Origin
Lowhill, PA
Morning in Lowhill on Sunday
Local time
8:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lowhill, PA to Pittsburgh, PA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
55m
Distance
35.7 mi
57 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 51m
★
6 AM
0h 56m
8 AM
1h 5m
10 AM
0h 59m
12 PM
0h 58m
3 PM
1h 0m
5 PM
1h 5m
8 PM
0h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lowhill, PA
Haneul Trac
Pittsburgh, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 35.7-mile drive from Lowhill, PA to Pittsburgh, PA is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 55 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. The route primarily utilizes the Mon/Fayette Expressway, with segments on Brownsville Road Extension and Brownsville Road. With a modest estimated fuel cost of $6, this journey offers a practical way to travel within Pennsylvania. The mixed drive profile suggests a varied but generally smooth experience. You won't need to worry about overnight stays for this relatively short distance, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Mon/Fayette Expressway | 18.6 mi | 19m |
| Brownsville Road Extension | 3.9 mi | 7m |
| Brownsville Road | 2.6 mi | 4m |
| Saw Mill Run Boulevard | 2.6 mi | 5m |
| McChain Road | 1.8 mi | 4m |
| Provost Road | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| Liberty Tunnels | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| PA 88 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Mon/Fayette Expressway
— 18.6 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lowhill, PA and Pittsburgh, PA.
1
Start on Ridge Road
25 ft
·
7 sec
·
Ridge Road
2
Turn left onto PA 88
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Low Hill Road
3
Turn left onto PA 88
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
PA 88
4
Merge onto PA Tpke 43; PA 88
19 mi
·
19 min
·
Mon/Fayette Expressway
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
Exit 48
Toward West Elizabeth, Finleyville
6
Turn left onto Finleyville Elrama Road
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
Finleyville Elrama Road
7
Turn right onto McChain Road
70 ft
·
1 sec
·
McChain Road
8
Keep slight left at fork onto McChain Road
1.7 mi
·
4 min
·
McChain Road
9
Turn straight onto Brownsville Road Extension
3.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Brownsville Road Extension
10
At end of road, turn left onto Brownsville Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Brownsville Road
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn left onto Brownsville Road
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Brownsville Road
Use the left lane.
12
Continue on Provost Road
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Provost Road
13
Continue on Provost Road
202 ft
·
7 sec
·
Provost Road
14
Turn left onto PA 51
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
Saw Mill Run Boulevard
15
Continue on PA 51; Blue Belt
2.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Saw Mill Run Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
16
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on this road
361 ft
·
12 sec
·
this road
18
Turn right onto Liberty Tunnels
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Liberty Tunnels
Use the right lane.
19
Continue on Liberty Bridge
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
Liberty Bridge
20
Turn straight onto Crosstown Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Crosstown Boulevard
21
Continue on Sixth Avenue
366 ft
·
16 sec
·
Sixth Avenue
22
Turn left onto Fifth Avenue
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Fifth Avenue
23
Turn right onto Grant Street
513 ft
·
21 sec
·
Grant Street
Use the right lane.
24
Arrive at destination
Grant Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
Municipality of Bethel Park, PA
18 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 35.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.8 miles from Lowhill, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 20.3 and 35.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
20.3 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Take the exit toward West Elizabeth, Finleyville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 48
Toward West Elizabeth, Finleyville
6
26.9 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
Brownsville Road
At end of road, turn left onto Brownsville Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
27.4 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
Brownsville Road
Turn left onto Brownsville Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
33.4 mi into trip
|
~51m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
35.6 mi into trip
|
~55m in
|
Grant Street
Turn right onto Grant Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.92 one way
$11.84 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $6.48 | $12.96 |
| premium | $4.93 | $6.92 | $13.85 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.88 | $15.76 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.30
Mon/Fayette Expressway
(18.6 mi)
$1.30
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$1
Total
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.7 | 0 | $3.75 | $1.71 |
| Efficient EV | 8.9 | 0 | $3.12 | $1.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.00 | $2.28 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Destination
Pittsburgh, PA
Morning in Pittsburgh on Sunday
Local time
8:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
17 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
55m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed drive profile on this route, with 55% of the journey on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 18.6 miles on the Mon/Fayette Expressway, offering a chance to maintain a steady pace. As you transition to Brownsville Road Extension and then Brownsville Road, the character of the drive will likely shift, potentially introducing more local traffic and varied speed limits. This blend means you'll experience both efficient highway travel and more typical roadway conditions as you approach your destination.
55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.6 mi on Mon/Fayette Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 20.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 35.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 55m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 20.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.9 miles (Brownsville Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 27.4 miles (Brownsville Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lowhill, PA and Pittsburgh, PA, road signs point toward Elizabeth and Finleyville.
Elizabeth
20.3 mi in
|
~23m
Finleyville
20.3 mi in
|
~23m
About the Cities
Arriving in Pittsburgh, PA
Full guide →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.
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 55m. Total distance: 35.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (55%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.6 miles on Mon/Fayette Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.30 in tolls one way, starting with Mon/Fayette Expressway. 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.
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 20.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.9 miles (Brownsville Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 27.4 miles (Brownsville Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Fort Necessity National Battlefield. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Pittsburgh, PA before heading back.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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