How far is Cheltenham, PA from Altoona, PA?

The driving distance from Cheltenham, PA to Altoona, PA is about 240.3 miles (386.7 km), with a travel time of about 03h 47m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 176.8 miles (284.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 34m 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
240.31 mi
03h 47m
Flight
176.8 mi
284.53 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Cheltenham.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
176.8 mi
Kilometers
284.53 km
Flight Time
00h 21m

Driving Distance

Road route
240.31 mi
Kilometers
386.74 km
Drive Time
03h 47m

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 03h 47m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Altoona
Fri, Apr 17, 2:48 PM EDT
Return by in Cheltenham
Fri, Apr 17, 6:35 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Cheltenham
2026-04-17T11:01
Arrive Altoona
Fri, Apr 17, 2:48 PM EDT
Route Timing
03h 47m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:47 AM to 11:47 AM EDT

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

Leave by
9:26 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Cheltenham
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
Middlesex
PA

Township in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania

From Cheltenham
120 mi
01h 53m
To Altoona
120.3 mi
01h 53m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
83°F
Friday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph W
Destination
75°F
Friday

Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
8 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cheltenham and Altoona.

  1. 1

    Start on East Laurel Avenue

    46 m · 9 sec · East Laurel Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Central Avenue

    1850 ft · 44 sec · Central Avenue

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Cottman Avenue

    2911 ft · 1 min · Cottman Avenue

  4. 4

    Continue on Township Line Road

    2.2 mi · 5 min · Township Line Road

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Washington Lane

    1.1 km · 1 min · Washington Lane

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Church Road

    1.3 mi · 3 min · Church Road

  7. 7

    Turn left onto Limekiln Pike

    106 m · 10 sec · Limekiln Pike

  8. 8

    Turn right onto South Easton Road

    1564 ft · 33 sec · South Easton Road

  9. 9

    Take the ramp slight right toward PA 309 North: Fort Washington

    1153 ft · 28 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Fort Washington Expressway

    3.6 mi · 5 min · Fort Washington Expressway

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward PATP, I 276: PA Turnpike, Fort Washington

    1562 ft · 38 sec

  12. 12

    Keep slight right to continue on PATP, I 276: Pennsylvania Turnpike

    3023 ft · 1 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on I 276 West: Harrisburg

    1495 ft · 37 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Pennsylvania Turnpike

    193.2 mi · 3 hr 29 min · Pennsylvania Turnpike

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward Altoona, Johnstown

    1614 ft · 47 sec

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Business 220

    1440 ft · 42 sec · Business 220

  17. 17

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

    1124 ft · 27 sec

  18. 18

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

    1502 ft · 37 sec

  19. 19

    Merge slight left

    32.7 mi · 35 min

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward 17th Street

    2530 ft · 1 min

  21. 21

    Keep slight right to continue on Altoona

    901 ft · 22 sec

  22. 22

    Turn straight onto 17th Street

    1.4 mi · 2 min · 17th Street

  23. 23

    Turn right onto 6th Avenue

    1.2 km · 1 min · 6th Avenue

  24. 24

    Turn left onto 7th Street

    976 ft · 19 sec · 7th Street

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 7th Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Cheltenham 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
25 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Pennsylvania Turnpike
194 mi · 81%
I 99 North
33 mi · 14%
Fort Washington Expressway
3.61 mi · 2%
Township Line Road
2.2 mi · 1%
17th Street
2.02 mi · 1%
Church Road
1.26 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Pennsylvania Turnpike

Merge slight left onto Pennsylvania Turnpike

193 mi · 03h 29m

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
03h 47m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 34m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+63.5 mi
176.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Middlesex
01h 53m from Cheltenham
Leave By
9:26 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Chance Rain Showers leaving Cheltenham and Chance Rain Showers near Altoona.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Cheltenham to Altoona?

The road trip is about 240.3 miles (386.7 km) and usually takes 03h 47m 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?

Middlesex is a useful midpoint, sitting about 120 miles from Cheltenham and 120.3 miles from Altoona.

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

The direct path is about 176.8 miles (284.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 63.5 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 9:26 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $34.65 one way or $69.30 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 75.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Chance Rain Showers around Cheltenham and Chance Rain Showers near Altoona.

Stop Ideas Near Middlesex

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Middlesex, 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 Middlesex.

RAIL

Harrisburg Transportation Center

22 mi away
4th and Chestnut Streets
RAIL

Middletown

35 mi away
Union Street and Mill Street
RAIL

Elizabethtown station

45 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 Cheltenham and Altoona. Straight-line distance: 176.8 mi (284.53 km).

Cheltenham

#1 Cheltenham

Unincorporated community in Cheltenham Township, Pennsylvania

Population37,080
Coordinates40.0609400, -75.0940600
Altitude39
CountryUnited States
Altoona

#2 Altoona

A city in Blair County, Pennsylvania.

Population42,989
Coordinates40.5186800, -78.3947400
Altitude355
CountryUnited States
Start: East Laurel Avenue (-75.093979, 40.061023)
End: 7th Street (-78.394928, 40.518478)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 387 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 00m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 00m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 48m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 00m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 25m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 59m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.48 gal
32.1 L · about $34.65
Round trip
$69.30
16.96 gal · 64.2 L
Estimated CO2
75.4 kg one way
Round trip: 150.7 kg / 332 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $34.65 $69.30
Mid-grade $4.60 $39.00 $78.00
Premium $4.95 $42.01 $84.02
Diesel $5.98 $50.71 $101.42

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 17, 2026

There is no time difference between Cheltenham and Altoona. The current time is 11:01:26.

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.