Lowest Prices
We partner with the top coach & train carriers to bring you the best deals.
Best Travel Options
We help you find & compare the best buses & trains in one place.
Quick & Easy Booking
Book trips quickly with a simple, hassle-free checkout – online & on our app.
Fast Customer Support
We don’t monkey around. We respond within minutes to help you out.
Trip Summary
2 trains operate daily from Middletown to Altoona. The train trip from Middletown to Altoona is usually about 4 hours and 11 minutes long. However, traveling on the fastest Amtrak train can get you there in as little as 3 hours and 46 minutes.
| Distance | 90 mi (145 km) |
| Fastest train | 3h 46m |
| Lowest price | €35.81 |
| Most frequent service | Amtrak |
| Train lines | 1 |
Which train should you take from Middletown to Altoona?
Amtrak is the one and only train line which connects Middletown to Altoona. The schedule is relatively limited as the train only runs twice a day.
| Train | Daily Trips | Avg. Time | Avg. Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amtrak | 2 | 4h 11m | €51.12 |
Amtrak is the largest passenger railroad service in America, offering daily intercity trains to hundreds of destinations across the contiguous United States, as well as several cities in Canada. Every Amtrak train comes equipped with comfortable seats with extra legroom, as well as several four-seat areas with tables in the middle. In addition, each car has a freshly cleaned restroom, free WiFi and power outlets at every seat. There are also snack bars where you can purchase drinks or food during your journey. On average, there are 2 Amtrak trains from Middletown to Altoona every day, as well as 0 trips on the weekends, with prices starting from €36.
Frequently Asked Questions
The distance between Middletown and Altoona is approximately 90 miles, or 145 kilometers. The average train journey between these two cities takes 4 hours and 11 minutes, although the absolute fastest you could get there is 3 hours and 46 minutes.
Looking for ways to pass the time? Most trains are equipped with Wi-Fi, which means you can stream music, browse social media or get some work done during your ride. That said, in case your train has a spotty signal, or is among the few without Wi-Fi, we also recommend downloading TV shows and movies to your mobile device in advance of your trip. That way the ride will fly by whatever the Wi-Fi situation.
Trains departing from Middletown to Altoona tend to have the most passengers on Thursday. With higher demand ticket prices also tend to be higher on Thursday. If you are trying to snag a cheap train tickets or just want an emptier train you'll have better luck by booking travel departing on Friday as the least number of people tend to travel then.
The earliest train departs Middletown at 10:00 while the last train of the day leaves at 12:00. To see all scheduled departure times, use the search function on this page to get the full schedule for your specific travel dates.
Trains leave the station in Middletown twice a day, so there are a couple of options depending on your preferred travel time. However, there are no direct trains. This means that you will need to disembark from your original train and board a connecting train at some point during your journey. You will need to remember to bring your carry-on luggage with you when you change trains. Depending on the carrier's policy, you may also be responsible for transferring your own checked baggage.
You can also take a train for your return trip from Altoona to Middletown.
City Information
Middletown
Image credit: Unsplash
Middletown is a very common place name in Pennsylvania, but the most significant is the borough of Middletown just south of Harrisburg. Though Middletown itself is pretty small, the Harrisburg International Airport is within Middletown and brings a good amount of traffic through the town. However, the area's charming activities and landscape merit a few days of slowing down and enjoying central Pennsylvania.
Families with young kids will love wandering through the enormous National Christmas Center, open during Christmas Season and for select weeks in July, filled with holiday displays, decor, and gifts. You can enter the spooky, spiky Indian Echo Caverns in nearby Derry Township to discover local natural history or enjoy nature's fresh air on the Swatara Creek Water Trail and the Jonathan Eshenour Memorial Trail.
Middletown is home to several brewing companies, distilleries, and brewpubs, including the famous Appalachian Brewing Company and Tattered Flag. In Downtown Middletown, you can shop at a handful of malls and enjoy entertainment at hotels, clubs, bars, and museums.
No intercity bus companies stop in Middletown, but Amtrak's Keystone Service provides train service to the station downtown. Catch the train west to Harrisburg or as far east as Philadelphia.
Altoona
Image credit: Carol VanHook
Link to image attributionAltoona is a central Pennsylvania city located deep in the Alleghany Mountains, with prominent landmarks that appeal to art and history buffs and rail fans. The Horseshoe Curve National Historic Landmark is a popular engineering site, while Altoona features skiable mountains with challenging slopes at Blue Knob and locations for mountain biking, tennis, swimming, and golf. Train fans can also check out the Railroaders Memorial Museum, while other landmarks include the Cathedral of Blessed Sacrament, Mishler Theatre, and Jaffa Shrine Center. Families can visit Lakemont Park with roller coasters, picnic spaces, and water slides.
Beer lovers will enjoy Altoona for its breweries and festivals, like the Annual Beer Wine Spirits Festival, Rails & Ales Brewfest, and the Annual Tyrone Hops & Vines Festivals. The city is always bustling with things to do, like live music shows, spoken word nights, yoga, and flower workshops. There are also several breweries to visit and bustling nightlife in the downtown area.
Hop on an Amtrak train or Amtrak Thruway bus to get to the city from anywhere in the country. Within Altoona, the Altoona Metro Transit provides bus and paratransit services to residents.
Station Information
Where is the train station in Middletown?
Main departure station: 270 West Emaus Street
There is one train station in Middletown.
All train stations in Middletown:
270 West Emaus Street
Where is the train station in Altoona?
Main arrival station: 1231 11th Ave
Altoona has one train station.
Train stations in Altoona:
1231 11th Ave
Get around town with Moovit
Need a return trip from Altoona to Middletown?
Search Train Tickets
Wanderu is the simplest way to book bus and train travel.
With just a quick search on Wanderu, you can compare bus and train schedules and prices from hundreds of travel companies in one convenient place to find the trip that works best for you. Wanderu’s simple checkout process makes it easy to book cheap bus and train tickets hassle-free and with no additional fees. Most importantly, as Wanderu is an official partner of all leading bus and train companies, we always have the best bus and train deals out there.
Book coaches and trains on the go with the Wanderu app.
Download our app and snag the best travel deals across North America & Europe.Learn more