Origin
Charleston, PA
Afternoon in Charleston on Thursday
Local time
12:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Charleston, PA to Altoona, PA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
3h 11m
Distance
162.8 mi
262 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 0m
★
6 AM
3h 12m
8 AM
3h 35m
10 AM
3h 20m
12 PM
3h 17m
3 PM
3h 21m
5 PM
3h 34m
8 PM
3h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Charleston, PA
Alyssa Rose
Trip Overview
The drive from Charleston, PA to Altoona, PA covers 162.8 miles and takes about 3h 11m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West Market Street, Sharon-Mercer Road, South Erie Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.99 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
81.4 miles from Charleston, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 35m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 11m. Total distance: 162.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 11m drive with frequent turns across 162.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Market Street 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.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Charleston, PA to Altoona, PA is easy. At 3h 11m 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 Charleston, PA to Altoona, PA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Market Street | — | — |
| Sharon-Mercer Road | — | — |
| South Erie Street | — | — |
| Perry Highway | — | — |
| I 80 East | — | — |
| Keystone Shortway | — | — |
| US 322 | — | — |
| Shawville Highway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
West Market Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Charleston, PA and Altoona, PA.
1
Start on Greenfield Road
69 ft
·
5 sec
·
Greenfield Road
2
Turn right onto West Market Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Market Street
3
Continue on Sharon-Mercer Road
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Sharon-Mercer Road
4
Continue on West Market Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
West Market Street
5
Continue on Sharon-Mercer Road
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Sharon-Mercer Road
6
Continue on West Market Street
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
·
West Market Street
7
At the end of the road, turn right onto South Erie Street
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
South Erie Street
8
Continue on Perry Highway
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Perry Highway
9
Take the ramp left toward I 80 East: Clarion
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
I 80 East: Clarion
10
Merge slight left onto Keystone Shortway
107 mi
·
1 hr 55 min
·
Keystone Shortway
11
Take the exit slight right toward PA 970 to US 322: Woodland, Shawville
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
PA 970 to US 322: Woodland, Shawville
12
Merge slight left onto Shawville Highway
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Shawville Highway
13
Turn left onto Woodland Bigler Highway
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Woodland Bigler Highway
14
Continue on Philipsburg Bigler Highway
7.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Philipsburg Bigler Highway
15
Continue on North Front Street
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
North Front Street
16
Continue on North Centre Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
North Centre Street
17
Continue on Tyrone Pike
14 mi
·
20 min
·
Tyrone Pike
18
Take the ramp right
0.7 mi
·
1 min
19
Merge slight left
12 mi
·
13 min
20
Take the exit slight right toward PA 764 South: Pinecroft
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
PA 764 South: Pinecroft
21
Turn right onto Sabbath Rest Road
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
Sabbath Rest Road
22
Turn left onto East Pleasant Valley Boulevard
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
East Pleasant Valley Boulevard
23
Turn right onto Rutgers Lane
174 ft
·
3 sec
·
Rutgers Lane
24
Continue on East Walton Avenue
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
East Walton Avenue
25
Turn right onto Greenwood Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Greenwood Road
26
At the end of the road, turn left onto 6th Avenue Road
0.6 mi
·
53 sec
·
6th Avenue Road
27
Continue on East 6th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
East 6th Avenue
28
Continue on Bellwood Avenue
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Bellwood Avenue
29
Turn slight left onto 7th Avenue
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
7th Avenue
30
Turn right onto 7th Street
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
7th Street
31
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 81.4 miles from Charleston, PA, or about 1h 35m 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 36 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 81.4 miles or 1h 35m 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 37m
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 Charleston, 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 Charleston, PA
This is one driving day of about 162.8 miles and 3h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Charleston, 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 81.4 mi from Charleston, PA · 1h 35m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
81 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 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 81.4 miles from Charleston, 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
$26.99 one way
$53.98 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
57 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $29.56 | $59.12 |
| premium | $4.93 | $31.57 | $63.15 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $35.94 | $71.89 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 48.8 | 0 | $17.09 | $7.81 |
| Efficient EV | 40.7 | 0 | $14.25 | $6.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 65.1 | 0 | $22.79 | $10.42 |
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 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
Afternoon in Altoona on Thursday
Local time
12:22 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
19 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 11m 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 Charleston, PA to Altoona, PA covers 162.8 miles and takes about 3h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Market Street, Sharon-Mercer Road, South Erie Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 81.4 miles from Charleston, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.99 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 Charleston, PA to Altoona, PA is easy. At 3h 11m 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 Charleston, PA to Altoona, PA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Charleston, PA to Altoona, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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