Trip from Wilkinsburg, PA to Pittsburgh, PA

Drive Time

14m

Distance

7.7 mi

12 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$1

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

4 AM
0h 13m ★
6 AM
0h 14m
8 AM
0h 17m
10 AM
0h 15m
12 PM
0h 15m
3 PM
0h 15m
5 PM
0h 17m
8 PM
0h 13m ★

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

Downtown Wilkinsburg, PA, PA

Wilkinsburg, PA

Michael Taccetta

Downtown Pittsburgh, PA, PA

Pittsburgh, PA

LaMont L. Johnson

Trip Overview

If you are planning to travel from Wilkinsburg to Pittsburgh, you are looking at a quick 7.7-mile trip that typically takes about 14 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as it is short enough to navigate without needing an overnight stay. With a fuel budget of just $1, it is an incredibly economical drive for commuters or visitors alike. You will primarily navigate via the Penn-Lincoln Parkway East, Swissvale Avenue, and West Swissvale Avenue to complete your journey. Both the origin and destination sit within the Northeast region, making this a straightforward, local transition between the 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

3.8 miles from Wilkinsburg, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 7m into the drive .

Drive Character

This highway-focused drive is characterized by its efficiency, with 68% of the journey spent on major thoroughfares. You will spend the bulk of your time on the Penn-Lincoln Parkway East, which accounts for the longest stretch of 5.2 miles. Expect a transition from the local streets of Swissvale Avenue and West Swissvale Avenue onto the faster-paced highway system. Because the drive is short, the road maintains a consistent, functional personality rather than shifting through diverse terrains. Behind the wheel, you will experience a brief, direct commute that prioritizes speed and accessibility over long-distance cruising.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Penn-Lincoln Parkway East is the longest continuous segment at about 5.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Penn-Lincoln Parkway East and Swissvale Avenue. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Mill Street.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 7.7 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: near the start (Mill Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Green Belt / Swissvale Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Mill Street

Turn right onto Mill Street

Navigation decision point

6
0.3 mi into trip | ~1m in | Green Belt / Swissvale Avenue

Turn right onto Green Belt / Swissvale Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
7
6.8 mi into trip | ~11m in

Take the exit toward Second Avenue

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 71B Toward Second Avenue
6
7.3 mi into trip | ~13m in | Ross Street

At end of road, turn right onto Ross Street

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

7
7.6 mi into trip | ~13m in | Grant Street

Turn right onto Grant Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Penn-Lincoln Parkway East 5.2 mi 7m
Swissvale Avenue 0.5 mi 1m
West Swissvale Avenue 0.4 mi 1m
Second Avenue 0.3 mi <1m
Ross Street 0.2 mi <1m
South Avenue 0.2 mi <1m
Grant Street <0.1 mi <1m
Race Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Penn-Lincoln Parkway East — 5.2 mi, about 7m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Ross Avenue

236 ft · 12 sec · Ross Avenue
2

Turn right onto Mill Street

321 ft · 19 sec · Mill Street
3

Turn left onto South Avenue

0.2 mi · 29 sec · South Avenue
4

Turn right onto Green Belt

0.5 mi · 1 min · Swissvale Avenue
Use the straight lane.
5

Turn right onto Race Street

467 ft · 22 sec · Race Street
6

Turn left onto Pennwood Avenue

372 ft · 10 sec · Pennwood Avenue
7

Turn right onto West Swissvale Avenue

0.3 mi · 1 min · West Swissvale Avenue
8

Keep slight right at fork onto West Swissvale Avenue

298 ft · 8 sec · West Swissvale Avenue
Toward I 376 West: Pittsburgh
9

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Toward I 376 West: Pittsburgh
10

Merge onto I 376; US 22; US 30

5.2 mi · 7 min · Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
Use the none lane.
11

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 38 sec
Exit 71B Toward Second Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Turn straight onto Second Avenue

0.3 mi · 41 sec · Second Avenue
13

At end of road, turn right onto Ross Street

0.2 mi · 32 sec · Ross Street
14

Turn left onto Fifth Avenue

352 ft · 10 sec · Fifth Avenue
15

Turn right onto Grant Street

513 ft · 21 sec · Grant Street
Use the right lane.
16

Arrive at destination

Grant Street

Trip Plan

Given the short 14-minute duration, you have total flexibility in your departure time, though you should always check current traffic conditions on the Penn-Lincoln Parkway East before heading out. Since the trip is so brief, there is no need to plan for mid-route stops or fuel breaks. Keep an eye on your navigation as you transition from local roads like Swissvale Avenue onto the highway to ensure you hit the correct on-ramps. Taking advantage of this route's efficiency means you can easily integrate it into a larger day of local travel. Remember that because the entire drive is under 8 miles, you can afford to be spontaneous with your schedule.

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 3.8 miles from Wilkinsburg, PA, or about 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 5.2 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 7.7 miles or 14m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 3.8 miles or 7m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 11m

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 Wilkinsburg, 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 Wilkinsburg, PA

This is one driving day of about 7.7 miles and 14m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Wilkinsburg, 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.
The longest stretch is on Penn-Lincoln Parkway East for about 5.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 3.8 mi from Wilkinsburg, PA · 7m into the drive

Downtown Lakewood, NY, NY

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lakewood, NY

4 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 7.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lakewood, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 3.8 miles from Wilkinsburg, 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

$1.27 one way

$2.55 round trip

$4.20/gal 25.4 MPG avg 3 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.60 $1.39 $2.79
premium $4.92 $1.49 $2.98
diesel $5.64 $1.71 $3.42

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$26–$51

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 2.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 2.3 0 $0.81 $0.37
Efficient EV 1.9 0 $0.67 $0.31
EV Truck/SUV 3.1 0 $1.08 $0.49

Gas CO2

3 kg

EV CO2

1 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 1 day ago

Origin

Wilkinsburg, PA

Night in Wilkinsburg on Sunday

Local time

9:50 PM

EDT

Current temp

82°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Pittsburgh, PA

Night in Pittsburgh on Sunday

Local time

9:50 PM

EDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

53°F

Lakewood, NY

4 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

21 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

14m 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 Wilkinsburg, PA to Pittsburgh, PA covers 7.7 miles and takes about 14m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Penn-Lincoln Parkway East, Swissvale Avenue, West Swissvale Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 3.8 miles from Wilkinsburg, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.27 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 7.7 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: near the start (Mill Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (Green Belt / Swissvale Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Wilkinsburg, PA to Pittsburgh, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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