Spanning 128.1 miles across Pennsylvania, this trip from Palmer to Altoona is an ideal one-day excursion. You should plan for a driving time of approximately 2 hours and 56 minutes, making it a manageable trek for those looking to reach the heart of the state. With a fuel budget of about $21, the trip is quite economical for solo drivers or small groups. While the drive is straightforward, it is best treated as a single-day journey rather than an overnight affair. Both your starting point and destination sit firmly within the Northeast region, offering a consistent travel experience as you navigate between these two Pennsylvania hubs.
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
64.1 miles from Palmer, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 31m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
William Penn Highway
51 mi
1h 6m
US 119
26.9 mi
31m
Admiral Peary Highway
13.7 mi
19m
Amos K. Hutchinson Bypass
13.3 mi
14m
New Salem Road
7.7 mi
13m
I 99
4.4 mi
4m
Thompson 1 Road
1.4 mi
2m
17th Street
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
William Penn Highway
— 51 mi, about 1h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Palmer, PA and Altoona, PA.
1
Start on Tank Hill Road
157 ft·9 sec·Tank Hill Road
2
Turn right onto Palmer Road
0.5 mi·2 min·Palmer Road
3
Continue on Sr3013
523 ft·23 sec·Sr3013
4
Continue on Palmer Adah Road
1.2 mi·4 min·Palmer Adah Road
5
Turn right onto Ralph Road
0.9 mi·3 min·Ralph Road
6
Turn left onto PA 166
0.2 mi·26 sec·Hartley Hill Road
7
Continue on PA 166
1.4 mi·2 min·Thompson 1 Road
8
Continue on PA 166
0.3 mi·30 sec·Tower Hill Road
9
Turn slight right onto New Salem Road
2.7 mi·4 min·New Salem Road
10
Continue on Front Street
0.2 mi·16 sec·Front Street
11
Continue on West Main Street
0.4 mi·43 sec·West Main Street
12
Continue on New Salem Road
4.9 mi·8 min·New Salem Road
13
Turn right onto US 40
0.6 mi·1 min·National Pike
Use the straight lane.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Use the left lane.
15
Merge onto US 119
27 mi·31 min·US 119
16
Continue on PA Tpke 66
13 mi·14 min·Amos K. Hutchinson Bypass
Toward PA Turnpike 66 North: Delmont
17
Continue on PA 66
0.3 mi·35 sec·PA 66
Use the right lane.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·48 sec
Toward US 22 East: BlairsvilleUse the right lane.
19
Merge onto US 22
34 mi·47 min·William Penn Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Continue on US 22
14 mi·19 min·Admiral Peary Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Continue on US 22
17 mi·19 min·William Penn Highway
22
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·45 sec·this road
Toward I 99, US 220: Altoona, Bedford
23
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
24
Merge onto I 99; US 220
4.4 mi·4 min·I 99; US 220
25
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward 17th Street
26
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward Altoona
27
Turn straight onto 17th Street
1.4 mi·2 min·17th Street
28
Turn right onto PA 764
0.7 mi·1 min·6th Avenue
29
Turn left onto 7th Street
0.2 mi·18 sec·7th Street
30
Arrive at destination
7th Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a sub-three-hour trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever suits your schedule, though leaving early helps avoid any unexpected local congestion. You only need to plan for one major stop to break up the drive and keep your energy levels high. Keep in mind that because the route is turn-heavy, you should factor in extra time for navigating intersections rather than just pure mileage. Given the $21 fuel cost, filling up before you leave Palmer is a simple way to ensure a stress-free start. Use that single planned stop as a chance to stretch your legs after completing the longest 51-mile stretch on the William Penn Highway.
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 64.1 miles from Palmer, PA, or about 1h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 51 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 28 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.1 miles or 1h 31m 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 27m
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 Palmer, 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 Palmer, PA
This is one driving day of about 128.1 miles and 2h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Palmer, 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 51 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 13 and 119.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
13 mi into trip|~28m in|US 40 / National Pike
Turn right onto US 40 / National Pike
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
13.6 mi into trip|~30m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
54.4 mi into trip|~1h 17m in
Take the exit toward US 22 East: Blairsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward US 22 East: Blairsville
5
54.7 mi into trip|~1h 18m in|US 22 / William Penn Highway
Merge onto US 22 / William Penn Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
119.9 mi into trip|~2h 45m 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
$21.24 one way
$42.47 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$23.26
$46.52
premium
$4.93
$24.84
$49.69
diesel
$5.61
$28.28
$56.57
Estimated Tolls: $0.93
Amos K. Hutchinson Bypass
(13.3 mi)$0.93
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
$21
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38.4
0
$13.45
$6.15
Efficient EV
32
0
$11.21
$5.12
EV Truck/SUV
51.2
0
$17.93
$8.20
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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 Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Palmer, PA
Morning
in Palmer on Sunday
Local time
11:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Altoona, PA
Morning
in Altoona on Sunday
Local time
11:14 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 56m 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.
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...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 97.2
The battle at Fort Necessity in the summer of 1754 was the opening action of the French and Indian War. This war was a clash of British, French and American Indian cultures. It ended with the removal...
9 mi from route
~24 min detour
Free
near mile 17.7
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...
27 mi from route
~66 min detour
Free
near mile 88.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Only 25% of this journey involves highway driving, so you will spend most of your time navigating local roads like the Admiral Peary Highway and US 119. Your longest uninterrupted segment is a 51-mile stretch along the William Penn Highway, which provides the most consistent pace of the trip. Because the route relies heavily on local roads rather than interstates, the road personality is technical and engaging. Prepare for a ride that prioritizes local navigation over high-speed cruising.
Only 25% 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: 51 mi on William Penn Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 around 13 miles in near US 40 / National Pike.
Driving Effort9/10
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 14 significant decision points across 128.1 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 13 miles (US 40 / National Pike): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 54.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Between Palmer, PA and Altoona, PA, road signs point toward Pa Turnpike 66 North: Delmont and Bedford.
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 56m. Total distance: 128.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 51 miles on William Penn Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.93 in tolls one way, starting with Amos K. Hutchinson Bypass. 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.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 13 miles (US 40 / National Pike): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 54.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Johnstown Flood National Memorial, Fort Necessity National Battlefield 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.
