Oil City to Pittsburgh is 80.9 miles and takes about 2 hours 1 minute via William Penn Highway, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive takes you from the Northeast region of Pennsylvania to the same region, offering a relatively short and straightforward trip. Given its 2-hour duration, it's an ideal option for a single-day excursion. The route primarily utilizes local roads with a significant number of turns, so be prepared for an engaging drive rather than a simple interstate cruise. It's a good choice if you're looking for a direct, no-fuss journey between these two Pennsylvania locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.5 miles from Oil City, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
William Penn Highway
44.8 mi
1h 6m
Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
13.5 mi
18m
Admiral Peary Highway
10.1 mi
13m
Portage Street
4.8 mi
6m
Evergreen Road
3.1 mi
5m
Pensacola Road
1.9 mi
4m
Fairlane Road
1.7 mi
2m
Second Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
William Penn Highway
— 44.8 mi, about 1h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oil City, PA and Pittsburgh, PA.
1
Start on Cassandra Road
268 ft·9 sec·Cassandra Road
2
Turn straight onto PA 53
4.8 mi·6 min·Portage Street
3
Turn slight right onto PA 160
3.1 mi·5 min·Evergreen Road
4
Continue on PA 160
0.2 mi·22 sec·Wilmore Road
5
Turn left onto PA 160
1.7 mi·2 min·Fairlane Road
6
At end of road, turn right onto PA 160
220 ft·8 sec·New Germany Road
7
Turn left onto Pensacola Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Pensacola Road
8
Continue on Pensacola Road
1.4 mi·3 min·Pensacola Road
9
At end of road, turn left onto US 22
10 mi·13 min·Admiral Peary Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on US 22
45 mi·1 hr 6 min·William Penn Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 376; US 22
13 mi·18 min·Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
Toward I 376 West, US 22 West: PittsburghUse the slight left lane.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·38 sec
Exit 71BToward Second AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn straight onto Second Avenue
0.3 mi·41 sec·Second Avenue
14
At end of road, turn right onto Ross Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·Ross Street
15
Turn left onto Fifth Avenue
352 ft·10 sec·Fifth Avenue
16
Turn right onto Grant Street
513 ft·21 sec·Grant Street
Use the right lane.
17
Arrive at destination
Grant Street
Trip Plan
Since this trip is only 80.9 miles and takes just over 2 hours, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning allows you to arrive in Pittsburgh with plenty of the day left to explore. While there are no specific stops noted, the drive's 'turn-heavy' nature means you'll want to stay attentive, especially on the 44.8-mile segment of William Penn Highway. Keep an eye on your fuel level, as the estimated cost is around $13, and plan your refueling accordingly before you get too low, particularly if you're not familiar with the available services along the local road portions.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 40.5 miles from Oil City, PA, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 44.8 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 18 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.5 miles or 1h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pittsburgh, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Oil City, 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 Oil City, PA
This is one driving day of about 80.9 miles and 2h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Oil City, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on William Penn Highway for about 44.8 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 11.7 and 80.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
11.7 mi into trip|~20m in|US 22 / Admiral Peary Highway
At end of road, turn left onto US 22 / Admiral Peary Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
66.6 mi into trip|~1h 41m in|I 376; US 22 / Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
Keep slight right at fork onto I 376; US 22 / Penn-Lincoln Parkway East toward I 376 West, US 22 West: Pittsburgh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 376 West, US 22 West: Pittsburgh
7
80.1 mi into trip|~1h 59m in
Take the exit toward Second Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 71B
Toward Second Avenue
6
80.6 mi into trip|~2h in|Ross Street
At end of road, turn right onto Ross Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
7
80.8 mi into trip|~2h 1m in|Grant Street
Turn right onto Grant Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.41 one way
$26.82 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$14.69
$29.38
premium
$4.93
$15.69
$31.38
diesel
$5.61
$17.86
$35.72
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.3
0
$8.49
$3.88
Efficient EV
20.2
0
$7.08
$3.24
EV Truck/SUV
32.4
0
$11.33
$5.18
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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
Oil City, PA
Late night
in Oil City on Sunday
Local time
12:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 9 to 14 mph50% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Pittsburgh, PA
Late night
in Pittsburgh on Sunday
Local time
12:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms
S 6 to 16 mph80% 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
5 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 1m 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...
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...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
Free
near mile 5.6
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,' meaning you'll encounter frequent turns and a less predictable pace than a typical interstate. With only 17% highway share, expect a more intimate experience with the local landscape. The longest continuous stretch you'll navigate is 44.8 miles along the William Penn Highway. This section likely offers a more consistent driving experience before transitions occur. The overall drive profile suggests a need for active navigation and awareness due to the numerous changes in direction, making it a hands-on driving experience.
Only 17% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 44.8 mi on William Penn 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 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 11.7 miles in near US 22 / Admiral Peary Highway.
Driving Effort5/10
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 80.9 miles you will encounter 9 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 11.7 miles (US 22 / Admiral Peary Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 66.6 miles (I 376; US 22 / Penn-Lincoln Parkway East): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 80.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 1m. Total distance: 80.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (17%). 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 44.8 miles on William Penn Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 11.7 miles (US 22 / Admiral Peary Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 66.6 miles (I 376; US 22 / Penn-Lincoln Parkway East): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 80.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Pittsburgh, PA before heading back.
