Driving Pittsburgh to Western New England (Altoona, State College: construction, college, place)

[likepgh]

I also posted this in the PA general forum, but I thought I would put it here also:

Our perennial question:

On our annual drive from Pittsburgh (East End) to Western Massachusetts:

--up 28 to I80 to 81 to 84? (starts off slow but then seems to get to the most direct highway route)

--out 22 to 99 through State College to 80 to 81 to 84? (ice cream as the reward for dealing with 22)

--PA Turnpike to 81 to 84? (all highways but it always seems strange to drive south to go north)

We have our own views about the relative merits, but I'm curious about the collective wisdom...

(By the way, Google Maps gives a very comparable driving time for all 3.)

[melkarth]

Depends on where you are starting from, the time of day (traffic), and the weather.

I go on Parkway East to 22/220; my mom goes up 79 because it's the easiest. Sometimes her drive is quicker.

[BrianTH]

I also like the drive out 22 then up to 80 through Altoona and past State College. I think it is the most scenic drive, and as you note it usually ends up being comparable in time (and sometimes faster, if you get lucky with traffic). They are also gradually improving that route, which I find fun to track over time.

By the way, you can also cut off 22 earlier and take 119 up through Indiana and Punxsutawney. That is another beautiful drive, although probably a little slower than the Altoona/State College route (but you make up a little time by effectively replacing some of your 22 stretch with a longer 80 stretch).

[likepgh]

Thanks. It's funny--over in the general PA forum the feeling was 28 to 80 and to avoid the construction on 99 around State College.

And yes, have to add 79 as a possibility from some parts of town.

I suppose I would have gotten more responses if I had said, "given that Pittsburgh is the most awful/most wonderful (take your pick) place on the planet, how would you drive from there to Western Massachusetts?"