Johnstown, PA to Upland, PA is 228.5 miles and takes about 4h 41m via Pennsylvania Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $41 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, primarily traversing Pennsylvania. Given its relatively short duration and mostly highway profile, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion. You'll encounter a straightforward drive that is efficient for getting from point A to point B.
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
114.2 miles from Johnstown, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
166.7 mi
3h
Quaker Valley Road
14.2 mi
20m
Clear Shade Drive
10.5 mi
14m
Pottstown Pike
7.1 mi
11m
Middletown Road
5.8 mi
9m
Scalp Avenue
3.8 mi
6m
West Chester Pike
3.4 mi
6m
South New Middletown Road
2.9 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 166.7 mi, about 3h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Johnstown, PA and Upland, PA.
1
Start on Walnut Street
43 ft·5 sec·Walnut Street
2
Turn right onto Main Street
0.3 mi·55 sec·Main Street
3
Turn right onto PA 271
0.2 mi·26 sec·Bedford Street
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·55 sec
5
Merge onto PA 56
0.8 mi·1 min·PA 56
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
7
At end of road, turn left onto Bedford Street
1.6 mi·3 min·Bedford Street
8
Continue on Scalp Avenue
0.1 mi·11 sec·Scalp Avenue
9
Enter roundabout onto Scalp Avenue
145 ft·2 sec·Scalp Avenue
10
Continue on Scalp Avenue
3.7 mi·6 min·Scalp Avenue
11
Continue on PA 56
11 mi·14 min·Clear Shade Drive
12
Continue on PA 56
14 mi·20 min·Quaker Valley Road
13
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec
14
Merge onto I 99; US 220
2.2 mi·2 min·I 99; US 220
15
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward Pittsburgh, Harrisburg
16
Keep slight right at fork
284 ft·8 sec
Toward US 220 Business South: Bedford
17
Turn slight right onto US 220 BUS
0.2 mi·26 sec·Business 220
18
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward I 70, I 76, PATP: Pittsburgh, Harrisburg
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward I 76 East, I 70 East: Harrisburg
20
Merge onto I 70; I 76; PATP
167 mi·3 hr·Pennsylvania Turnpike
21
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 312Toward PA 100: Downingtown, Pottstown, West ChesterUse the slight right lane.
22
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward PA 100 South: DowningtownUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
23
Merge onto PA 100
7.1 mi·11 min·Pottstown Pike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Merge onto US 202
1.6 mi·2 min·US 202
25
Take the exit
0.1 mi·23 sec
Toward PA 3: Newtown SquareUse the right lane.
26
Turn right onto PA 3
3.4 mi·6 min·West Chester Pike
Use the straight lane.
27
Turn right onto PA 352
1.2 mi·2 min·South Chester Road
Use the right lane.
28
Continue on PA 352
5.8 mi·9 min·Middletown Road
Use the straight lane.
29
Continue on PA 352
2.9 mi·5 min·South New Middletown Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
30
Continue on PA 352
1.1 mi·2 min·Edgmont Avenue
Use the straight lane.
31
Turn right onto Upland Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Upland Road
Use the right lane.
32
Continue on Main Street
0.7 mi·1 min·Main Street
33
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 4h 41m drive, consider an early morning departure from Johnstown, PA. This will give you ample daylight to complete the 228.5-mile trip and allow for flexibility if you decide to make an unplanned stop. With a fuel cost estimated at $41, it's wise to fill up before heading out, especially since the longest stretch on the Pennsylvania Turnpike is 166.7 miles. There is one recommended stop, so plan for a brief break around the halfway point.
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 114.2 miles from Johnstown, PA, or about 2h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 166.7 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 50 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 114.2 miles or 2h 20m 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 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Upland, 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.
+
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 Johnstown, PA
This is one driving day of about 228.5 miles and 4h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Johnstown, 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 166.7 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 36 and 216.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
36 mi into trip|~54m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 76 East, I 70 East: Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 76 East, I 70 East: Harrisburg
8
203.1 mi into trip|~3h 56m in
Take the exit toward PA 100: Downingtown, Pottstown, West Chester
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 312
Toward PA 100: Downingtown, Pottstown, West Che...
7
203.5 mi into trip|~3h 57m in
Keep slight left at fork toward PA 100 South: Downingtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward PA 100 South: Downingtown
6
212.8 mi into trip|~4h 12m in
Take the exit toward PA 3: Newtown Square
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward PA 3: Newtown Square
6
216.3 mi into trip|~4h 19m in|PA 352 / South Chester Road
Turn right onto PA 352 / South Chester Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.43 one way
$72.87 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg80 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$40.32
$80.64
premium
$4.81
$43.25
$86.51
diesel
$4.80
$43.15
$86.29
Estimated Tolls: $21.67
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(166.7 mi)$21.67
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
$36
Tolls
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$83–$108
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68.6
0
$23.99
$10.97
Efficient EV
57.1
0
$19.99
$9.14
EV Truck/SUV
91.4
1
$31.99
$14.62
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Johnstown, PA
Afternoon
in Johnstown on Sunday
Local time
1:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 12 mph79% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 2:09PM EDT until July 18 at 3:00PM EDT by NWS State College PA
Tornado Watch
Tornado Watch issued July 18 at 1:55PM EDT until July 18 at 9:00PM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Destination
Upland, PA
Afternoon
in Upland on Sunday
Local time
1:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Areas Of Smoke
SW 10 mph82% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 2:09PM EDT until July 18 at 3:00PM EDT by NWS State College PA
Tornado Watch
Tornado Watch issued July 18 at 1:55PM EDT until July 18 at 9:00PM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
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
4h 41m 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.
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...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Free
near mile 119.4
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...
Famous as the First State to ratify the Constitution, Delaware was born out of a conflict among three world powers for dominance of the Delaware Valley. From this beginning, the region developed a dis...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
Free
near mile 222.8
Valley Forge is the place where George Washington and the Continental Army took refuge during the winter of 1777-1778. Today the park protects 3,500 acres of meadows, woodlands, historic landscapes, a...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 222.8
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...
12 mi from route
~31 min detour
Free
near mile 159.2
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is 75% highway, meaning you'll spend most of your time on high-speed roads. The longest stretch without exiting is 166.7 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. After this, you'll transition to surface roads like Quaker Valley Road and Clear Shade Drive. Expect to notice the change from consistent highway cruising to navigating local roads as you approach your destination.
75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 166.7 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and Quaker Valley Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 36 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 228.5 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 36 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 203.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 203.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,357 ft29 ft
Total Climb
1,441 ft
Total Descent
2,577 ft
Highest Point
2,357 ft
~16.5 mi in
Elevation Range
2,329 ft
Notable High Points
2,357 ft at ~16.5 miles+1,194 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Johnstown, PA and Upland, PA, road signs point toward Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Patp: Pittsburgh, Pottstown and Chester.
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.
Top landmarks
•Cathedral of Saint John Gualbert — church in Pennsylvania, United States
•Johnstown Inclined Plane — historical funicular in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, US
•Inclined Plane Bridge — Bridge in Johnstown, Pennsylvania
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 41m. Total distance: 228.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 166.7 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $21.67 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.
Yes — we found about 16 rest areas or service plazas 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.
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 Upland, 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. There are 16 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 36 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 203.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 203.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument, Johnstown Flood National Memorial and First State National Historical Park (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Upland, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
