New Garden, PA to Altoona, PA is 206.2 miles and takes about 4h 15m via Pennsylvania Turnpike and I-99, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Pennsylvania, traversing the Northeast region. With over 80% of the route on highways, it's a straightforward trip, suitable for a single day. Plan for a total driving time of just over four hours, making it an efficient option for getting between these two points. The estimated fuel cost is around $35, so budget accordingly for this leg of your journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
103.1 miles from New Garden, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
101.9 mi
1h 51m
I 99
32.7 mi
35m
PA 283
28.9 mi
34m
Gap-Newport Pike
10.7 mi
18m
Gap Newport Pike
8 mi
13m
Old Philadelphia Pike
7.2 mi
12m
Newport Road
5.3 mi
8m
US 30
4.5 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 101.9 mi, about 1h 51m
Traffic on I-99
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,099 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,386
Quietest
1 AM
~71 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Garden, PA and Altoona, PA.
1
Start on Newark Road
0.3 mi·47 sec·Newark Road
2
Take the ramp
146 ft·4 sec
3
Merge onto PA 41
1.8 mi·3 min·Gap Newport Pike
4
Continue on PA 41
0.5 mi·1 min·Pennsylvania Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on PA 41
0.5 mi·53 sec·Gap Newport Pike
6
Continue on PA 41
4.6 mi·8 min·Gap-Newport Pike
Use the straight lane.
7
Enter roundabout onto PA 41
137 ft·1 sec·Gap-Newport Pike
8
Continue on PA 41
3.7 mi·6 min·Gap-Newport Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on PA 41
5.7 mi·9 min·Gap Newport Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on PA 41
0.7 mi·1 min·Newport Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on PA 41
2.3 mi·3 min·Gap-Newport Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Take the exit
182 ft·5 sec
13
Merge onto US 30
0.4 mi·50 sec·Lincoln Highway
14
Turn right onto PA 772
5.3 mi·8 min·Newport Road
15
Continue on PA 340; PA 772
7.2 mi·12 min·Old Philadelphia Pike
16
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward US 30 West
17
Merge onto US 30
4.5 mi·6 min·US 30
18
Keep slight left at fork onto PA 283
29 mi·34 min·PA 283
Toward PA 283 West: HarrisburgUse the straight / right lanes.
19
Turn slight left
0.1 mi·31 sec
Toward I 76 Toll, PATP Toll: Philadelphia, PittsburghUse the left lane.
20
Merge onto I 283
406 ft·1 min·I 283
21
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 76 West: Pittsburgh
22
Merge onto I 76; PATP
102 mi·1 hr 51 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
23
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward Altoona, JohnstownUse the slight right lane.
24
Turn left onto US 220 BUS
0.3 mi·42 sec·Business 220
25
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 99, US 220: Cumberland, Altoona
26
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
27
Merge onto I 99; US 220
33 mi·35 min·I 99; US 220
28
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward 17th Street
29
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward Altoona
30
Turn straight onto 17th Street
1.4 mi·2 min·17th Street
31
Turn right onto PA 764
0.7 mi·1 min·6th Avenue
32
Turn left onto 7th Street
0.2 mi·18 sec·7th Street
33
Arrive at destination
7th Street
Trip Plan
For this 4h 15m drive, leaving in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight and avoid potential evening traffic. Since the route is under five hours, it's easily manageable as a same-day trip. You'll have one main stretch of over 100 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, so consider stopping for fuel and a break before or after this segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $35 estimate suggests a moderate cost for this distance. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing your journey.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 103.1 miles from New Garden, PA, or about 2h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 101.9 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 45 miles or 1h 12m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103.1 miles or 2h 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 32m
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 New Garden, 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 New Garden, PA
This is one driving day of about 206.2 miles and 4h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from New Garden, 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 Pennsylvania Turnpike for about 101.9 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 38 and 170.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
38 mi into trip|~1h 4m in|PA 283
Keep slight left at fork onto PA 283 toward PA 283 West: Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward PA 283 West: Harrisburg
5
66.9 mi into trip|~1h 38m in
Turn slight left toward I 76 Toll, PATP Toll: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 76 Toll, PATP Toll: Philadelphia, Pitt...
7
169.5 mi into trip|~3h 32m in
Take the exit toward Altoona, Johnstown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Altoona, Johnstown
6
170 mi into trip|~3h 34m in
Take the ramp toward I 99, US 220: Cumberland, Altoona
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 99, US 220: Cumberland, Altoona
7
170.2 mi into trip|~3h 34m in
Keep slight right 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
$36.01 one way
$72.02 round trip
$4.44/gal25.4 MPG avg72 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.86
$39.43
$78.86
premium
$5.20
$42.18
$84.36
diesel
$6.28
$50.95
$101.90
Estimated Tolls: $13.24
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(101.9 mi)$13.24
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Tolls
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
61.9
0
$21.65
$9.90
Efficient EV
51.6
0
$18.04
$8.25
EV Truck/SUV
82.5
1
$28.87
$13.20
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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.
Forecast as of Oct 19, 2026
Origin
New Garden, PA
Morning
in New Garden on Friday
Local time
8:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Widespread Frost then Sunny
N 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 18 at 10:42PM EDT until October 19 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS State College PA
Destination
Altoona, PA
Morning
in Altoona on Friday
Local time
8:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
29°F
Widespread Frost
NW 1 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 18 at 10:42PM EDT until October 19 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS State College PA
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
34 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
4h 15m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument
National Monument
More than 7,800 children from 140 Tribes went to the Carlisle School from 1879 to 1918. The National Park Service will collaborate with families, affiliated Tribal Nations, the US Army, historians, an...
Famous as the First State to ratify the Constitution, Delaware was born out of a conflict among three world powers for dominance of the Delaware Valley. From this beginning, the region developed a dis...
The Appalachian Trail is a 2,190+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by p...
18 mi from route
~45 min detour
Free
near mile 56.9
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...
18 mi from route
~45 min detour
Free
near mile 184.8
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...
20 mi from route
~50 min detour
Free
near mile 170.6
Valley Forge is the place where George Washington and the Continental Army took refuge during the winter of 1777-1778. Today the park protects 3,500 acres of meadows, woodlands, historic landscapes, a...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect to spend a significant amount of time on highways, as 82% of this route is on them. The longest continuous stretch on a major highway is 101.9 miles along the Pennsylvania Turnpike. You'll transition from PA Turnpike onto I-99, which forms the bulk of the remaining highway portion. Expect fairly consistent highway cruising for over 100 miles before encountering more varied road types.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 101.9 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and I 99. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 38 miles in near PA 283.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 206.2 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 38 miles (PA 283): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 66.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 169.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,842 ft365 ft
Total Climb
2,177 ft
Total Descent
1,420 ft
Highest Point
1,842 ft
~146.7 mi in
Elevation Range
1,477 ft
Notable High Points
1,842 ft at ~146.7 miles+727 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between New Garden, PA and Altoona, PA, road signs point toward Patp Toll: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Johnstown.
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.
Top landmarks
•Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament — church in Pennsylvania, United States
•Mishler Theatre — theater and movie theater in Altoona, Pennsylvania, United States
•Downtown Altoona Historic District — historic district in Altoona, Pennsylvania
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 15m. Total distance: 206.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 101.9 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $13.24 in tolls one way, starting with Pennsylvania Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 15 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 15 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 38 miles (PA 283): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 66.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 169.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument, First State National Historical Park and Appalachian National Scenic Trail (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Altoona, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
