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Trip from Nesquehoning, PA to Altoona, PA

Drive Time

3h 22m

Distance

171.9 mi

277 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$28

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min
4 AM
3h 10m ★
6 AM
3h 22m
8 AM
3h 46m
10 AM
3h 30m
12 PM
3h 28m
3 PM
3h 32m
5 PM
3h 45m
8 PM
3h 15m

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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Downtown Nesquehoning, PA, PA

Nesquehoning, PA

Haneul Trac

Trip Overview

The drive from Nesquehoning, PA to Altoona, PA covers 171.9 miles and takes about 3h 22m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Keystone Shortway, Jacksonville Road, I 99 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 95.2 miles on Keystone Shortway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.44 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

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

85.9 miles from Nesquehoning, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 43m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 3h 22m drive with frequent turns across 171.9 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 30 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 95.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 209 / East Catawissa Street.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 3h 22m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 209 / East Catawissa Street): Navigation decision point; at 118.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 118.4 miles (US 220; PA 26 / Jacksonville Road): Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 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 | US 209 / East Catawissa Street

Turn right onto US 209 / East Catawissa Street

Navigation decision point

6
118.1 mi into trip | ~2h 18m 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...
5
118.4 mi into trip | ~2h 19m in | US 220; PA 26 / Jacksonville Road

Turn left onto US 220; PA 26 / Jacksonville Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
6
142.6 mi into trip | ~2h 47m 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,...
5
170.2 mi into trip | ~3h 19m in | 6th Avenue Road

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

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Keystone Shortway 95.2 mi 1h 43m
Jacksonville Road 24.2 mi 28m
I 99 23.3 mi 24m
Hudson Drive 5.8 mi 8m
East Broad Street 3.8 mi 4m
State Route 93 3.7 mi 7m
East Pleasant Valley Boulevard 2.8 mi 4m
Hunter Street 2.8 mi 3m
Longest stretch: Keystone Shortway — 95.2 mi, about 1h 43m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on North Mermon Avenue

59 ft · 7 sec · North Mermon Avenue
2

Turn right onto US 209

1.2 mi · 2 min · East Catawissa Street
3

Turn left onto PA 93

523 ft · 7 sec · Hudson Drive
4

Continue on State Route 93

2.8 mi · 3 min · Hunter Street
5

Continue on PA 93

5.7 mi · 8 min · Hudson Drive
6

Continue on PA 93

0.5 mi · 34 sec · Broad Street
7

Continue on PA 93

1.0 mi · 1 min · Berwick Street
8

Continue on PA 93

3.8 mi · 4 min · East Broad Street
9

Continue on PA 93; PA 924

0.5 mi · 39 sec · North Broad Street
10

Turn straight onto PA 93

2.3 mi · 3 min · Susquehanna Boulevard
11

Continue on PA 93

0.2 mi · 31 sec · Valmont Parkway
12

Continue on PA 93

3.7 mi · 7 min · State Route 93
13

Continue on PA 93

0.8 mi · 1 min · Berwick Hazleton Highway
14

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 28 sec
15

Merge onto I 80

95 mi · 1 hr 43 min · Keystone Shortway
16

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 53 sec
Exit 161 Toward I 99 South, US 220 South, PA 26: Bellefonte
17

Turn left onto US 220; PA 26

24 mi · 28 min · Jacksonville Road
Use the straight lane.
18

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
19

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Toward PA 764 South: Pinecroft
20

Turn right onto PA 764

0.5 mi · 52 sec · Sabbath Rest Road
21

Turn left onto US 220 Business; PA 764

2.8 mi · 4 min · East Pleasant Valley Boulevard
22

Turn right onto PA 764

174 ft · 3 sec · Rutgers Lane
23

Continue on PA 764

0.1 mi · 14 sec · East Walton Avenue
24

Turn right onto Greenwood Road

0.6 mi · 1 min · Greenwood Road
25

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

0.6 mi · 53 sec · 6th Avenue Road
26

Continue on East 6th Avenue

0.3 mi · 22 sec · East 6th Avenue
27

Continue on Bellwood Avenue

0.2 mi · 19 sec · Bellwood Avenue
28

Turn slight left onto PA 764

0.4 mi · 43 sec · 7th Avenue
29

Turn right onto 7th Street

0.1 mi · 11 sec · 7th Street
30

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 85.9 miles from Nesquehoning, PA, or about 1h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 95.2 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 36m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 85.9 miles or 1h 43m 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 45m

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 Nesquehoning, 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 Nesquehoning, PA

This is one driving day of about 171.9 miles and 3h 22m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Nesquehoning, 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 95.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 85.9 mi from Nesquehoning, PA · 1h 43m into the drive

Downtown Corning, NY, NY

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Corning, NY

86 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

Corning, NY

Fuel and coffee

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

Corning, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 85.9 miles from Nesquehoning, 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 95.2 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.

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 171.9
Park Closure: North Abutment Overlook Closure
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$28.44 one way

$56.89 round trip

$4.20/gal 25.4 MPG avg 60 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.60 $31.12 $62.25
premium $4.92 $33.31 $66.62
diesel $5.64 $38.19 $76.38

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$28

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$53–$78

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 60.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 51.6 0 $18.05 $8.25
Efficient EV 43 0 $15.04 $6.88
EV Truck/SUV 68.8 0 $24.07 $11.00

Gas CO2

60 kg

EV CO2

20 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

Nesquehoning, PA

Morning in Nesquehoning on Monday

Local time

7:34 AM

EDT

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Altoona, PA

Morning in Altoona on Monday

Local time

7:34 AM

EDT

Current temp

60°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

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

3h 22m 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 Nesquehoning, PA to Altoona, PA covers 171.9 miles and takes about 3h 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Keystone Shortway, Jacksonville Road, I 99. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 85.9 miles from Nesquehoning, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $28.44 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 straightforward 3h 22m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 209 / East Catawissa Street): Navigation decision point; at 118.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 118.4 miles (US 220; PA 26 / Jacksonville Road): Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Nesquehoning, PA to Altoona, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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