Gilpin, PA to Pittsburgh, PA is 64.6 miles and takes about 1h 30m via William Penn Highway, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania's Northeast region, offering a local drive that connects two points without venturing far. Expect a route with frequent turns, making it more of a local navigation challenge than a straightforward cruise. With a duration under two hours and a modest fuel cost, this drive is easily manageable for a single day.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
32.3 miles from Gilpin, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 41m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
William Penn Highway
29.6 mi
45m
Buffalo-Pittsburgh Highway
20.3 mi
23m
Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
13.5 mi
18m
US 119
0.4 mi
<1m
Second Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Ross Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Grant Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Fifth Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
William Penn Highway
— 29.6 mi, about 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Gilpin, PA and Pittsburgh, PA.
1
Start on US 119
20 mi·23 min·Buffalo-Pittsburgh Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Take the exit onto US 119
0.4 mi·40 sec·US 119
Toward US 22 West, US 119 South: Blairsville, Pittsburgh
3
Merge onto US 22; US 119
30 mi·45 min·William Penn Highway
Use the straight lane.
4
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.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·38 sec
Exit 71BToward Second AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Turn straight onto Second Avenue
0.3 mi·41 sec·Second Avenue
7
At end of road, turn right onto Ross Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·Ross Street
8
Turn left onto Fifth Avenue
352 ft·10 sec·Fifth Avenue
9
Turn right onto Grant Street
513 ft·21 sec·Grant Street
Use the right lane.
10
Arrive at destination
Grant Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 1 hour and 30 minutes, this is a highly flexible drive. You can easily depart at your convenience, perhaps in the morning to arrive in Pittsburgh with plenty of the day to spare, or in the afternoon to avoid morning traffic. Since there are no designated stops recommended, you have the freedom to pull over as needed, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge as the longest stretch is nearly 30 miles. The $11 fuel cost is quite economical, so this shouldn't be a major concern for your planning.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 32.3 miles from Gilpin, PA, or about 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 29.6 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 14 miles or 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 32.3 miles or 41m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 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 Gilpin, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Gilpin, PA
This is one driving day of about 64.6 miles and 1h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from Gilpin, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on William Penn Highway for about 29.6 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 20.3 and 64.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
20.3 mi into trip|~23m in|US 119
Take the exit onto US 119 toward US 22 West, US 119 South: Blairsville, Pittsburgh
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 22 West, US 119 South: Blairsville, P...
8
50.3 mi into trip|~1h 9m 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
63.8 mi into trip|~1h 27m 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
64.3 mi into trip|~1h 29m in|Ross Street
At end of road, turn right onto Ross Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
7
64.5 mi into trip|~1h 29m in|Grant Street
Turn right onto Grant Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.71 one way
$21.42 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg23 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$11.73
$23.46
premium
$4.93
$12.53
$25.06
diesel
$5.61
$14.26
$28.53
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
19.4
0
$6.78
$3.10
Efficient EV
16.2
0
$5.65
$2.58
EV Truck/SUV
25.8
0
$9.04
$4.13
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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
Gilpin, PA
Late night
in Gilpin on Tuesday
Local time
4:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Pittsburgh, PA
Late night
in Pittsburgh on Tuesday
Local time
4:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Mostly Clear
E 2 to 6 mph0% chanceLive 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
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
1h 30m 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...
23 mi from route
~59 min detour
Free
near mile 15.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll be making frequent directional changes rather than cruising on a consistent highway. Only 21% of the drive is on highways, so be prepared for a more engaged driving experience. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 29.6 miles along the William Penn Highway. This suggests a journey that is more about navigating local roads and connecting them, rather than a long, uninterrupted highway segment.
Only 21% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 29.6 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 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 20.3 miles in near US 119.
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 64.6 miles you will encounter 8 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 20.3 miles (US 119): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.3 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 63.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Top landmarks
•Carnegie Museum of Natural History — natural history museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
•Allegheny Observatory — historic observatory of the University of Pittsburgh
•Carnegie Museum of Art — museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 30m. Total distance: 64.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (21%). 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 29.6 miles on William Penn Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza 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. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 20.3 miles (US 119): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.3 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 63.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Pittsburgh, PA before heading back.
