Traveling from Waynesburg to Altoona covers 135.4 miles of Pennsylvania scenery. Expect a travel time of approximately 3 hours and 4 minutes, making this a straightforward day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. You will navigate via East Greene Street, East High Street, and Roy E, avoiding major interstate corridors for a more local experience. Budgeting around $22 for fuel is a safe estimate for the journey. Since both cities are located within the Northeast region, you will remain in a familiar landscape throughout your transit. This route is best suited for drivers who prefer a slower, more deliberate pace over the efficiency of a high-speed highway.
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
67.7 miles from Waynesburg, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 33m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
William Penn Highway
51 mi
1h 6m
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
20 mi
27m
Admiral Peary Highway
13.7 mi
19m
Amos K. Hutchinson Bypass
12.9 mi
13m
Jefferson Road
7.4 mi
11m
PA 88
6.5 mi
10m
Mon/Fayette Expressway
6 mi
6m
I 99
4.4 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
William Penn Highway
— 51 mi, about 1h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waynesburg, PA and Altoona, PA.
1
Start on North Porter Street
467 ft·22 sec·North Porter Street
2
Turn left onto US 19; PA 21
0.5 mi·1 min·East Greene Street
3
Turn slight right onto US 19; PA 21
0.5 mi·1 min·East High Street
4
Turn left onto PA 21
0.1 mi·12 sec·Roy E. Furman Highway
Use the left lane.
5
Turn left onto PA 188
3.2 mi·4 min·Jefferson Road
Use the left lane.
6
Continue on PA 188
2.3 mi·3 min·Greene Street
7
Continue on PA 188
4.2 mi·6 min·Jefferson Road
8
Turn left onto PA 88
5.6 mi·8 min·PA 88
9
Turn straight onto PA 88
1.2 mi·1 min·Front Street
10
Continue on PA 88
3.0 mi·4 min·Low Hill Road
11
Turn left onto PA 88
0.9 mi·1 min·PA 88
12
Merge onto PA Tpke 43; PA 88
6.0 mi·6 min·Mon/Fayette Expressway
13
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 70 East: New Stanton
14
Merge onto I 70
20 mi·27 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·1 min
Toward PA Turnpike 66 North: Delmont
16
Merge onto PA Tpke 66
13 mi·13 min·Amos K. Hutchinson Bypass
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
Planning a departure early in the day is your best strategy to navigate these local roads while visibility is at its peak. Since the trip takes just over 3 hours, you have plenty of flexibility to incorporate one well-timed stop to break up the drive. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, check your tire pressure and fluid levels before leaving Waynesburg to ensure your vehicle is ready for the constant maneuvering. Keep that $22 fuel budget in mind, but remember to factor in potential variations based on your vehicle's fuel efficiency. Since there are no major highways, use a reliable GPS to stay on track as you move between East High Street and Roy E.
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 67.7 miles from Waynesburg, PA, or about 1h 33m 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 30 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 67.7 miles or 1h 33m 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 34m
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 Waynesburg, 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 Waynesburg, PA
This is one driving day of about 135.4 miles and 3h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Waynesburg, 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 127.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1 mi into trip|~2m in|PA 21 / Roy E. Furman Highway
Turn left onto PA 21 / Roy E. Furman Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
28.1 mi into trip|~41m in|I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
Merge onto I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
61.7 mi into trip|~1h 25m 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
61.9 mi into trip|~1h 26m 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
127.1 mi into trip|~2h 53m 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
$22.45 one way
$44.90 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$24.59
$49.17
premium
$4.93
$26.26
$52.52
diesel
$5.61
$29.89
$59.79
Estimated Tolls: $1.32
Amos K. Hutchinson Bypass
(12.9 mi)$0.90
Mon/Fayette Expressway
(6 mi)$0.42
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
$22
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
40.6
0
$14.22
$6.50
Efficient EV
33.9
0
$11.85
$5.42
EV Truck/SUV
54.2
0
$18.96
$8.67
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 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 18, 2026
Origin
Waynesburg, PA
Afternoon
in Waynesburg on Sunday
Local time
12:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Altoona, PA
Afternoon
in Altoona on Sunday
Local time
12:33 PM
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
24 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
3h 4m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate grind, this journey features zero highway miles, meaning you will navigate through local roads for the entire 135.4-mile duration. The route maintains a technical feel, requiring you to stay alert as you transition between East Greene Street and local passages. Because the road consists entirely of secondary routes, your speed will remain consistent with local traffic rather than cruising at highway limits. You should anticipate a dynamic driving experience where the road conditions change frequently, keeping the trip engaging from start to finish.
Only 13% 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?
10/10
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 1 miles in near PA 21 / Roy E. Furman Highway.
Driving Effort10/10
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 18 significant decision points across 135.4 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 1 miles (PA 21 / Roy E. Furman Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 28.1 miles (I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 61.7 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 Waynesburg, 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 3h 4m. Total distance: 135.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
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 $1.32 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.
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 1 miles (PA 21 / Roy E. Furman Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 28.1 miles (I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 61.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Altoona, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
