How far is Blue Bell, PA from Altoona, PA?

The driving distance from Blue Bell, PA to Altoona, PA is about 228.8 miles (368.2 km), with a travel time of about 04h 14m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 166.7 miles (268.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 29m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
228.77 mi
04h 14m
Flight
166.69 mi
268.26 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Blue Bell.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
166.69 mi
Kilometers
268.26 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
228.77 mi
Kilometers
368.17 km
Drive Time
04h 14m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 04h 14m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Altoona
Sun, Apr 19, 9:51 AM EDT
Return by in Blue Bell
Sun, Apr 19, 2:06 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Blue Bell
2026-04-19T05:37
Arrive Altoona
Sun, Apr 19, 9:51 AM EDT
Route Timing
04h 14m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:15 AM to 12:15 PM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
8:30 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Blue Bell
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Carlisle
PA

Borough in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States

From Blue Bell
114.2 mi
02h 07m
To Altoona
114.5 mi
02h 07m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
67°F
Sunday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SW
Destination
51°F
Sunday

Rain Showers Likely then Partly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
14 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Blue Bell and Altoona.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Blue Bell and Altoona.

  1. 1

    Start on Penllyn Blue Bell Pike

    1.1 km · 1 min · Penllyn Blue Bell Pike

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Stenton Avenue

    2359 ft · 50 sec · Stenton Avenue

  3. 3

    Continue on Walton Road

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Walton Road

  4. 4

    At the end of the road, turn left onto West Germantown Pike

    1.2 km · 1 min · West Germantown Pike

  5. 5

    Take the ramp straight toward I 276, PATP, I 476 North: Harrisburg, New Jersey

    1506 ft · 37 sec

  6. 6

    Keep slight left to continue on I 276 West: Harrisburg

    1995 ft · 48 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto Pennsylvania Turnpike

    188 mi · 3 hr 24 min · Pennsylvania Turnpike

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward Altoona, Johnstown

    1614 ft · 47 sec

  9. 9

    Turn left onto Business 220

    1440 ft · 44 sec · Business 220

  10. 10

    Take the ramp left toward I 99, US 220: Cumberland, Altoona

    1124 ft · 27 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona

    1502 ft · 37 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    32.7 mi · 35 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward 17th Street

    2530 ft · 1 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight right to continue on Altoona

    901 ft · 22 sec

  15. 15

    Turn straight onto 17th Street

    1.4 mi · 2 min · 17th Street

  16. 16

    Turn right onto 6th Avenue

    1.2 km · 1 min · 6th Avenue

  17. 17

    Turn left onto 7th Street

    976 ft · 19 sec · 7th Street

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 7th Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Blue Bell and Altoona.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
18 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
2 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Pennsylvania Turnpike
188 mi · 82%
I 99 North
33 mi · 14%
17th Street
2.02 mi · 1%
Walton Road
1.47 mi · 1%
West Germantown Pike
0.75 mi
6th Avenue
0.75 mi
Longest Stretch

Pennsylvania Turnpike

Merge slight left onto Pennsylvania Turnpike

188 mi · 03h 24m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 14m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 30m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+62.1 mi
166.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Carlisle
02h 07m from Blue Bell
Leave By
8:30 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Blue Bell and Rain Showers Likely then Partly Sunny near Altoona.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Blue Bell to Altoona?

The road trip is about 228.8 miles (368.2 km) and usually takes 04h 14m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Carlisle is a useful midpoint, sitting about 114.2 miles from Blue Bell and 114.5 miles from Altoona.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 166.7 miles (268.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 62.1 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 8:30 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $32.97 one way or $65.95 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 71.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Blue Bell and Rain Showers Likely then Partly Sunny near Altoona.

Stop Ideas Near Carlisle

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Carlisle, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Carlisle.

RAIL

Harrisburg Transportation Center

27 mi away
4th and Chestnut Streets
RAIL

Middletown

39 mi away
Union Street and Mill Street
RAIL

Elizabethtown station

49 mi away
South Wilson Avenue at West High Street
RAIL

Lewistown

54 mi away
150 Helen Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Blue Bell and Altoona. Straight-line distance: 166.69 mi (268.26 km).

Blue Bell

#1 Blue Bell

Census-designated place in Pennsylvania, United States

Population6,067
Coordinates40.1523300, -75.2662900
Altitude109
CountryUnited States
Altoona

#2 Altoona

A city in Blair County, Pennsylvania.

Population42,989
Coordinates40.5186800, -78.3947400
Altitude355
CountryUnited States
Start: Blue Bell (-75.26629, 40.15233)
End: Altoona (-78.39474, 40.51868)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 368 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 37m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 43m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 34m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 48m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 16m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 51m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.07 gal
30.56 L · about $32.97
Round trip
$65.95
16.14 gal · 61.12 L
Estimated CO2
71.7 kg one way
Round trip: 143.4 kg / 316 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $32.97 $65.95
Mid-grade $4.60 $37.11 $74.23
Premium $4.95 $39.98 $79.96
Diesel $5.98 $48.26 $96.52

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Pennsylvania · Apr 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Blue Bell and Altoona. The current time is 05:37:16.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.