Trip from Clairton, PA to Pittsburgh, PA

Drive Time

30m

Distance

15.2 mi

24 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$3

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 7 min
4 AM
0h 28m ★
6 AM
0h 30m
8 AM
0h 35m
10 AM
0h 32m
12 PM
0h 31m
3 PM
0h 32m
5 PM
0h 35m
8 PM
0h 29m

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

Downtown Clairton, PA, PA

Clairton, PA

Jose Manuel Gonzalez Lupiañez Photography

Downtown Pittsburgh, PA, PA

Pittsburgh, PA

LaMont L. Johnson

Trip Overview

If you are looking to get from Clairton to Pittsburgh, you are in for a quick 15.2-mile journey that typically takes about 30 minutes. This trip is easily managed as a straightforward day trip, requiring no overnight stays. You can expect to spend roughly $3 on fuel for the excursion, making it a budget-friendly commute within Pennsylvania's Northeast region. Navigating the route involves a blend of PA 837, Mifflin Road, and State Street. Because the distance is so short, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule to head out whenever it suits your needs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

7.6 miles from Clairton, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 13m into the drive .

Drive Character

This 30-minute trip is characterized as a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate haul. Only 23% of your time behind the wheel will be spent on highways, meaning you will spend the bulk of your journey navigating local roads. You will find that the longest uninterrupted stretch lasts just 3.4 miles along PA 837, so be prepared for frequent adjustments to your speed and steering. The path demands your full attention as you transition between thoroughfares. It is a practical, functional drive that gets you from the suburbs into the heart of the city efficiently.

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.
PA 837 is the longest continuous segment at about 3.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Saint Clair Avenue.

Route Complexity 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 15.2 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Saint Clair Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 4.5 miles (Curry Hollow Road): Navigation decision point; at 4.8 miles (Maple Avenue): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

3
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Saint Clair Avenue

Turn left onto Saint Clair Avenue

Navigation decision point

4
4.5 mi into trip | ~7m in | Curry Hollow Road

Turn left onto Curry Hollow Road

Navigation decision point

4
4.8 mi into trip | ~8m in | Maple Avenue

Turn right onto Maple Avenue

Navigation decision point

6
5 mi into trip | ~8m in

Turn sharp right

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

6
15.1 mi into trip | ~29m in | Grant Street

Turn right onto Grant Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
PA 837 3.4 mi 7m
Mifflin Road 2.4 mi 5m
State Street 2.4 mi 3m
Clairton Dravosburg Road 1.8 mi 2m
Fifth Avenue 1.3 mi 2m
Pittsburgh McKeesport Boulevard 1.1 mi 1m
Birmingham Bridge 0.6 mi 1m
Buttermilk Hollow Road 0.5 mi <1m
Longest stretch: PA 837 — 3.4 mi, about 7m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Clairton, PA and Pittsburgh, PA.

1

Start on 3rd Street

43 ft · 4 sec · 3rd Street
2

Turn left onto Saint Clair Avenue

0.4 mi · 1 min · Saint Clair Avenue
3

Turn left onto PA 837

2.4 mi · 3 min · State Street
4

Turn right onto PA 837

1.8 mi · 2 min · Clairton Dravosburg Road
5

Turn left onto Curry Hollow Road

180 ft · 5 sec · Curry Hollow Road
6

Continue on Elizabeth Road

0.3 mi · 31 sec · Elizabeth Road
7

Turn right onto Maple Avenue

0.1 mi · 20 sec · Maple Avenue
8

Turn sharp right

384 ft · 14 sec
9

Turn straight onto Yellow Belt

0.4 mi · 31 sec · Richland Avenue
10

Continue on Yellow Belt

1.1 mi · 1 min · Pittsburgh McKeesport Boulevard
11

Turn right onto Buttermilk Hollow Road

0.5 mi · 45 sec · Buttermilk Hollow Road
12

Continue on Mifflin Road

2.4 mi · 5 min · Mifflin Road
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
13

Turn slight right

0.3 mi · 54 sec
Toward PA 837 North: Carson Street
14

Continue on PA 837; Blue Belt

3.4 mi · 7 min · PA 837; Blue Belt
Use the straight lane.
15

Turn slight right

152 ft · 5 sec
Use the right lane.
16

Turn straight onto Birmingham Bridge

0.6 mi · 1 min · Birmingham Bridge
17

Turn left onto Fifth Avenue

1.3 mi · 2 min · Fifth Avenue
18

Turn right onto Grant Street

513 ft · 21 sec · Grant Street
Use the right lane.
19

Arrive at destination

Grant Street

Trip Plan

Since this is a short, 15.2-mile trip, you do not need to worry about planning for rest stops or food breaks. Traffic patterns on local roads like Mifflin Road and State Street can fluctuate, so checking real-time conditions before you pull out of the driveway is a smart move. Because the entire route is completed in half an hour, you have the advantage of being able to depart at your convenience without needing to pace yourself for fatigue. Keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of the route means you should stay alert for changing road signs. Use the $3 fuel estimate as a baseline for your travel budget and enjoy the simplicity of this quick regional connection.

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 7.6 miles from Clairton, PA, or about 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 3.4 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 15.2 miles or 30m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 7.6 miles or 13m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 25m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Clairton, 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 Clairton, PA

This is one driving day of about 15.2 miles and 30m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Clairton, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on PA 837 for about 3.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 7.6 mi from Clairton, PA · 13m into the drive

Downtown Lakewood, NY, NY

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lakewood, NY

8 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

Mina, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 15.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lakewood, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 7.6 miles from Clairton, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Pittsburgh, PA

The final approach into Pittsburgh, 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 Pittsburgh, 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

$2.52 one way

$5.03 round trip

$4.20/gal 25.4 MPG avg 5 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.60 $2.75 $5.50
premium $4.92 $2.95 $5.89
diesel $5.64 $3.38 $6.75

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$3

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$28–$53

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 5.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 4.6 0 $1.60 $0.73
Efficient EV 3.8 0 $1.33 $0.61
EV Truck/SUV 6.1 0 $2.13 $0.97

Gas CO2

5 kg

EV CO2

2 kg (60% 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

Clairton, PA

Night in Clairton on Sunday

Local time

10:46 PM

EDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Pittsburgh, PA

Night in Pittsburgh on Sunday

Local time

10:46 PM

EDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

53°F

Lakewood, NY

8 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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

30m 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 Clairton, PA to Pittsburgh, PA covers 15.2 miles and takes about 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are PA 837, Mifflin Road, State Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 7.6 miles from Clairton, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.52 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 15.2 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Saint Clair Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 4.5 miles (Curry Hollow Road): Navigation decision point; at 4.8 miles (Maple Avenue): Navigation decision point.
The route from Clairton, PA to Pittsburgh, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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