Kittanning, PA to Harrisburg, PA is 200.5 miles and takes about 4h 7m via Pennsylvania Turnpike and I-99, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within Pennsylvania, heading east across the state. It’s a straightforward trip, largely on major highways, making it a practical choice if you're looking for an efficient way to get between these two points. With a recommended one-day drive, you can comfortably complete this journey without needing an overnight stay.
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
100.3 miles from Kittanning, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
90.9 mi
1h 39m
I 99
27.2 mi
29m
US 422
24.7 mi
31m
Indiana Road
19.5 mi
26m
William Penn Highway
16.4 mi
19m
Benjamin Franklin Highway
6.2 mi
9m
US 15
4.7 mi
8m
Ben Franklin Highway
1.6 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 90.9 mi, about 1h 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kittanning, PA and Harrisburg, PA.
1
Start on North Jefferson Street
0.2 mi·49 sec·North Jefferson Street
2
Turn right onto Market Street
411 ft·18 sec·Market Street
3
Turn left onto US 422 Business
0.7 mi·1 min·South Water Street
4
Turn left onto US 422 Business
20 mi·26 min·Indiana Road
5
Continue on US 422; PA 56
6.2 mi·7 min·US 422; PA 56
Use the straight lane.
6
Continue on US 422; PA 286 Truck
18 mi·23 min·US 422; PA 286 Truck
7
Continue on US 422; PA 271
6.2 mi·9 min·Benjamin Franklin Highway
8
Continue on US 422
1.6 mi·2 min·Ben Franklin Highway
9
Continue on West High Street
0.7 mi·1 min·West High Street
10
Turn slight right onto Rowena Drive
0.6 mi·1 min·Rowena Drive
11
Merge onto Admiral Peary Highway
0.2 mi·28 sec·Admiral Peary Highway
Toward US 22 East: Hollidaysburg
12
Turn left
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward US 22 East: HollidaysburgUse the left lane.
13
Merge onto US 22
16 mi·19 min·William Penn Highway
14
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·45 sec·this road
Toward I 99, US 220: Altoona, Bedford
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·43 sec
Toward I 99 South, US 220 South: Bedford
16
Merge onto I 99; US 220
27 mi·29 min·I 99; US 220
17
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward Pittsburgh, Harrisburg
18
Keep slight right at fork
284 ft·8 sec
Toward US 220 Business South: Bedford
19
Turn slight right onto US 220 BUS
0.2 mi·26 sec·Business 220
20
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward I 70, I 76, PATP: Pittsburgh, Harrisburg
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward I 76 East, I 70 East: Harrisburg
22
Merge onto I 70; I 76; PATP
91 mi·1 hr 39 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
23
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 236Toward US 15: Gettysburg Pike, Gettysburg, HarrisburgUse the slight right lane.
24
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward US 15 North: Harrisburg
25
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward US 15 North: HarrisburgUse the straight lane.
26
Merge onto US 15
4.7 mi·8 min·US 15
Use the straight lane.
27
Continue on US 11; US 15
205 ft·3 sec·Taylor Bridge Bypass
Use the straight / right lanes.
28
Keep slight left at fork onto Taylor Bridge Bypass
1.2 mi·1 min·Taylor Bridge Bypass
Use the left / straight lanes.
29
Continue on M. Harvey Taylor Bridge
0.8 mi·1 min·M. Harvey Taylor Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Continue on Forster Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Forster Street
Use the straight lane.
31
Turn left onto North 7th Street
0.4 mi·1 min·North 7th Street
32
Arrive at destination
North 7th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour duration, starting your drive in the morning will give you plenty of daylight to reach Harrisburg. Plan for one stop to break up the journey, perhaps using the longest stretch on the Pennsylvania Turnpike as a mental marker for when to take a break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before entering longer highway segments, as services can be spaced out on interstates. Since this is a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to depart a bit later if needed, but an early start ensures a relaxed pace.
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 100.3 miles from Kittanning, PA, or about 2h 9m 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 44 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.3 miles or 2h 9m 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 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Harrisburg, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Kittanning, 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 Kittanning, PA
This is one driving day of about 200.5 miles and 4h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Kittanning, 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 54.4 and 192.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
54.4 mi into trip|~1h 16m in
Turn left toward US 22 East: Hollidaysburg
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward US 22 East: Hollidaysburg
6
71.6 mi into trip|~1h 36m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 99 South, US 220 South: Bedford
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 99 South, US 220 South: Bedford
6
100.5 mi into trip|~2h 9m 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
191.8 mi into trip|~3h 50m in
Take the exit toward US 15: Gettysburg Pike, Gettysburg, Harrisburg
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 236
Toward US 15: Gettysburg Pike, Gettysburg, Harr...
8
192.6 mi into trip|~3h 52m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 15 North: Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward US 15 North: Harrisburg
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.24 one way
$66.48 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg70 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$36.41
$72.81
premium
$4.93
$38.88
$77.77
diesel
$5.61
$44.27
$88.54
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
$33
Tolls
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.2
0
$21.05
$9.62
Efficient EV
50.1
0
$17.54
$8.02
EV Truck/SUV
80.2
1
$28.07
$12.83
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
23 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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Kittanning, PA
Morning
in Kittanning on Sunday
Local time
6:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Harrisburg, PA
Morning
in Harrisburg on Sunday
Local time
6:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
48°F
Martinsburg, PA
100 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
10 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 7m 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...
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Free
near mile 179.8
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...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
Free
near mile 55.3
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...
19 mi from route
~49 min detour
Free
near mile 96.8
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...
26 mi from route
~64 min detour
Free
near mile 200.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 74% of the route utilizing major interstates. You'll spend a good portion of your time on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, experiencing a longest uninterrupted stretch of 90.9 miles. While the majority is high-speed highway driving, expect some transitions as you move between the Turnpike, I-99, and US 422. This blend means you'll encounter the efficiency of the interstate system, punctuated by shifts in road character as you navigate the network.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 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 is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and I 99. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 54.4 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 18 significant decision points across 200.5 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 54.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 71.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 100.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Kittanning, PA and Harrisburg, PA, road signs point toward Bedford, Pittsburgh and Patp: Pittsburgh.
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 4h 7m. Total distance: 200.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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 Harrisburg, 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 54.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 71.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 100.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Harrisburg, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
