Traveling from Parkesburg to Altoona covers 193.1 miles through the heart of Pennsylvania. Expect to spend approximately 3 hours and 52 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal candidate for a single-day journey. Because the route relies on local roads rather than major interstates, you should budget about $31 for fuel. This trip transitions you across the Northeast region, trading the familiarity of local streets for a more technical driving experience. Since the drive is under four hours, you can easily complete it in one day without needing an overnight stay, though you may want to plan for at least one stop to break up the travel time.
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
96.5 miles from Parkesburg, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 3m 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
Old Philadelphia Pike
7.2 mi
12m
Newport Road
5.3 mi
8m
Lincoln Highway
5.2 mi
8m
US 30
4.5 mi
6m
Octorara Trail
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 101.9 mi, about 1h 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Parkesburg, PA and Altoona, PA.
1
Start on PA 372
0.3 mi·1 min·West 1st Avenue
2
Turn left onto PA 10
0.6 mi·1 min·South Church Street
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on PA 10
1.4 mi·2 min·Octorara Trail
4
Turn left onto US 30
4.7 mi·7 min·Lincoln Highway
Use the left lane.
5
Keep slight right at fork onto US 30
0.5 mi·1 min·Lincoln Highway
6
Turn right onto PA 772
5.3 mi·8 min·Newport Road
7
Continue on PA 340; PA 772
7.2 mi·12 min·Old Philadelphia Pike
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward US 30 West
9
Merge onto US 30
4.5 mi·6 min·US 30
10
Keep slight left at fork onto PA 283
29 mi·34 min·PA 283
Toward PA 283 West: HarrisburgUse the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn slight left
0.1 mi·31 sec
Toward I 76 Toll, PATP Toll: Philadelphia, PittsburghUse the left lane.
12
Merge onto I 283
406 ft·1 min·I 283
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 76 West: Pittsburgh
14
Merge onto I 76; PATP
102 mi·1 hr 51 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward Altoona, JohnstownUse the slight right lane.
16
Turn left onto US 220 BUS
0.3 mi·42 sec·Business 220
17
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 99, US 220: Cumberland, Altoona
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
19
Merge onto I 99; US 220
33 mi·35 min·I 99; US 220
20
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward 17th Street
21
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward Altoona
22
Turn straight onto 17th Street
1.4 mi·2 min·17th Street
23
Turn right onto PA 764
0.7 mi·1 min·6th Avenue
24
Turn left onto 7th Street
0.2 mi·18 sec·7th Street
25
Arrive at destination
7th Street
Trip Plan
When planning your departure, remember that this turn-heavy route requires more focus than a standard highway drive, so starting well-rested is essential. You have the flexibility to manage your own pace, but incorporating one planned stop is a smart way to maintain comfort over the nearly four-hour duration. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the $31 estimated cost can fluctuate based on your vehicle's performance on these local roads. Since the route lacks long, uninterrupted stretches, use the frequent turns as a natural reminder to stay alert and adjust your speed accordingly. By staying mindful of the road's technical nature, you can ensure a smooth and manageable trip to Altoona.
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 96.5 miles from Parkesburg, PA, or about 2h 3m 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 42 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 96.5 miles or 2h 3m 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 12m
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 Parkesburg, 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 Parkesburg, PA
This is one driving day of about 193.1 miles and 3h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 miles from Parkesburg, 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 157.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|PA 10 / South Church Street
Turn left onto PA 10 / South Church Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
24.9 mi into trip|~40m 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
7
156.3 mi into trip|~3h 9m 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
156.9 mi into trip|~3h 10m 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
157.1 mi into trip|~3h 11m 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
$32.01 one way
$64.03 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg68 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$35.06
$70.12
premium
$4.93
$37.45
$74.90
diesel
$5.61
$42.63
$85.27
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
$32
Tolls
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
57.9
0
$20.28
$9.27
Efficient EV
48.3
0
$16.90
$7.72
EV Truck/SUV
77.2
0
$27.03
$12.36
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (66% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Parkesburg, PA
Morning
in Parkesburg on Sunday
Local time
6:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Altoona, PA
Morning
in Altoona on Sunday
Local time
6:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Mostly Sunny
NW 6 mph9% chanceLive forecast
45°F
Hilltown, PA
97 mi in
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
30 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
3h 52m 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.
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...
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
~44 min detour
Free
near mile 173.1
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...
19 mi from route
~48 min detour
Free
near mile 39.9
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...
19 mi from route
~49 min detour
Free
near mile 159.8
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...
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?
Forget the monotony of interstate cruising; this route is a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention. You will navigate using South Church Street, Octorara Trail, and the historic Lincoln Highway, with zero percentage of the trip spent on high-speed highways. Since there are no long, straight stretches—the longest being 0 miles on South Church Street—you should prepare for a constant series of turns and adjustments. The road’s personality is defined by its local character, requiring a more engaged driving style than a typical highway commute. Expect a winding path that keeps you actively steering from start to finish.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 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?
8/10
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 0.3 miles in near PA 10 / South Church Street.
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 19 significant decision points across 193.1 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 0.3 miles (PA 10 / South Church Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 24.9 miles (PA 283): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 156.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Between Parkesburg, PA and Altoona, PA, road signs point toward Patp Toll: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Johnstown.
Patp Toll: Philadelphia
53.8 mi in|~1h 15m
Pittsburgh
53.8 mi in|~1h 15m
Johnstown
156.3 mi in|~3h 9m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 52m. Total distance: 193.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 0.3 miles (PA 10 / South Church Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 24.9 miles (PA 283): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 156.3 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, Johnstown Flood National Memorial 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 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Altoona, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
