Trip from Moon, PA to Pittsburgh, PA

Drive Time

28m

Distance

18.1 mi

29 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$3

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 7 min
4 AM
0h 26m ★
6 AM
0h 28m
8 AM
0h 33m
10 AM
0h 30m
12 PM
0h 29m
3 PM
0h 30m
5 PM
0h 33m
8 PM
0h 27m

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

Downtown Moon, PA, PA

Moon, PA

Jay Brand

Downtown Pittsburgh, PA, PA

Pittsburgh, PA

LaMont L. Johnson

Trip Overview

If you are planning to travel from Moon to Pittsburgh, expect a quick 18.1-mile journey that typically takes about 28 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, as it connects two points within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania. You will primarily navigate via Moon Clinton Road, Airport Parkway, and the Penn-Lincoln Parkway West. With a fuel cost estimate of just $3, this is an incredibly budget-friendly commute. Because the duration is so brief, there is no need to worry about overnight lodging or splitting the drive into multiple days. It is a straightforward, practical connection that functions more like a efficient link between suburban and urban areas than a traditional vacation road trip.

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

9.1 miles from Moon, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 14m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused experience, as 86% of your drive will be spent on major roads. The journey features a fairly consistent pace, highlighted by a longest uninterrupted stretch of 9.6 miles along the Penn-Lincoln Parkway West. You will notice the character of the road shift as you transition from the local atmosphere of Moon Clinton Road onto the faster-moving, high-capacity lanes of the parkway. While the drive is short, the reliance on major thoroughfares means you should be prepared for steady traffic flow. It is a functional, no-nonsense drive that prioritizes speed and directness over winding, scenic detours.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 9 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Penn-Lincoln Parkway West is the longest continuous segment at about 9.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Penn-Lincoln Parkway West and Airport Parkway. You will hit about 5 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Moon Clinton Road.

Route Complexity 5/10

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

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 18.1 miles you will encounter 5 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: near the start (Moon Clinton Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (Orange Belt / University Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles (I 376 BUS; Orange Belt / Airport Parkway): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 5 key points

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

4
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Moon Clinton Road

Turn right onto Moon Clinton Road

Navigation decision point

5
1.1 mi into trip | ~2m in | Orange Belt / University Boulevard

At end of road, turn right onto Orange Belt / University Boulevard

Navigation decision point

4
2 mi into trip | ~4m in | I 376 BUS; Orange Belt / Airport Parkway

Turn left onto I 376 BUS; Orange Belt / Airport Parkway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.
5
17.1 mi into trip | ~25m in | I 376; US 22; US 30 / Penn-Lincoln Parkway East

Keep slight right at fork onto I 376; US 22; US 30 / Penn-Lincoln Parkway East toward I 376 East: Monroeville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward I 376 East: Monroeville
7
17.7 mi into trip | ~26m in

Take the exit toward Grant Street

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

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Exit 71A Toward Grant Street

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Penn-Lincoln Parkway West 9.6 mi 13m
Airport Parkway 5.5 mi 7m
Moon Clinton Road 1.1 mi 2m
University Boulevard 0.9 mi 1m
Penn-Lincoln Parkway East 0.5 mi <1m
Grant Street 0.4 mi 1m
McLaughlin Road <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Penn-Lincoln Parkway West — 9.6 mi, about 13m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on McLaughlin Road

99 ft · 9 sec · McLaughlin Road
2

Turn right onto Moon Clinton Road

1.1 mi · 2 min · Moon Clinton Road
3

At end of road, turn right onto Orange Belt

0.9 mi · 1 min · University Boulevard
4

Turn left onto I 376 BUS; Orange Belt

5.5 mi · 7 min · Airport Parkway
Use the left / straight lanes.
5

Continue on I 376; US 22; US 30

9.6 mi · 13 min · Penn-Lincoln Parkway West
Use the none lane.
6

Keep slight right at fork onto I 376; US 22; US 30

0.5 mi · 55 sec · Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
Toward I 376 East: Monroeville
7

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 24 sec
Exit 71A Toward Grant Street Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8

Continue on Grant Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · Grant Street
Use the straight lane.
9

Arrive at destination

Grant Street

Trip Plan

Since this is a short trip with zero scheduled stops, you have maximum flexibility regarding your departure time. However, given the high percentage of highway travel, you may want to monitor local traffic patterns on the Penn-Lincoln Parkway West to avoid potential congestion during peak hours. You do not need to factor in extensive fuel stops or rest breaks, as the entire distance is covered in less than half an hour. Keep your departure simple and enjoy the convenience of such a short transit time. A helpful tip for this route is to ensure your vehicle is fueled before leaving Moon, as the efficient, highway-heavy nature of the drive makes it easy to complete the entire trek without needing to pull over for gas.

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 9.1 miles from Moon, PA, or about 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 9.6 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 18.1 miles or 28m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 9.1 miles or 14m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 23m

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 Moon, 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 Moon, PA

This is one driving day of about 18.1 miles and 28m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Moon, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Penn-Lincoln Parkway West for about 9.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 9.1 mi from Moon, PA · 14m into the drive

Downtown Mina, NY, NY

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Mina, NY

9 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

Mina, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 18.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Mina, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 9.1 miles from Moon, 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

$3.00 one way

$5.99 round trip

$4.20/gal 25.4 MPG avg 6 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.60 $3.28 $6.55
premium $4.92 $3.51 $7.01
diesel $5.64 $4.02 $8.04

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: 6.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

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

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 5.4 0 $1.90 $0.87
Efficient EV 4.5 0 $1.58 $0.72
EV Truck/SUV 7.2 0 $2.53 $1.16

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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Moon, PA

Night in Moon on Sunday

Local time

9:35 PM

EDT

Current temp

60°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Pittsburgh, PA

Night in Pittsburgh on Sunday

Local time

9:35 PM

EDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

52°F

Mina, NY

9 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

1 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

28m 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 Moon, PA to Pittsburgh, PA covers 18.1 miles and takes about 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Penn-Lincoln Parkway West, Airport Parkway, Moon Clinton Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 9.1 miles from Moon, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.00 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 18.1 miles you will encounter 5 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: near the start (Moon Clinton Road): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles (Orange Belt / University Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles (I 376 BUS; Orange Belt / Airport Parkway): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Moon, PA to Pittsburgh, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Moon, PA or browse trips ending in Pittsburgh, PA.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse PA road trips.

Explore maps for Moon, PA or Pittsburgh, PA on MapSof.net.