Knox, PA to Pittsburgh, PA is 94.3 miles and takes about 1h 52m via I 79, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Pennsylvania, transitioning from the Northeast region to the Pittsburgh area. It's primarily a highway-focused drive, making it a straightforward and efficient option for getting from point A to point B. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, so expect a consistent driving experience. Consider this trip if you're looking for a quick and direct connection between these two Pennsylvania locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.1 miles from Knox, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 79
45.1 mi
49m
Keystone Shortway
26.7 mi
28m
Parkway North
11.4 mi
15m
Route 208
6.9 mi
10m
PA 38
1.5 mi
2m
I 579
0.9 mi
1m
West Railroad Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Main Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 79
— 45.1 mi, about 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Knox, PA and Pittsburgh, PA.
1
Start on Main Street
0.1 mi·35 sec·Main Street
2
Turn left onto PA 208
0.3 mi·52 sec·West Railroad Street
3
Continue on PA 208
6.9 mi·10 min·Route 208
4
At end of road, turn left onto PA 38; PA 208
1.5 mi·2 min·PA 38; PA 208
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
6
Merge onto I 80
27 mi·28 min·Keystone Shortway
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
Toward I 79 South: Pittsburgh
8
Merge onto I 79
45 mi·49 min·I 79
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 279
11 mi·15 min·Parkway North
Exit 72Toward I 279: PittsburghUse the slight left / straight lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 579
0.9 mi·1 min·I 579
Toward I 579 South: Veterans BridgeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
Toward 7th Avenue, 6th AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
502 ft·14 sec
Toward PPG Arena, 6th Avenue
13
Turn straight onto Bigelow Boulevard
224 ft·3 sec·Bigelow Boulevard
14
Continue on Bigelow Square
386 ft·6 sec·Bigelow Square
Toward 6th AvenueUse the straight / left lanes.
15
Turn right onto Sixth Avenue
347 ft·11 sec·Sixth Avenue
16
Turn left onto Grant Street
296 ft·22 sec·Grant Street
17
Continue on Grant Street
254 ft·13 sec·Grant Street
18
Arrive at destination
Grant Street
Trip Plan
Given the short 1h 52m duration, this trip offers a lot of flexibility. You can easily depart anytime during the day and still arrive with plenty of daylight. With a fuel cost estimated at $16, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, though you won't likely need frequent stops. The longest stretch without exiting is over 45 miles on I 79, so ensure you have enough fuel before that segment. Plan for a quick stop if needed, but the drive is manageable in one go.
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 47.1 miles from Knox, PA, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 45.1 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 21 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.1 miles or 55m 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 29m
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 Knox, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Knox, PA
This is one driving day of about 94.3 miles and 1h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Knox, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 79 for about 45.1 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 36.2 and 93.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
36.2 mi into trip|~43m in|I 79
Merge onto I 79
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
81.3 mi into trip|~1h 33m in|I 279 / Parkway North
Keep slight left at fork onto I 279 / Parkway North toward I 279: Pittsburgh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 72
Toward I 279: Pittsburgh
7
92.7 mi into trip|~1h 49m in|I 579
Keep slight right at fork onto I 579 toward I 579 South: Veterans Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 579 South: Veterans Bridge
7
93.6 mi into trip|~1h 50m in
Take the exit toward 7th Avenue, 6th Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward 7th Avenue, 6th Avenue
6
93.9 mi into trip|~1h 51m in
Keep slight left at fork toward PPG Arena, 6th Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward PPG Arena, 6th Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.63 one way
$31.27 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$17.12
$34.25
premium
$4.93
$18.29
$36.58
diesel
$5.61
$20.82
$41.64
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.3
0
$9.90
$4.53
Efficient EV
23.6
0
$8.25
$3.77
EV Truck/SUV
37.7
0
$13.20
$6.04
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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
Knox, PA
Morning
in Knox on Tuesday
Local time
6:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Pittsburgh, PA
Morning
in Pittsburgh on Tuesday
Local time
6:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Partly Cloudy
SE 2 to 6 mph0% chanceLive 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
8 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
1h 52m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 70% of the journey on major roads like I 79 and Parkway North. You'll encounter stretches of faster-paced driving, including a notable 45.1-mile segment on I 79 without needing to exit. The profile suggests a consistent experience on well-maintained highways for the majority of the trip. Expect minimal slowdowns and a steady pace as you cover the 94.3 miles.
70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 45.1 mi on I 79.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 79 and Keystone Shortway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 36.2 miles in near I 79.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 94.3 miles you will encounter 14 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 36.2 miles (I 79): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 81.3 miles (I 279 / Parkway North): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 92.7 miles (I 579): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 52m. Total distance: 94.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 45.1 miles on I 79. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Pittsburgh, PA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 36.2 miles (I 79): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 81.3 miles (I 279 / Parkway North): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 92.7 miles (I 579): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
