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Trip from Pittsburgh, PA to Birchwood Lakes, PA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

6h 48m

Distance

329.8 mi

531 km

Drive Score

10/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$55

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

16 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min
4 AM
6h 37m ★
6 AM
6h 49m
8 AM
7h 12m
10 AM
6h 57m
12 PM
6h 54m
3 PM
6h 58m
5 PM
7h 11m
8 PM
6h 42m

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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city and county seat in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States

Pittsburgh, PA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Birchwood Lakes, PA, PA

Birchwood Lakes, PA

Virooshan Theva

Trip Overview

The drive from Pittsburgh, PA to Birchwood Lakes, PA covers 329.8 miles and takes about 6h 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Keystone Shortway, William Penn Highway, I 99 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 99.3 miles on Keystone Shortway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $54.68 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

164.9 miles from Pittsburgh, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 30m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 48m. Total distance: 329.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

6h 48m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

The drive from Pittsburgh, PA to Birchwood Lakes, PA covers 329.8 miles and takes about 6h 48m, 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 25 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 99.3 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 90.2 miles in.

Driving Effort 9/10

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 20 significant decision points across 329.8 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 90.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 132.1 miles (I 99; US 220; US 322): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 136 miles (I 99; US 220): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 20 key points

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

6
90.2 mi into trip | ~2h 7m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona

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

Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
6
132.1 mi into trip | ~2h 53m in | I 99; US 220; US 322

Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220; US 322

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
6
136 mi into trip | ~2h 57m in | I 99; US 220

Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220 toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Bellefonte

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

Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Bellefonte
7
148.4 mi into trip | ~3h 12m in

Turn left toward I 80 East, US 220 North: Williamsport

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the left lane. Toward I 80 East, US 220 North: Williamsport
6
284 mi into trip | ~5h 46m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 84 East, I 380 South: Mt Pocono, Milford

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

Toward I 84 East, I 380 South: Mt Pocono, Milfo...

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Pittsburgh, PA and Birchwood Lakes, PA, road signs point toward Bedford and Milford.

Bedford

89.7 mi in | ~2h 6m

Milford

284 mi in | ~5h 46m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Keystone Shortway 99.3 mi 1h 47m
William Penn Highway 61.6 mi 1h 25m
I 99 57.2 mi 1h 4m
I 81 34.7 mi 42m
I 84 33.8 mi 39m
Penn-Lincoln Parkway East 13.8 mi 19m
Admiral Peary Highway 13.7 mi 19m
PA-739 10.3 mi 19m
Longest stretch: Keystone Shortway — 99.3 mi, about 1h 47m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Grant Street

45 ft · 9 sec · Grant Street
2

Continue on Grant Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · Grant Street
3

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 50 sec
Toward I 376 East: Monroeville
4

Merge onto I 376; US 22; US 30

14 mi · 19 min · Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Merge onto US 22

45 mi · 1 hr 5 min · William Penn Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
6

Continue on US 22

14 mi · 19 min · Admiral Peary Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
7

Continue on US 22

17 mi · 19 min · William Penn Highway
8

Continue on this road

0.5 mi · 45 sec · this road
Toward I 99, US 220: Altoona, Bedford
9

Keep slight left at fork

0.9 mi · 1 min
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
10

Merge onto I 99; US 220

41 mi · 44 min · I 99; US 220
11

Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220; US 322

4.0 mi · 4 min · I 99; US 220; US 322
Use the straight lane.
12

Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220

12 mi · 14 min · I 99; US 220
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Bellefonte
13

Turn left

0.2 mi · 31 sec
Toward I 80 East, US 220 North: Williamsport Use the left lane.
14

Merge onto I 80; US 220

99 mi · 1 hr 47 min · Keystone Shortway
15

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min
Exit 260B Toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
16

Merge onto I 81

35 mi · 42 min · I 81
17

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 51 sec
Toward I-84 east, US 6 east
18

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 35 sec
19

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 38 sec
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South: Mt Pocono, Milford
20

Merge onto I 84; I 380

3.4 mi · 4 min · I 84; I 380
21

Keep slight left at fork onto I 84

30 mi · 35 min · I 84
Toward I 84 East: Milford
22

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 39 sec
Toward PA 739: Lords Valley , Dingmans Ferry
23

Turn right onto PA 739

10 mi · 19 min · PA-739
24

Turn right onto Doolan Road

0.9 mi · 1 min · Doolan Road
25

Arrive at destination

Doolan Road

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 164.9 miles from Pittsburgh, PA, or about 3h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.3 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 73 miles or 1h 46m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 164.9 miles or 3h 30m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 29m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Pittsburgh, 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 Pittsburgh, PA

This is one driving day of about 329.8 miles and 6h 48m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 73 miles from Pittsburgh, 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 99.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 164.9 mi from Pittsburgh, PA · 3h 30m into the drive

Downtown Emmitsburg, MD, MD

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Emmitsburg, MD

165 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

Oil City, PA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 73 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

State College, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 164.9 miles from Pittsburgh, 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 99.3 miles.

Arriving in Birchwood Lakes, PA

The final approach into Birchwood Lakes, 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 Birchwood Lakes, 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...

7 mi from route ~18 min detour Free near mile 68.2
View on nps.gov
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

Situated within the most densely populated region of the United States, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area provides a unique opportunity to experience tranquil landscapes, rich human history,...

9 mi from route ~22 min detour $10 near mile 329.8
View on nps.gov
Flight 93 National Memorial

Flight 93 National Memorial

National Memorial

On Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, the U.S. came under attack when four commercial airliners were hijacked and used to strike targets on the ground. Nearly 3,000 people tragically lost their live...

27 mi from route ~68 min detour Free near mile 56.9
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$54.68 one way

$109.35 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 115 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $59.88 $119.77
premium $4.93 $63.96 $127.92
diesel $5.61 $72.82 $145.63

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$55

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$80–$105

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 115.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

16 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Autel Charging Station

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Other

1 DCFC

Blink Charging Station

Scranton, Pennsylvania

Blink

1 DCFC

ChargePoint Charging Station

Scranton, Pennsylvania

ChargePoint

1 DCFC

ChargePoint Charging Station

Scranton, Pennsylvania

ChargePoint

1 DCFC

Tesla Supercharger

Moosic, Pennsylvania

Tesla

1 DCFC

IONNA Charging Station

Scranton, Pennsylvania

Other

1 DCFC

ChargePoint Charging Station

Scranton, Pennsylvania

ChargePoint

1 DCFC

Cochran Charging Station

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Other

1 DCFC

Other: 5 ChargePoint: 5 Blink: 2 Tesla: 1 Electrify America: 1 Rivian: 1 EV Connect: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $35 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 98.9 1 $34.63 $15.83
Efficient EV 82.5 0 $28.86 $13.19
EV Truck/SUV 131.9 1 $46.17 $21.11

Gas CO2

115 kg

EV CO2

39 kg (66% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 15, 2026

Origin

Pittsburgh, PA

Afternoon in Pittsburgh on Thursday

Local time

1:26 PM

EDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Birchwood Lakes, PA

Afternoon in Birchwood Lakes on Thursday

Local time

1:26 PM

EDT

Current temp

35°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

14 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

6h 48m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Pittsburgh, PA to Birchwood Lakes, PA covers 329.8 miles and takes about 6h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Keystone Shortway, William Penn Highway, I 99. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 164.9 miles from Pittsburgh, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $54.68 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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 20 significant decision points across 329.8 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 90.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 132.1 miles (I 99; US 220; US 322): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 136 miles (I 99; US 220): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Pittsburgh, PA and Birchwood Lakes, PA, road signs point toward Bedford and Milford.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Birchwood Lakes, PA to Pittsburgh, PA

Plan the drive back the other way.

329.3 mi 6h 48m

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