Origin
New Kensington, PA
Morning in New Kensington on Sunday
Local time
10:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from New Kensington, 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
34m
Distance
21 mi
34 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Good
5 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 31m
★
6 AM
0h 34m
8 AM
0h 40m
10 AM
0h 36m
12 PM
0h 36m
3 PM
0h 37m
5 PM
0h 40m
8 PM
0h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
New Kensington, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Pittsburgh, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick commute or a simple day trip, the 21-mile journey from New Kensington to Pittsburgh is a straightforward affair. Typically taking about 34 minutes, this drive is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion. You will primarily utilize the Allegheny Valley Expressway, Freeport Road, and the New Kensington Bridge to navigate between these two Northeast Pennsylvania locations. With an estimated fuel cost of only $3, it is an incredibly budget-friendly trip that requires no overnight stops. Whether you are heading into the city for business or leisure, this route offers a reliable, no-fuss connection that gets you to your destination efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Allegheny Valley Expressway | 16.6 mi | 24m |
| Freeport Road | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| New Kensington Bridge | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Constitution Boulevard | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Veterans Bridge | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| 9th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Baileys Run Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Grant Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Allegheny Valley Expressway
— 16.6 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Kensington, PA and Pittsburgh, PA.
1
Start on Locust Street
25 ft
·
6 sec
·
Locust Street
2
Turn left onto Constitution Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
Constitution Boulevard
3
Turn right onto 9th Street
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
9th Street
4
Continue on New Kensington Bridge
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
New Kensington Bridge
5
Turn right onto Freeport Road
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Freeport Road
6
Turn left onto Baileys Run Road
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
Baileys Run Road
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
8
Merge onto PA 28
17 mi
·
24 min
·
Allegheny Valley Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
181 ft
·
4 sec
Exit 1A
Toward I 579 South, I 279 South: Veterans Bridge, Monroeville, Fort Pitt Bridge, Airport
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 579 South: Veterans Bridge, Monroeville
Use the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto I 579
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
Veterans Bridge
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Toward 7th Avenue, 6th Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
502 ft
·
14 sec
Toward PPG Arena, 6th Avenue
14
Turn straight onto Bigelow Boulevard
224 ft
·
3 sec
·
Bigelow Boulevard
15
Continue on Bigelow Square
386 ft
·
6 sec
·
Bigelow Square
Toward 6th Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
16
Turn right onto Sixth Avenue
347 ft
·
11 sec
·
Sixth Avenue
17
Turn left onto Grant Street
296 ft
·
22 sec
·
Grant Street
18
Continue on Grant Street
254 ft
·
13 sec
·
Grant Street
19
Arrive at destination
Grant Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 20.6 — 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
|
Constitution Boulevard
Turn left onto Constitution Boulevard
Navigation decision point
8
19.6 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Take the exit toward I 579 South, I 279 South: Veterans Bridge, Monroeville, Fort Pitt Bridge, Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1A
Toward I 579 South, I 279 South: Veterans Bridg...
9
19.7 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 579 South: Veterans Bridge, Monroeville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 579 South: Veterans Bridge, Monroevill...
7
20.3 mi into trip
|
~32m 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
20.6 mi into trip
|
~33m 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
$3.48 one way
$6.96 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $3.81 | $7.63 |
| premium | $4.93 | $4.07 | $8.15 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.64 | $9.27 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.3 | 0 | $2.20 | $1.01 |
| Efficient EV | 5.3 | 0 | $1.84 | $0.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.4 | 0 | $2.94 | $1.34 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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
Morning in Pittsburgh on Sunday
Local time
10:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
34m 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 trip is defined by its highway-focused nature, with 79% of your time spent on major roads. Expect a consistent pace, highlighted by a longest uninterrupted stretch of 16.6 miles on the Allegheny Valley Expressway. While the transition from the New Kensington area toward the city involves local navigation, the bulk of your journey is designed for steady, higher-speed travel. You will find that the road maintains a functional, commuter-oriented character throughout the duration of the drive. It is a practical stretch of asphalt that prioritizes utility over winding, scenic detours.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.6 mi on Allegheny Valley Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Allegheny Valley Expressway and Freeport Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Constitution Boulevard.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 21 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 34m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Constitution Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 19.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between New Kensington, PA and Pittsburgh, PA, road signs point toward Monroeville and Airport.
Monroeville
19.6 mi in
|
~31m
Airport
19.6 mi in
|
~31m
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 34m. Total distance: 21 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 16.6 miles on Allegheny Valley Expressway. 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: near the start (Constitution Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 19.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Pittsburgh, PA
More from New Kensington, PA
More trips to Pittsburgh, PA
Explore more options from New Kensington, PA or browse trips ending in Pittsburgh, PA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse PA road trips.