Origin
Mercer, PA
Late night in Mercer on Sunday
Local time
3:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mercer, 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
1h 18m
Distance
61.8 mi
99 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Fair
4 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 12m
★
6 AM
1h 18m
8 AM
1h 31m
10 AM
1h 23m
12 PM
1h 21m
3 PM
1h 23m
5 PM
1h 30m
8 PM
1h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mercer, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Pittsburgh, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Driving from Mercer to Pittsburgh is a straightforward 61.8-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 18 minutes. Since this route is entirely within Pennsylvania, you won't need to worry about crossing regional borders or adjusting your travel plans for major climate changes. Budgeting approximately $10 for fuel makes this an incredibly economical trip for a quick getaway or a necessary commute. Because the duration is so manageable, it functions perfectly as a single-day excursion without the need for an overnight stay. You can easily head out in the morning and be back by evening, or spend the full day exploring your destination before heading home.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 79 | 40.6 mi | 44m |
| Parkway North | 11.4 mi | 15m |
| State Route 258 | 6.2 mi | 10m |
| South Pitt Street | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| I 579 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Erie Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Butler Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Grant Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 79
— 40.6 mi, about 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mercer, PA and Pittsburgh, PA.
1
Start on US 19; US 62; PA 58; PA 258
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Erie Street
Use the straight lane.
2
Turn left onto West Butler Street
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
West Butler Street
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto PA 258
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
South Pitt Street
4
Continue on PA 258
6.2 mi
·
10 min
·
State Route 258
5
Turn left onto Leesburg Grove City Road
432 ft
·
15 sec
·
Leesburg Grove City Road
6
Take the ramp
144 ft
·
3 sec
Toward I-79 S
7
Continue on this road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
this road
Toward I-79 S
8
Merge onto I 79
41 mi
·
44 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 72
Toward I 279: Pittsburgh
Use 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 Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Toward 7th Avenue, 6th Avenue
Use 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 Avenue
Use 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
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.9 miles from Mercer, 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 61.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
West Butler Street
Turn left onto West Butler Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
48.8 mi into trip
|
~59m 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
60.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m 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
61 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m 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
61.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m 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
$10.25 one way
$20.49 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $11.22 | $22.44 |
| premium | $4.93 | $11.99 | $23.97 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.64 | $27.29 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.5 | 0 | $6.49 | $2.97 |
| Efficient EV | 15.5 | 0 | $5.41 | $2.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.7 | 0 | $8.65 | $3.96 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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
Late night in Pittsburgh on Sunday
Local time
3:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms
S 6 to 16 mph
80% chance
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
29 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
1h 18m 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?
Expect a highly efficient commute, as 96% of this trip consists of highway driving. You will spend the bulk of your time on I-79, which features a long, uninterrupted stretch of 40.6 miles that allows for steady cruising. While you start your journey utilizing State Route 258, the transition to the interstate is quick and keeps the drive moving at a consistent pace. As you approach the city, you will navigate the Parkway North, which marks the shift from open highway to urban transit. It is a no-nonsense, highway-focused drive designed for getting you from point A to point B with minimal fuss.
96% 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: 40.6 mi on I 79.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 79 and Parkway North. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near West Butler Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 61.8 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.1 miles (West Butler Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 48.8 miles (I 279 / Parkway North): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 60.1 miles (I 579): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 1h 18m. Total distance: 61.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 40.6 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 0.1 miles (West Butler Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 48.8 miles (I 279 / Parkway North): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 60.1 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.
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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