This 133.3-mile drive from Beaver Falls, PA to Altoona, PA is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 29 minutes to complete. You'll primarily navigate local roads, indicated by the 0% highway share, with a projected fuel cost of around $22. The route offers a practical journey through the Northeast region, suitable for those seeking a straightforward transit between these two Pennsylvania locations. Given its manageable length and duration, it's an ideal candidate for a day excursion, allowing for a full day at your destination without feeling rushed.
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
66.4 miles from Beaver Falls, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 25m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 57m. Total distance: 132.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (36%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for the entirety of this 133.3-mile journey. With no highway segments, you'll be on roads like 8th Avenue, College Avenue, and 4th Avenue for the full 2 hours and 29 minutes. This means you'll be experiencing more frequent changes in speed and direction, typical of navigating through towns and smaller communities. The absence of long highway stretches means you won't encounter a 'longest stretch' in the traditional sense, but rather a continuous series of local road conditions.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
William Penn Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 61.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 48.2 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 12 significant decision points across 132.8 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 48.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 48.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 48.8 miles (US 22 / William Penn Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
48.2 mi into trip|~57m in
Take the exit toward I 376, US 22: Pittsburgh, Monroeville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 57
Toward I 376, US 22: Pittsburgh, Monroeville
7
48.7 mi into trip|~59m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 22 East: Murrysville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 22 East: Murrysville
5
48.8 mi into trip|~59m in|US 22 / William Penn Highway
Merge onto US 22 / William Penn Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
124.5 mi into trip|~2h 45m 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
5
130.3 mi into trip|~2h 53m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Altoona
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Altoona
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Beaver Falls, PA and Altoona, PA, road signs point toward Monroeville and Bedford.
Monroeville
48.2 mi in|~57m
Bedford
124 mi in|~2h 44m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
William Penn Highway
61.5 mi
1h 25m
Pennsylvania Turnpike
43.5 mi
46m
Admiral Peary Highway
13.7 mi
19m
I 99
4.4 mi
4m
Big Beaver Boulevard
1.8 mi
2m
17th Street
1.4 mi
2m
4th Avenue
1.3 mi
3m
8th Avenue
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
William Penn Highway
— 61.5 mi, about 1h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Beaver Falls, PA and Altoona, PA.
1
Start on 11th Street
460 ft·26 sec·11th Street
2
Turn right onto 8th Avenue
1.0 mi·2 min·8th Avenue
3
Continue on PA 18
0.4 mi·1 min·College Avenue
4
Continue on PA 18
1.3 mi·3 min·4th Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on PA 18
1.8 mi·2 min·Big Beaver Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·20 sec
Toward I 76
7
Merge onto I 76; PATP
43 mi·46 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·2 min
Exit 57Toward I 376, US 22: Pittsburgh, MonroevilleUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward US 22 East: MurrysvilleUse the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto US 22
45 mi·1 hr 5 min·William Penn Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on US 22
14 mi·19 min·Admiral Peary Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Continue on US 22
17 mi·19 min·William Penn Highway
13
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·45 sec·this road
Toward I 99, US 220: Altoona, Bedford
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
15
Merge onto I 99; US 220
4.4 mi·4 min·I 99; US 220
16
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward 17th Street
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward Altoona
18
Turn straight onto 17th Street
1.4 mi·2 min·17th Street
19
Turn right onto PA 764
0.7 mi·1 min·6th Avenue
20
Turn left onto 7th Street
0.2 mi·18 sec·7th Street
21
Arrive at destination
7th Street
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour and 29-minute drive, consider an early morning departure to maximize your time in Altoona. With no designated stops and a relatively short distance, you have the flexibility to make spontaneous breaks as needed. The estimated fuel cost of $22 is quite reasonable, so ensure your tank is full before you leave Beaver Falls. Pay close attention to local speed limits and traffic signals, as this route is characterized by its turn-heavy nature and lack of highway driving.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 66.4 miles from Beaver Falls, PA, or about 1h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.5 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 29 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.4 miles or 1h 25m 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 27m
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 Beaver Falls, 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 Beaver Falls, PA
This is one driving day of about 132.8 miles and 2h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Beaver Falls, 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 William Penn Highway for about 61.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 66.4 mi from Beaver Falls, PA
· 1h 25m into the drive
The midpoint is around 66.4 miles from Beaver Falls, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before William Penn Highway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 61.5 miles.
Arriving in Altoona, PA
The final approach into Altoona, 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 Altoona, PA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
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...
7 mi from route
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 101.1
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 96.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.02 one way
$44.03 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg47 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$24.11
$48.23
premium
$4.93
$25.75
$51.51
diesel
$5.61
$29.32
$58.64
Estimated Tolls: $5.65
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(43.5 mi)$5.65
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
$22
Tolls
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
39.8
0
$13.94
$6.37
Efficient EV
33.2
0
$11.62
$5.31
EV Truck/SUV
53.1
0
$18.59
$8.50
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (65% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Beaver Falls, PA
Evening
in Beaver Falls on Thursday
Local time
5:46 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Altoona, PA
Evening
in Altoona on Thursday
Local time
5:46 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
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
16 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 57m 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 Beaver Falls, PA to Altoona, PA covers 132.8 miles and takes about 2h 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are William Penn Highway, Pennsylvania Turnpike, Admiral Peary Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 66.4 miles from Beaver Falls, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $22.02 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 132.8 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 48.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 48.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 48.8 miles (US 22 / William Penn Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Beaver Falls, PA and Altoona, PA, road signs point toward Monroeville and Bedford.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Johnstown Flood National Memorial and Flight 93 National Memorial.
