Trip from Plum, PA to Pittsburgh, PA

Drive Time

34m

Distance

18.2 mi

29 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$3

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 9 min
4 AM
0h 32m ★
6 AM
0h 35m
8 AM
0h 41m
10 AM
0h 37m
12 PM
0h 36m
3 PM
0h 37m
5 PM
0h 40m
8 PM
0h 33m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Plum, PA, PA

Plum, PA

Nothing Ahead

Downtown Pittsburgh, PA, PA

Pittsburgh, PA

LaMont L. Johnson

Trip Overview

If you are looking for a quick commute from Plum into downtown Pittsburgh, this 18.2-mile trip is a straightforward journey that typically takes about 34 minutes. You will stick entirely to local roads, including Stirling Drive, Old Leechburg Road, and New Texas Road, as this route features zero highway miles. Given the short duration, this is easily completed as a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stays. Budgeting roughly $3 for fuel should be sufficient for the round trip. Since both the starting point and destination are located within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania, you will find a familiar atmosphere throughout the entire drive. It is a practical, no-nonsense path for anyone needing to navigate between these two Pennsylvania locations.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

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

Midpoint

9.1 miles from Plum, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 17m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel rather than settling into a monotonous interstate rhythm. Because there is no highway share on this route, your pace will be dictated by local traffic patterns and the winding nature of the roads. You will find that there is no long, straight stretch to zone out on, with the longest uninterrupted segment being 0 miles on Stirling Drive. Navigating these local roads requires your full attention as you transition from the suburban feel of Plum toward the urban center of Pittsburgh. The personality of this drive is functional and technical, prioritizing local connectivity over high-speed travel.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Stirling Drive 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.

Route Complexity 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from Plum, PA to Pittsburgh, PA is easy. At 34m 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 Plum, PA to Pittsburgh, PA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Stirling Drive Unavailable Refreshing
Old Leechburg Road Unavailable Refreshing
New Texas Road Unavailable Refreshing
Center New Texas Road Unavailable Refreshing
Saltsburg Road Unavailable Refreshing
Center Road Unavailable Refreshing
I 376 West Unavailable Refreshing
Penn-Lincoln Parkway East Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Stirling Drive — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Windsor Court

308 ft · 16 sec · Windsor Court
2

Turn right onto Stirling Drive

0.1 mi · 34 sec · Stirling Drive
3

Turn right onto Old Leechburg Road

0.4 mi · 1 min · Old Leechburg Road
4

Turn left onto New Texas Road

0.1 mi · 13 sec · New Texas Road
5

Turn right onto Center New Texas Road

1.4 mi · 3 min · Center New Texas Road
6

At the end of the road, turn right onto Saltsburg Road

0.2 mi · 26 sec · Saltsburg Road
7

At the end of the road, turn left onto Center Road

2.1 mi · 4 min · Center Road
8

Turn slight left

0.6 mi · 1 min
9

Take the ramp straight toward I 376 West, US 22 West: Pittsburgh

0.2 mi · 30 sec · I 376 West, US 22 West: Pittsburgh
10

Merge slight left onto Penn-Lincoln Parkway East

13 mi · 17 min · Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
11

Take the exit slight right toward Second Avenue

0.2 mi · 39 sec · Second Avenue
12

Turn straight onto Second Avenue

0.3 mi · 42 sec · Second Avenue
13

At the end of the road, turn right onto Ross Street

0.1 mi · 25 sec · Ross Street
14

Turn left onto Forbes Avenue

361 ft · 10 sec · Forbes Avenue
15

Turn right onto Grant Street

0.2 mi · 31 sec · Grant Street
16

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Since this is a short, 18.2-mile trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though you should anticipate normal local traffic delays during peak hours. With no required stops, you can easily make this drive in one go without needing to plan for rest breaks or refueling. Keep in mind that because you are relying exclusively on local routes like New Texas Road and Old Leechburg Road, your travel time can fluctuate depending on local road conditions. A concrete tip for this route is to check real-time traffic updates for these specific local roads before you head out, as they lack the high-speed alternatives of a major interstate. Enjoy the simplicity of this quick trip as you make your way into the city.

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 9.1 miles from Plum, PA, or about 17m 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 18.2 miles or 34m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 9.1 miles or 17m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 29m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Plum, 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 Plum, PA

This is one driving day of about 18.2 miles and 34m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Plum, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 9.1 mi from Plum, PA · 17m into the drive

Downtown Lakewood, NY, NY

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lakewood, NY

9 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

Mina, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 18.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lakewood, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 9.1 miles from Plum, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Pittsburgh, PA

The final approach into Pittsburgh, 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 Pittsburgh, PA.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$3.01 one way

$6.02 round trip

$4.20/gal 25.4 MPG avg 6 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.60 $3.30 $6.59
premium $4.92 $3.53 $7.05
diesel $5.64 $4.04 $8.09

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$3

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$28–$53

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 6.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 5.5 0 $1.91 $0.87
Efficient EV 4.6 0 $1.59 $0.73
EV Truck/SUV 7.3 0 $2.55 $1.16

Gas CO2

6 kg

EV CO2

2 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

Plum, PA

Evening in Plum on Sunday

Local time

7:24 PM

EDT

Current temp

60°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Pittsburgh, PA

Evening in Pittsburgh on Sunday

Local time

7:24 PM

EDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

53°F

Lakewood, NY

9 mi in

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

34m 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 Plum, PA to Pittsburgh, PA covers 18.2 miles and takes about 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Stirling Drive, Old Leechburg Road, New Texas Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 9.1 miles from Plum, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.01 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 Plum, PA to Pittsburgh, PA is easy. At 34m 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 Plum, PA to Pittsburgh, PA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Plum, PA to Pittsburgh, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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