Stretching 66.5 miles across Pennsylvania, this route from Johnstown to Pittsburgh is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 43 minutes. Because of the relatively short distance, it serves perfectly as a quick day trip rather than an overnight excursion. You can expect to spend approximately $11 on fuel for the trek, making it an economical choice for your travel budget. The path primarily utilizes the William Penn Highway, Penn-Lincoln Parkway East, and Harold Avenue to navigate the region. Whether you are heading into the city for business or leisure, this drive offers a practical connection between these two Northeastern hubs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
33.3 miles from Johnstown, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
William Penn Highway
40 mi
59m
Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
13.5 mi
18m
Harold Avenue
9.1 mi
14m
Broad Street
1.2 mi
3m
Laurel Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Roosevelt Boulevard
0.5 mi
1m
Washington Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Strayer Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
William Penn Highway
— 40 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Johnstown, PA and Pittsburgh, PA.
1
Start on Walnut Street
0.1 mi·30 sec·Walnut Street
2
Turn sharp left onto Washington Street
0.3 mi·40 sec·Washington Street
3
Turn right onto PA 56; PA 403
0.5 mi·1 min·Roosevelt Boulevard
4
Turn left onto PA 56; PA 403
1.2 mi·3 min·Broad Street
5
At end of road, turn left onto Laurel Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·Laurel Avenue
6
At end of road, turn right onto PA 56
0.3 mi·58 sec·Strayer Street
7
Continue on PA 56
9.1 mi·14 min·Harold Avenue
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward US 22 West: Blairsville
9
Merge onto US 22
40 mi·59 min·William Penn Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
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.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·38 sec
Exit 71BToward Second AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn straight onto Second Avenue
0.3 mi·41 sec·Second Avenue
13
At end of road, turn right onto Ross Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·Ross Street
14
Turn left onto Fifth Avenue
352 ft·10 sec·Fifth Avenue
15
Turn right onto Grant Street
513 ft·21 sec·Grant Street
Use the right lane.
16
Arrive at destination
Grant Street
Trip Plan
Since the trip is brief, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your own schedule. There are no mandatory stops required for this 1-hour and 43-minute drive, allowing you to head straight through if you prefer to maintain momentum. Keep in mind that the majority of your travel occurs on local roads, so be prepared for changing speed limits and intersection navigation. A helpful tip for this specific route is to account for potential traffic patterns as you approach the city on the Penn-Lincoln Parkway. By planning your arrival outside of peak hours, you can ensure a smoother end to your 66.5-mile journey.
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 33.3 miles from Johnstown, PA, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 40 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 15 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 33.3 miles or 53m 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 28m
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 Johnstown, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Johnstown, PA
This is one driving day of about 66.5 miles and 1h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Johnstown, 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 40 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 12.1 and 66.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
12.1 mi into trip|~22m in
Take the exit toward US 22 West: Blairsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 22 West: Blairsville
8
52.3 mi into trip|~1h 22m 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
65.7 mi into trip|~1h 40m 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
66.2 mi into trip|~1h 41m in|Ross Street
At end of road, turn right onto Ross Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
7
66.5 mi into trip|~1h 42m in|Grant Street
Turn right onto Grant Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.02 one way
$22.05 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg23 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$12.07
$24.15
premium
$4.93
$12.90
$25.79
diesel
$5.61
$14.68
$29.36
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: 23.3 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
20
0
$6.98
$3.19
Efficient EV
16.6
0
$5.82
$2.66
EV Truck/SUV
26.6
0
$9.31
$4.26
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 20, 2026
Origin
Johnstown, PA
Late night
in Johnstown on Tuesday
Local time
4:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Pittsburgh, PA
Late night
in Pittsburgh on Tuesday
Local time
4:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°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
5 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 43m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. With only 20% of the journey consisting of highway driving, the route feels more intimate and varied than a standard high-speed sprint. You will spend your longest uninterrupted stretch on the William Penn Highway, which covers 40 miles of the total distance. As you transition between local roads and the parkway, the character of the pavement shifts, keeping the experience engaging. This drive is ideal if you prefer navigating regional roads over long, repetitive stretches of heavy interstate traffic.
Only 20% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 40 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 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 12.1 miles in.
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 66.5 miles you will encounter 11 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 12.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 52.3 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 65.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
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 43m. Total distance: 66.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (20%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 40 miles on William Penn Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 12.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 52.3 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 65.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Pittsburgh, PA before heading back.
