Origin
Penn Hills, PA
Late night in Penn Hills on Friday
Local time
3:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Penn Hills, PA to Mountain Top, PA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 15m
Distance
258.1 mi
415 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$43
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 2m
★
6 AM
5h 15m
8 AM
5h 42m
10 AM
5h 25m
12 PM
5h 22m
3 PM
5h 26m
5 PM
5h 41m
8 PM
5h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Penn Hills, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Mountain Top, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Penn Hills, PA to Mountain Top, PA is 258.1 miles and takes about 5h 15m via Keystone Shortway and PA 286, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, primarily traveling through Pennsylvania. Expect a drive that balances highway cruising with more local road navigation. With a recommended one-day drive, you'll have ample time to reach your destination without feeling overly rushed.
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
129 miles from Penn Hills, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 50m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Keystone Shortway | 142.3 mi | 2h 34m |
| PA 286 | 27.7 mi | 32m |
| Mahaffey Grampian Highway | 9.8 mi | 11m |
| South Mountain Boulevard | 9.3 mi | 14m |
| PA 56 | 8.7 mi | 13m |
| Sheridan Road | 8.2 mi | 12m |
| Saltsburg Road | 7.6 mi | 14m |
| Fairview Drive | 6 mi | 8m |
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 142.3 mi, about 2h 34m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 44 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,088 veh/hr typical · worst 1,542
Quietest
2 AM
~193 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 104 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 Penn Hills, PA and Mountain Top, PA.
1
Start on Sylvan Avenue
134 ft
·
11 sec
·
Sylvan Avenue
2
Turn left onto Mount Avenue
519 ft
·
28 sec
·
Mount Avenue
3
Turn left onto Verona Road
252 ft
·
7 sec
·
Verona Road
4
Turn right onto Second Avenue
248 ft
·
8 sec
·
Second Avenue
5
Turn right onto Shannon Road
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Shannon Road
6
At end of road, turn right onto Hamil Road
211 ft
·
6 sec
·
Hamil Road
7
Turn right onto Yellow Belt
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Hulton Road
8
Turn left onto PA 380
3.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Saltsburg Road
9
Continue on PA 380; Orange Belt
4.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Saltsburg Road
10
Turn left onto PA 380
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Golden Mile Highway
11
Continue on PA 380
6.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Fairview Drive
12
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward PA 66: Apollo, Greensburg
13
Turn right onto PA 66
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Sheridan Road
14
Merge onto PA 66
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
State Route 66
15
Take the exit
424 ft
·
8 sec
16
Merge onto PA 66
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
State Route 66
17
Continue on PA 66
7.9 mi
·
11 min
·
Sheridan Road
18
Continue on PA 56; PA 156
8.7 mi
·
13 min
·
PA 56; PA 156
19
Turn right onto US 422; PA 56
4.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Benjamin Franklin Highway
20
Take the exit onto US 422 Business
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
US 422 Business
Toward Philadelphia Street
Use the slight left lane.
21
Continue on Philadelphia Street
0.5 mi
·
47 sec
·
Philadelphia Street
22
Continue on West Pike Road
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
West Pike Road
23
Continue on Philadelphia Street
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Philadelphia Street
24
Take the exit onto PA 286
28 mi
·
32 min
·
PA 286
Toward PA 286 East: Clymer
25
Continue on US 219
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Burnside McGee Highway
26
Continue on US 219
515 ft
·
6 sec
·
Burnside - McGees Highway
27
Continue on US 219; PA 36
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Colonel Drake Highway
28
Continue on US 219; PA 36
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
·
West Main Street
29
Continue on US 219
9.8 mi
·
11 min
·
Mahaffey Grampian Highway
30
Continue on US 219
0.7 mi
·
47 sec
·
1st Street
31
Continue on PA 879
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Curwensville Grampian Road
32
Continue on PA 879
2.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Curwensville Grampian Highway
33
Continue on PA 879
0.4 mi
·
24 sec
·
Curwensville Grampain Highway
34
Continue on PA 879
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Clearfield Curwensville Highway
35
Turn right onto PA 879
4.2 mi
·
6 min
·
Clearfield Shawville Highway
36
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
37
Merge onto I 80
142 mi
·
2 hr 34 min
·
Keystone Shortway
38
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward PA 309: Hazleton, Mountain Top
39
Turn left onto PA 309
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
North Hunter Highway
40
Continue on PA 309
9.3 mi
·
14 min
·
South Mountain Boulevard
41
Turn right
423 ft
·
23 sec
42
Turn left onto North Main Street
98 ft
·
4 sec
·
North Main Street
43
Turn right onto Chestnut Street
158 ft
·
7 sec
·
Chestnut Street
44
Arrive at destination
Chestnut Street
Trip Plan
For a single-day trip of this length, aim to depart in the morning to maximize daylight hours. The drive is under six hours, so you can likely complete it with just one planned stop for fuel or a quick break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition from the Keystone Shortway onto PA 286 and the Mahaffey Grampian Highway, as services might be less frequent on these stretches. Your estimated fuel cost is around $43, so budget accordingly.
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 129 miles from Penn Hills, PA, or about 2h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 142.3 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 57 miles or 1h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 129 miles or 2h 50m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mountain Top, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Penn Hills, 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 Penn Hills, PA
This is one driving day of about 258.1 miles and 5h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from Penn Hills, 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 Keystone Shortway for about 142.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
129 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 57 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 129 miles from Penn Hills, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Keystone Shortway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 142.3 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 235 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 248.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Mount Avenue
Turn left onto Mount Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Verona Road
Turn left onto Verona Road
Navigation decision point
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Second Avenue
Turn right onto Second Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
41.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
|
US 422 Business
Take the exit onto US 422 Business toward Philadelphia Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Philadelphia Street
5
248.2 mi into trip
|
~4h 59m in
Take the exit toward PA 309: Hazleton, Mountain Top
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward PA 309: Hazleton, Mountain Top
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.13 one way
$86.25 round trip
$4.24/gal
25.4 MPG avg
90 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.67 | $47.46 | $94.93 |
| premium | $5.01 | $50.93 | $101.86 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $56.89 | $113.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 90.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 77.4 | 0 | $27.10 | $12.39 |
| Efficient EV | 64.5 | 0 | $22.58 | $10.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 103.2 | 1 | $36.13 | $16.52 |
Gas CO2
90 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Mountain Top, PA
Late night in Mountain Top on Friday
Local time
3:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
80°F
Clearfield, PA
129 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
6 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
5h 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route features a relatively low highway share of 16%, meaning you'll spend most of your time on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a major highway, the Keystone Shortway, covers 142.3 miles. After that, you'll transition to more local routes like PA 286 and the Mahaffey Grampian Highway. Be prepared for a driving experience that involves more local traffic and varied speed limits as you move away from the interstate.
Only 16% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
44 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 142.3 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Mount Avenue.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 15m drive. You will face about 23 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Mount Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Verona Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Second Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,712 ft
488 ft
Total Climb
2,062 ft
Total Descent
1,428 ft
Highest Point
1,712 ft
~110.6 mi in
Elevation Range
1,225 ft
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.
On the drive from Penn Hills, PA to Mountain Top, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Greensburg along the way.
Greensburg
16 mi in
|
~28m
About the Cities
Starting in Penn Hills, PA
Full guide →Founded 1850
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 5h 15m. Total distance: 258.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (16%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 142.3 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
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: near the start (Mount Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Verona Road): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Second Avenue): Navigation decision point.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Mountain Top, PA before the return drive.
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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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