Trip from Altoona, PA to New Freedom, PA

Drive Time

3h 23m

Distance

173.1 mi

279 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$29

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min
4 AM
3h 12m ★
6 AM
3h 24m
8 AM
3h 48m
10 AM
3h 32m
12 PM
3h 30m
3 PM
3h 33m
5 PM
3h 47m
8 PM
3h 16m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown New Freedom, PA, PA

New Freedom, PA

Miguel Rivera

Trip Overview

Traveling from Altoona to New Freedom covers 173.1 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 23 minutes. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a highway sprint, you should budget at least one full day to complete the journey comfortably. Expect to spend approximately $28 on fuel for the trip. Since both endpoints are located within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania, you will remain within the same geographic corridor throughout your drive. This route is best suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to navigate the local roads at a steady pace without the pressure of an overnight stay.

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

86.5 miles from Altoona, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 41m into the drive .

Drive Character

Prepare for a hands-on driving experience, as this route consists entirely of local roads with 0% highway travel. You will navigate via Lexington Avenue, 8th Street, and 7th Avenue, meaning there are no long, monotonous stretches of interstate to zone out on. In fact, the longest stretch you will encounter is 0 miles on Lexington Avenue, highlighting just how frequently you will be making turns. The road’s personality is defined by constant maneuvering rather than high-speed cruising. You should expect a technical, engaging drive that demands your full attention from start to finish.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Lexington Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Altoona, PA to New Freedom, PA is easy. At 3h 23m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Altoona, PA to New Freedom, PA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Lexington Avenue Unavailable Refreshing
8th Street Unavailable Refreshing
7th Avenue Unavailable Refreshing
17th Street Unavailable Refreshing
I 99 South Unavailable Refreshing
Pittsburgh Unavailable Refreshing
US 220 Unavailable Refreshing
Business 220 Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Lexington Avenue — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Altoona, PA and New Freedom, PA.

1

Start on 7th Street

0.2 mi · 24 sec · 7th Street
2

Turn left onto Lexington Avenue

256 ft · 17 sec · Lexington Avenue
3

Turn left onto 8th Street

0.3 mi · 35 sec · 8th Street
4

Turn right onto 7th Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · 7th Avenue
5

Turn left onto 17th Street

1.2 mi · 2 min · 17th Street
6

Take the ramp slight right toward I 99 South, US 220 South: Bedford

0.4 mi · 56 sec · I 99 South, US 220 South: Bedford
7

Merge slight left

32 mi · 34 min
8

Take the exit slight right toward Pittsburgh, Harrisburg

0.9 mi · 1 min · Pittsburgh, Harrisburg
9

Keep slight right to continue on US 220 Business South: Bedford

285 ft · 7 sec · US 220 Business South: Bedford
10

Turn slight right onto Business 220

0.2 mi · 26 sec · Business 220
11

Take the ramp slight right toward I 70, I 76, PATP: Pittsburgh, Harrisburg

0.2 mi · 24 sec · I 70, I 76, PATP: Pittsburgh, Harrisburg
12

Keep slight left to continue on I 76 East, I 70 East: Harrisburg

0.4 mi · 50 sec · I 76 East, I 70 East: Harrisburg
13

Merge slight left onto Pennsylvania Turnpike

97 mi · 1 hr 46 min · Pennsylvania Turnpike
14

Take the exit slight right toward I 83: York, Baltimore, Harrisburg

0.3 mi · 1 min · I 83: York, Baltimore, Harrisburg
15

Turn straight onto I 83 South: York, Baltimore

0.4 mi · 47 sec · I 83 South: York, Baltimore
16

Merge slight left

35 mi · 43 min
17

Take the exit slight right toward PA 851: Shrewsbury

0.2 mi · 19 sec · PA 851: Shrewsbury
18

Keep slight right to continue on PA 851: Shrewsbury

236 ft · 7 sec · PA 851: Shrewsbury
19

Turn straight onto East Forrest Avenue

0.6 mi · 1 min · East Forrest Avenue
20

Turn left onto South Main Street

1.1 mi · 2 min · South Main Street
21

Turn right onto Constitution Avenue

1.7 mi · 3 min · Constitution Avenue
22

Turn right onto East Main Street

0.1 mi · 23 sec · East Main Street
23

Turn left onto Factory Alley

148 ft · 11 sec · Factory Alley
24

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Given the turn-heavy nature of this 173.1-mile trek, prioritize a morning departure to ensure you reach New Freedom before fatigue sets in. Plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the local navigation and stretch your legs. Because you are avoiding major highways, keep a close eye on your fuel gauge; while $28 should cover the distance, local roads can often be less fuel-efficient than consistent highway speeds. Use your single planned stop to check your upcoming turn sequence, as the frequent transitions between Lexington Avenue, 8th Street, and 7th Avenue require careful navigation. Staying alert at every intersection will make this local journey much smoother.

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 86.5 miles from Altoona, PA, or about 1h 41m into the drive.

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 80 miles or 1h 34m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 86.5 miles or 1h 41m 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 47m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New Freedom, PA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Altoona, 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 Altoona, PA

This is one driving day of about 173.1 miles and 3h 23m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Altoona, 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.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 86.5 mi from Altoona, PA · 1h 41m into the drive

Downtown Cuba, NY, NY

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Cuba, NY

87 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

Cuba, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Cuba, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 86.5 miles from Altoona, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in New Freedom, PA

The final approach into New Freedom, PA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around New Freedom, PA.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$28.64 one way

$57.29 round trip

$4.20/gal 25.4 MPG avg 61 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.60 $31.34 $62.68
premium $4.92 $33.54 $67.09
diesel $5.64 $38.46 $76.91

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$29

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$54–$79

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 60.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 51.9 0 $18.18 $8.31
Efficient EV 43.3 0 $15.15 $6.92
EV Truck/SUV 69.2 0 $24.23 $11.08

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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Altoona, PA

Evening in Altoona on Sunday

Local time

7:31 PM

EDT

Current temp

60°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

New Freedom, PA

Evening in New Freedom on Sunday

Local time

7:31 PM

EDT

Current temp

63°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

51°F

Cuba, NY

87 mi in

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

3 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 23m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Altoona, PA to New Freedom, PA covers 173.1 miles and takes about 3h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Lexington Avenue, 8th Street, 7th Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 86.5 miles from Altoona, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $28.64 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Altoona, PA to New Freedom, PA is easy. At 3h 23m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Altoona, PA to New Freedom, PA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Altoona, PA to New Freedom, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Return Trip

New Freedom, PA to Altoona, PA

Plan the drive back the other way.

173.2 mi 3h 22m

Explore more options from Altoona, PA or browse trips ending in New Freedom, PA.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse PA road trips.

Explore maps for Altoona, PA or New Freedom, PA on MapSof.net.