Origin
Johnstown, PA
Afternoon in Johnstown on Sunday
Local time
4:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Johnstown, 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
1h
Distance
43.6 mi
70 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 56m
★
6 AM
1h 0m
8 AM
1h 10m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 4m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Johnstown, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Connecting Johnstown and Altoona, this 43.6-mile trip is a straightforward journey through Pennsylvania’s Northeast region. You can expect the drive to take approximately one hour, making it an ideal candidate for a simple day trip that requires no overnight stay. With a modest fuel budget of about $7, it is an economical route for those navigating between these two cities. You will primarily travel via William Penn Highway, William Penn Avenue, and Admiral Peary Highway. Because the distance is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time without needing to account for long-haul fatigue.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| William Penn Highway | 16.8 mi | 19m |
| William Penn Avenue | 10.3 mi | 16m |
| Admiral Peary Highway | 7.4 mi | 11m |
| I 99 | 4.4 mi | 4m |
| 17th Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| 6th Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| 7th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Walnut Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
William Penn Highway
— 16.8 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Johnstown, PA and Altoona, PA.
1
Start on Walnut Street
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Walnut Street
2
Turn right onto William Penn Avenue
10 mi
·
16 min
·
William Penn Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
Toward US 22 East: Ebensburg
4
Merge onto US 22
7.4 mi
·
11 min
·
Admiral Peary Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on US 22
17 mi
·
19 min
·
William Penn Highway
6
Continue on this road
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
this road
Toward I 99, US 220: Altoona, Bedford
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
8
Merge onto I 99; US 220
4.4 mi
·
4 min
·
I 99; US 220
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward 17th Street
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward Altoona
11
Turn straight onto 17th Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
17th Street
12
Turn right onto PA 764
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
6th Avenue
13
Turn left onto 7th Street
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
7th Street
14
Arrive at destination
7th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.8 miles from Johnstown, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 95 decision points cluster between mile 10.7 and 43.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
10.7 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
US 22 / Admiral Peary Highway
Merge onto US 22 / Admiral Peary Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
35.3 mi into trip
|
~48m 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
4
40.6 mi into trip
|
~55m in
Take the exit toward 17th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward 17th Street
5
41.1 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Altoona
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Altoona
4
43.4 mi into trip
|
~1h in
|
7th Street
Turn left onto 7th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.23 one way
$14.46 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $7.92 | $15.83 |
| premium | $4.93 | $8.46 | $16.91 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.63 | $19.25 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.1 | 0 | $4.58 | $2.09 |
| Efficient EV | 10.9 | 0 | $3.82 | $1.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.4 | 0 | $6.10 | $2.79 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Afternoon in Altoona on Sunday
Local time
4:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local driving experience rather than a monotonous interstate grind, as only 10% of this route consists of highway travel. The path demands your attention as you navigate winding local roads, though you will encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 16.8 miles along the William Penn Highway. Because the majority of the 43.6-mile trip takes place off the major highways, the pace feels more intimate and connected to the local landscape. You should be prepared for frequent adjustments to your speed and steering as the road transitions between these different highway segments.
Only 10% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.8 mi on William Penn Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10.7 miles in near US 22 / Admiral Peary Highway.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 43.6 miles you will encounter 9 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 10.7 miles (US 22 / Admiral Peary Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 35.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Johnstown, PA to Altoona, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Bedford along the way.
Bedford
34.8 mi in
|
~48m
About the Cities
Starting in Johnstown, PA
Full guide →Johnstown is a city in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, 41 miles (66 km) west-southwest of Altoona, and 70 miles (110 km) east of Pittsburgh. The Conemaugh River forms at Johnstown from its tributaries, the Stonycreek River and the Little Conemaugh.
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 1h. Total distance: 43.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 16.8 miles on William Penn Highway. 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.
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 10.7 miles (US 22 / Admiral Peary Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 35.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Altoona, PA before heading back.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Altoona, PA
More trips to Altoona, PA
Explore more options from Johnstown, PA or browse trips ending in Altoona, PA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse PA road trips.