West Mifflin to Altoona is 96.2 miles and takes about 2h 22m via William Penn Highway and I 99, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania, offering a straightforward, single-day journey. Expect a drive that involves frequent turns and local road segments rather than a pure highway cruise. Given its relatively short duration, this trip is ideal for a spontaneous day excursion or as a segment of a larger Pennsylvania adventure, with minimal time commitment required.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.1 miles from West Mifflin, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
William Penn Highway
59.7 mi
1h 22m
Admiral Peary Highway
13.7 mi
19m
I 99
4.4 mi
4m
5th Avenue
4 mi
7m
Mosside Boulevard
2.7 mi
4m
Broadway Boulevard
1.8 mi
2m
Northern Pike
1.7 mi
3m
17th Street
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
William Penn Highway
— 59.7 mi, about 1h 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Mifflin, PA and Altoona, PA.
1
Start on Ohio Avenue
71 ft·8 sec·Ohio Avenue
2
Turn left onto Purdy Street
259 ft·12 sec·Purdy Street
3
Turn right onto Homestead Duquesne Road
0.8 mi·1 min·Homestead Duquesne Road
4
Continue on Grant Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·Grant Avenue
5
Turn right onto PA 837; Green Belt
0.9 mi·1 min·South Duquesne Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on Green Belt
0.5 mi·46 sec·McKeesport-Duquesne Bridge
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·1 min
Toward PA 148 North
8
Turn straight onto PA 148; Yellow Belt
4.0 mi·7 min·5th Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Turn right onto Yellow Belt
0.2 mi·20 sec·Patton Street
10
Turn right onto Avenue U
214 ft·6 sec·Avenue U
11
At end of road, turn right onto Avenue U
229 ft·11 sec·Avenue U
12
Turn left onto Watkins Avenue
0.1 mi·16 sec·Watkins Avenue
13
Continue on State Street
0.2 mi·36 sec·State Street
14
Continue on PA 130
1.8 mi·2 min·Broadway Boulevard
15
Turn left onto PA 48; Orange Belt
2.7 mi·4 min·Mosside Boulevard
16
Turn straight
0.1 mi·25 sec
17
At end of road, turn right onto Northern Pike
1.7 mi·3 min·Northern Pike
18
Turn right onto US 22
43 mi·1 hr 2 min·William Penn Highway
Use the right lane.
19
Continue on US 22
14 mi·19 min·Admiral Peary Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Continue on US 22
17 mi·19 min·William Penn Highway
21
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·45 sec·this road
Toward I 99, US 220: Altoona, Bedford
22
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
23
Merge onto I 99; US 220
4.4 mi·4 min·I 99; US 220
24
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward 17th Street
25
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward Altoona
26
Turn straight onto 17th Street
1.4 mi·2 min·17th Street
27
Turn right onto PA 764
0.7 mi·1 min·6th Avenue
28
Turn left onto 7th Street
0.2 mi·18 sec·7th Street
29
Arrive at destination
7th Street
Trip Plan
For this 96.2-mile drive, leaving in the morning will give you plenty of time to reach Altoona without feeling rushed. Since the longest stretch is just under 60 miles, you won't need to worry about extended periods without services, and with a total duration of around 2 hours and 22 minutes, stops are optional but can add flexibility. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the estimated cost is $16, and plan your route carefully due to the 'turn-heavy' nature of the drive; having navigation readily available is advisable. The flexibility of a short, same-day trip means you can depart whenever suits you best.
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 48.1 miles from West Mifflin, PA, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.7 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 21 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.1 miles or 1h 17m 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 59m
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 West Mifflin, 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 West Mifflin, PA
This is one driving day of about 96.2 miles and 2h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from West Mifflin, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on William Penn Highway for about 59.7 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 0 and 87.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Purdy Street
Turn left onto Purdy Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.5 mi into trip|~3m in|PA 837; Green Belt / South Duquesne Avenue
Turn right onto PA 837; Green Belt / South Duquesne Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
2.9 mi into trip|~6m in
Keep slight left at fork toward PA 148 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward PA 148 North
5
7.4 mi into trip|~15m in|Avenue U
At end of road, turn right onto Avenue U
Navigation decision point
6
87.9 mi into trip|~2h 10m 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
$15.95 one way
$31.90 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$17.47
$34.93
premium
$4.93
$18.66
$37.31
diesel
$5.61
$21.24
$42.48
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.9
0
$10.10
$4.62
Efficient EV
24.1
0
$8.42
$3.85
EV Truck/SUV
38.5
0
$13.47
$6.16
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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
West Mifflin, PA
Morning
in West Mifflin on Tuesday
Local time
10:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Altoona, PA
Morning
in Altoona on Tuesday
Local time
10:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 13 mph0% chanceLive 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
15 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
2h 22m 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.
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
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 66.3
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 59.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' with only about 5% of the route on highways. You'll experience a dynamic road profile, transitioning between local roads and the Interstate. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 59.7 miles on the William Penn Highway, offering a sustained period on a single road before the route begins to change. Be prepared for a varied driving experience that requires attention to navigation and road conditions, rather than a monotonous interstate cruise.
Only 5% 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: 59.7 mi on William Penn Highway.
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 early in the drive near Purdy 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 18 significant decision points across 96.2 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: near the start (Purdy Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (PA 837; Green Belt / South Duquesne Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 West Mifflin, PA to Altoona, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Bedford along the way.
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 2h 22m. Total distance: 96.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 59.7 miles on William Penn Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Purdy Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (PA 837; Green Belt / South Duquesne Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Johnstown Flood National Memorial and Flight 93 National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Altoona, PA before heading back.
