Pittsburgh to Waterford is 117.2 miles and takes about 2 hours 23 minutes via I 79, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. It's a primarily highway-focused journey, making it a straightforward trip. If you're looking for an efficient way to get from Pittsburgh to Waterford, this route will get you there quickly. Consider this route if you value speed and directness over a leisurely, meandering drive.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
58.6 miles from Pittsburgh, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 79
82.1 mi
1h 29m
Parkway North
11.6 mi
16m
Route 6/Route 19
7 mi
9m
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
4.6 mi
6m
Route 19
4.1 mi
5m
PA-198
2.9 mi
5m
Veterans Bridge
0.9 mi
1m
Venango Avenue
0.8 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 79
— 82.1 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pittsburgh, PA and Waterford, PA.
1
Start on Grant Street
45 ft·5 sec·Grant Street
2
Turn right onto Sixth Avenue
309 ft·10 sec·Sixth Avenue
3
Turn left onto Bigelow Square
365 ft·8 sec·Bigelow Square
4
Continue on Bigelow Boulevard
0.2 mi·19 sec·Bigelow Boulevard
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·46 sec
Toward I 579: Veterans Bridge
6
Merge onto I 579
0.9 mi·1 min·Veterans Bridge
7
Continue on I 279
12 mi·16 min·Parkway North
8
Merge onto I 79
82 mi·1 hr 29 min·I 79
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward PA 198: Saegertown, Conneautville
10
Turn right onto PA 198
2.9 mi·5 min·PA-198
11
Enter roundabout onto US 6; US 19
248 ft·4 sec·Route 6/Route 19
12
Continue on US 6; US 19
1.4 mi·2 min·Route 6/Route 19
13
Continue on US 6; US 19
0.2 mi·16 sec·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
14
Continue on US 6; US 19
0.2 mi·14 sec·Grand Army of the Republic Army
15
Continue on US 6; US 19
1.9 mi·2 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
16
Continue on US 6; US 19
0.5 mi·1 min·Church Street
17
Turn right onto US 6; US 19
0.2 mi·31 sec·Cussewago Street
Use the right lane.
18
Continue on US 6; US 19
0.3 mi·39 sec·River Street
19
Continue on US 6; US 19
2.5 mi·3 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
20
Continue on US 6; US 19
0.8 mi·2 min·Venango Avenue
21
Turn right onto US 6; US 19
136 ft·12 sec·Church Street
22
Turn left onto US 6; US 19
0.5 mi·1 min·South Main Street
Use the left lane.
23
Continue on US 6; US 19
5.7 mi·7 min·Route 6/Route 19
24
Continue on US 19
3.8 mi·5 min·Route 19
25
Enter roundabout onto US 19; PA 97
171 ft·2 sec·Route 19
26
Continue on US 19; PA 97
0.2 mi·29 sec·Route 19
27
Continue on US 19; PA 97
0.4 mi·52 sec·High Street
28
Arrive at destination
US 19; PA 97
Trip Plan
Since this 2 hour 23 minute drive is easily doable in a single day, you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Pittsburgh in the morning will get you to Waterford well before evening. With only 117.2 miles, you won't need to plan for extensive stops, but keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 82.1-mile stretch on I 79. The estimated fuel cost is around $19, so filling up before you leave Pittsburgh is a good idea. This is a direct route, so focus on smooth driving and arriving at your destination efficiently.
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 58.6 miles from Pittsburgh, PA, or about 1h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 82.1 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 26 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.6 miles or 1h 8m 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 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waterford, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Pittsburgh, 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 Pittsburgh, PA
This is one driving day of about 117.2 miles and 2h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Pittsburgh, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 79 for about 82.1 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 106.5 — 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|Sixth Avenue
Turn right onto Sixth Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
13.2 mi into trip|~18m in|I 79
Merge onto I 79
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
95.2 mi into trip|~1h 48m in
Take the exit toward PA 198: Saegertown, Conneautville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward PA 198: Saegertown, Conneautville
6
102.6 mi into trip|~2h in|US 6; US 19 / Cussewago Street
Turn right onto US 6; US 19 / Cussewago Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
106.5 mi into trip|~2h 7m in|US 6; US 19 / South Main Street
Turn left onto US 6; US 19 / South Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.43 one way
$38.86 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$21.28
$42.56
premium
$4.93
$22.73
$45.46
diesel
$5.61
$25.88
$51.75
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.2
0
$12.31
$5.63
Efficient EV
29.3
0
$10.25
$4.69
EV Truck/SUV
46.9
0
$16.41
$7.50
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 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 16, 2026
Origin
Pittsburgh, PA
Night
in Pittsburgh on Saturday
Local time
10:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 10 to 14 mph48% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 4:45AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 4:42AM EDT by NWS State College PA
Destination
Waterford, PA
Night
in Waterford on Saturday
Local time
10:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°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
26 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 23m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 92% of the 117.2 miles spent on major roads. You'll start by navigating the Parkway North before merging onto I 79. The longest uninterrupted stretch on I 79 is a significant 82.1 miles, meaning you'll experience extended periods of consistent highway driving. Expect a steady pace for most of the journey, with limited opportunities for slower, more scenic detours. The character of the drive remains predominantly high-speed interstate for the vast majority of the trip.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 82.1 mi on I 79.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 79 and Parkway North. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Sixth Avenue.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 23m drive. You will face about 12 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 (Sixth Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 13.2 miles (I 79): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 95.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
On the drive from Pittsburgh, PA to Waterford, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Conneautville along the way.
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.
The longest stretch is about 82.1 miles on I 79. 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: near the start (Sixth Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 13.2 miles (I 79): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 95.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Waterford, PA before heading back.
