$5.27
EV Truck/SUV
52.7
0
$18.45
$8.44
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 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 18, 2026
Origin
Enola, PA
Afternoon
in Enola on Sunday
Local time
12:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Altoona, PA
Afternoon
in Altoona on Sunday
Local time
12:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live 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
1 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 33m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument
National Monument
More than 7,800 children from 140 Tribes went to the Carlisle School from 1879 to 1918. The National Park Service will collaborate with families, affiliated Tribal Nations, the US Army, historians, an...
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...
18 mi from route
~44 min detour
Free
near mile 113.6
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...
20 mi from route
~50 min detour
Free
near mile 100
The Appalachian Trail is a 2,190+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by p...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 86% of the route utilizing major roadways like the Pennsylvania Turnpike and I 99. You'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch of 81.1 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, offering a period of consistent speed and steady travel. While the majority of the journey is on these high-speed routes, the American Legion Memorial Highway may offer a slight change of pace. Overall, anticipate a driving experience characterized by efficiency and directness, typical of a highway-centric trip.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 81.1 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and I 99. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 18 significant decision points across 131.8 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 12 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Between Enola, PA and Altoona, PA, road signs point toward Middlesex, Patp and Johnstown.
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 33m. Total distance: 131.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 81.1 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $10.54 in tolls one way, starting with Pennsylvania Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
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 12 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 13.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument, Johnstown Flood National Memorial and Flight 93 National Memorial (4 total within detour distance). 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.
