The drive from Pittsburgh, PA to Emerald Lakes, PA covers 286 miles and takes about 5h 49m 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 turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 132.6 miles on Keystone Shortway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $47.42 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
143 miles from Pittsburgh, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 6m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 49m. Total distance: 286 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 49m drive with frequent turns across 286 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 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 132.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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 Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 286 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 15 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
281.2 mi into trip|~5h 39m in
Take the exit toward I 380 North, PA 940 Truck East: Scranton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 293
Toward I 380 North, PA 940 Truck East: Scranton
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Pittsburgh, PA to Emerald Lakes, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Bedford along the way.
Bedford
89.7 mi in|~2h 6m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
132.6 mi
2h 26m
William Penn Highway
61.6 mi
1h 25m
I 99
57.2 mi
1h 4m
Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
13.8 mi
19m
Admiral Peary Highway
13.7 mi
19m
Long Pond Road
1.7 mi
4m
I 380
1.7 mi
1m
Grant Street
0.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 132.6 mi, about 2h 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pittsburgh, PA and Emerald 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: WilliamsportUse the left lane.
14
Merge onto I 80; US 220
133 mi·2 hr 26 min·Keystone Shortway
15
Take the exit
0.9 mi·2 min
Exit 293Toward I 380 North, PA 940 Truck East: Scranton
16
Continue on I 380
1.7 mi·1 min·I 380
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward 940: Pocono Pines, Mt Pocono
18
Turn left onto PA 940
0.1 mi·14 sec·PA 940
19
Turn straight onto PA 940
0.1 mi·18 sec·PA 940
20
Turn left onto Long Pond Road
0.8 mi·2 min·Long Pond Road
21
Continue on Long Pond Road
0.9 mi·2 min·Long Pond Road
22
Turn left onto Emerald Boulevard
494 ft·29 sec·Emerald Boulevard
23
At end of road, turn left onto Clearview Drive
77 ft·3 sec·Clearview Drive
24
Arrive at destination
Clearview Drive
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 143 miles from Pittsburgh, PA, or about 3h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 132.6 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 63 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 143 miles or 3h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Emerald 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 286 miles and 5h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 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 132.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 143 mi from Pittsburgh, PA
· 3h 6m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
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,...
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...
26 mi from route
~66 min detour
Free
near mile 59.2
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
85.8
1
$30.03
$13.73
Efficient EV
71.5
0
$25.03
$11.44
EV Truck/SUV
114.4
1
$40.04
$18.30
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (67% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Pittsburgh, PA
Evening
in Pittsburgh on Thursday
Local time
7:02 PM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 14 mph48% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Emerald Lakes, PA
Evening
in Emerald Lakes on Thursday
Local time
7:02 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°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
36 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
5h 49m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Emerald Lakes, PA covers 286 miles and takes about 5h 49m 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 143 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 $47.42 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 286 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.
On the drive from Pittsburgh, PA to Emerald Lakes, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Bedford along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Johnstown Flood National Memorial, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and Flight 93 National Memorial.
