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Trip from Lewistown, PA to Altoona, PA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 31m

Distance

72 mi

116 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 21 min
4 AM
1h 24m ★
6 AM
1h 31m
8 AM
1h 45m
10 AM
1h 36m
12 PM
1h 35m
3 PM
1h 37m
5 PM
1h 44m
8 PM
1h 27m

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

borough in Pennsylvania, United States

Lewistown, PA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are looking to travel from Lewistown to Altoona, this 74-mile journey takes approximately 1 hour and 13 minutes to complete. Since the route is relatively short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend about $12 on fuel for the entire drive, making it a very budget-friendly transit between these two Pennsylvania locations. Because both cities are situated within the Northeast region, you will experience a consistent local atmosphere throughout the journey. Consider this a straightforward, practical transition rather than an elaborate road trip odyssey.

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

36 miles from Lewistown, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 45m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features zero highway driving. You will navigate primarily via Valley Street, South Walnut Street, and Boal Avenue to reach your destination. Because there are no stretches of highway, you should be prepared for constant attention to the road rather than long, uninterrupted segments. The longest stretch you will encounter is 0 miles on Valley Street, reflecting the technical, local nature of the path. Stay focused behind the wheel, as the winding, surface-level roads require more active driving than a standard highway route.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Valley Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

1,659 ft 503 ft

Total Climb

1,633 ft

Total Descent

973 ft

Highest Point

1,659 ft

~15.4 mi in

Elevation Range

1,156 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Lewistown, PA to Altoona, PA is easy. At 1h 31m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Lewistown, PA to Altoona, PA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Valley Street
South Walnut Street
Boal Avenue
Mount Nittany Expressway
I 99 South
PA 764 South
Sabbath Rest Road
East Pleasant Valley Boulevard

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Valley Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Chestnut Street

118 ft · 11 sec · Chestnut Street
2

Turn sharp right onto Valley Street

0.4 mi · 45 sec · Valley Street
3

Turn right onto South Walnut Street

0.3 mi · 59 sec · South Walnut Street
4

Take the exit left

22 mi · 28 min
5

Continue on Boal Avenue

2.6 mi · 4 min · Boal Avenue
6

Continue on Mount Nittany Expressway

18 mi · 21 min · Mount Nittany Expressway
7

Keep slight left to continue on I 99 South, US 220 South: Port Matilda, Altoona

23 mi · 24 min · I 99 South, US 220 South: Port Matilda, Altoona
8

Take the exit slight right toward PA 764 South: Pinecroft

0.3 mi · 39 sec · PA 764 South: Pinecroft
9

Turn right onto Sabbath Rest Road

0.5 mi · 52 sec · Sabbath Rest Road
10

Turn left onto East Pleasant Valley Boulevard

2.8 mi · 4 min · East Pleasant Valley Boulevard
11

Turn right onto Rutgers Lane

174 ft · 3 sec · Rutgers Lane
12

Continue on East Walton Avenue

0.1 mi · 15 sec · East Walton Avenue
13

Turn right onto Greenwood Road

0.6 mi · 1 min · Greenwood Road
14

At the end of the road, turn left onto 6th Avenue Road

0.6 mi · 53 sec · 6th Avenue Road
15

Continue on East 6th Avenue

0.3 mi · 23 sec · East 6th Avenue
16

Continue on Bellwood Avenue

0.2 mi · 19 sec · Bellwood Avenue
17

Turn slight left onto 7th Avenue

0.4 mi · 43 sec · 7th Avenue
18

Turn right onto 7th Street

0.1 mi · 11 sec · 7th Street
19

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Since this is a compact 74-mile trip with zero planned stops, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule to leave whenever it suits your plans. You won't need to worry about pacing long stretches or finding rest areas, allowing you to head straight through to Altoona. Because the route relies entirely on local roads, keep an eye on local traffic patterns and potential intersections that may slow your progress. It is wise to fuel up before you depart Lewistown to cover your $12 estimated expense without needing to search for gas along the route. Enjoy the simplicity of this short drive, as the lack of highway miles makes for a very predictable journey.

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 36 miles from Lewistown, PA, or about 45m into the drive.

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 16 miles or 20m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 36 miles or 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 1h 17m

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 Lewistown, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Lewistown, PA

This is one driving day of about 72 miles and 1h 31m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Lewistown, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 36 mi from Lewistown, PA · 45m into the drive

Downtown Lemont, PA, PA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lemont, PA

36 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

Milroy, PA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lemont, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 36 miles from Lewistown, 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.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$11.94 one way

$23.87 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 25 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $13.07 $26.15
premium $4.93 $13.96 $27.93
diesel $5.61 $15.90 $31.79

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$12

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$37–$62

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 25.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 21.6 0 $7.56 $3.46
Efficient EV 18 0 $6.30 $2.88
EV Truck/SUV 28.8 0 $10.08 $4.61

Gas CO2

25 kg

EV CO2

8 kg (68% 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 as of Apr 13, 2026

Origin

Lewistown, PA

Night in Lewistown on Wednesday

Local time

10:07 PM

EDT

Current temp

66°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Altoona, PA

Night in Altoona on Wednesday

Local time

10:07 PM

EDT

Current temp

59°F

Mostly Cloudy

S 7 mph 5% chance Live forecast

64°F

Lemont, PA

36 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

7 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 31m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Lewistown, PA to Altoona, PA covers 72 miles and takes about 1h 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Valley Street, South Walnut Street, Boal Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 36 miles from Lewistown, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.94 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.
The drive from Lewistown, PA to Altoona, PA is easy. At 1h 31m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Lewistown, PA to Altoona, PA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Lewistown, PA to Altoona, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Gently rolling terrain. The route ranges from 503 ft to 1,659 ft elevation with about 1,633 ft of total climbing.

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