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Trip from Monessen, PA to Ardara, PA

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 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

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 12 min
4 AM
0h 44m ★
6 AM
0h 48m
8 AM
0h 56m
10 AM
0h 51m
12 PM
0h 50m
3 PM
0h 51m
5 PM
0h 56m
8 PM
0h 46m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, United States

Monessen, PA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Ardara, PA, PA

Ardara, PA

Kai

Trip Overview

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.

Main Roads

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
Longest stretch: Dwight D Eisenhower Highway — 10.9 mi, about 14m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Monessen, PA and Ardara, PA.

1

Start on Marion Avenue

19 ft · 6 sec · Marion Avenue
2

Turn left onto Grand Boulevard

1.9 mi · 4 min · Grand Boulevard
3

Turn right onto SR 3003

0.1 mi · 13 sec · Tyrol Boulevard
4

Continue on Tyrol Road

0.2 mi · 24 sec · Tyrol Road
5

Continue on Monessen Highway

0.2 mi · 20 sec · Monessen Highway
6

Continue on Main Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · Main Street
7

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 21 sec
8

Merge onto I 70

11 mi · 14 min · Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 24 sec
Toward Madison Use the slight right lane.
10

Turn sharp left onto Waltz Mill Road

0.2 mi · 30 sec · Waltz Mill Road
11

Enter roundabout

182 ft · 3 sec
12

Continue

212 ft · 4 sec
13

Turn straight onto Waltz Mill Road

1.8 mi · 3 min · Waltz Mill Road
14

Continue on Main Street

0.9 mi · 1 min · Main Street
15

Continue on PA 136

2.2 mi · 3 min · State Route 136
16

Turn left onto Arona Road

3.3 mi · 5 min · Arona Road
17

At end of road, turn left onto US 30

1.5 mi · 3 min · Lincoln Highway
Use the straight lane.
18

Take the exit

454 ft · 12 sec
19

Turn straight onto 10th Street

0.2 mi · 28 sec · 10th Street
20

Continue on Chestnut Street

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Chestnut Street
21

Turn left onto Pennsylvania Avenue

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Pennsylvania Avenue
22

Turn right onto Oak Street

0.4 mi · 42 sec · Oak Street
23

Turn left onto PA 993

364 ft · 9 sec · 2nd Street
24

Turn right onto PA 993

380 ft · 12 sec · Main Street
25

Turn left onto PA 993

1.7 mi · 2 min · Water Street
26

Continue on PA 993

1.1 mi · 1 min · Trafford Road
27

Turn right onto Haywood Road

393 ft · 24 sec · Haywood Road
28

Turn left onto Mary Street

426 ft · 20 sec · Mary Street
29

Turn right onto Virginia Avenue

199 ft · 8 sec · Virginia Avenue
30

Arrive at destination

Virginia Avenue

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 17

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.

5
3.1 mi into trip | ~7m in | I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

Merge onto I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
14.1 mi into trip | ~21m in

Take the exit toward Madison

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward Madison
5
14.2 mi into trip | ~22m in | Waltz Mill Road

Turn sharp left onto Waltz Mill Road

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

5
14.4 mi into trip | ~22m in

Enter roundabout

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

5
22.8 mi into trip | ~36m in | US 30 / Lincoln Highway

At end of road, turn left onto US 30 / Lincoln Highway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$4.69 one way

$9.38 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 10 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $5.14 $10.28
premium $4.93 $5.49 $10.98
diesel $5.61 $6.25 $12.50

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, 2026-04-13.

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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026

Origin

Monessen, PA

Late night in Monessen on Tuesday

Local time

5:09 AM

EDT

Current temp

69°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Ardara, PA

Late night in Ardara on Tuesday

Local time

5:09 AM

EDT

Current temp

80°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

11 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

48m 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?

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.

Only 8% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.9 mi on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

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.

Driving Effort 5/10

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.

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 Monessen, PA to Ardara, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Madison along the way.

Madison

14.1 mi in | ~21m

Who Is This Route For?

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 10.9 miles on Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 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.

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 Ardara, 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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