Origin
Altoona, PA
Evening in Altoona on Sunday
Local time
7:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
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Create accountDrive Time
2h 55m
Distance
124.9 mi
201 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Palmer, PA
Nothing Ahead
Spanning 124.9 miles across Pennsylvania, this trip from Altoona to Palmer is a manageable journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 55 minutes. You can easily complete this drive in a single day, making it an efficient choice for those looking to traverse the Northeast region without the need for an overnight stay. Expect to budget approximately $21 for fuel, which keeps the trip cost-effective. By utilizing a combination of the William Penn Highway, US 22, and the Amos K. Hutchinson Bypass, you will navigate through the heart of the state. It is a straightforward route, perfect for travelers who prefer a direct path over a multi-day excursion.
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
62.5 miles from Altoona, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 26m into the drive .
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. While you will spend about 25% of your time on highways, the experience is far from a monotonous interstate cruise. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is 34.2 miles on the William Penn Highway, offering a brief period of consistency before the road transitions back to more technical segments. Because the route relies heavily on local roads, the drive feels dynamic and requires steady focus rather than mindless highway driving. You will find that the road's personality changes frequently, keeping the trip engaging from start to finish.
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 0.2 miles in near Lexington Avenue.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 124.9 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 0.2 miles (Lexington Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.5 miles (US 22): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 70.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto Lexington Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto US 22 toward US 22 West: Ebensburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward PA 66: Greensburg, Delmont
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward PA 66 South: Greensburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto PA 66 / State Route 66 toward PA 66 South: Greensburg
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
On the drive from Altoona, PA to Palmer, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Delmont along the way.
Delmont
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| William Penn Highway | 34.2 mi | 47m |
| US 22 | 30.5 mi | 39m |
| Amos K. Hutchinson Bypass | 12.5 mi | 13m |
| University Drive | 10.7 mi | 12m |
| Amos K Hutchinson Bypass | 8.5 mi | 10m |
| Memorial Boulevard | 7.9 mi | 9m |
| McClellandtown Road | 6.9 mi | 12m |
| 6th Avenue | 3.6 mi | 6m |
Step-by-step road directions between Altoona, PA and Palmer, PA.
Start on 7th Street
Turn left onto Lexington Avenue
Turn left onto 8th Street
Turn right onto PA 764
Continue on PA 764
Take the ramp
Continue on US 22
Keep slight right at fork onto US 22
Continue on US 22
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto PA 66
Continue on PA Tpke 66
Continue on US 119
Continue on US 119
Turn straight onto US 119
Merge onto US 119
Turn slight right onto US 119
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto PA 21
Turn right onto Main Street
Turn right onto High Street
Continue on Corob Street
Turn right onto PA 166
Continue on PA 166
Turn left onto Sr3013
Continue on Palmer Road
Turn right onto Croushore Road
Turn right onto Tank Hill Road
Arrive at destination
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. You only need to account for one planned stop, which is plenty to stretch your legs and refresh during the three-hour drive. Because the route involves significant local road travel, try to avoid peak traffic hours to ensure your time behind the wheel remains smooth. Make sure to keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Altoona, as the winding nature of the roads can sometimes affect consumption. My best tip for this specific drive is to keep your navigation tools handy for the local segments, as the transition between the Amos K. Hutchinson Bypass and smaller roads can be subtle.
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.
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 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.5 miles or 1h 26m 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 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Palmer, PA than in the middle of the route.
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 124.9 miles and 2h 55m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 62.5 mi from Altoona, PA · 1h 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
62 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 62.5 miles from Altoona, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Palmer, 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 Palmer, PA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$20.67 one way
$41.34 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $22.61 | $45.23 |
| premium | $4.92 | $24.20 | $48.41 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $27.75 | $55.50 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.87
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
$21
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 37.5 | 0 | $13.11 | $6.00 |
| Efficient EV | 31.2 | 0 | $10.93 | $5.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 50 | 0 | $17.49 | $7.99 |
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Altoona on Sunday
Local time
7:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Destination
Evening in Palmer on Sunday
Local time
7:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Along the Route
53°F
Lakewood, NY
62 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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