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Trip from Lafayette, PA to Pittsburgh, PA

Data updated 3 hours ago

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

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min
4 AM
3h 16m ★
6 AM
3h 28m
8 AM
3h 52m
10 AM
3h 37m
12 PM
3h 34m
3 PM
3h 38m
5 PM
3h 51m
8 PM
3h 21m

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

Downtown Lafayette, PA, PA

Lafayette, PA

Ann H

city and county seat in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States

Pittsburgh, PA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

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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Drive Character

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.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 37 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Allegheny Valley Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 36.9 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 33.5 miles in near PA 949 / South Mill Avenue.

Route Complexity 7/10

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.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 key points

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

5
33.5 mi into trip | ~43m in | PA 949 / South Mill Avenue

Turn left onto PA 949 / South Mill Avenue

Navigation decision point

8
145.8 mi into trip | ~3h 24m in

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 1A Toward I 579 South, I 279 South: Veterans Bridg...
9
145.8 mi into trip | ~3h 24m in

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

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 579 South: Veterans Bridge, Monroevill...
7
146.4 mi into trip | ~3h 25m 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
146.7 mi into trip | ~3h 26m 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
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
Longest stretch: Allegheny Valley Expressway — 36.9 mi, about 48m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lafayette, PA and Pittsburgh, PA.

1

Start on PA 59

1.3 mi · 2 min · Mt Alton Road
2

Turn left onto US 219

14 mi · 15 min · Buffalo-Pittsburgh Highway
3

Continue on US 219

3.3 mi · 3 min · Burning Well Road
4

Continue on US 219

0.7 mi · 50 sec · Marvin Street
5

Turn slight right onto US 219

252 ft · 8 sec · Wilcox Road
6

Continue on US 219

4.2 mi · 4 min · Wilcox Road
7

Continue on US 219

1.2 mi · 1 min · Market Street
8

Continue on US 219

1.2 mi · 1 min · Johnsonburg Bypass
9

Continue on US 219

5.7 mi · 8 min · East Center Street
10

Continue on US 219

1.7 mi · 4 min · North Broad Street
11

Turn right onto PA 948

521 ft · 25 sec · Main Street
12

Turn left onto PA 949

0.2 mi · 15 sec · South Mill Avenue
13

At end of road, turn right onto PA 949

0.3 mi · 22 sec · South Street
14

Continue on PA 949

0.4 mi · 37 sec · State Street
15

Continue on PA 949

11 mi · 15 min · Portland Mills Road
16

Continue on PA 949

5.5 mi · 8 min · Lake City Road
17

Continue on Richardsville Road

14 mi · 21 min · Richardsville Road
18

Continue on Richards St

0.9 mi · 2 min · Richards St
19

At end of road, turn right onto US 322; PA 28

190 ft · 4 sec · E Main St
20

Continue on US 322; PA 28

0.7 mi · 1 min · East Main Street
21

Continue on South Main Street

0.9 mi · 2 min · South Main Street
22

Turn left onto PA 28

18 mi · 26 min · Allegheny Boulevard
23

Continue on PA 28

1.2 mi · 1 min · Broad Street
24

Continue on PA 28; PA 66

21 mi · 29 min · North Street
25

Take the exit

0.8 mi · 1 min
Toward PA 28 South: Pittsburgh
26

Continue on PA 28

37 mi · 48 min · Allegheny Valley Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27

Take the exit

181 ft · 4 sec
Exit 1A Toward I 579 South, I 279 South: Veterans Bridge, Monroeville, Fort Pitt Bridge, Airport Use the slight right lane.
28

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Toward I 579 South: Veterans Bridge, Monroeville Use the slight left lane.
29

Merge onto I 579

0.3 mi · 28 sec · Veterans Bridge
30

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 53 sec
Toward 7th Avenue, 6th Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31

Keep slight left at fork

502 ft · 14 sec
Toward PPG Arena, 6th Avenue
32

Turn straight onto Bigelow Boulevard

224 ft · 3 sec · Bigelow Boulevard
33

Continue on Bigelow Square

386 ft · 6 sec · Bigelow Square
Toward 6th Avenue Use the straight / left lanes.
34

Turn right onto Sixth Avenue

347 ft · 11 sec · Sixth Avenue
35

Turn left onto Grant Street

296 ft · 22 sec · Grant Street
36

Continue on Grant Street

254 ft · 13 sec · Grant Street
37

Arrive at destination

Grant Street

Trip Plan

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 73.6 miles from Lafayette, PA, or about 1h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36.9 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 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.

Before You Leave

+

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.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Lafayette, 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 Allegheny Valley Expressway for about 36.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Chautauqua County, New York, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Jamestown, NY

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.

Pacing Suggestions

Jamestown, NY

Fuel and coffee

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

Jamestown, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 73.6 miles from Lafayette, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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

$24.39 one way

$48.77 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 52 kg CO2
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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 23 hours ago

Origin

Lafayette, PA

Night in Lafayette on Tuesday

Local time

11:53 PM

EDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Pittsburgh, PA

Night in Pittsburgh on Tuesday

Local time

11:53 PM

EDT

Current temp

57°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

10 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

3h 27m 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 Lafayette, PA to Pittsburgh, PA covers 147.1 miles and takes about 3h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Allegheny Valley Expressway, North Street, Allegheny Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 73.6 miles from Lafayette, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.39 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
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.
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.
The route from Lafayette, PA to Pittsburgh, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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