Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
48m
Distance
28.3 mi
45 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Monessen, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Ardara, PA
Kai
Monessen, PA to Ardara, PA is 28.3 miles and takes about 48m via Dwight D Eisenhower Highway, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short drive stays within the Northeast region and the state of Pennsylvania. Expect a local feel with plenty of turns, making it a less about covering ground quickly and more about navigating local roads. Given its brief duration, this trip is ideal for a single day, allowing for a relaxed pace and flexibility. It's a straightforward journey that won't eat up your entire day.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D Eisenhower Highway | 10.9 mi | 14m |
| Arona Road | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| State Route 136 | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Waltz Mill Road | 2 mi | 3m |
| Grand Boulevard | 1.9 mi | 4m |
| Water Street | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Lincoln Highway | 1.5 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between Monessen, PA and Ardara, PA.
Start on Marion Avenue
Turn left onto Grand Boulevard
Turn right onto SR 3003
Continue on Tyrol Road
Continue on Monessen Highway
Continue on Main Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 70
Take the exit
Turn sharp left onto Waltz Mill Road
Enter roundabout
Continue
Turn straight onto Waltz Mill Road
Continue on Main Street
Continue on PA 136
Turn left onto Arona Road
At end of road, turn left onto US 30
Take the exit
Turn straight onto 10th Street
Continue on Chestnut Street
Turn left onto Pennsylvania Avenue
Turn right onto Oak Street
Turn left onto PA 993
Turn right onto PA 993
Turn left onto PA 993
Continue on PA 993
Turn right onto Haywood Road
Turn left onto Mary Street
Turn right onto Virginia Avenue
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.1 and 22.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Merge onto I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Madison
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn sharp left onto Waltz Mill Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
At end of road, turn left onto US 30 / Lincoln Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$4.51 one way
$9.02 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $4.99 | $9.99 |
| premium | $4.81 | $5.36 | $10.71 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $5.34 | $10.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.97 | $1.36 |
| Efficient EV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.48 | $1.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.96 | $1.81 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Monessen on Monday
Local time
5:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Late night in Ardara on Monday
Local time
5:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Clear
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
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.
This route is characterized as a 'Turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll be making frequent adjustments rather than cruising on a straight path. With only an 8% highway share, most of your time will be spent on local roads like Arona Road and State Route 136. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 10.9 miles on the Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience where you're constantly engaged with the road and its changes, rather than settling into a monotonous interstate rhythm.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.1 miles in near I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 28.3 miles you will encounter 17 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 3.1 miles (I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.2 miles (Waltz Mill Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
704 ft
Total Descent
865 ft
Highest Point
1,167 ft
~20.2 mi in
Elevation Range
299 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Monessen, PA to Ardara, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Madison along the way.
Madison
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Cafe
Near the end, right off the route
Irwin
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Visit websiteCafe
Near the start, right off the route
Shoppes, PA
Cuisine: coffee_shop
Visit websiteCafe
Near the end, right off the route
Cuisine: smoothie;bubble_tea
Cafe
Near the start, right off the route
Fast_food
Near the start, right off the route
Belle Vernon, PA
Cuisine: sandwich
Hours: Mo-Fr 08:30-22:00;Sa 09:00-22:00;Su 09:0...
Visit websiteRestaurant
Near the start, right off the route
Belle Vernon, PA
Visit websiteFast_food
Near the start, right off the route
Belle Vernon, PA
Cuisine: pizza
Hours: Mo-Th 10:00-24:00; Fr-Sa 10:00-01:00; Su...
Visit websiteFast_food
Near the start, right off the route
Belle Vernon, PA
Cuisine: burger
Hours: 10:00-22:00
Visit websiteRestaurant
Near the end, right off the route
North Huntingdon, PA
Cuisine: burger
Fast_food
Near the start, right off the route
Cuisine: burger
Visit websitePark
Near the end, right off the route
Picnic_site
Near the end, right off the route
Park
Near the start, short detour
Viewpoint
Early in the drive, short detour
Park
Near the end, short detour
Park
Near the end, short detour
Memorial
Near the end, right off the route
Memorial
Near the end, right off the route
Memorial
Near the end, right off the route
Ruins
Near the end, right off the route
Memorial
Near the end, right off the route
Memorial
Near the end, right off the route
Hotel
Later in the drive, right off the route
North Huntingdon, PA
Visit websiteMotel
Early in the drive, right off the route
Hotel
Near the start, right off the route
Points of interest from OpenStreetMap contributors. Listings may not reflect current hours or availability.
Founded 1897
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 48m. Total distance: 28.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (8%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Monessen, PA or browse trips ending in Ardara, PA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse PA road trips.
