Origin
Franklin, PA
Morning in Franklin on Wednesday
Local time
6:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Franklin, PA to Pittsburgh, PA
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
1h 43m
Distance
84.8 mi
136 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 36m
★
6 AM
1h 43m
8 AM
1h 59m
10 AM
1h 49m
12 PM
1h 47m
3 PM
1h 50m
5 PM
1h 58m
8 PM
1h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Franklin, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Pittsburgh, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Franklin, PA to Pittsburgh, PA covers 84.8 miles and takes about 1h 43m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 79, Richard Frame Memorial Highway, Parkway North for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 45.1 miles on I 79. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.06 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
42.4 miles from Franklin, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 51m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 1h 43m highway drive covering 84.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 79 and Richard Frame Memorial Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 45.1 miles on I 79.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 79 is the longest continuous segment at about 45.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 79 and Richard Frame Memorial Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near US 62; PA 8 / 15th Street.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 84.8 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 0.3 miles (US 62; PA 8 / 15th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 71.8 miles (I 279 / Parkway North): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 83.2 miles (I 579): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 62; PA 8 / 15th Street
Turn left onto US 62; PA 8 / 15th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
71.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 24m in
|
I 279 / Parkway North
Keep slight left at fork onto I 279 / Parkway North toward I 279: Pittsburgh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 72
Toward I 279: Pittsburgh
7
83.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 39m in
|
I 579
Keep slight right at fork onto I 579 toward I 579 South: Veterans Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 579 South: Veterans Bridge
7
84.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 41m in
Take the exit toward 7th Avenue, 6th Avenue
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 7th Avenue, 6th Avenue
6
84.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 42m in
Keep slight left at fork toward PPG Arena, 6th Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward PPG Arena, 6th Avenue
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 79 | 45.1 mi | 49m |
| Richard Frame Memorial Highway | 11.5 mi | 13m |
| Parkway North | 11.4 mi | 15m |
| Keystone Shortway | 9.6 mi | 10m |
| Pittsburgh Road | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| 15th Street | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| I 579 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Liberty Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 79
— 45.1 mi, about 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Franklin, PA and Pittsburgh, PA.
1
Start on 13th Street
27 ft
·
8 sec
·
13th Street
2
Turn left onto US 62; PA 8
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
Liberty Street
3
Turn left onto US 62; PA 8
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
15th Street
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on PA 8
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Pittsburgh Road
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on PA 8
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Richard Frame Memorial Highway
6
Continue on PA 8
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Pittsburgh Road
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
8
Merge onto I 80
9.6 mi
·
10 min
·
Keystone Shortway
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Toward I 79 South: Pittsburgh
10
Merge onto I 79
45 mi
·
49 min
·
I 79
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 279
11 mi
·
15 min
·
Parkway North
Exit 72
Toward I 279: Pittsburgh
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 579
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
I 579
Toward I 579 South: Veterans Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Toward 7th Avenue, 6th Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork
502 ft
·
14 sec
Toward PPG Arena, 6th Avenue
15
Turn straight onto Bigelow Boulevard
224 ft
·
3 sec
·
Bigelow Boulevard
16
Continue on Bigelow Square
386 ft
·
6 sec
·
Bigelow Square
Toward 6th Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
17
Turn right onto Sixth Avenue
347 ft
·
11 sec
·
Sixth Avenue
18
Turn left onto Grant Street
296 ft
·
22 sec
·
Grant Street
19
Continue on Grant Street
254 ft
·
13 sec
·
Grant Street
20
Arrive at destination
Grant Street
Trip Plan
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 42.4 miles from Franklin, PA, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 45.1 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 80 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.4 miles or 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 24m
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 Franklin, 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 Franklin, PA
This is one driving day of about 84.8 miles and 1h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Franklin, 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 I 79 for about 45.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 42.4 mi from Franklin, PA · 51m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
42 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
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
$14.06 one way
$28.12 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
30 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $15.40 | $30.80 |
| premium | $4.93 | $16.45 | $32.89 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.72 | $37.45 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.4 | 0 | $8.90 | $4.07 |
| Efficient EV | 21.2 | 0 | $7.42 | $3.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 33.9 | 0 | $11.87 | $5.43 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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
Pittsburgh, PA
Morning in Pittsburgh on Wednesday
Local time
6:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
52°F
Mina, NY
42 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
5 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
1h 43m 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 Franklin, PA to Pittsburgh, PA covers 84.8 miles and takes about 1h 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 79, Richard Frame Memorial Highway, Parkway North. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 42.4 miles from Franklin, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.06 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 is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 84.8 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 0.3 miles (US 62; PA 8 / 15th Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 71.8 miles (I 279 / Parkway North): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 83.2 miles (I 579): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Franklin, PA to Pittsburgh, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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