Origin
Prospect, PA
Late night in Prospect on Saturday
Local time
4:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Prospect, PA to Pittsburgh, PA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
56m
Distance
43 mi
69 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 52m
★
6 AM
0h 57m
8 AM
1h 6m
10 AM
1h 0m
12 PM
0h 59m
3 PM
1h 1m
5 PM
1h 6m
8 PM
0h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pittsburgh, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Prospect, PA to Pittsburgh, PA covers 43 miles and takes about 56m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 79, Parkway North, Portersville Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 24.4 miles on I 79. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.13 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 56m. Total distance: 43 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 56m highway drive covering 43 miles, with most of the trip on I 79 and Parkway North. The longest continuous stretch is about 24.4 miles on I 79.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 79 is the longest continuous segment at about 24.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 79 and Parkway North. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 43 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 56m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 30 miles (I 279 / Parkway North): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.4 miles (I 579): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
5.4 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the ramp toward Pittsburgh
Navigation decision point
Toward Pittsburgh
8
30 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
I 279 / Parkway North
Keep slight left at fork onto I 279 / Parkway North toward I 279: Pittsburgh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 72
Toward I 279: Pittsburgh
7
41.4 mi into trip
|
~53m in
|
I 579
Keep slight right at fork onto I 579 toward I 579 South: Veterans Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 579 South: Veterans Bridge
7
42.3 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Take the exit toward 7th Avenue, 6th Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward 7th Avenue, 6th Avenue
6
42.6 mi into trip
|
~55m in
Keep slight left at fork toward PPG Arena, 6th Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward PPG Arena, 6th Avenue
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 79 | 24.4 mi | 27m |
| Parkway North | 11.4 mi | 15m |
| Portersville Road | 4.1 mi | 7m |
| Main Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| I 579 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Grant Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Bigelow Square | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Sixth Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 79
— 24.4 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Prospect, PA and Pittsburgh, PA.
1
Start on PA 488
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
2
Continue on PA 488
4.1 mi
·
7 min
·
Portersville Road
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward Pittsburgh
4
Merge onto I 79
24 mi
·
27 min
·
I 79
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 279
11 mi
·
15 min
·
Parkway North
Exit 72
Toward I 279: Pittsburgh
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 579
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
I 579
Toward I 579 South: Veterans Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Toward 7th Avenue, 6th Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
502 ft
·
14 sec
Toward PPG Arena, 6th Avenue
9
Turn straight onto Bigelow Boulevard
224 ft
·
3 sec
·
Bigelow Boulevard
10
Continue on Bigelow Square
386 ft
·
6 sec
·
Bigelow Square
Toward 6th Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
11
Turn right onto Sixth Avenue
347 ft
·
11 sec
·
Sixth Avenue
12
Turn left onto Grant Street
296 ft
·
22 sec
·
Grant Street
13
Continue on Grant Street
254 ft
·
13 sec
·
Grant Street
14
Arrive at destination
Grant Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 21.5 mi from Prospect, PA · 27m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 43 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.5 miles from Prospect, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Pittsburgh, PA
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Pittsburgh, PA if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.13 one way
$14.26 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $7.81 | $15.62 |
| premium | $4.93 | $8.34 | $16.68 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.49 | $18.99 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.9 | 0 | $4.52 | $2.06 |
| Efficient EV | 10.8 | 0 | $3.76 | $1.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.2 | 0 | $6.02 | $2.75 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Pittsburgh, PA
Late night in Pittsburgh on Saturday
Local time
4:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Fox Run, PA
22 mi in
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
3 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
56m 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 Prospect, PA to Pittsburgh, PA covers 43 miles and takes about 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 79, Parkway North, Portersville Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 21.5 miles from Prospect, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.13 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 is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 43 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 56m.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 30 miles (I 279 / Parkway North): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.4 miles (I 579): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Prospect, PA to Pittsburgh, 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.
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