Origin
Pittsburgh, PA
Morning in Pittsburgh on Saturday
Local time
8:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pittsburgh, PA to Palmer, PA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 20m
Distance
46 mi
74 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 15m
★
6 AM
1h 21m
8 AM
1h 33m
10 AM
1h 25m
12 PM
1h 24m
3 PM
1h 26m
5 PM
1h 33m
8 PM
1h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pittsburgh, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Palmer, PA
Nothing Ahead
Trip Overview
The drive from Pittsburgh, PA to Palmer, PA covers 46 miles and takes about 1h 20m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Mon/Fayette Expressway, Brownsville Road, Thornton Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 17.5 miles on Mon/Fayette Expressway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.63 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 20m. Total distance: 46 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (44%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Pittsburgh, PA to Palmer, PA covers 46 miles and takes about 1h 20m, 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 32 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Mon/Fayette Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 17.5 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 early in the drive near Sixth Avenue.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 46 miles you will encounter 14 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 (Sixth Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles (PA 51 / Saw Mill Run Boulevard): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Sixth Avenue
Turn right onto Sixth Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
2.1 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the exit toward PA 51: Uniontown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward PA 51: Uniontown
6
2.3 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
PA 51 / Saw Mill Run Boulevard
Merge onto PA 51 / Saw Mill Run Boulevard
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
15.5 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
PA Tpke 43 / Mon/Fayette Expressway
Merge onto PA Tpke 43 / Mon/Fayette Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
33 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Take the exit toward US 40 East, PA 88 North: Brownsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 40 East, PA 88 North: Brownsville
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Mon/Fayette Expressway | 17.5 mi | 19m |
| Brownsville Road | 6.5 mi | 12m |
| Thornton Road | 2.9 mi | 5m |
| Saw Mill Run Boulevard | 2.6 mi | 5m |
| US 40 | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| McChain Road | 1.8 mi | 4m |
| Republic Road | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| Thompson 1 Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Mon/Fayette Expressway
— 17.5 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pittsburgh, PA and Palmer, PA.
1
Start on Grant Street
45 ft
·
5 sec
·
Grant Street
2
Turn right onto Sixth Avenue
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Sixth Avenue
Use the straight lane.
3
Continue on Crosstown Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Crosstown Boulevard
4
Continue on Liberty Bridge
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Liberty Bridge
5
Continue on Liberty Tunnels
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Liberty Tunnels
6
Continue on US 19 Truck
152 ft
·
3 sec
·
West Liberty Avenue
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
41 sec
Toward PA 51: Uniontown
Use the right lane.
8
Merge onto PA 51
2.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Saw Mill Run Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Turn slight right onto Fairhaven Road
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Fairhaven Road
10
Continue on Provost Road
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Provost Road
11
Continue on Brownsville Road
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Brownsville Road
12
Continue on Yellow Belt
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Brownsville Road
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on Brownsville Road
3.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Brownsville Road
14
Turn slight left onto McChain Road
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
McChain Road
15
At end of road, turn left onto Finleyville Elrama Road
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
Finleyville Elrama Road
16
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
17
Merge onto PA Tpke 43
18 mi
·
19 min
·
Mon/Fayette Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 40 East, PA 88 North: Brownsville
19
Merge onto US 40
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
US 40
Use the straight lane.
20
Turn right onto Broadway Street
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
Broadway Street
21
Continue on National Pike East
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
National Pike East
22
Turn right onto PA 166
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Thornton Road
23
Continue on PA 166
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Republic Road
24
Continue on PA 166
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Thompson 1 Road
25
Continue on PA 166
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Hartley Hill Road
26
Turn right onto Ralph Road
295 ft
·
12 sec
·
Ralph Road
27
Keep slight right at fork onto Ralph Road
0.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Ralph Road
28
Turn left onto Palmer Adah Road
1.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Palmer Adah Road
29
Continue on Sr3013
523 ft
·
23 sec
·
Sr3013
30
Continue on Palmer Road
0.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Palmer Road
31
Turn left onto Tank Hill Road
157 ft
·
6 sec
·
Tank Hill Road
32
Arrive at destination
Tank Hill Road
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 23 mi from Pittsburgh, PA · 41m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
Municipality of Bethel Park, PA
23 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
Municipality of Bethel Park, PA
Fuel and coffeeA short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23 miles from Pittsburgh, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Palmer, PA
The final approach into Palmer, 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
$7.63 one way
$15.25 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $8.35 | $16.70 |
| premium | $4.93 | $8.92 | $17.84 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.16 | $20.31 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.23
Mon/Fayette Expressway
(17.5 mi)
$1.23
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$1
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.83 | $2.21 |
| Efficient EV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.02 | $1.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.4 | 0 | $6.44 | $2.94 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Palmer, PA
Morning in Palmer on Saturday
Local time
8:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
30 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 20m 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 Pittsburgh, PA to Palmer, PA covers 46 miles and takes about 1h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Mon/Fayette Expressway, Brownsville Road, Thornton Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 23 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 $7.63 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 46 miles you will encounter 14 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 (Sixth Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.3 miles (PA 51 / Saw Mill Run Boulevard): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Pittsburgh, PA to Palmer, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Fort Necessity National Battlefield.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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