The drive from Vandergrift, PA to Altoona, PA covers 82 miles and takes about 1h 52m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 422, 1st Street, William Penn Highway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 18.5 miles on US 422.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.59 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41 miles from Vandergrift, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 56m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 52m. Total distance: 82 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (31%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Vandergrift, PA to Altoona, PA covers 82 miles and takes about 1h 52m, 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 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 422 is the longest continuous segment at about 18.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near PA 56; PA 66 ALT / Farragut Avenue.
Driving Effort6/10
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 82 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.3 miles (PA 56; PA 66 ALT / Farragut Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 19.4 miles (US 422; PA 56 / Benjamin Franklin Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 56.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|PA 56; PA 66 ALT / Farragut Avenue
Turn left onto PA 56; PA 66 ALT / Farragut Avenue
Navigation decision point
5
19.4 mi into trip|~28m in|US 422; PA 56 / Benjamin Franklin Highway
Turn right onto US 422; PA 56 / Benjamin Franklin Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
56.5 mi into trip|~1h 20m in
Turn left toward US 22 East: Hollidaysburg
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward US 22 East: Hollidaysburg
6
73.7 mi into trip|~1h 40m 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
5
79.5 mi into trip|~1h 48m 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 Vandergrift, PA to Altoona, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Bedford along the way.
Bedford
73.2 mi in|~1h 40m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 422
18.5 mi
23m
1st Street
16.4 mi
24m
William Penn Highway
16.4 mi
19m
Benjamin Franklin Highway
15.6 mi
21m
I 99
4.4 mi
4m
PA 56
2.6 mi
3m
Ben Franklin Highway
1.6 mi
2m
17th Street
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
US 422
— 18.5 mi, about 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Vandergrift, PA and Altoona, PA.
1
Start on Washington Avenue
54 ft·2 sec·Washington Avenue
2
Continue on PA 56; PA 66 ALT
0.2 mi·20 sec·Washington Avenue
3
Continue on PA 56; PA 66 ALT
463 ft·12 sec·1st Street
4
Turn left onto PA 56; PA 66 ALT
171 ft·2 sec·Farragut Avenue
5
Continue on PA 56; PA 66 ALT
0.1 mi·16 sec·Dime Road
6
Turn right onto PA 56; PA 66
2.6 mi·3 min·PA 56; PA 66
7
Turn left onto PA 56
16 mi·24 min·1st Street
8
Turn right onto US 422; PA 56
9.4 mi·12 min·Benjamin Franklin Highway
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on US 422; PA 286 Truck
18 mi·23 min·US 422; PA 286 Truck
10
Continue on US 422; PA 271
6.2 mi·9 min·Benjamin Franklin Highway
11
Continue on US 422
1.6 mi·2 min·Ben Franklin Highway
12
Continue on West High Street
0.7 mi·1 min·West High Street
13
Turn slight right onto Rowena Drive
0.6 mi·1 min·Rowena Drive
14
Merge onto Admiral Peary Highway
0.2 mi·28 sec·Admiral Peary Highway
Toward US 22 East: Hollidaysburg
15
Turn left
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward US 22 East: HollidaysburgUse the left lane.
16
Merge onto US 22
16 mi·19 min·William Penn Highway
17
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·45 sec·this road
Toward I 99, US 220: Altoona, Bedford
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
19
Merge onto I 99; US 220
4.4 mi·4 min·I 99; US 220
20
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward 17th Street
21
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward Altoona
22
Turn straight onto 17th Street
1.4 mi·2 min·17th Street
23
Turn right onto PA 764
0.7 mi·1 min·6th Avenue
24
Turn left onto 7th Street
0.2 mi·18 sec·7th Street
25
Arrive at destination
7th Street
Trip Plan
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 41 miles from Vandergrift, PA, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 18.5 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 18 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41 miles or 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Altoona, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Vandergrift, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Vandergrift, PA
This is one driving day of about 82 miles and 1h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Vandergrift, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 422 for about 18.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 41 mi from Vandergrift, PA
· 56m into the drive
The midpoint is around 41 miles from Vandergrift, 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.
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...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
Free
near mile 56.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.59 one way
$27.19 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$14.89
$29.78
premium
$4.93
$15.90
$31.81
diesel
$5.61
$18.10
$36.21
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24.6
0
$8.61
$3.94
Efficient EV
20.5
0
$7.18
$3.28
EV Truck/SUV
32.8
0
$11.48
$5.25
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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 as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Vandergrift, PA
Afternoon
in Vandergrift on Friday
Local time
1:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Altoona, PA
Afternoon
in Altoona on Friday
Local time
1:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 13 mph0% chanceLive 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
38 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 52m 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 Vandergrift, PA to Altoona, PA covers 82 miles and takes about 1h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 422, 1st Street, William Penn Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 41 miles from Vandergrift, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.59 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 82 miles you will encounter 13 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 0.3 miles (PA 56; PA 66 ALT / Farragut Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 19.4 miles (US 422; PA 56 / Benjamin Franklin Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 56.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Vandergrift, PA to Altoona, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Bedford along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Johnstown Flood National Memorial.
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.
