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Trip from Messmore, PA to Dunbar, PA

Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026

Drive Time

29m

Distance

17 mi

27 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$3

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 8 min
4 AM
0h 27m ★
6 AM
0h 30m
8 AM
0h 35m
10 AM
0h 32m
12 PM
0h 31m
3 PM
0h 32m
5 PM
0h 35m
8 PM
0h 28m

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

borough of Pennsylvania

Dunbar, PA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Messmore, PA to Dunbar, PA covers 17 miles and takes about 29m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 40, McClellandtown Road, Messmore Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 8.6 miles on US 40. At current regular gas prices, budget about $2.82 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.

Midpoint

8.5 miles from Messmore, PA

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

Drive Character

The drive from Messmore, PA to Dunbar, PA covers 17 miles and takes about 29m, 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 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 40 is the longest continuous segment at about 8.6 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

1,249 ft 1,000 ft

Total Climb

489 ft

Total Descent

447 ft

Highest Point

1,249 ft

~3.6 mi in

Elevation Range

250 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in near PA 21 / McClellandtown Road.

Route Complexity 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 17 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles (PA 21 / McClellandtown Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 8 key points

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

5
1.2 mi into trip | ~4m in | PA 21 / McClellandtown Road

Turn right onto PA 21 / McClellandtown Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
7
6.1 mi into trip | ~13m in

Take the exit

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

Use the right lane.
6
6.2 mi into trip | ~13m in

Keep slight left at fork toward US 119 North, US 40 West: Connellsville

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

Toward US 119 North, US 40 West: Connellsville
4
16.4 mi into trip | ~27m in | Woodvale Street

At end of road, turn right onto Woodvale Street

Navigation decision point

6
16.7 mi into trip | ~28m in | Connellsville Street

Turn sharp left onto Connellsville Street

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 40 8.6 mi 10m
McClellandtown Road 4.9 mi 8m
Messmore Road 1.2 mi 4m
Ranch Road 1 mi 2m
Connellsville Street 0.3 mi 1m
Woodvale Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 40 — 8.6 mi, about 10m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Messmore, PA and Dunbar, PA.

1

Start on Messmore Road

1.2 mi · 4 min · Messmore Road
2

Turn right onto PA 21

4.9 mi · 8 min · McClellandtown Road
Use the straight lane.
3

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 21 sec
Use the right lane.
4

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward US 119 North, US 40 West: Connellsville
5

Merge onto US 40; US 119

8.6 mi · 10 min · US 40; US 119
6

Turn right onto Ranch Road

1.0 mi · 2 min · Ranch Road
7

At end of road, turn right onto Woodvale Street

0.2 mi · 41 sec · Woodvale Street
8

Turn sharp left onto Connellsville Street

0.2 mi · 47 sec · Connellsville Street
9

Continue on Connellsville Street

0.1 mi · 29 sec · Connellsville Street
10

Turn left

44 ft · 3 sec
11

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

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 8.5 miles from Messmore, PA, or about 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 8.6 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 17 miles or 29m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 8.5 miles or 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 24m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dunbar, PA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Have your navigation ready before leaving Messmore, PA.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Messmore, PA

This is one driving day of about 17 miles and 29m.

At 17 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on US 40 for about 8.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 8.5 mi from Messmore, PA · 17m into the drive

Pacing Suggestions

Connellsville, PA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Oliver, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 8.5 miles from Messmore, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Dunbar, PA

Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Dunbar, PA if you are unfamiliar with the area.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$2.82 one way

$5.64 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 6 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $3.09 $6.17
premium $4.93 $3.30 $6.59
diesel $5.61 $3.75 $7.51

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$3

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$28–$53

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 5.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 5.1 0 $1.78 $0.82
Efficient EV 4.3 0 $1.49 $0.68
EV Truck/SUV 6.8 0 $2.38 $1.09

Gas CO2

6 kg

EV CO2

2 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 as of Apr 13, 2026

Origin

Messmore, PA

Evening in Messmore on Wednesday

Local time

5:11 PM

EDT

Current temp

75°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Dunbar, PA

Evening in Dunbar on Wednesday

Local time

5:11 PM

EDT

Current temp

50°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

25 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

29m 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 Messmore, PA to Dunbar, PA covers 17 miles and takes about 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 40, McClellandtown Road, Messmore Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 8.5 miles from Messmore, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.82 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 17 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles (PA 21 / McClellandtown Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Messmore, PA to Dunbar, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 1,000 ft to 1,249 ft elevation with about 489 ft of total climbing.

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