This 301.5-mile drive from Kittanning, PA to Philadelphia, PA is best tackled in a single day, taking approximately 5 hours and 55 minutes. With 83% of the route on highways, expect a predominantly high-speed journey. The estimated fuel cost is around $50, making it an economical trip. This route cuts across Pennsylvania, offering a direct connection between the Northeast regions of the state. It's a straightforward drive that gets you from point A to point B efficiently.
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
150.7 miles from Kittanning, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
181 mi
3h 16m
I 99
27.2 mi
29m
US 422
24.7 mi
31m
Indiana Road
19.5 mi
26m
I 76
18 mi
26m
William Penn Highway
16.4 mi
19m
Benjamin Franklin Highway
6.2 mi
9m
Ben Franklin Highway
1.6 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 181 mi, about 3h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kittanning, PA and Philadelphia, 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
181 mi·3 hr 16 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit onto I 76
18 mi·26 min·I 76
Exit 326Toward I 76 East: Valley Forge, PhiladelphiaUse the slight right lane.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 676; US 30
0.8 mi·1 min·Vine Street Expressway
Toward I 676 East, US 30 East: Central PhiladelphiaUse the slight left / straight lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.1 mi·17 sec
Toward Central PhiladelphiaUse the slight right lane.
26
Keep slight right at fork
313 ft·11 sec
Toward 15th Street, Central PhiladelphiaUse the slight right lane.
27
Turn right onto North 15th Street
0.4 mi·48 sec·North 15th Street
Use the right lane.
28
Turn slight left onto PA 611
379 ft·8 sec·South Penn Square
29
Keep slight left at fork onto South Penn Square
167 ft·2 sec·South Penn Square
30
Arrive at destination
South Penn Square
Trip Plan
To maximize your time and minimize traffic, consider departing from Kittanning early in the morning. With a total duration of under six hours, this trip is comfortably achievable in one day, so you don't need to plan for an overnight stop. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 181-mile stretch on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, as services can be spaced out. Your estimated fuel cost of $50 is a good baseline for budgeting. Take advantage of the relatively short drive time by planning a flexible stop or two along the way.
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 150.7 miles from Kittanning, PA, or about 3h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 181 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 66 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 150.7 miles or 3h 4m 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 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Philadelphia, 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 301.5 miles and 5h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 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 181 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 54.4 and 300.9 — 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
8
282 mi into trip|~5h 26m in|I 76
Take the exit onto I 76 toward I 76 East: Valley Forge, Philadelphia
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 326
Toward I 76 East: Valley Forge, Philadelphia
8
300 mi into trip|~5h 53m in|I 676; US 30 / Vine Street Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 676; US 30 / Vine Street Expressway toward I 676 East, US 30 East: Central Philadelphia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward I 676 East, US 30 East: Central Philadel...
9
300.9 mi into trip|~5h 54m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 15th Street, Central Philadelphia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward 15th Street, Central Philadelphia
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.98 one way
$99.97 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg106 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$54.74
$109.49
premium
$4.93
$58.47
$116.94
diesel
$5.61
$66.57
$133.13
Estimated Tolls: $23.54
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(181 mi)$23.54
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
$50
Tolls
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$99–$124
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 105.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
90.5
1
$31.66
$14.47
Efficient EV
75.4
0
$26.38
$12.06
EV Truck/SUV
120.6
1
$42.21
$19.30
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (67% 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 Apr 19, 2026
Origin
Kittanning, PA
Morning
in Kittanning on Sunday
Local time
10:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Philadelphia, PA
Morning
in Philadelphia on Sunday
Local time
10:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Chance Rain Showers
E 5 mph36% chanceLive forecast
54°F
Hancock, MD
151 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
2 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
5h 55m 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.
Independence National Historical Park
National Historical Park
The park represents the founding ideals of the nation, and preserves national and international symbols of freedom and democracy, including Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. The Declaration of I...
Visit the house where wounded Polish freedom fighter Thaddeus Kosciuszko lived and hear how this brilliant military engineer designed successful fortifications during the American Revolution. See the...
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Free
near mile 301.5
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...
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Free
near mile 280.7
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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 176.7
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...
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...
13 mi from route
~34 min detour
Free
near mile 218.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This highway-focused drive is largely defined by its speed and efficiency. You'll spend most of your time on major arteries like the Pennsylvania Turnpike, I-99, and US 422. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a significant 181 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, allowing for sustained progress. While predominantly highway, the character shifts slightly as you transition between these main roads, but the overall feel remains that of a fast-paced journey across the state.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Pennsylvania Turnpike is the longest continuous segment at about 181 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 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 19 significant decision points across 301.5 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 282 miles (I 76): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. 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 Philadelphia, PA, road signs point toward Bedford, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Patp: Pittsburgh.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 55m. Total distance: 301.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Kittanning, PA to Philadelphia, PA covers 301.5 miles and takes about 5h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Pennsylvania Turnpike, I 99, US 422. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 150.7 miles from Kittanning, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $49.98 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 301.5 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.
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 282 miles (I 76): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Kittanning, PA and Philadelphia, PA, road signs point toward Bedford, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Patp: Pittsburgh.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Independence National Historical Park, Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial and Valley Forge National Historical Park. There are 6 parks within detour distance of this route.
