Harrisburg to Blairsville is 160.4 miles and takes about 3h 32m via Pennsylvania Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to its western part. It's a relatively straightforward trip, primarily on a major turnpike, making it a good option for a single-day journey. Expect a mixed driving experience with significant highway time, but also a brief period on local roads. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient way to cover ground between these two Pennsylvania cities.
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
80.2 miles from Harrisburg, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 34m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
90.9 mi
1h 39m
Clear Shade Drive
10.5 mi
14m
Eichler Road
10.5 mi
15m
William Penn Highway
9.8 mi
13m
Harold Avenue
9.1 mi
14m
North 32nd Street
4 mi
6m
Quaker Valley Road
3.8 mi
5m
Scalp Avenue
3.8 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 90.9 mi, about 1h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Harrisburg, PA and Blairsville, PA.
1
Start on North 7th Street
89 ft·3 sec·North 7th Street
2
Enter roundabout onto North 7th Street
209 ft·7 sec·North 7th Street
3
Continue on North 7th Street
0.4 mi·1 min·North 7th Street
4
Turn right
422 ft·10 sec
5
Turn straight onto Forster Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Forster Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on M. Harvey Taylor Bridge
0.8 mi·1 min·M. Harvey Taylor Bridge
7
Continue on Taylor Bridge Bypass
1.2 mi·1 min·Taylor Bridge Bypass
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on US 11; US 15
0.9 mi·1 min·Cumberland Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on US 11; US 15
4.0 mi·6 min·North 32nd Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward I 76, PATP: Philadelphia, PittsburghUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward I 76 West: PittsburghUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 76; PATP
91 mi·1 hr 39 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward Altoona, JohnstownUse the slight right lane.
14
Turn left onto US 220 BUS
0.3 mi·42 sec·Business 220
15
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 99, US 220: Cumberland, Altoona
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
17
Merge onto I 99; US 220
2.4 mi·2 min·I 99; US 220
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward PA 56: Johnstown, Cessna
19
Turn straight onto PA 56
3.8 mi·5 min·Quaker Valley Road
20
Continue on PA 56
10 mi·15 min·Eichler Road
21
Continue on PA 56
11 mi·14 min·Clear Shade Drive
22
Continue on PA 56
3.7 mi·6 min·Scalp Avenue
23
Enter roundabout onto Scalp Avenue
146 ft·2 sec·Scalp Avenue
24
Continue on Scalp Avenue
0.1 mi·11 sec·Scalp Avenue
25
Continue on Bedford Street
3.2 mi·6 min·Bedford Street
26
Continue on PA 271
0.1 mi·24 sec·Clinton Street
27
Turn left onto Washington Street
0.7 mi·1 min·Washington Street
28
Turn right onto PA 56; PA 403
0.5 mi·1 min·Roosevelt Boulevard
29
Turn left onto PA 56; PA 403
1.2 mi·3 min·Broad Street
30
At end of road, turn left onto Laurel Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·Laurel Avenue
31
At end of road, turn right onto PA 56
0.3 mi·58 sec·Strayer Street
32
Continue on PA 56
9.1 mi·14 min·Harold Avenue
33
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward US 22 West: Blairsville
34
Merge onto US 22
9.8 mi·13 min·William Penn Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
35
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward US 119 North: IndianaUse the slight right lane.
36
Turn left onto Old William Penn Highway
1.9 mi·3 min·Old William Penn Highway
Toward US 22 East: EbensburgUse the straight lane.
37
Continue on East Market Street
0.7 mi·1 min·East Market Street
38
Turn right
58 ft·4 sec
39
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a drive time of just over 3.5 hours, this route is easily manageable in a single day. Leaving Harrisburg in the morning should give you ample time to reach Blairsville with daylight to spare. Your estimated fuel cost is around $27, so factor that into your budget. Given the longest stretch is 90.9 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, you might find a single fuel stop before or after this segment convenient, though it's not strictly necessary given the total duration. Pay attention to the transition from the turnpike to local roads; the change in speed limits and road surface can be abrupt.
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 80.2 miles from Harrisburg, PA, or about 1h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 90.9 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 35 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 80.2 miles or 1h 34m 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 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Blairsville, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Harrisburg, 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 Harrisburg, PA
This is one driving day of about 160.4 miles and 3h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Harrisburg, 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 90.9 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 7.9 and 100.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
7.9 mi into trip|~14m in
Take the exit toward I 76, PATP: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh
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 I 76, PATP: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh
7
8.3 mi into trip|~15m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 76 West: Pittsburgh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 76 West: Pittsburgh
7
99.3 mi into trip|~1h 55m 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
6
99.9 mi into trip|~1h 57m in
Take the ramp toward I 99, US 220: Cumberland, Altoona
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 99, US 220: Cumberland, Altoona
7
100.1 mi into trip|~1h 57m 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
$26.59 one way
$53.18 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg56 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$29.12
$58.25
premium
$4.93
$31.11
$62.21
diesel
$5.61
$35.41
$70.83
Estimated Tolls: $11.82
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(90.9 mi)$11.82
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
$27
Tolls
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 56.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
48.1
0
$16.84
$7.70
Efficient EV
40.1
0
$14.04
$6.42
EV Truck/SUV
64.2
0
$22.46
$10.27
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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 15, 2026
Origin
Harrisburg, PA
Morning
in Harrisburg on Sunday
Local time
8:05 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Blairsville, PA
Morning
in Blairsville on Sunday
Local time
8:05 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
45°F
King, PA
80 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
4 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
3h 32m 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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 132.7
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...
13 mi from route
~31 min detour
Free
near mile 127.2
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 160.4-mile trip features a mixed driving profile, with 58% of it on highways like the Pennsylvania Turnpike. You'll experience a substantial uninterrupted stretch of 90.9 miles on the turnpike, allowing for consistent speed. The journey begins with a turnpike focus before transitioning to local roads like Clear Shade Drive and Eichler Road. This change in road type means you'll go from a faster, more direct drive to a slower, potentially more winding experience as you near Blairsville. Be prepared for this shift in pace and road conditions.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
39 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 90.9 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 7.9 miles in.
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 21 significant decision points across 160.4 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 7.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 99.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Harrisburg, PA and Blairsville, PA, road signs point toward Altoona, Johnstown and Cessna.
Harrisburg is the capital and 4th-largest metropolitan area of Pennsylvania, with a metro population of 592,000 people in 2020. Harrisburg is known as the host city of the Pennsylvania Farm Show, the largest free indoor agriculture exposition in the United States, the largest annual outdoor sports show in North America, an auto show, which features a large static display of new and classic cars, and Motorama, a two-day event consisting of a car show, motocross racing, and remote control car racing.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 32m. Total distance: 160.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 90.9 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $11.82 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.
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 Blairsville, 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 7.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 99.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Blairsville, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
