Mount Lebanon, PA to Altoona, PA is 106.9 miles and takes about 2h 33m via William Penn Highway, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region toward its western part. Expect a more local feel to this trip, with plenty of turns and a shorter overall duration. It's a manageable one-day journey, perfect if you're looking for a relatively quick transit between these two points without committing to an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
53.4 miles from Mount Lebanon, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 21m 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
Penn-Lincoln Parkway West
2.3 mi
3m
Greentree Road
2.3 mi
4m
Cochran Road
1.8 mi
3m
17th Street
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
William Penn Highway
— 61.6 mi, about 1h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mount Lebanon, PA and Altoona, PA.
1
Start on this road
237 ft·23 sec·this road
2
Turn left
156 ft·13 sec
3
At end of road, turn right onto US 19; Yellow Belt
1.3 mi·3 min·Washington Road
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn left onto US 19; Yellow Belt
1.8 mi·3 min·Cochran Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Turn right onto PA 121
2.3 mi·4 min·Greentree Road
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward I 376 East: Pittsburgh
7
Merge onto I 376; US 22; US 30
2.3 mi·3 min·Penn-Lincoln Parkway West
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 376; US 22; US 30
15 mi·20 min·Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
Toward I 376 East: MonroevilleUse the straight / slight left lanes.
9
Merge onto US 22
45 mi·1 hr 5 min·William Penn Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on US 22
14 mi·19 min·Admiral Peary Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on US 22
17 mi·19 min·William Penn Highway
12
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·45 sec·this road
Toward I 99, US 220: Altoona, Bedford
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
14
Merge onto I 99; US 220
4.4 mi·4 min·I 99; US 220
15
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward 17th Street
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward Altoona
17
Turn straight onto 17th Street
1.4 mi·2 min·17th Street
18
Turn right onto PA 764
0.7 mi·1 min·6th Avenue
19
Turn left onto 7th Street
0.2 mi·18 sec·7th Street
20
Arrive at destination
7th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 33m duration and the local road nature of this trip, leaving in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight. While it's a single-day drive, consider making one stop to break up the journey and stretch your legs, especially since the longest continuous stretch is over 60 miles. Your estimated fuel cost is $18, so ensure you have enough for the trip. Pay close attention to signage, particularly as you transition between the different named roads like William Penn Highway and Penn-Lincoln Parkway East, to stay on track.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 53.4 miles from Mount Lebanon, PA, or about 1h 21m 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 24 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.4 miles or 1h 21m 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 9m
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 Mount Lebanon, 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 Mount Lebanon, PA
This is one driving day of about 106.9 miles and 2h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Mount Lebanon, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 98.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|US 19; Yellow Belt / Washington Road
At end of road, turn right onto US 19; Yellow Belt / Washington Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
1.4 mi into trip|~3m in|US 19; Yellow Belt / Cochran Road
Turn left onto US 19; Yellow Belt / Cochran Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
8.2 mi into trip|~15m 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
6
98.6 mi into trip|~2h 22m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.72 one way
$35.45 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$19.41
$38.82
premium
$4.93
$20.73
$41.46
diesel
$5.61
$23.60
$47.20
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
32.1
0
$11.22
$5.13
Efficient EV
26.7
0
$9.35
$4.28
EV Truck/SUV
42.8
0
$14.97
$6.84
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (65% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Mount Lebanon, PA
Afternoon
in Mount Lebanon on Sunday
Local time
12:32 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Altoona, PA
Afternoon
in Altoona on Sunday
Local time
12:32 PM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 7 to 13 mph44% chanceLive forecast
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
25 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
2h 33m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Johnstown Flood National Memorial
National Memorial
The South Fork Dam failed on Friday, May 31, 1889, and unleashed 20,000,000 tons of water that devastated Johnstown, PA. The flood killed 2,209 people but it brought the nation and the world together...
8 mi from route
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 77.4
On Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, the U.S. came under attack when four commercial airliners were hijacked and used to strike targets on the ground. Nearly 3,000 people tragically lost their live...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized as a 'Turn-heavy local drive,' with only 20% of the journey on highways. You'll spend most of your time navigating local roads, including portions of the William Penn Highway, Penn-Lincoln Parkway East, and Admiral Peary Highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 61.6 miles on the William Penn Highway. Be prepared for a more engaging driving experience, as this isn't a straightforward interstate cruise but rather a route that requires more attention to navigation and speed changes.
Only 20% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 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 early in the drive.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 106.9 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: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 19; Yellow Belt / Washington Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles (US 19; Yellow Belt / Cochran 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.
On the drive from Mount Lebanon, PA to Altoona, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Bedford along the way.
Mt. Lebanon is an affluent suburb in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, about seven miles south of Downtown Pittsburgh. Uptown Mt. Lebanon, a business district along Washington Road in the northern part of the township, is one of the more prominent business districts in the area outside of Pittsburgh itself.
Top landmarks
•First Church of Christ, Scientist — church building in Mt. Lebanon, United States of America
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 33m. Total distance: 106.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
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.
Yes — we found about 2 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 2 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start: Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (US 19; Yellow Belt / Washington Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles (US 19; Yellow Belt / Cochran Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Johnstown Flood National Memorial and Flight 93 National Memorial. 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 Altoona, PA before heading back.
