Origin
Chadds Ford, PA
Evening in Chadds Ford on Sunday
Local time
7:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chadds Ford, PA to Altoona, PA
Drive Time
4h 14m
Distance
222.6 mi
358 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$37
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 2m
★
6 AM
4h 15m
8 AM
4h 41m
10 AM
4h 24m
12 PM
4h 22m
3 PM
4h 26m
5 PM
4h 40m
8 PM
4h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chadds Ford, PA
Michael Taccetta
Trip Overview
Embarking on the 222.6-mile journey from Chadds Ford to Altoona is a straightforward trip that covers the heart of Pennsylvania. You should plan for approximately 4 hours and 14 minutes of travel time, making this a manageable single-day excursion. With a fuel budget of about $36, it is an affordable trek across the state. While you could easily complete this in one go, staying flexible allows you to enjoy the transition from the rolling terrain of the Northeast to your destination. It is a practical route for travelers looking to move between these two Pennsylvania hubs efficiently.
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
111.3 miles from Chadds Ford, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 7m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features zero percent highway travel. You will primarily navigate via Baltimore Pike, Wilmington Pike, and US 202 North, keeping your hands busy on the wheel. Because there are no long highway stretches, the longest uninterrupted segment on Baltimore Pike is effectively zero miles. This constant engagement requires your full attention, as the road character demands frequent navigating through local turns. You will feel the rhythm of the Pennsylvania landscape change as you transition away from the high-traffic zones of the start.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Baltimore Pike 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 14m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Chadds Ford, PA to Altoona, PA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Pike | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Wilmington Pike | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 202 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| PA 100 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| PATP | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 76 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Pennsylvania Turnpike | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Altoona | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Baltimore Pike
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chadds Ford, PA and Altoona, PA.
1
Start on Station Way Road
69 ft
·
5 sec
·
Station Way Road
2
Turn right onto Baltimore Pike
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Baltimore Pike
3
Turn left onto Wilmington Pike
4.7 mi
·
8 min
·
Wilmington Pike
4
Take the exit slight right toward US 202 North, US 322 West: Paoli, Downingtown
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
US 202 North, US 322 West: Paoli, Downingtown
5
Take the exit slight right toward PA 100 North: Exton
7.5 mi
·
11 min
·
PA 100 North: Exton
6
Take the exit slight right toward PATP
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
PATP
7
Keep slight left to continue on I 76 West: Harrisburg
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
I 76 West: Harrisburg
8
Merge slight left onto Pennsylvania Turnpike
167 mi
·
3 hr 1 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike
9
Take the exit slight right toward Altoona, Johnstown
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
Altoona, Johnstown
10
Turn left onto Business 220
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
Business 220
11
Take the ramp left toward I 99, US 220: Cumberland, Altoona
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
I 99, US 220: Cumberland, Altoona
12
Keep slight right to continue on I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
13
Merge slight left
33 mi
·
35 min
14
Take the exit slight right toward 17th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
17th Street
15
Keep slight right to continue on Altoona
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Altoona
16
Turn straight onto 17th Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
17th Street
17
Turn right onto 6th Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
6th Avenue
18
Turn left onto 7th Street
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
7th Street
19
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 4-hour and 14-minute drive, try to depart early in the morning to avoid local congestion on the smaller roads. Since you only have one planned stop, use that time to stretch and refuel effectively to stay within your $36 gas budget. Keep in mind that the lack of highway miles means your travel time is highly dependent on local traffic flow, so check your GPS for real-time updates before heading out. Because this is a technical, turn-heavy route, having a co-pilot handle navigation is a smart way to stay focused on the road. Enjoy the flexibility of a single-day trip that lets you reach Altoona without the stress of an overnight stop.
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 111.3 miles from Chadds Ford, PA, or about 2h 7m 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 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 111.3 miles or 2h 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 29m
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 Chadds Ford, 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 Chadds Ford, PA
This is one driving day of about 222.6 miles and 4h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Chadds Ford, 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 111.3 mi from Chadds Ford, PA · 2h 7m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
111 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 111.3 miles from Chadds Ford, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.83 one way
$73.67 round trip
$4.20/gal
25.4 MPG avg
78 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $40.30 | $80.61 |
| premium | $4.92 | $43.14 | $86.27 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $49.45 | $98.91 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 66.8 | 0 | $23.37 | $10.68 |
| Efficient EV | 55.7 | 0 | $19.48 | $8.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 89 | 1 | $31.16 | $14.25 |
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 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.
Destination
Altoona, PA
Evening in Altoona on Sunday
Local time
7:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°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
3 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 14m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Chadds Ford, PA to Altoona, PA covers 222.6 miles and takes about 4h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Baltimore Pike, Wilmington Pike, US 202 North. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 111.3 miles from Chadds Ford, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $36.83 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 14m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Chadds Ford, PA to Altoona, PA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Chadds Ford, PA to Altoona, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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