Origin
Lafayette, PA
Night in Lafayette on Tuesday
Local time
11:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
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Drive Time
3h 27m
Distance
147.1 mi
237 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lafayette, PA
Ann H
Pittsburgh, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Planning a 147.1-mile journey from Lafayette, PA to Pittsburgh, PA? This drive will take you approximately 3 hours and 27 minutes, making it a manageable one-day trip. You'll primarily navigate via the Allegheny Valley Expressway, North Street, and Allegheny Boulevard. With an estimated fuel cost of $24, this route offers a straightforward way to travel within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania. Expect a turn-heavy local drive, so keep your focus sharp. This trip is perfectly suited for a single day of travel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
73.6 miles from Lafayette, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 45m into the drive .
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This route presents a turn-heavy local drive, with only 25% of the journey on highways. While there's a significant stretch of 36.9 miles on the Allegheny Valley Expressway, much of the drive involves navigating local roads. You'll experience frequent turns and changes in road type as you progress from Lafayette to Pittsburgh. Be prepared for a less monotonous, more engaging driving experience that requires constant attention to your surroundings.
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 33.5 miles in near PA 949 / South Mill Avenue.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 147.1 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 33.5 miles (PA 949 / South Mill Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 145.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 145.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto PA 949 / South Mill Avenue
Navigation decision point
Take the exit toward I 579 South, I 279 South: Veterans Bridge, Monroeville, Fort Pitt Bridge, Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 579 South: Veterans Bridge, Monroeville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
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
Keep slight left at fork toward PPG Arena, 6th Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Allegheny Valley Expressway | 36.9 mi | 48m |
| North Street | 21.3 mi | 29m |
| Allegheny Boulevard | 18.1 mi | 26m |
| Richardsville Road | 14.3 mi | 21m |
| Buffalo-Pittsburgh Highway | 14.1 mi | 15m |
| Portland Mills Road | 10.7 mi | 15m |
| East Center Street | 5.7 mi | 8m |
| Lake City Road | 5.5 mi | 8m |
Step-by-step road directions between Lafayette, PA and Pittsburgh, PA.
Start on PA 59
Turn left onto US 219
Continue on US 219
Continue on US 219
Turn slight right onto US 219
Continue on US 219
Continue on US 219
Continue on US 219
Continue on US 219
Continue on US 219
Turn right onto PA 948
Turn left onto PA 949
At end of road, turn right onto PA 949
Continue on PA 949
Continue on PA 949
Continue on PA 949
Continue on Richardsville Road
Continue on Richards St
At end of road, turn right onto US 322; PA 28
Continue on US 322; PA 28
Continue on South Main Street
Turn left onto PA 28
Continue on PA 28
Continue on PA 28; PA 66
Take the exit
Continue on PA 28
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 579
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn straight onto Bigelow Boulevard
Continue on Bigelow Square
Turn right onto Sixth Avenue
Turn left onto Grant Street
Continue on Grant Street
Arrive at destination
For this 3-hour and 27-minute drive, consider leaving Lafayette in the morning to arrive in Pittsburgh with ample daylight. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost of around $24, flexibility is key. Pay close attention to the numerous turns, especially when transitioning from highway to local roads, as this is a defining characteristic of the route. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 36.9 miles on the Allegheny Valley Expressway, so plan any refueling before or after this segment.
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.
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 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 73.6 miles or 1h 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pittsburgh, PA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Lafayette, 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 Lafayette, PA
This is one driving day of about 147.1 miles and 3h 27m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 73.6 mi from Lafayette, PA · 1h 45m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
74 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 73.6 miles from Lafayette, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$24.39 one way
$48.77 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $26.71 | $53.42 |
| premium | $4.93 | $28.53 | $57.06 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $32.48 | $64.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 44.1 | 0 | $15.45 | $7.06 |
| Efficient EV | 36.8 | 0 | $12.87 | $5.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 58.8 | 0 | $20.59 | $9.41 |
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Lafayette on Tuesday
Local time
11:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Destination
Night in Pittsburgh on Tuesday
Local time
11:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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