Trip from Glenolden, PA to Altoona, PA

Data updated 4 hours ago

Drive Time

4h 35m

Distance

233 mi

375 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$39

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min

4 AM

4h 22m ★

6 AM

4h 36m

8 AM

5h 3m

10 AM

4h 45m

12 PM

4h 43m

3 PM

4h 47m

5 PM

5h 1m

8 PM

4h 28m

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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borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States

Glenolden, PA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 233-mile drive from Glenolden, PA, to Altoona, PA, is best tackled in a single day, taking approximately 4 hours and 35 minutes. Primarily a highway-focused journey, you'll spend about 89% of your time on major roadways like the Pennsylvania Turnpike and I-99. With an estimated fuel cost of $39, this route offers a straightforward path through familiar Northeast landscapes. It's a practical option for a day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a significant 174.6 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, so plan your breaks accordingly.

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

116.5 miles from Glenolden, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 26m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this 233-mile trip. With 89% of the drive on major roads, you'll encounter stretches designed for efficient travel. The Pennsylvania Turnpike and I-99 form the backbone of this journey, offering a consistent driving pace for extended periods. The longest uninterrupted segment covers 174.6 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, meaning you'll have long stretches where you can maintain speed. While mostly highway, the initial portion involves Darby Paoli Road, offering a brief transition before merging onto the faster routes.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 29 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 174.6 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 20.7 miles in.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 233 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 20.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 196.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 22 key points

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

20.7 mi into trip | ~41m in

Take the ramp toward PATP Toll, I 76 Toll: Valley Forge, Harrisburg

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the right lane. Toward PATP Toll, I 76 Toll: Valley Forge, Harr...

21.1 mi into trip | ~42m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 76 Toll West: Harrisburg

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 76 Toll West: Harrisburg

196.3 mi into trip | ~3h 52m 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

196.9 mi into trip | ~3h 54m in

Take the ramp toward I 99, US 220: Cumberland, Altoona

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 99, US 220: Cumberland, Altoona

197.1 mi into trip | ~3h 54m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

Between Glenolden, PA and Altoona, PA, road signs point toward Patp Toll, Harrisburg and Johnstown.

Patp Toll

20.7 mi in | ~41m

Harrisburg

20.7 mi in | ~41m

Johnstown

196.3 mi in | ~3h 52m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike	174.6 mi	3h 9m
I 99	32.7 mi	35m
Darby Paoli Road	3.7 mi	6m
Sproul Road	3 mi	6m
Woodland Avenue	2.3 mi	5m
East Lancaster Avenue	2.1 mi	4m
Newtown Street Road	1.6 mi	2m
West Chester Pike	1.5 mi	3m

Longest stretch: Pennsylvania Turnpike — 174.6 mi, about 3h 9m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on East Boon Avenue

65 ft · 10 sec · East Boon Avenue

Turn left onto US 13

0.5 mi · 1 min · Chester Pike

Turn right onto West South Avenue

0.6 mi · 1 min · West South Avenue

Turn left onto Macdade Boulevard

0.8 mi · 1 min · Macdade Boulevard

Turn right onto PA 420

1.1 mi · 1 min · Kedron Avenue

Continue on PA 420

2.3 mi · 5 min · Woodland Avenue

Turn right onto PA 320

3.0 mi · 6 min · Sproul Road

Use the straight lane.

Turn straight onto Springfield Road

0.8 mi · 1 min · Springfield Road

Use the straight / right lanes.

Turn left onto PA 3

1.5 mi · 3 min · West Chester Pike

Use the left / straight lanes.

Turn right onto PA 252

1.6 mi · 2 min · Newtown Street Road

Use the straight / right lanes.

Continue on PA 252

3.7 mi · 6 min · Darby Paoli Road

Turn left onto Darby Road

0.8 mi · 1 min · Darby Road

At end of road, turn left onto US 30

2.1 mi · 4 min · East Lancaster Avenue

Turn right onto PA 29

0.7 mi · 1 min · South Morehall Road

Continue on PA 29

1.3 mi · 2 min · North Morehall Road

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 45 sec

Toward PATP Toll, I 76 Toll: Valley Forge, Harrisburg Use the right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min

Toward I 76 Toll West: Harrisburg Use the slight left lane.

Merge onto I 76; PATP

175 mi · 3 hr 9 min · Pennsylvania Turnpike

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 46 sec

Toward Altoona, Johnstown Use the slight right lane.

Turn left onto US 220 BUS

0.3 mi · 42 sec · Business 220

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 27 sec

Toward I 99, US 220: Cumberland, Altoona

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 36 sec

Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona

Merge onto I 99; US 220

33 mi · 35 min · I 99; US 220

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min

Toward 17th Street

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 21 sec

Toward Altoona

Turn straight onto 17th Street

1.4 mi · 2 min · 17th Street

Turn right onto PA 764

0.7 mi · 1 min · 6th Avenue

Turn left onto 7th Street

0.2 mi · 18 sec · 7th Street

Arrive at destination

7th Street

Trip Plan

For this 4-hour and 35-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Glenolden, PA, to maximize your daylight hours and minimize potential traffic. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of 174.6 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, be sure to fuel up before you leave or at a service plaza along the turnpike. The $39 fuel cost is a good estimate, but check current prices. Since this is a manageable day trip, you have flexibility in your timing. Be aware of the transition from Darby Paoli Road onto the main highways, ensuring you merge safely as you begin the bulk of your journey on the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

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 116.5 miles from Glenolden, PA, or about 2h 26m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 174.6 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 46m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 116.5 miles or 2h 26m 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 47m

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 Glenolden, 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 Glenolden, PA

This is one driving day of about 233 miles and 4h 35m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Glenolden, 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 174.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 116.5 mi from Glenolden, PA · 2h 26m into the drive

city in Steuben County, New York, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Corning, NY

117 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

Staten Island, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Corning, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 116.5 miles from Glenolden, 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 174.6 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.

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 112.5

View on nps.gov

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...

5 mi from route ~12 min detour Free near mile 16.1

View on nps.gov

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...

8 mi from route ~20 min detour $1

View on nps.gov

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...

8 mi from route ~20 min detour Free

View on nps.gov

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 72.3

View on nps.gov

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...

14 mi from route ~36 min detour Free near mile 8

View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$38.63 one way

$77.26 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 82 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.61	$42.31	$84.61
premium	$4.93	$45.19	$90.37
diesel	$5.61	$51.44	$102.89

Estimated Tolls: $22.69

Pennsylvania Turnpike (174.6 mi) $22.69

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

$39

Tolls

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$86–$111

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 81.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	69.9	0	$24.46	$11.18
Efficient EV	58.3	0	$20.39	$9.32
EV Truck/SUV	93.2	1	$32.62	$14.91

Gas CO2

82 kg

EV CO2

27 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 data refreshed 45 seconds from now

Origin

Glenolden, PA

Morning in Glenolden on Wednesday

Local time

7:06 AM

EDT

Current temp

63°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Altoona, PA

Morning in Altoona on Wednesday

Local time

7:06 AM

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

2 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 35m 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 Glenolden, PA to Altoona, PA covers 233 miles and takes about 4h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Pennsylvania Turnpike, I 99, Darby Paoli Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 116.5 miles from Glenolden, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $38.63 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.

Between Glenolden, PA and Altoona, PA, road signs point toward Patp Toll, Harrisburg and Johnstown.

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Trip from Glenolden, PA to Altoona, PA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Altoona, PA

National Parks Near This Route

Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument

Valley Forge National Historical Park

Independence National Historical Park

Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial

Appalachian National Scenic Trail

First State National Historical Park

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Glenolden, PA

Altoona, PA

Same local time

2 degrees warmer at arrival

4h 35m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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