Service Plaza
0 mi from route
Trip from Wellsboro, PA to Pittsburgh, PA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 7m
Distance
223.2 mi
359 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 54m
★
6 AM
5h 7m
8 AM
5h 34m
10 AM
5h 17m
12 PM
5h 14m
3 PM
5h 18m
5 PM
5h 33m
8 PM
4h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wellsboro, PA
Michael Taccetta
Pittsburgh, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 223.2-mile journey from Wellsboro, PA to Pittsburgh, PA is a solid day trip, estimated to take around 5 hours and 7 minutes of driving time. The route primarily utilizes William Penn Highway, Route 287, and I-99, with 39% of the drive on highways. You can expect a fuel cost of approximately $37 for this trip. Given the duration and distance, it’s comfortably manageable as a single-day adventure, allowing for flexibility in your departure time and a single planned stop. This drive offers a mixed experience, transitioning between different road types as you head west across Pennsylvania.
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
111.6 miles from Wellsboro, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 36m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| William Penn Highway | 61.2 mi | 1h 25m |
| Route 287 | 35.2 mi | 1h 1m |
| I 99 | 33.8 mi | 36m |
| Jacksonville Road | 24.2 mi | 28m |
| Appalachian Thruway | 15.9 mi | 18m |
| Penn-Lincoln Parkway East | 13.5 mi | 18m |
| Admiral Peary Highway | 13.4 mi | 19m |
| Keystone Shortway | 11.8 mi | 12m |
Longest stretch:
William Penn Highway
— 61.2 mi, about 1h 25m
Traffic on I-99
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,408 veh/hr typical · worst 1,675
Quietest
1 AM
~78 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 52 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 Wellsboro, PA and Pittsburgh, PA.
1
Start on PA 660
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn left onto PA 287
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Central Avenue
3
Continue on PA 287
11 mi
·
18 min
·
Route 287
4
Continue on PA 287; PA 414
25 mi
·
43 min
·
Route 287
5
Continue on PA 287; PA 973
3.6 mi
·
6 min
·
PA 287; PA 973
6
Turn right onto US 220
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Susquehanna Beltway
7
Continue on US 220
16 mi
·
18 min
·
Appalachian Thruway
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 107
Toward PA 477: Salona
9
Turn right onto PA 477
439 ft
·
10 sec
·
Long Run Road
10
At end of road, turn left onto PA 64
4.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Nittany Valley Drive
11
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
12
Merge onto I 80; US 220
12 mi
·
12 min
·
Keystone Shortway
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 161
Toward I 99 South, US 220 South, PA 26: Bellefonte
14
Turn left onto US 220; PA 26
24 mi
·
28 min
·
Jacksonville Road
Use the straight lane.
15
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
16
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 22: Ebensburg, Hollidaysburg
17
Continue on this road
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
this road
18
Continue on US 22
16 mi
·
19 min
·
William Penn Highway
19
Continue on US 22
13 mi
·
19 min
·
Admiral Peary Highway
Use the straight lane.
20
Continue on US 22
45 mi
·
1 hr 6 min
·
William Penn Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
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: Pittsburgh
Use the slight left lane.
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 71B
Toward Second Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Turn straight onto Second Avenue
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Second Avenue
24
At end of road, turn right onto Ross Street
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Ross Street
25
Turn left onto Fifth Avenue
352 ft
·
10 sec
·
Fifth Avenue
26
Turn right onto Grant Street
513 ft
·
21 sec
·
Grant Street
Use the right lane.
27
Arrive at destination
Grant Street
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour drive, leaving Wellsboro in the morning will allow you to arrive in Pittsburgh with ample time to settle in. With only one recommended stop, plan for a break around the halfway point or when you feel ready. The estimated fuel cost of $37 is a good benchmark, but always keep an eye on your gauge, especially during the 61.2-mile stretch on William Penn Highway where services might be more spaced out. Since this is a feasible one-day trip, you have the advantage of flexibility; however, be mindful of potential traffic as you get closer to Pittsburgh, especially during peak hours.
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 111.6 miles from Wellsboro, PA, or about 2h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.2 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 49 miles or 1h 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 111.6 miles or 2h 36m 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 8m
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 Wellsboro, 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 Wellsboro, PA
This is one driving day of about 223.2 miles and 5h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Wellsboro, 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 61.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
112 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 49 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 111.6 miles from Wellsboro, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before William Penn Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 61.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Onvo Travel Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.4 mi from route
TA
2.2 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 74.6 and 223.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
74.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 53m in
Take the exit toward I 99 South, US 220 South, PA 26: Bellefonte
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 161
Toward I 99 South, US 220 South, PA 26: Bellefo...
6
99.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 22m in
|
I 99; US 220
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220 toward I 99 South, US 220 South: Port Matilda, Altoona
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 99 South, US 220 South: Port Matilda,...
8
208.9 mi into trip
|
~4h 46m 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
222.4 mi into trip
|
~5h 4m 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
223.1 mi into trip
|
~5h 6m in
|
Grant Street
Turn right onto Grant Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.59 one way
$71.18 round trip
$4.05/gal
25.4 MPG avg
78 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $39.39 | $78.77 |
| premium | $4.81 | $42.25 | $84.50 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $42.14 | $84.29 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.11
Appalachian Thruway
(15.9 mi)
$1.11
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
$36
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 67 | 0 | $23.44 | $10.71 |
| Efficient EV | 55.8 | 0 | $19.53 | $8.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 89.3 | 1 | $31.25 | $14.28 |
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 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.
Origin
Wellsboro, PA
Morning in Wellsboro on Tuesday
Local time
6:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 13 mph
91% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 3:58PM EDT until July 18 at 6:45PM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Tornado Warning
Tornado Warning issued July 18 at 3:56PM EDT until July 18 at 4:30PM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA
Destination
Pittsburgh, PA
Morning in Pittsburgh on Tuesday
Local time
6:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
SW 15 mph
77% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 18 at 3:58PM EDT until July 18 at 6:45PM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Tornado Warning
Tornado Warning issued July 18 at 3:56PM EDT until July 18 at 4:30PM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA
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
5 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 7m 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...
8 mi from route
~20 min detour
Free
near mile 153.9
Park Closure: North Abutment Overlook Closure
Flight 93 National Memorial
National Memorial
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...
26 mi from route
~65 min detour
Free
near mile 161.6
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
The drive presents a mixed bag of road types, with a 39% share of highway driving. You'll experience stretches on the historic William Penn Highway, which can be more engaging, and also navigate parts of Route 287 and the interstate. The longest uninterrupted stretch you’ll encounter is 61.2 miles on the William Penn Highway, offering a solid period of consistent travel. This variety means the road's character will shift throughout your journey, moving from potentially more rural or historic roads to faster-paced interstate sections as you approach Pittsburgh.
39% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 61.2 mi on William Penn Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 74.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 223.2 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 74.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 99.1 miles (I 99; US 220): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 208.9 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.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,133 ft
557 ft
Total Climb
2,300 ft
Total Descent
2,837 ft
Highest Point
2,133 ft
~143.5 mi in
Elevation Range
1,576 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.
Between Wellsboro, PA and Pittsburgh, PA, road signs point toward Altoona and Hollidaysburg.
Altoona
99.1 mi in
|
~2h 22m
|
via I 99; US 220
Hollidaysburg
132.9 mi in
|
~2h 59m
About the Cities
Starting in Wellsboro, PA
Full guide →Wellsboro, Pennsylvania is the county seat of Tioga County, Pennsylvania. Wellsboro is an old fashion, historic town that still depicts life as the way it used to be back in the 1900s. Downtown Wellsboro still has the authentic gas street lamps and the historic buildings. The town offers a variety of interesting sights to visit and fun activities to participate in. Wellsboro is definitely a place for the outdoors lover because of its location within the wilderness.
Arriving in Pittsburgh, PA
Full guide →Founded 1758
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
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 7m. Total distance: 223.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 61.2 miles on William Penn Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.11 in tolls one way, starting with Appalachian Thruway. 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.
Yes — we found about 7 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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. There are 7 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 74.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 99.1 miles (I 99; US 220): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 208.9 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 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.2 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.
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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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