Trip from Kingston, PA to McMurray, PA

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 58m

Distance

279.5 mi

450 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$45

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min

4 AM

5h 46m ★

6 AM

5h 59m

8 AM

6h 25m

10 AM

6h 8m

12 PM

6h 5m

3 PM

6h 9m

5 PM

6h 23m

8 PM

5h 51m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time

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borough in central Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States

Kingston, PA

Wikimedia Commons

McMurray, PA

Haneul Trac

Trip Overview

Kingston, PA to McMurray, PA is 279.5 miles and takes about 5h 58m via Keystone Shortway, William Penn Highway, and I-99, with a fuel budget near $46 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. Expect a drive that's mostly on surface roads, offering a more grounded travel experience than a pure interstate cruise. With a recommended one-day duration, it's a manageable drive if you're looking to get from point A to point B without too much fuss.

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

139.7 miles from Kingston, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 41m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Keystone Shortway	98.5 mi	1h 47m
William Penn Highway	61.2 mi	1h 25m
I 99	33.8 mi	36m
Jacksonville Road	24.2 mi	28m
I 81	14.4 mi	16m
Admiral Peary Highway	13.4 mi	19m
Penn-Lincoln Parkway East	11.8 mi	16m
McMurray Road	3.9 mi	8m

Longest stretch: Keystone Shortway — 98.5 mi, about 1h 47m

Traffic on I-80

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 36 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

3 PM

~1,145 veh/hr typical · worst 1,582

Quietest

2 AM

~189 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

6.1×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Kingston, PA and McMurray, PA.

Start on this road

79 ft · 10 sec · this road

Turn right onto Market Street

190 ft · 9 sec · Market Street

Use the straight lane.

Continue on Market Street

1.2 mi · 2 min · Market Street

Use the left lane.

Continue on West Market Street

0.2 mi · 26 sec · West Market Street

Enter roundabout onto South Main Street

322 ft · 10 sec · South Main Street

Continue on South Main Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · South Main Street

Turn left onto Hazle Street

1.0 mi · 2 min · Hazle Street

Turn left onto Blackman Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · Blackman Street

Turn right onto PA 309

0.2 mi · 29 sec · Wilkes-Barre Township Boulevard

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 43 sec

Merge onto I 81

14 mi · 16 min · I 81

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min

Exit 151B Toward I-80 West: Bloomsburg

Merge onto I 80

99 mi · 1 hr 47 min · Keystone Shortway

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 53 sec

Exit 161 Toward I 99 South, US 220 South, PA 26: Bellefonte

Turn left onto US 220; PA 26

24 mi · 28 min · Jacksonville Road

Use the straight lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220

34 mi · 36 min · I 99; US 220

Toward I 99 South, US 220 South: Port Matilda, Altoona

Take the exit

0.8 mi · 1 min

Toward US 22: Ebensburg, Hollidaysburg

Continue on this road

0.5 mi · 43 sec · this road

Continue on US 22

16 mi · 19 min · William Penn Highway

Continue on US 22

13 mi · 19 min · Admiral Peary Highway

Use the straight lane.

Continue on US 22

45 mi · 1 hr 6 min · William Penn Highway

Use the straight / right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 376; US 22

12 mi · 16 min · Penn-Lincoln Parkway East

Toward I 376 West, US 22 West: Pittsburgh Use the slight left lane.

Take the exit

478 ft · 24 sec

Exit 73A Toward PA 885 South: Glenwood Use the slight right lane.

Turn right onto PA 885

0.1 mi · 13 sec · Bates Street

Use the straight / right lanes.

Turn left onto PA 885

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Second Avenue

Use the left / straight lanes.

Turn right onto Hot Metal Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · Hot Metal Street

At end of road, turn left onto PA 837

1.2 mi · 2 min · East Carson Street

Turn right onto Blue Belt

2.5 mi · 3 min · Becks Run Road

Continue on Blue Belt

0.2 mi · 21 sec · Biscayne Drive

At end of road, turn right onto Blue Belt

0.6 mi · 54 sec · Maytide Street

Turn left onto PA 51; Blue Belt

0.2 mi · 28 sec · Saw Mill Run Boulevard

Take the exit onto Blue Belt

3.0 mi · 6 min · Blue Belt

Use the straight / left lanes.

Turn slight right onto Milford Drive

0.4 mi · 54 sec · Milford Drive

Turn left onto Hillcrest Street

0.3 mi · 38 sec · Hillcrest Street

Continue on Bethel Church Road

365 ft · 12 sec · Bethel Church Road

At end of road, turn right onto Bethel Church Road

1.3 mi · 3 min · Bethel Church Road

Turn left onto Bethel Church Road

1.1 mi · 2 min · Bethel Church Road

At end of road, turn left onto Orange Belt

3.9 mi · 8 min · McMurray Road

Use the left lane.

Turn left onto Thomas Road

52 ft · 2 sec · Thomas Road

Arrive at destination

Thomas Road

Trip Plan

For this 5h 58m drive, aim to depart in the morning to ensure you have ample daylight. Since it's a single-day trip, you'll likely only need one planned stop for fuel or a break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you move from highway segments to the longer stretches on surface roads, as fuel availability can vary. The recommended one-day duration means you can be flexible with your departure time, but starting earlier is generally advisable to avoid any late-day rush. Remember that with 21% highway share, you'll spend most of your time on roads that require more attention to speed limits and local conditions.

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 139.7 miles from Kingston, PA, or about 2h 41m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.5 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 61 miles or 1h 13m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 139.7 miles or 2h 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 4h 34m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near McMurray, PA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Kingston, 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 Kingston, PA

This is one driving day of about 279.5 miles and 5h 58m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Kingston, 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 Keystone Shortway for about 98.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Cresson, PA

140 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

Harrisburg, PA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 61 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Central City, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 139.7 miles from Kingston, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

0.3 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.4 mi from route

TA

2.2 mi from route

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 26

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 264 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Market Street

Turn right onto Market Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

1.4 mi into trip | ~3m in | South Main Street

Enter roundabout onto South Main Street

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

117.8 mi into trip | ~2h 15m in

Take the exit toward I 99 South, US 220 South, PA 26: Bellefonte

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 161 Toward I 99 South, US 220 South, PA 26: Bellefo...

252.1 mi into trip | ~5h 8m 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

264 mi into trip | ~5h 24m in

Take the exit toward PA 885 South: Glenwood

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 73A Toward PA 885 South: Glenwood

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$44.57 one way

$89.13 round trip

$4.05/gal 25.4 MPG avg 98 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.48	$49.32	$98.64
premium	$4.81	$52.91	$105.81
diesel	$4.80	$52.77	$105.55

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$45

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$70–$95

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 97.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	83.9	1	$29.35	$13.42
Efficient EV	69.9	0	$24.46	$11.18
EV Truck/SUV	111.8	1	$39.13	$17.89

Gas CO2

98 kg

EV CO2

33 kg (66% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 20, 2026

Origin

Kingston, PA

Evening in Kingston on Monday

Local time

7:55 PM

EDT

Current temp

82°F

Sunny

W 0 to 3 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Destination

McMurray, PA

Evening in McMurray on Monday

Local time

7:55 PM

EDT

Current temp

82°F

Sunny

S 3 mph 0% chance 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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

5h 58m 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.

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...

9 mi from route ~21 min detour Free near mile 202.4

Park Closure: North Abutment Overlook Closure

View on nps.gov

Flight 93 National Memorial

National Memorial

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...

27 mi from route ~68 min detour Free near mile 202.4

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

This drive is predominantly on surface roads, with only 21% of the route utilizing highways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 98.5 miles on the Keystone Shortway before transitioning to surface roads. Be prepared for a significant amount of driving on non-highway routes, which can mean more variable speeds and potentially more interactions with local traffic. The profile suggests a driving experience that's more about the in-between scenery than high-speed travel.

Only 21% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.

40 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 98.5 mi on Keystone Shortway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

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 early in the drive near Market Street.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 26 significant decision points across 279.5 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: near the start (Market Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles (South Main Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 117.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

1,899 ft 537 ft

Total Climb

2,428 ft

Total Descent

1,963 ft

Highest Point

1,899 ft

~199.6 mi in

Elevation Range

1,361 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Kingston, PA and McMurray, PA, road signs point toward Altoona and Hollidaysburg.

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour

Restaurant

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route

Tolteca Express

Restaurant

Visit website

Admiral Peary Monument

Memorial

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour

Forty Fort Marker

Monument

Near the start, short detour

1.7 mi from route ~4 min detour

American Philatelic Center

Museum

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour

Bellefonte, PA

Hours: Mo-Fr 08:30-17:00

Visit website

Forty Fort Meeting House

Building

Near the start, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour

Forty Fort, PA

Guest_house

Near the start, short detour

1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour

Wilkes-Barre, PA

Best Western Genetti Hotel & Conference Center

Hotel

Near the start, short detour

1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour

Wilkes-Barre, PA

013 Riansares Road

Camp_site

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour

Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.

About the Cities

Starting in Kingston, PA

Full guide →

Founded 1857

Top landmarks

• Wyoming Seminary — private primary and secondary school in Kingston, Pennsylvania, US

Arriving in McMurray, PA

Full guide →

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 5h 58m. Total distance: 279.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 98.5 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 21 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 McMurray, 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 21 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — Johnstown Flood National Memorial and Flight 93 National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 6.0 hours each way, a round trip means 12.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at McMurray, PA before the return drive.

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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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