Wilkes-Barre to Pittsburgh is 265.1 miles and takes about 5h 26m via Keystone Shortway, William Penn Highway, and I-99, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to the same region. The drive is predominantly on surface roads, offering a more local feel compared to interstate-only travel. With a single recommended stop and a relatively short duration, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion.
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
132.6 miles from Wilkes-Barre, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 31m 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
14.4 mi
16m
Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
13.5 mi
18m
Admiral Peary Highway
13.4 mi
19m
Hazle Street
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 98.5 mi, about 1h 47m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 36 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,145 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,582
Quietest
2 AM
~189 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Wilkes-Barre, PA and Pittsburgh, PA.
1
Start on Public Square
0.1 mi·26 sec·Public Square
2
Continue on South Main Street
0.7 mi·1 min·South Main Street
3
Turn left onto Hazle Street
1.0 mi·2 min·Hazle Street
4
Turn left onto Blackman Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Blackman Street
5
Turn right onto PA 309
0.2 mi·29 sec·Wilkes-Barre Township Boulevard
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec
7
Merge onto I 81
14 mi·16 min·I 81
8
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 151BToward I-80 West: Bloomsburg
9
Merge onto I 80
99 mi·1 hr 47 min·Keystone Shortway
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·53 sec
Exit 161Toward I 99 South, US 220 South, PA 26: Bellefonte
11
Turn left onto US 220; PA 26
24 mi·28 min·Jacksonville Road
Use the straight lane.
12
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
13
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward US 22: Ebensburg, Hollidaysburg
14
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·43 sec·this road
15
Continue on US 22
16 mi·19 min·William Penn Highway
16
Continue on US 22
13 mi·19 min·Admiral Peary Highway
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on US 22
45 mi·1 hr 6 min·William Penn Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
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.
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·38 sec
Exit 71BToward Second AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Turn straight onto Second Avenue
0.3 mi·41 sec·Second Avenue
21
At end of road, turn right onto Ross Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·Ross Street
22
Turn left onto Fifth Avenue
352 ft·10 sec·Fifth Avenue
23
Turn right onto Grant Street
513 ft·21 sec·Grant Street
Use the right lane.
24
Arrive at destination
Grant Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5-hour, 265-mile drive, consider an early morning departure from Wilkes-Barre to maximize daylight. The route is designed for a single day, so you'll likely only need one planned stop for fuel or a quick break. Be mindful of the 98.5-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway, as it's the longest continuous segment before you'll need to look for services. With a fuel cost estimated at $43, it's a budget-friendly option for a day trip across Pennsylvania.
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 132.6 miles from Wilkes-Barre, PA, or about 2h 31m 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 58 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 132.6 miles or 2h 31m 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 16m
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 Wilkes-Barre, 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 Wilkes-Barre, PA
This is one driving day of about 265.1 miles and 5h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from Wilkes-Barre, 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 116.5 and 265 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
116.5 mi into trip|~2h 12m 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
141 mi into trip|~2h 41m 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
250.8 mi into trip|~5h 5m 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
264.3 mi into trip|~5h 23m 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
265 mi into trip|~5h 25m in|Grant Street
Turn right onto Grant Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.27 one way
$84.54 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg93 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$46.78
$93.56
premium
$4.81
$50.18
$100.36
diesel
$4.80
$50.06
$100.11
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
79.5
0
$27.84
$12.72
Efficient EV
66.3
0
$23.20
$10.60
EV Truck/SUV
106
1
$37.11
$16.97
Gas CO2
93 kg
EV CO2
31 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.
Forecast as of Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Wilkes-Barre, PA
Late night
in Wilkes-Barre on Monday
Local time
3:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Areas Of Smoke
NE 2 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 18 at 2:13AM EDT until July 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 9:22PM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Destination
Pittsburgh, PA
Late night
in Pittsburgh on Monday
Local time
3:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Smoke
S 5 mph42% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 18 at 2:13AM EDT until July 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 9:22PM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
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 26m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route features a highway share of 23%, meaning you'll spend most of your time on surface roads. You'll encounter a long stretch of 98.5 miles on the Keystone Shortway before transitioning to other main roads. Expect a less urban feel for much of the drive, with fewer exits and more continuous cruising once you leave the limited highway sections. The profile is mostly surface roads, indicating a more grounded driving experience.
Only 23% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 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 116.5 miles in.
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 15 significant decision points across 265.1 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 116.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 141 miles (I 99; US 220): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 250.8 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
1,944 ft547 ft
Total Climb
2,425 ft
Total Descent
2,207 ft
Highest Point
1,944 ft
~189.4 mi in
Elevation Range
1,397 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Wilkes-Barre, PA and Pittsburgh, PA, road signs point toward Altoona and Hollidaysburg.
Wilkes-Barre (the last part is variously pronounced "Berry", "Bury", "Bare", or "Berrah" by locals, and "Barry" or "Barr" by others) is a city of 41,000 people (2018) in Northeastern Pennsylvania, approximately 20 miles southwest of Scranton. The city is named for John Wilkes and Isaac Barre, both of whom were members of the British Parliament who opposed royal rule of the colonies. Although the city is named after them, neither one ever set foot in North America.
Top landmarks
•West End Wheelmen's Club
•St. Stephen's Episcopal Pro-Cathedral — procathedral in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
•River Street Historic District — historic district in Pennsylvania, United States
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 26m. Total distance: 265.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
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.
Yes — we found about 21 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 21 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 116.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 141 miles (I 99; US 220): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 250.8 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.9 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.
