Embarking on a 274.7-mile journey from Pittston, PA, to Pittsburgh, PA, will take approximately 4 hours and 41 minutes of driving time. This route stays within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania and is best suited as a single-day trip, given its manageable duration. You can expect to spend around $45 on fuel for this drive. The overall experience is characterized by a turn-heavy local drive, meaning you'll navigate through various town and city streets as you make your way across the state. With only one recommended stop, this trip offers a straightforward passage between these two key Pennsylvania cities.
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
137.3 miles from Pittston, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 39m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
98.5 mi
1h 47m
William Penn Highway
61.2 mi
1h 25m
I 99
33.8 mi
36m
Jacksonville Road
24.2 mi
28m
I 81
23.5 mi
29m
Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
13.5 mi
18m
Admiral Peary Highway
13.4 mi
19m
Oak Street
1.2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 98.5 mi, about 1h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pittston, PA and Pittsburgh, PA.
1
Start on North Main Street
81 ft·4 sec·North Main Street
2
Turn right onto Mill Street
187 ft·10 sec·Mill Street
3
Turn right onto Butler Alley
0.1 mi·26 sec·Butler Alley
4
Turn right onto Butler Street
169 ft·8 sec·Butler Street
5
Turn right onto US 11
94 ft·5 sec·North Main Street
6
Turn sharp left onto US 11
0.1 mi·38 sec·Kennedy Boulevard
7
Turn left onto US 11
0.7 mi·1 min·William Street
Use the straight lane.
8
Turn sharp right onto South Township Boulevard
0.6 mi·1 min·South Township Boulevard
9
Turn left onto Oak Street
1.2 mi·2 min·Oak Street
Use the left lane.
10
Turn right onto PA 315
0.2 mi·26 sec·PA 315
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·48 sec
Toward I 81 South: Hazleton
12
Merge onto I 81
24 mi·29 min·I 81
13
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 151BToward I-80 West: Bloomsburg
14
Merge onto I 80
99 mi·1 hr 47 min·Keystone Shortway
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·53 sec
Exit 161Toward I 99 South, US 220 South, PA 26: Bellefonte
16
Turn left onto US 220; PA 26
24 mi·28 min·Jacksonville Road
Use the straight lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220
34 mi·36 min·I 99; US 220
Toward I 99 South, US 220 South: Port Matilda, Altoona
18
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward US 22: Ebensburg, Hollidaysburg
19
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·43 sec·this road
20
Continue on US 22
16 mi·19 min·William Penn Highway
21
Continue on US 22
13 mi·19 min·Admiral Peary Highway
Use the straight lane.
22
Continue on US 22
45 mi·1 hr 6 min·William Penn Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
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.
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi·38 sec
Exit 71BToward Second AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Turn straight onto Second Avenue
0.3 mi·41 sec·Second Avenue
26
At end of road, turn right onto Ross Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·Ross Street
27
Turn left onto Fifth Avenue
352 ft·10 sec·Fifth Avenue
28
Turn right onto Grant Street
513 ft·21 sec·Grant Street
Use the right lane.
29
Arrive at destination
Grant Street
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour and 41-minute drive, departing in the morning will allow you to reach Pittsburgh with ample daylight. Since it's a single-day trip with a fuel cost of approximately $45, planning one stop for a break or to refuel is sensible. The turn-heavy nature of this route means you should pay close attention to GPS navigation and local signage, especially when transitioning between the main roads like Mill Street and Butler Street. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the lack of highway means you might encounter fewer immediate refueling options than on a typical interstate route.
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 137.3 miles from Pittston, PA, or about 2h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.5 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 60 miles or 1h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 137.3 miles or 2h 39m 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 27m
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 Pittston, 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 Pittston, PA
This is one driving day of about 274.6 miles and 5h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Pittston, 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 98.5 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 274.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|US 11 / William Street
Turn left onto US 11 / William Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
1.7 mi into trip|~4m in|Oak Street
Turn left onto Oak Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
260.4 mi into trip|~5h 19m 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
273.8 mi into trip|~5h 37m 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
7
274.6 mi into trip|~5h 39m in|Grant Street
Turn right onto Grant Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.53 one way
$91.05 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg96 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$49.86
$99.72
premium
$4.93
$53.26
$106.51
diesel
$5.61
$60.63
$121.26
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 96.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
82.4
1
$28.83
$13.18
Efficient EV
68.7
0
$24.03
$10.98
EV Truck/SUV
109.8
1
$38.44
$17.57
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 20, 2026
Origin
Pittston, PA
Morning
in Pittston on Tuesday
Local time
8:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Pittsburgh, PA
Morning
in Pittsburgh on Tuesday
Local time
8:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°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
6 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
5h 40m 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.
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 208.4
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
~68 min detour
Free
near mile 208.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly a turn-heavy local experience, with a highway share of 0%. You'll be navigating through a series of main roads including Mill Street, Butler Alley, and Butler Street, which means frequent turns and variable speed limits. Unlike a typical interstate cruise, expect to engage with the landscape and local traffic patterns more directly. The longest uninterrupted stretch isn't specified, but the nature of the profile suggests a continuous series of local roads rather than long, open highway segments. This route demands your attention as you transition through different communities.
Only 26% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 98.5 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 0.3 miles in near US 11 / William 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 22 significant decision points across 274.6 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 (US 11 / William Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles (Oak Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 260.4 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Pittston, PA and Pittsburgh, PA, road signs point toward Altoona and Hollidaysburg.
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.
Top landmarks
•Carnegie Museum of Natural History — natural history museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
•Allegheny Observatory — historic observatory of the University of Pittsburgh
•Carnegie Museum of Art — museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 40m. Total distance: 274.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 98.5 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.
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 Pittsburgh, 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 (US 11 / William Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.7 miles (Oak Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 260.4 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.
Yes — Johnstown Flood National Memorial and Flight 93 National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Pittsburgh, PA before the return drive.
