Origin
Willow Street, PA
Morning in Willow Street on Tuesday
Local time
6:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Willow Street, PA to Altoona, PA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 28m
Distance
175.1 mi
282 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 16m
★
6 AM
3h 28m
8 AM
3h 53m
10 AM
3h 37m
12 PM
3h 34m
3 PM
3h 38m
5 PM
3h 52m
8 PM
3h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trip Overview
Willow Street to Altoona is 175 miles and takes about 3 hours 28 minutes via the Pennsylvania Turnpike and I-99, with a fuel budget near $29 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, making it a straightforward journey for those looking to travel within the Northeast region. Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of the drive, which is ideal if you want to cover ground efficiently. With a recommended one-day duration, this route is well-suited for a quick trip where you prioritize reaching your destination with minimal fuss.
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
87.6 miles from Willow Street, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 49m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike | 101.9 mi | 1h 51m |
| I 99 | 32.7 mi | 35m |
| PA 283 | 28.5 mi | 33m |
| Willow Street Pike | 3.4 mi | 7m |
| South Queen Street | 1.9 mi | 6m |
| 17th Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Fruitville Pike | 1 mi | 2m |
| 6th Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 101.9 mi, about 1h 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Willow Street, PA and Altoona, PA.
1
Start on this road
32 ft
·
4 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto PA 272
3.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Willow Street Pike
3
Continue on US 222; PA 272
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Highland Avenue
4
Continue on US 222; PA 272
1.9 mi
·
6 min
·
South Queen Street
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn left onto US 222; PA 272; PA 72
400 ft
·
13 sec
·
McGovern Avenue
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
6
Turn slight right onto PA 72
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
PA 72
7
Continue on Fruitville Pike
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Fruitville Pike
8
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
Toward PA 283 West: Harrisburg
9
Merge onto PA 283
28 mi
·
33 min
·
PA 283
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn slight left
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 76 Toll, PATP Toll: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh
Use the left lane.
11
Merge onto I 283
406 ft
·
1 min
·
I 283
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 76 West: Pittsburgh
13
Merge onto I 76; PATP
102 mi
·
1 hr 51 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Toward Altoona, Johnstown
Use the slight right lane.
15
Turn left onto US 220 BUS
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
Business 220
16
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward I 99, US 220: Cumberland, Altoona
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
18
Merge onto I 99; US 220
33 mi
·
35 min
·
I 99; US 220
19
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward 17th Street
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward Altoona
21
Turn straight onto 17th Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
17th Street
22
Turn right onto PA 764
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
6th Avenue
23
Turn left onto 7th Street
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
7th Street
24
Arrive at destination
7th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 3-hour 28-minute duration, leaving Willow Street in the morning should allow you to reach Altoona well before evening. Since this is a one-day trip, you have the flexibility to depart when it's most convenient. Plan for at least one stop, perhaps around the halfway point, to stretch your legs and refuel if necessary. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 101.9-mile stretch on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, as services can be spaced out.
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 87.6 miles from Willow Street, PA, or about 1h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 101.9 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 39 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87.6 miles or 1h 49m 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 52m
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 Willow Street, 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 Willow Street, PA
This is one driving day of about 175.1 miles and 3h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Willow Street, 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 Pennsylvania Turnpike for about 101.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
88 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 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 87.6 miles from Willow Street, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Pennsylvania Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 101.9 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 175 decision points cluster between mile 5.5 and 139.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
5.5 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
US 222; PA 272; PA 72 / McGovern Avenue
Turn left onto US 222; PA 272; PA 72 / McGovern Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
5
7.4 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
PA 283
Merge onto PA 283
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
138.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 45m in
Take the exit toward Altoona, Johnstown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Altoona, Johnstown
6
139 mi into trip
|
~2h 46m in
Take the ramp toward I 99, US 220: Cumberland, Altoona
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 99, US 220: Cumberland, Altoona
7
139.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 47m in
Keep slight right 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
$29.03 one way
$58.06 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
61 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $31.79 | $63.59 |
| premium | $4.93 | $33.96 | $67.92 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $38.66 | $77.32 |
Estimated Tolls: $13.24
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(101.9 mi)
$13.24
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
$29
Tolls
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 52.5 | 0 | $18.39 | $8.40 |
| Efficient EV | 43.8 | 0 | $15.32 | $7.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 70 | 0 | $24.51 | $11.21 |
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Altoona, PA
Morning in Altoona on Tuesday
Local time
6:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 7 to 13 mph
44% chance
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
20 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
3h 28m 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.
Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument
National Monument
More than 7,800 children from 140 Tribes went to the Carlisle School from 1879 to 1918. The National Park Service will collaborate with families, affiliated Tribal Nations, the US Army, historians, an...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Free
near mile 60.4
View on nps.gov
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
The Appalachian Trail is a 2,190+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by p...
18 mi from route
~46 min detour
Free
near mile 24.2
View on nps.gov
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...
18 mi from route
~44 min detour
Free
near mile 157
View on nps.gov
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...
20 mi from route
~51 min detour
Free
near mile 138.9
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily a highway-focused experience, with 93% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll spend a significant amount of time on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, including a continuous stretch of 101.9 miles, which means you'll be moving at highway speeds for most of your journey. While the main roads are consistent, be prepared for the transition onto I-99 as you approach Altoona. The profile suggests a steady pace with limited opportunities for slower, scenic detours, so settle in for a direct path.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 101.9 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and I 99. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.5 miles in near US 222; PA 272; PA 72 / McGovern Avenue.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 175.1 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 5.5 miles (US 222; PA 272; PA 72 / McGovern Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.4 miles (PA 283): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 138.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Willow Street, PA and Altoona, PA, road signs point toward Patp Toll: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Johnstown.
Patp Toll: Philadelphia
35.8 mi in
|
~51m
Pittsburgh
35.8 mi in
|
~51m
Johnstown
138.4 mi in
|
~2h 45m
About the Cities
Arriving in Altoona, PA
Full guide →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.
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 3h 28m. Total distance: 175.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 101.9 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $13.24 in tolls one way, starting with Pennsylvania Turnpike. 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 5.5 miles (US 222; PA 272; PA 72 / McGovern Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.4 miles (PA 283): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 138.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument, Appalachian National Scenic Trail and Johnstown Flood National Memorial (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Altoona, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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