How far is Pittsburgh, PA from Lancaster, PA?

The driving distance from Pittsburgh, PA to Lancaster, PA is about 238.6 miles (384 km), with a travel time of about 04h 37m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 196.6 miles (316.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 15m 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
238.61 mi
04h 37m
Flight
196.6 mi
316.4 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Pittsburgh.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
196.6 mi
Kilometers
316.4 km
Flight Time
00h 23m

Driving Distance

Road route
238.61 mi
Kilometers
384.01 km
Drive Time
04h 37m

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 37m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Lancaster
Thu, Apr 23, 10:19 AM EDT
Return by in Pittsburgh
Thu, Apr 23, 2:57 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Pittsburgh
2026-04-23T05:41
Arrive Lancaster
Thu, Apr 23, 10:19 AM EDT
Route Timing
04h 37m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:38 AM to 12:38 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
7:44 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Pittsburgh
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
Valley-Hi
PA

Borough of Pennsylvania

From Pittsburgh
119.1 mi
02h 18m
To Lancaster
119.5 mi
02h 18m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
78°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph SW
Destination
72°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 6 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Pittsburgh and Lancaster.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Pittsburgh and Lancaster.

  1. 1

    Start on Grant Street

    14 m · 9 sec · Grant Street

  2. 2

    Continue on Grant Street

    1539 ft · 1 min · Grant Street

  3. 3

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 376 East: Monroeville

    2054 ft · 50 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight right onto Penn-Lincoln Parkway East

    13.6 mi · 19 min · Penn-Lincoln Parkway East

  5. 5

    Take the exit slight right toward I 76, PATP: Ohio, Harrisburg

    1317 ft · 1 min

  6. 6

    Continue straight

    885 ft · 30 sec

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on I 76 East: Harrisburg

    855 ft · 29 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Pennsylvania Turnpike

    191.6 mi · 3 hr 30 min · Pennsylvania Turnpike

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 283, PA 283: Harrisburg, Hershey

    3010 ft · 3 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward PA 283 East: Airport, Lancaster

    1853 ft · 45 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    28.2 mi · 33 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward Fruitville Pike

    1525 ft · 34 sec

  13. 13

    Keep slight right

    90 m · 7 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight right

    87 m · 9 sec

  15. 15

    Turn straight onto Fruitville Pike

    1.5 km · 2 min · Fruitville Pike

  16. 16

    Continue on North Prince Street

    1.4 mi · 5 min · North Prince Street

  17. 17

    Turn left onto West Vine Street

    592 ft · 24 sec · West Vine Street

  18. 18

    Turn left onto South Queen Street

    155 m · 19 sec · South Queen Street

  19. 19

    Turn right

    27 m · 6 sec

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Pittsburgh and Lancaster.

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
20 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Pennsylvania Turnpike
192 mi · 80%
PA 283 East
28.6 mi · 12%
Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
13.6 mi · 6%
North Prince Street
1.44 mi · 1%
Fruitville Pike
1.33 mi · 1%
I 283
0.57 mi
Longest Stretch

Pennsylvania Turnpike

Merge slight left onto Pennsylvania Turnpike

192 mi · 03h 30m

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 37m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+42 mi
196.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Valley-Hi
02h 18m from Pittsburgh
Leave By
7:44 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Pittsburgh and Sunny near Lancaster.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Pittsburgh to Lancaster?

The road trip is about 238.6 miles (384 km) and usually takes 04h 37m 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?

Valley-Hi is a useful midpoint, sitting about 119.1 miles from Pittsburgh and 119.5 miles from Lancaster.

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

The direct path is about 196.6 miles (316.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 42 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 7:44 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $34.40 one way or $68.81 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 74.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Pittsburgh and Sunny near Lancaster.

Stop Ideas Near Valley-Hi

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

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

BUS

Hancock, MD

37 mi away
434 East Main Street
RAIL

Huntingdon

53 mi away
Fourth and Allegheny Sts.
RAIL

Altoona Transportation Center

57 mi away
1231 11th Avenue
BUS

Hagerstown, MD

59 mi away
123 West Franklin Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Pittsburgh and Lancaster. Straight-line distance: 196.6 mi (316.4 km).

Pittsburgh

#1 Pittsburgh

The second most populous city in Pennsylvania and the center of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area.

Population299,226
Coordinates40.4406200, -79.9958900
Altitude233
CountryUnited States
Lancaster

#2 Lancaster

City in central Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States

Population17,106
Coordinates40.0378800, -76.3055100
Altitude110
CountryUnited States
Start: Pittsburgh (-79.99589, 40.44062)
End: Lancaster (-76.30551, 40.03788)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 384 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 57m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 57m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 46m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 58m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 24m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 58m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.42 gal
31.87 L · about $34.40
Round trip
$68.81
16.84 gal · 63.74 L
Estimated CO2
74.8 kg one way
Round trip: 149.7 kg / 330 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $34.40 $68.81
Mid-grade $4.60 $38.72 $77.45
Premium $4.95 $41.71 $83.43
Diesel $5.98 $50.35 $100.70

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Pittsburgh and Lancaster. The current time is 05:41:52.

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.