Origin
Penn Hills, PA
Morning in Penn Hills on Saturday
Local time
7:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Penn Hills, 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
1h 49m
Distance
93.9 mi
151 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 41m
★
6 AM
1h 49m
8 AM
2h 5m
10 AM
1h 55m
12 PM
1h 53m
3 PM
1h 56m
5 PM
2h 5m
8 PM
1h 44m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Penn Hills, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Penn Hills, PA to Altoona, PA covers 93.9 miles and takes about 1h 49m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Mount Avenue, Verona Road, Coal Hollow Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.57 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.
Midpoint
47 miles from Penn Hills, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 49m. Total distance: 93.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 49m drive with frequent turns across 93.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 20 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Mount Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.
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.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Penn Hills, PA to Altoona, PA is easy. At 1h 49m 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 Penn Hills, PA to Altoona, PA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Avenue | — | — |
| Verona Road | — | — |
| Coal Hollow Road | — | — |
| Old Coal Hollow Road | — | — |
| Beulah Road | — | — |
| Penn-Lincoln Parkway East | — | — |
| William Penn Highway | — | — |
| Admiral Peary Highway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Mount Avenue
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Penn Hills, PA and Altoona, PA.
1
Start on Sylvan Avenue
135 ft
·
11 sec
·
Sylvan Avenue
2
Turn left onto Mount Avenue
518 ft
·
25 sec
·
Mount Avenue
3
Turn right onto Verona Road
2.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Verona Road
4
Turn left onto Coal Hollow Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Coal Hollow Road
5
Continue on Old Coal Hollow Road
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Old Coal Hollow Road
6
Continue on Beulah Road
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Beulah Road
7
Take the ramp left
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
8
Merge slight right onto Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
5.1 mi
·
7 min
·
Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
9
Merge slight left onto William Penn Highway
45 mi
·
1 hr 5 min
·
William Penn Highway
10
Continue on Admiral Peary Highway
14 mi
·
19 min
·
Admiral Peary Highway
11
Continue on William Penn Highway
17 mi
·
19 min
·
William Penn Highway
12
Continue on I 99, US 220: Altoona, Bedford
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
I 99, US 220: Altoona, Bedford
13
Keep slight left to continue on I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
14
Merge slight left
4.4 mi
·
4 min
15
Take the exit slight right toward 17th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
17th Street
16
Keep slight right to continue on Altoona
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Altoona
17
Turn straight onto 17th Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
17th Street
18
Turn right onto 6th Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
6th Avenue
19
Turn left onto 7th Street
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
7th Street
20
Arrive at your 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 47 miles from Penn Hills, PA, or about 54m 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 21 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47 miles or 54m 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 29m
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 Penn Hills, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Penn Hills, PA
This is one driving day of about 93.9 miles and 1h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Penn Hills, 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 47 mi from Penn Hills, PA · 54m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
47 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 47 miles from Penn Hills, 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
$15.57 one way
$31.13 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
33 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $17.05 | $34.10 |
| premium | $4.93 | $18.21 | $36.42 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $20.73 | $41.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 28.2 | 0 | $9.86 | $4.51 |
| Efficient EV | 23.5 | 0 | $8.22 | $3.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 37.6 | 0 | $13.15 | $6.01 |
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Destination
Altoona, PA
Morning in Altoona on Saturday
Local time
7:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°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
6 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
1h 49m 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 Penn Hills, PA to Altoona, PA covers 93.9 miles and takes about 1h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Mount Avenue, Verona Road, Coal Hollow Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 47 miles from Penn Hills, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.57 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 Penn Hills, PA to Altoona, PA is easy. At 1h 49m 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 Penn Hills, PA to Altoona, PA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Penn Hills, PA to Altoona, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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 EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Altoona, PA
More trips to Altoona, PA
Explore more options from Penn Hills, PA or browse trips ending in Altoona, PA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse PA road trips.