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Trip from Lower Saucon, PA to Altoona, PA

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 20m

Distance

216.6 mi

349 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$35

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 7m ★
6 AM
4h 21m
8 AM
4h 47m
10 AM
4h 30m
12 PM
4h 27m
3 PM
4h 31m
5 PM
4h 46m
8 PM
4h 13m

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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township in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States of America

Lower Saucon, PA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Lower Saucon, PA to Altoona, PA covers 216.6 miles and takes about 4h 20m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Keystone Shortway, I 78, Jacksonville Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 63.1 miles on Keystone Shortway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $34.84 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

108.3 miles from Lower Saucon, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 17m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 20m. Total distance: 216.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

The drive from Lower Saucon, PA to Altoona, PA covers 216.6 miles and takes about 4h 20m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 44 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Keystone Shortway is the longest continuous segment at about 63.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.2 miles in near I 78.

Driving Effort 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 216.6 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 4.2 miles (I 78): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 41 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 24 key points

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

5
4.2 mi into trip | ~7m in | I 78

Merge onto I 78

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
40.8 mi into trip | ~53m in

Take the exit toward PA 61 North: Pottsville

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 29 Toward PA 61 North: Pottsville
7
41 mi into trip | ~54m in

Keep slight right at fork toward PA 61 North: Pottsville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Exit 29 Toward PA 61 North: Pottsville
6
162.8 mi into trip | ~3h 16m in

Take the exit toward I 99 South, US 220 South, PA 26: Bellefonte

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 161 Toward I 99 South, US 220 South, PA 26: Bellefo...
6
187.3 mi into trip | ~3h 46m in | I 99; US 220

Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220 toward I 99 South, US 220 South: Port Matilda, Altoona

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

Toward I 99 South, US 220 South: Port Matilda,...

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Keystone Shortway 63.1 mi 1h 8m
I 78 36.6 mi 46m
Jacksonville Road 24.2 mi 28m
I 99 23.3 mi 24m
Locust Gap Highway 11.5 mi 13m
Centre Turnpike 10.6 mi 12m
South Market Street 9.7 mi 11m
Sunbury Road 9.4 mi 11m
Longest stretch: Keystone Shortway — 63.1 mi, about 1h 8m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Lower Saucon Road

77 ft · 2 sec · Lower Saucon Road
2

Turn right onto Easton Road

2.9 mi · 4 min · Easton Road
3

Turn slight right onto Cherry Lane

0.5 mi · 58 sec · Cherry Lane
4

Turn slight right onto PA 412

0.3 mi · 35 sec · Hellertown Road
5

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward I-78 West
6

Merge onto I 78

12 mi · 15 min · I 78
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight left at fork onto I 78

24 mi · 30 min · I 78
Toward I 78 West: Harrisburg
8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 24 sec
Exit 29 Toward PA 61 North: Pottsville Use the slight right lane.
9

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 43 sec
Exit 29 Toward PA 61 North: Pottsville
10

Merge onto PA 61

2.4 mi · 3 min · Pottsville Pike
Use the straight lane.
11

Continue on PA 61

11 mi · 12 min · Centre Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
12

Continue on PA 61

3.0 mi · 3 min · Route 61 South
13

Continue on PA 61

0.3 mi · 18 sec · Pottsville Boulevard
14

Continue on PA 61

0.2 mi · 20 sec · South Claude A. Lord Boulevard
15

Turn left onto US 209

0.1 mi · 10 sec · Mauch Chunk Street
16

At end of road, turn right onto US 209

0.4 mi · 38 sec · South Centre Street
17

Turn left onto US 209

2.3 mi · 4 min · West Market Street
18

Continue on US 209; PA 901

1.8 mi · 2 min · Pottsville Minersville Highway
Use the straight lane.
19

At end of road, turn left onto PA 901

0.8 mi · 1 min · East Sunbury Street
20

Continue on PA 901

9.4 mi · 11 min · Sunbury Road
21

Continue on PA 901

2.2 mi · 2 min · Fairgrounds Road
22

Continue on PA 901

0.3 mi · 43 sec · Locust Gap Highway
23

Continue on PA 54; PA 901

11 mi · 13 min · Locust Gap Highway
24

Continue on PA 54

9.7 mi · 11 min · South Market Street
25

Turn right onto PA 54

0.3 mi · 45 sec · Danville-Riverside Bridge Road
Use the right lane.
26

Continue on PA 54

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Factory Street
Use the straight lane.
27

Continue on PA 54

3.0 mi · 3 min · Continental Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
28

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 52 sec
29

Merge onto I 80

63 mi · 1 hr 8 min · Keystone Shortway
30

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 53 sec
Exit 161 Toward I 99 South, US 220 South, PA 26: Bellefonte
31

Turn left onto US 220; PA 26

24 mi · 28 min · Jacksonville Road
Use the straight lane.
32

Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220

23 mi · 24 min · I 99; US 220
Toward I 99 South, US 220 South: Port Matilda, Altoona
33

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Toward PA 764 South: Pinecroft
34

Turn right onto PA 764

0.5 mi · 52 sec · Sabbath Rest Road
35

Turn left onto US 220 Business; PA 764

2.8 mi · 4 min · East Pleasant Valley Boulevard
36

Turn right onto PA 764

174 ft · 3 sec · Rutgers Lane
37

Continue on PA 764

0.1 mi · 14 sec · East Walton Avenue
38

Turn right onto Greenwood Road

0.6 mi · 1 min · Greenwood Road
39

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

0.6 mi · 53 sec · 6th Avenue Road
40

Continue on East 6th Avenue

0.3 mi · 22 sec · East 6th Avenue
41

Continue on Bellwood Avenue

0.2 mi · 19 sec · Bellwood Avenue
42

Turn slight left onto PA 764

0.4 mi · 43 sec · 7th Avenue
43

Turn right onto 7th Street

0.1 mi · 11 sec · 7th Street
44

Arrive at destination

7th Street

Trip Plan

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 108.3 miles from Lower Saucon, PA, or about 2h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 63.1 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 48 miles or 1h 3m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 108.3 miles or 2h 17m 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 34m

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 Lower Saucon, 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 Lower Saucon, PA

This is one driving day of about 216.6 miles and 4h 20m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Lower Saucon, 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 Keystone Shortway for about 63.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 108.3 mi from Lower Saucon, PA · 2h 17m into the drive

borough in Columbia County, Pennsylvania

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Catawissa, PA

108 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

Hazleton, PA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 48 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Sunbury, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 108.3 miles from Lower Saucon, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Keystone Shortway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 63.1 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.

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.

Appalachian National Scenic Trail

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...

21 mi from route ~53 min detour Free near mile 67.2
Park Closure: List of trail closures post-Hurricane Helene
Caution: Black Bears Frequenting the McAfee Knob Area in Virginia
View on nps.gov
Johnstown Flood National Memorial

Johnstown Flood National Memorial

National Memorial

The South Fork Dam failed on Friday, May 31, 1889, and unleashed 20,000,000 tons of water that devastated Johnstown, PA. The flood killed 2,209 people but it brought the nation and the world together...

23 mi from route ~58 min detour Free near mile 216.6
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$34.84 one way

$69.69 round trip

$4.09/gal 25.4 MPG avg 76 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.60 $39.22 $78.44
premium $4.95 $42.25 $84.49
diesel $5.98 $50.99 $101.99

Estimated Tolls: $0.74

Centre Turnpike (10.6 mi) $0.74

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

$35

Tolls

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$61–$86

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 75.8 kg one way.

Driving Electric?

About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 65 0 $22.74 $10.40
Efficient EV 54.2 0 $18.95 $8.66
EV Truck/SUV 86.6 1 $30.32 $13.86

Gas CO2

76 kg

EV CO2

25 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 as of Apr 18, 2026

Origin

Lower Saucon, PA

Morning in Lower Saucon on Saturday

Local time

6:24 AM

EDT

Current temp

44°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Altoona, PA

Morning in Altoona on Saturday

Local time

6:24 AM

EDT

Current temp

53°F

Partly Cloudy

E 2 mph 0% chance 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

9 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 20m 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 Lower Saucon, PA to Altoona, PA covers 216.6 miles and takes about 4h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Keystone Shortway, I 78, Jacksonville Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 108.3 miles from Lower Saucon, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $34.84 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.

This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 216.6 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 4.2 miles (I 78): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 40.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 41 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

The route from Lower Saucon, PA to Altoona, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Yes. Nearby national parks include Appalachian National Scenic Trail and Johnstown Flood National Memorial.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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