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Trip from Fairless Hills, PA to Altoona, PA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

4h 40m

Distance

251 mi

404 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$42

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min
4 AM
4h 27m ★
6 AM
4h 41m
8 AM
5h 8m
10 AM
4h 50m
12 PM
4h 47m
3 PM
4h 51m
5 PM
5h 6m
8 PM
4h 33m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Fairless Hills, PA, PA

Fairless Hills, PA

Jessica Lewis 🦋 thepaintedsquare

Trip Overview

The drive from Fairless Hills, PA to Altoona, PA covers 251 miles and takes about 4h 40m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Pennsylvania Turnpike, I 99, Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 206.1 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $41.61 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

125.5 miles from Fairless Hills, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 21m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 40m. Total distance: 251 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 4h 40m highway drive covering 251 miles, with most of the trip on Pennsylvania Turnpike and I 99. The longest continuous stretch is about 206.1 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Pennsylvania Turnpike is the longest continuous segment at about 206.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and I 99. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in near PA 213 / Maple Avenue.

Driving Effort 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 251 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 1.7 miles (PA 213 / Maple Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 7.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 18 key points

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

7
1.7 mi into trip | ~3m in | PA 213 / Maple Avenue

Keep slight right at fork onto PA 213 / Maple Avenue toward Langhorne

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes. Toward Langhorne
7
3.2 mi into trip | ~6m in

Take the ramp toward US 1 South: Philadelphia

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward US 1 South: Philadelphia
7
7.6 mi into trip | ~13m in

Take the exit toward I 276 Toll, PATP Toll

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 276 Toll, PATP Toll
8
8 mi into trip | ~14m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 276 Toll West: Harrisburg, Allentown

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 276 Toll West: Harrisburg, Allentown
7
214.3 mi into trip | ~3h 57m in

Take the exit toward Altoona, Johnstown

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward Altoona, Johnstown

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Fairless Hills, PA to Altoona, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Johnstown along the way.

Johnstown

214.3 mi in | ~3h 57m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike 206.1 mi 3h 43m
I 99 32.7 mi 35m
Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway 3.2 mi 4m
Lincoln Highway 1.6 mi 2m
Maple Avenue 1.5 mi 3m
17th Street 1.4 mi 2m
6th Avenue 0.7 mi 1m
Oxford Valley Road 0.6 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Pennsylvania Turnpike — 206.1 mi, about 3h 43m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Fairless Hills, PA and Altoona, PA.

1

Start on Elmwood Road

0.1 mi · 31 sec · Elmwood Road
2

At end of road, turn right onto Trenton Road

0.3 mi · 38 sec · Trenton Road
3

Turn right onto Oxford Valley Road

0.6 mi · 1 min · Oxford Valley Road
4

Continue on Oxford Valley Road

419 ft · 14 sec · Oxford Valley Road
5

Turn left onto US 1 Business

0.6 mi · 1 min · Lincoln Highway
Use the left lane.
6

Keep slight right at fork onto PA 213

1.5 mi · 3 min · Maple Avenue
Toward Langhorne Use the straight / right lanes.
7

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 25 sec
Toward US 1 South: Philadelphia Use the left lane.
8

Merge onto US 1

3.2 mi · 4 min · Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Continue on US 1

1.0 mi · 1 min · Lincoln Highway
Use the straight lane.
10

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 1 min
Toward I 276 Toll, PATP Toll Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 27 sec
Toward I 276 Toll West: Harrisburg, Allentown Use the slight right lane.
12

Merge onto I 276; PATP

206 mi · 3 hr 43 min · Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 46 sec
Toward Altoona, Johnstown Use the slight right lane.
14

Turn left onto US 220 BUS

0.3 mi · 42 sec · Business 220
15

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 27 sec
Toward I 99, US 220: Cumberland, Altoona
16

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 36 sec
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
17

Merge onto I 99; US 220

33 mi · 35 min · I 99; US 220
18

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward 17th Street
19

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 21 sec
Toward Altoona
20

Turn straight onto 17th Street

1.4 mi · 2 min · 17th Street
21

Turn right onto PA 764

0.7 mi · 1 min · 6th Avenue
22

Turn left onto 7th Street

0.2 mi · 18 sec · 7th Street
23

Arrive at destination

7th Street

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 125.5 miles from Fairless Hills, PA, or about 2h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 206.1 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 55 miles or 1h 5m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 125.5 miles or 2h 21m 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 48m

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 Fairless Hills, 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 Fairless Hills, PA

This is one driving day of about 251 miles and 4h 40m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Fairless Hills, 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 Pennsylvania Turnpike for about 206.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 125.5 mi from Fairless Hills, PA · 2h 21m into the drive

Downtown Hilltown, PA, PA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Hilltown, PA

126 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

Elkton, MD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 55 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Hilltown, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 125.5 miles from Fairless Hills, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Pennsylvania Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 206.1 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.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

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.

Valley Forge National Historical Park

Valley Forge National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Valley Forge is the place where George Washington and the Continental Army took refuge during the winter of 1777-1778. Today the park protects 3,500 acres of meadows, woodlands, historic landscapes, a...

1 mi from route ~3 min detour Free near mile 34.6
View on nps.gov
Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument

Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument

National Monument

More than 7,800 children from 140 Tribes went to the Carlisle School from 1879 to 1918. The National Park Service will collaborate with families, affiliated Tribal Nations, the US Army, historians, an...

4 mi from route ~10 min detour Free near mile 138.5
View on nps.gov
Appalachian National Scenic Trail

Appalachian National Scenic Trail

National Scenic Trail

The Appalachian Trail is a 2,190+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by p...

13 mi from route ~32 min detour Free near mile 95.2
View on nps.gov
Independence National Historical Park

Independence National Historical Park

National Historical Park

The park represents the founding ideals of the nation, and preserves national and international symbols of freedom and democracy, including Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. The Declaration of I...

13 mi from route ~34 min detour $1 near mile 26
View on nps.gov
Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial

Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial

National Memorial

Visit the house where wounded Polish freedom fighter Thaddeus Kosciuszko lived and hear how this brilliant military engineer designed successful fortifications during the American Revolution. See the...

14 mi from route ~34 min detour Free near mile 26
View on nps.gov
First State National Historical Park

First State National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Famous as the First State to ratify the Constitution, Delaware was born out of a conflict among three world powers for dominance of the Delaware Valley. From this beginning, the region developed a dis...

16 mi from route ~41 min detour Free near mile 43.3
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$41.61 one way

$83.23 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 88 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $45.58 $91.15
premium $4.93 $48.68 $97.36
diesel $5.61 $55.42 $110.84

Estimated Tolls: $26.80

Pennsylvania Turnpike (206.1 mi) $26.80

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

$42

Tolls

$27

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$93–$118

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 87.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 75.3 0 $26.35 $12.05
Efficient EV 62.8 0 $21.96 $10.04
EV Truck/SUV 100.4 1 $35.14 $16.06

Gas CO2

88 kg

EV CO2

29 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Fairless Hills, PA

Afternoon in Fairless Hills on Thursday

Local time

3:39 PM

EDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Altoona, PA

Afternoon in Altoona on Thursday

Local time

3:39 PM

EDT

Current temp

65°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

45°F

Hilltown, PA

126 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

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

4h 40m 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 Fairless Hills, PA to Altoona, PA covers 251 miles and takes about 4h 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Pennsylvania Turnpike, I 99, Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 125.5 miles from Fairless Hills, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $41.61 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 demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 251 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 1.7 miles (PA 213 / Maple Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 7.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Fairless Hills, PA to Altoona, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Johnstown along the way.

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