Origin
McKees Rocks, PA
Morning in McKees Rocks on Sunday
Local time
10:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from McKees Rocks, PA to Altoona, PA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 25m
Distance
102.5 mi
165 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 15m
★
6 AM
2h 25m
8 AM
2h 45m
10 AM
2h 32m
12 PM
2h 30m
3 PM
2h 33m
5 PM
2h 44m
8 PM
2h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
McKees Rocks, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
McKees Rocks, PA to Altoona, PA is 102.5 miles and takes about 2h 25m via William Penn Highway, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Pennsylvania, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Expect a route that involves frequent turns and local road segments rather than a long stretch of uninterrupted highway. Given its relatively short duration and turn-heavy profile, it's best suited for a single-day trip where you can enjoy the journey without feeling rushed.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
51.2 miles from McKees Rocks, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 15m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| William Penn Highway | 61.6 mi | 1h 25m |
| Penn-Lincoln Parkway East | 14.7 mi | 20m |
| Admiral Peary Highway | 13.7 mi | 19m |
| I 99 | 4.4 mi | 4m |
| West Carson Street | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| 17th Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| 6th Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Chartiers Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
William Penn Highway
— 61.6 mi, about 1h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between McKees Rocks, PA and Altoona, PA.
1
Start on Blue Belt
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
Chartiers Avenue
2
Continue on PA 51
506 ft
·
11 sec
·
Stanhope Street
3
Continue on PA 51
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Stanhope Street
4
At end of road, turn right onto PA 51
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
West Carson Street
5
Turn slight right
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Toward PA 837 South: Downtown
6
Turn straight onto PA 837
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Carson Street
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
8
Merge onto I 376; US 22; US 30
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
Penn-Lincoln Parkway West
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 376; US 22; US 30
15 mi
·
20 min
·
Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
Toward I 376 East: Monroeville
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
10
Merge onto US 22
45 mi
·
1 hr 5 min
·
William Penn Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on US 22
14 mi
·
19 min
·
Admiral Peary Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Continue on US 22
17 mi
·
19 min
·
William Penn Highway
13
Continue on this road
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
this road
Toward I 99, US 220: Altoona, Bedford
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
15
Merge onto I 99; US 220
4.4 mi
·
4 min
·
I 99; US 220
16
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward 17th Street
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward Altoona
18
Turn straight onto 17th Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
17th Street
19
Turn right onto PA 764
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
6th Avenue
20
Turn left onto 7th Street
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
7th Street
21
Arrive at destination
7th Street
Trip Plan
With a total duration of just under 2.5 hours and a fuel cost estimated at $17, this trip offers a lot of flexibility. You can comfortably depart in the morning and arrive at your destination well before midday. The route's 'turn-heavy' nature suggests paying close attention to your navigation, especially when transitioning onto the William Penn Highway for its longest stretch. Given the limited highway share, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, though with the relatively short distance, frequent stops for gas are unlikely to be a major concern.
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 51.2 miles from McKees Rocks, PA, or about 1h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.6 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 23 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.2 miles or 1h 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Altoona, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving McKees Rocks, 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 McKees Rocks, PA
This is one driving day of about 102.5 miles and 2h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from McKees Rocks, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on William Penn Highway for about 61.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
51 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 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 51.2 miles from McKees Rocks, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before William Penn Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 61.6 miles.
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 105 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 100 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
PA 51 / West Carson Street
At end of road, turn right onto PA 51 / West Carson Street
Navigation decision point
7
3.7 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
I 376; US 22; US 30 / Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
Keep slight right at fork onto I 376; US 22; US 30 / Penn-Lincoln Parkway East toward I 376 East: Monroeville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 376 East: Monroeville
5
18.5 mi into trip
|
~27m in
|
US 22 / William Penn Highway
Merge onto US 22 / William Penn Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
94.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 13m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
5
100 mi into trip
|
~2h 20m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Altoona
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Altoona
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.99 one way
$33.99 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
36 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $18.61 | $37.22 |
| premium | $4.93 | $19.88 | $39.76 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.63 | $45.26 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 30.8 | 0 | $10.76 | $4.92 |
| Efficient EV | 25.6 | 0 | $8.97 | $4.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 41 | 0 | $14.35 | $6.56 |
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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
Altoona, PA
Morning in Altoona on Sunday
Local time
10:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Partly Cloudy
E 2 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
56°F
Snyder, PA
51 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
5 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
2h 25m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized by its 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, meaning you'll navigate a series of roads with frequent changes in direction. Only 19% of the drive is on highways, so be prepared for a more engaged driving experience. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 61.6 miles along the William Penn Highway, offering a brief period of more consistent travel before returning to more varied road conditions. The Penn-Lincoln Parkway East and Admiral Peary Highway will also feature in your journey, contributing to the dynamic nature of the drive.
Only 19% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 61.6 mi on William Penn Highway.
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 around 0.7 miles in near PA 51 / West Carson 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 10 significant decision points across 102.5 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 0.7 miles (PA 51 / West Carson Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.7 miles (I 376; US 22; US 30 / Penn-Lincoln Parkway East): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.5 miles (US 22 / William Penn Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
On the drive from McKees Rocks, PA to Altoona, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Bedford along the way.
Bedford
93.7 mi in
|
~2h 12m
About the Cities
Arriving in Altoona, PA
Full guide →Altoona is a city in central Pennsylvania. Altoona was founded as a railroad town by the Pennsylvania Railroad as the site of their Altoona Works shops, and its history as a railroad town still shows in the town today despite the decline of the railroad and its eventual absorption into Penn Central, Conrail, and now Norfolk Southern.
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 2h 25m. Total distance: 102.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 61.6 miles on William Penn Highway. 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 Altoona, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (PA 51 / West Carson Street): Navigation decision point; at 3.7 miles (I 376; US 22; US 30 / Penn-Lincoln Parkway East): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.5 miles (US 22 / William Penn Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Altoona, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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