Origin
Johnstown, PA
Evening in Johnstown on Sunday
Local time
7:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Johnstown, PA to Altoona, PA
Drive Time
1h
Distance
43.6 mi
70 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 56m
★
6 AM
1h 0m
8 AM
1h 10m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 4m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Johnstown, PA
Michael Taccetta
Trip Overview
Connecting Johnstown and Altoona, this 43.6-mile trip is a straightforward journey through Pennsylvania’s Northeast region. You can expect the drive to take approximately one hour, making it an ideal candidate for a simple day trip that requires no overnight stay. With a modest fuel budget of about $7, it is an economical route for those navigating between these two cities. You will primarily travel via William Penn Highway, William Penn Avenue, and Admiral Peary Highway. Because the distance is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time without needing to account for long-haul fatigue.
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
21.8 miles from Johnstown, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 32m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local driving experience rather than a monotonous interstate grind, as only 10% of this route consists of highway travel. The path demands your attention as you navigate winding local roads, though you will encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 16.8 miles along the William Penn Highway. Because the majority of the 43.6-mile trip takes place off the major highways, the pace feels more intimate and connected to the local landscape. You should be prepared for frequent adjustments to your speed and steering as the road transitions between these different highway segments.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
William Penn Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 16.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10.7 miles in near US 22 / Admiral Peary Highway.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 9 significant decision points across 43.6 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 10.7 miles (US 22 / Admiral Peary Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 35.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
10.7 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
US 22 / Admiral Peary Highway
Merge onto US 22 / Admiral Peary Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
35.3 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Keep slight left 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
4
40.6 mi into trip
|
~55m in
Take the exit toward 17th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward 17th Street
5
41.1 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Altoona
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Altoona
4
43.4 mi into trip
|
~1h in
|
7th Street
Turn left onto 7th Street
Navigation decision point
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Johnstown, PA to Altoona, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Bedford along the way.
Bedford
34.8 mi in
|
~48m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| William Penn Highway | 16.8 mi | 19m |
| William Penn Avenue | 10.3 mi | 16m |
| Admiral Peary Highway | 7.4 mi | 11m |
| I 99 | 4.4 mi | 4m |
| 17th Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| 6th Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| 7th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Walnut Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
William Penn Highway
— 16.8 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Johnstown, PA and Altoona, PA.
1
Start on Walnut Street
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Walnut Street
2
Turn right onto William Penn Avenue
10 mi
·
16 min
·
William Penn Avenue
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
Toward US 22 East: Ebensburg
4
Merge onto US 22
7.4 mi
·
11 min
·
Admiral Peary Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on US 22
17 mi
·
19 min
·
William Penn Highway
Use the none lane.
6
Continue on this road
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
this road
Toward I 99, US 220: Altoona, Bedford
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
8
Merge onto I 99; US 220
4.4 mi
·
4 min
·
I 99; US 220
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward 17th Street
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward Altoona
11
Turn straight onto 17th Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
17th Street
12
Turn right onto PA 764
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
6th Avenue
13
Turn left onto 7th Street
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
7th Street
14
Arrive at destination
7th Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick one-hour trip, you have the advantage of total scheduling freedom, though leaving during off-peak hours will help you maintain a consistent pace on the turn-heavy local sections. There are no planned stops on this route, so ensure your vehicle is fueled up before you depart to cover the $7 estimated cost without interruption. Keep a close eye on the transition points between the William Penn Highway, William Penn Avenue, and the Admiral Peary Highway, as the road character shifts frequently. Because the drive is short, you can easily complete the entire 43.6-mile distance in one go without needing to build in rest breaks.
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 21.8 miles from Johnstown, PA, or about 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 16.8 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 43.6 miles or 1h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 21.8 miles or 32m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 51m
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 Johnstown, 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 Johnstown, PA
This is one driving day of about 43.6 miles and 1h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Johnstown, 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 William Penn Highway for about 16.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 21.8 mi from Johnstown, PA · 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 43.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.8 miles from Johnstown, 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
$7.21 one way
$14.43 round trip
$4.20/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $7.89 | $15.79 |
| premium | $4.92 | $8.45 | $16.90 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $9.69 | $19.37 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.1 | 0 | $4.58 | $2.09 |
| Efficient EV | 10.9 | 0 | $3.82 | $1.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.4 | 0 | $6.10 | $2.79 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Evening in Altoona on Sunday
Local time
7:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 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 Johnstown, PA to Altoona, PA covers 43.6 miles and takes about 1h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are William Penn Highway, William Penn Avenue, Admiral Peary Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 21.8 miles from Johnstown, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.21 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 9 significant decision points across 43.6 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 10.7 miles (US 22 / Admiral Peary Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 35.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
On the drive from Johnstown, PA to Altoona, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Bedford along the way.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Altoona, PA
More trips to Altoona, PA
Explore more options from Johnstown, PA or browse trips ending in Altoona, PA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse PA road trips.
Explore maps for Johnstown, PA or Altoona, PA on MapSof.net.