How far is South Union, PA from Altoona, PA?

The driving distance from South Union, PA to Altoona, PA is about 135.3 miles (217.7 km), with a travel time of about 02h 21m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 102.7 miles (165.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 43m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
135.28 mi
02h 21m
Flight
102.71 mi
165.29 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from South Union.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
102.71 mi
Kilometers
165.29 km
Flight Time
00h 12m

Driving Distance

Road route
135.28 mi
Kilometers
217.71 km
Drive Time
02h 21m

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 02h 21m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Altoona
Sun, May 31, 7:01 AM EDT
Return by in South Union
Sun, May 31, 9:23 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave South Union
2026-05-31T04:39
Arrive Altoona
Sun, May 31, 7:01 AM EDT
Route Timing
02h 21m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:22 AM to 12:22 PM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
1:46 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in South Union
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

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
Lamar
PA

Clinton County, Pennsylvania, USA

From South Union
66.5 mi
01h 10m
To Altoona
68.7 mi
01h 10m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
70°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 to 7 mph NW
Destination
73°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 3 mph N

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between South Union and Altoona.

  1. 1

    Start on South Union Road

    25 m · 6 sec · South Union Road

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Beck Road

    1.5 km · 4 min · Beck Road

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Salt Spring Road

    1.5 mi · 6 min · Salt Spring Road

  4. 4

    At the end of the road, turn left

    4.3 mi · 8 min

  5. 5

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Blockhouse Road

    1901 ft · 40 sec · Blockhouse Road

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Route 414

    1.1 km · 1 min · Route 414

  7. 7

    Take the ramp left

    1061 ft · 26 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Appalachian Thruway

    26.7 mi · 30 min · Appalachian Thruway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward US 220 South: Lock Haven

    2882 ft · 1 min

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Susquehanna Beltway

    11.4 mi · 16 min · Susquehanna Beltway

  11. 11

    Continue on Appalachian Thruway

    15.9 mi · 18 min · Appalachian Thruway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward PA 477: Salona

    1434 ft · 51 sec

  13. 13

    Turn right onto Long Run Road

    134 m · 11 sec · Long Run Road

  14. 14

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Nittany Valley Drive

    4.4 mi · 7 min · Nittany Valley Drive

  15. 15

    Take the ramp slight right

    2208 ft · 54 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left onto Keystone Shortway

    11.8 mi · 13 min · Keystone Shortway

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward I 99 South, US 220 South, PA 26: Bellefonte

    1410 ft · 54 sec

  18. 18

    Turn left onto Jacksonville Road

    24.2 mi · 28 min · Jacksonville Road

  19. 19

    Keep slight left to continue on I 99 South, US 220 South: Port Matilda, Altoona

    23.3 mi · 25 min

  20. 20

    Take the exit slight right toward PA 764 South: Pinecroft

    1574 ft · 39 sec

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Sabbath Rest Road

    2648 ft · 52 sec · Sabbath Rest Road

  22. 22

    Turn left onto East Pleasant Valley Boulevard

    2.8 mi · 4 min · East Pleasant Valley Boulevard

  23. 23

    Turn right onto Rutgers Lane

    53 m · 3 sec · Rutgers Lane

  24. 24

    Continue on East Walton Avenue

    687 ft · 15 sec · East Walton Avenue

  25. 25

    Turn right onto Greenwood Road

    3260 ft · 1 min · Greenwood Road

  26. 26

    At the end of the road, turn left onto 6th Avenue Road

    3151 ft · 53 sec · 6th Avenue Road

  27. 27

    Continue on East 6th Avenue

    1340 ft · 23 sec · East 6th Avenue

  28. 28

    Continue on Bellwood Avenue

    1156 ft · 19 sec · Bellwood Avenue

  29. 29

    Turn slight left onto 7th Avenue

    2333 ft · 43 sec · 7th Avenue

  30. 30

    Turn right onto 7th Street

    669 ft · 11 sec · 7th Street

  31. 31

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 7th Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between South Union and Altoona.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
31 steps
15 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
3 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
22.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Appalachian Thruway
42.6 mi · 31%
Jacksonville Road
24.2 mi · 18%
I 99 South
23.6 mi · 17%
Keystone Shortway
11.8 mi · 9%
Susquehanna Beltway
11.4 mi · 8%
Nittany Valley Drive
4.78 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

Appalachian Thruway

Merge slight left onto Appalachian Thruway

26.7 mi · 00h 30m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 21m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 44m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+32.6 mi
102.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lamar
01h 10m from South Union
Leave By
1:46 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving South Union and Sunny near Altoona.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from South Union to Altoona?

The road trip is about 135.3 miles (217.7 km) and usually takes 02h 21m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Lamar is a useful midpoint, sitting about 66.5 miles from South Union and 68.7 miles from Altoona.

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

The direct path is about 102.7 miles (165.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 32.6 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 1:46 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $19.49 one way or $38.98 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 42.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around South Union and Sunny near Altoona.

Stop Ideas Near Lamar

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

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

RAIL

Lewistown

48 mi away
150 Helen Street
RAIL

Tyrone

71 mi away
Pennsylvania Ave and West 10th St.
RAIL

Huntingdon

72 mi away
Fourth and Allegheny Sts.
RAIL

Altoona Transportation Center

92 mi away
1231 11th Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between South Union and Altoona. Straight-line distance: 102.71 mi (165.29 km).

South Union

#1 South Union

Township in Fayette County, Pennsylvania

Population10,106
Coordinates41.5681300, -76.9988600
Altitude552
CountryUnited States
Altoona

#2 Altoona

A city in Blair County, Pennsylvania.

Population42,989
Coordinates40.5186800, -78.3947400
Altitude355
CountryUnited States
Start: South Union Road (-76.999142, 41.568125)
End: 7th Street (-78.394928, 40.518478)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 218 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 30m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 22m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 42m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 15m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 55m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 41m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.77 gal
18.07 L · about $19.49
Round trip
$38.98
9.54 gal · 36.14 L
Estimated CO2
42.4 kg one way
Round trip: 84.8 kg / 187 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $19.49 $38.98
Mid-grade $4.60 $21.94 $43.87
Premium $4.95 $23.63 $47.26
Diesel $5.98 $28.52 $57.05

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 · May 31, 2026

There is no time difference between South Union and Altoona. The current time is 04:39:13.

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.