Carlisle, PA Road Trips
Drivers starting from Carlisle, PA have 2 mapped routes to choose from, making it a small but connected base in the Northeast. Most drives stay under 107 miles, making this area well-suited for day trips and weekend getaways. Most routes from Carlisle, PA head east, giving the route network a clear directional lean.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Trip Routes
6
Longest Drive
184.7 mi
Penn Hills, PA
Quickest Drive
32m
Harrisburg, PA
Plan Around Carlisle, PA
Popular Incoming Routes
Useful if Carlisle, PA is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.
Continue From Carlisle, PA
Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.
Trips from Carlisle, PA
Driving from Carlisle, PA
The typical drive from Carlisle, PA covers about 107 miles and takes around 2h 15m. The majority of routes are short drives — quick enough to finish before lunch and be back for dinner. The longest mapped route runs 115 miles (2h 26m), while the shortest is just 99 miles.
Popular Destinations
Drivers leaving Carlisle, PA most often head toward Upland, PA (115 mi, 2h 26m) and Allentown, PA (99 mi, 2h 3m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.
Planning & Costs
Regular gas in PA currently averages around $4.3 per gallon. For the typical 107-mile trip from Carlisle, PA, budget about $18 in fuel one way, assuming 25 MPG. Longer hauls and premium fuel will cost proportionally more.
Routes tend to go east, so afternoon departures put the sun at your back on the return leg. With an average drive under three hours, you have plenty of flexibility — leave whenever it suits you.
Frequently Asked Questions
There are 2 mapped routes leaving Carlisle, PA and 4 routes heading into Carlisle, PA, covering 6 total connections. Distances range from 99 to 115 miles.
The longest mapped route from Carlisle, PA covers 115 miles and takes approximately 2h 26m. Shorter options start at just 99 miles.
The average route from Carlisle, PA runs about 107 miles with a drive time of roughly 2h 15m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.
At current gas prices (about $4.3/gallon for regular), the average 107-mile trip from Carlisle, PA costs roughly $18 in fuel one way, based on 25 MPG. Your actual cost depends on your vehicle's efficiency.
The most popular road trip destinations from Carlisle, PA include Upland, PA and Allentown, PA. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.
Carlisle, PA by the Numbers
Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Population
21,335
Median Income
$59,742
Median Home Value
$212,400
Median Age
34.4
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.
Carlisle, PA at a Glance
Founded
1751
Elevation
479 ft
Area
2 mi²
Notable People from Carlisle, PA
A sampling of people born in Carlisle, PA.
Deborah L. Birx
1956
American physician and diplomat
John Armstrong Jr.
1758–1843
American politician (1758-1843)
John Bigler
1805–1871
Governor of California (1805-1871)
Billy Owens
1969
American basketball player
William Wilkins
1779–1865
United States federal judge (1779-1865)
Rachel Wall
1760–1789
American pirate; last woman hanged in the state of Massachusetts
Samuel Smith
1752–1839
American politician from Maryland (1752-1839)
Andrew Gregg
1755–1835
American politician (1755–1835)
Thomas Butler
1785–1847
American politician (1785-1847)
Landmarks & Historic Sites
Attractions and heritage-registered places located in Carlisle, PA.
Statue of Frederick the Great
City data from Wikidata (Q1010228), available under CC0. Photos from Wikimedia Commons under their respective licenses. See our methodology for details.
Traveler Guide to Carlisle, PA
Carlisle is a city in the Harrisburg area of Pennsylvania. Settled by Europeans in 1751, it is the seat of Cumberland County and home of Dickinson College.
The two main streets in Carlisle are Hanover and High Streets. These streets intersect in the middle of town, creating a nice square by the courthouse. Most of the buildings of interest in Carlisle are located along one of these two streets. 1 U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center, 950 Soldiers Dr, ☏ +1 717 245-3972. M-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su Noon-5PM. Free. (updated Oct 2019) 2 Carlisle Armory. (updated Nov 2019)
Carlisle Theatre, High St. Has regular movies and performances (updated Nov 2019) Weiss Center for the Arts, West High Street 240. M-Sa 10AM-4PM. An art center operated by Dickinson College, hosts several small rotating exhibitions throughout the year. (updated Nov 2019) 1 Create-A-Palooza, 11 East High Street, ☏ +1 717 4095036, [email protected]. 11AM-6PM. Walk-in paint-your-own pottery, glass, canvas, wood board; party & special event venue; rear parking. (updated Feb 2022)
Miseno's Ristorante and Pizzeria, W High St. (updated Nov 2019) Mt. Fuji, 149 N Hanover St. Good sushi for reasonable prices. Ask for the Mt. Fuji (not on the menu). (updated Nov 2019)
Econo Lodge, 1252 Harrisburg Pike, I-81 Exit 52, ☏ +1 717-243-8585. 1 Residence Inn by Marriott Harrisburg Carlisle, 1 Hampton Court (Exit 226 off Turnpike and Exit 52 off I 81.), ☏ +1 717-610-9050. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Hampton Inn – Carlisle, 1164 Harrisburg Pike, ☏ +1 717-240-0200. Sleep Inn Carlisle, 5 East Garland Drive (I81 Exit 47), ☏ +1 717-249-8863. Free breakfast.
The Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-76) and I-81 pass through Carlisle. Reaching Carlisle by public transport is limited, but not impossible. RabbitTransport provides a bus route between Carlisle and Harrisburg on Route C of its Capital Area Transit service. It caters mostly to working commuters, and does not operate on weekends. Harrisburg had bus and rail connections to larger cities, and an international airport.
Most of downtown is very walkable, notably Hanover, High, and West Pomfret Streets.
Travel tips adapted from Carlisle (Pennsylvania) on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.
Trips to Carlisle, PA
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