Origin
Fountain Hill, PA
Morning in Fountain Hill on Sunday
Local time
11:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fountain Hill, PA to Altoona, PA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 13m
Distance
209.2 mi
337 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 0m
★
6 AM
4h 13m
8 AM
4h 39m
10 AM
4h 22m
12 PM
4h 20m
3 PM
4h 24m
5 PM
4h 38m
8 PM
4h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fountain Hill, PA
Kristopher Hines
Trip Overview
Fountain Hill, PA to Altoona, PA is 209.2 miles and takes about 4h 13m via Keystone Shortway and I 78, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region toward the west. It's a solid option for a single-day drive, offering a mixed driving experience. You'll encounter a good balance of highway travel and other road types, making it a practical choice for getting from point A to point B without feeling like a constant interstate grind.
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
104.6 miles from Fountain Hill, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 14m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Keystone Shortway | 63.1 mi | 1h 8m |
| I 78 | 27.4 mi | 34m |
| Jacksonville Road | 24.2 mi | 28m |
| I 99 | 23.3 mi | 24m |
| Locust Gap Highway | 11.5 mi | 13m |
| Centre Turnpike | 10.6 mi | 12m |
| South Market Street | 9.7 mi | 11m |
| Sunbury Road | 9.4 mi | 11m |
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 63.1 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fountain Hill, PA and Altoona, PA.
1
Start on Broadway
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Broadway
2
Keep slight left at fork onto Broadway
152 ft
·
5 sec
·
Broadway
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on Emmaus Avenue
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Emmaus Avenue
4
Continue on Emaus Avenue
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Emaus Avenue
5
Turn right onto Mack Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
Mack Boulevard
6
Turn left onto Devonshire Road
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Devonshire Road
7
Continue on Downyflake Lane
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
Downyflake Lane
8
Turn left onto Lehigh Street
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
Lehigh Street
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Toward I 78 West, PA 309 North: Harrisburg, Tamaqua
10
Merge onto I 78; PA 309
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
I 78; PA 309
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 78
24 mi
·
30 min
·
I 78
Toward I 78 West: Harrisburg
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 29
Toward PA 61 North: Pottsville
Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 29
Toward PA 61 North: Pottsville
14
Merge onto PA 61
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Pottsville Pike
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on PA 61
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Centre Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on PA 61
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Route 61 South
17
Continue on PA 61
0.3 mi
·
18 sec
·
Pottsville Boulevard
18
Continue on PA 61
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
South Claude A. Lord Boulevard
19
Turn left onto US 209
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
Mauch Chunk Street
20
At end of road, turn right onto US 209
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
South Centre Street
21
Turn left onto US 209
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
West Market Street
22
Continue on US 209; PA 901
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Pottsville Minersville Highway
Use the straight lane.
23
At end of road, turn left onto PA 901
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East Sunbury Street
24
Continue on PA 901
9.4 mi
·
11 min
·
Sunbury Road
25
Continue on PA 901
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Fairgrounds Road
26
Continue on PA 901
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Locust Gap Highway
27
Continue on PA 54; PA 901
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Locust Gap Highway
28
Continue on PA 54
9.7 mi
·
11 min
·
South Market Street
29
Turn right onto PA 54
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
Danville-Riverside Bridge Road
Use the right lane.
30
Continue on PA 54
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Factory Street
Use the straight lane.
31
Continue on PA 54
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Continental Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
32
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
33
Merge onto I 80
63 mi
·
1 hr 8 min
·
Keystone Shortway
34
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 161
Toward I 99 South, US 220 South, PA 26: Bellefonte
35
Turn left onto US 220; PA 26
24 mi
·
28 min
·
Jacksonville Road
Use the straight lane.
36
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
37
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward PA 764 South: Pinecroft
38
Turn right onto PA 764
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
Sabbath Rest Road
39
Turn left onto US 220 Business; PA 764
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
East Pleasant Valley Boulevard
40
Turn right onto PA 764
174 ft
·
3 sec
·
Rutgers Lane
41
Continue on PA 764
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
East Walton Avenue
42
Turn right onto Greenwood Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Greenwood Road
43
At end of road, turn left onto 6th Avenue Road
0.6 mi
·
53 sec
·
6th Avenue Road
44
Continue on East 6th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
East 6th Avenue
45
Continue on Bellwood Avenue
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Bellwood Avenue
46
Turn slight left onto PA 764
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
7th Avenue
47
Turn right onto 7th Street
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
7th Street
48
Arrive at destination
7th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 13m duration, leaving in the morning is advisable to ensure you have ample daylight for the drive. With only one recommended stop and a $35 fuel budget, this trip is manageable for a single day. The longest stretch without a break is over 63 miles, so plan your stop accordingly, perhaps midway or just before this longer segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer stretches on the Keystone Shortway, to avoid any unexpected delays.
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 104.6 miles from Fountain Hill, PA, or about 2h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 63.1 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 46 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 104.6 miles or 2h 14m 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 28m
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 Fountain Hill, 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 Fountain Hill, PA
This is one driving day of about 209.2 miles and 4h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Fountain Hill, 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 63.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
105 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 46 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 104.6 miles from Fountain Hill, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Keystone Shortway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 63.1 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 265 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 179.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Broadway
Keep slight left at fork onto Broadway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
33.5 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Take the exit toward PA 61 North: Pottsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 29
Toward PA 61 North: Pottsville
7
33.6 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Keep slight right at fork toward PA 61 North: Pottsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 29
Toward PA 61 North: Pottsville
6
155.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 9m 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...
6
179.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 38m 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,...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.68 one way
$69.37 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
73 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $37.99 | $75.97 |
| premium | $4.93 | $40.57 | $81.14 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $46.19 | $92.38 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.74
Centre Turnpike
(10.6 mi)
$0.74
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
$35
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 62.8 | 0 | $21.97 | $10.04 |
| Efficient EV | 52.3 | 0 | $18.30 | $8.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 83.7 | 1 | $29.29 | $13.39 |
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.
Destination
Altoona, PA
Morning in Altoona on Sunday
Local time
11:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 7 to 13 mph
44% chance
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
16 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
4h 13m 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.
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
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...
21 mi from route
~53 min detour
Free
near mile 57.7
Park Closure: List of trail closures post-Hurricane Helene
Caution: Black Bears Frequenting the McAfee Knob Area in Virginia
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...
23 mi from route
~58 min detour
Free
near mile 209.2
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a mixed drive, with about 31% on highways. You'll experience stretches of faster-paced road alongside more local thoroughfares. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 63.1 miles on the Keystone Shortway. Expect the road's character to vary, shifting between efficient highway cruising and potentially more winding or varied sections as you progress toward Altoona. It’s not a pure interstate journey, so be prepared for a bit of everything.
31% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
48 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 63.1 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near Broadway.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 26 significant decision points across 209.2 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 1 miles (Broadway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
About the Cities
Arriving in Altoona, PA
Full guide →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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 13m. Total distance: 209.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 63.1 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.74 in tolls one way, starting with Centre 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 1 miles (Broadway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Appalachian National Scenic Trail and Johnstown Flood National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Altoona, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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