Origin
Smith, PA
Evening in Smith on Friday
Local time
8:31 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Smith, PA to Altoona, PA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 14m
Distance
55.5 mi
89 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 9m
★
6 AM
1h 15m
8 AM
1h 27m
10 AM
1h 19m
12 PM
1h 18m
3 PM
1h 20m
5 PM
1h 26m
8 PM
1h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Smith, PA
Kai
Trip Overview
Smith, PA to Altoona, PA is 55.5 miles and takes about 1 hour 14 minutes via William Penn Highway and I 99, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Northeast region, specifically in Pennsylvania. Expect a route with frequent turns, characteristic of local drives. It's a straightforward trip, ideal for a single day of travel, with the longest continuous stretch covering 32.3 miles on the William Penn Highway. This route is best suited for those who prefer a more engaged driving experience over long, uninterrupted highway stretches.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 14m. Total distance: 55.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (8%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
This journey offers a turn-heavy local drive experience, with only an 8% share of highway driving. You'll navigate through a mix of local roads and some interstate travel. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll encounter is 32.3 miles along the William Penn Highway, providing a more extended period on a single road. The Admiral Peary Highway also plays a role in connecting you to your destination. Be prepared for a dynamic route that requires attention to navigation as you transition between different road types.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
William Penn Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 32.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near Corporate Campus Drive.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 55.5 miles you will encounter 8 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: at 0.6 miles (Corporate Campus Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (US 22; US 119 / William Penn Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 47.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Corporate Campus Drive
Turn right onto Corporate Campus Drive
Navigation decision point
4
0.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 22; US 119 / William Penn Highway
Turn left onto US 22; US 119 / William Penn Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
47.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m 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
4
52.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
Take the exit toward 17th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward 17th Street
5
53 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Altoona
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Altoona
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 Smith, PA to Altoona, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Bedford along the way.
Bedford
46.7 mi in
|
~1h 2m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| William Penn Highway | 32.3 mi | 40m |
| Admiral Peary Highway | 13.7 mi | 19m |
| I 99 | 4.4 mi | 4m |
| 17th Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| 6th Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Cornell Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Corporate Campus Drive | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 7th Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
William Penn Highway
— 32.3 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Smith, PA and Altoona, PA.
1
Start on Cornell Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Cornell Road
2
Turn right onto Corporate Campus Drive
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
Corporate Campus Drive
3
Turn left onto US 22; US 119
16 mi
·
21 min
·
William Penn Highway
Use the straight / left lanes.
4
Continue on US 22
14 mi
·
19 min
·
Admiral Peary Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on US 22
17 mi
·
19 min
·
William Penn Highway
6
Continue on this road
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
this road
Toward I 99, US 220: Altoona, Bedford
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
8
Merge onto I 99; US 220
4.4 mi
·
4 min
·
I 99; US 220
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward 17th Street
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward Altoona
11
Turn straight onto 17th Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
17th Street
12
Turn right onto PA 764
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
6th Avenue
13
Turn left onto 7th Street
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
7th Street
14
Arrive at destination
7th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 27.7 mi from Smith, PA · 39m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.7 miles from Smith, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Altoona, PA
The final approach into Altoona, 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
$9.20 one way
$18.40 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $10.08 | $20.15 |
| premium | $4.93 | $10.76 | $21.53 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.25 | $24.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.7 | 0 | $5.83 | $2.66 |
| Efficient EV | 13.9 | 0 | $4.86 | $2.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.2 | 0 | $7.77 | $3.55 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Altoona, PA
Evening in Altoona on Friday
Local time
8:31 PM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 13 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
45°F
Loretto, PA
28 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
35 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 14m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Smith, PA to Altoona, PA covers 55.5 miles and takes about 1h 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are William Penn Highway, Admiral Peary Highway, I 99. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 27.7 miles from Smith, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.20 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 55.5 miles you will encounter 8 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: at 0.6 miles (Corporate Campus Drive): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (US 22; US 119 / William Penn Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 47.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Smith, PA to Altoona, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Bedford along the way.
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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