Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 11m
Distance
203.2 mi
327 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Allentown, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Beaverdale, PA
Jack Pace
Allentown, PA to Beaverdale, PA is 203.2 miles and takes about 4h 11m via Pennsylvania Turnpike, William Penn Highway, and I 81, with a fuel budget near $34 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a highway-focused drive that stays within the state of Pennsylvania, making it a straightforward one-day trip. You'll primarily be on major roadways, so expect a consistent pace for most of the journey. The trip is relatively short, so you can afford to be flexible with your departure time. The estimated fuel cost is about $34, which is helpful for budgeting.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
101.6 miles from Allentown, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 6m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike | 81.1 mi | 1h 29m |
| William Penn Highway | 43.1 mi | 51m |
| I 81 | 36.6 mi | 44m |
| Burnt House Road | 8.4 mi | 14m |
| 78th Division Highway | 7.6 mi | 8m |
| I 99 | 6.1 mi | 6m |
| Tilghman Street | 5 mi | 8m |
| Heritage Road | 4.2 mi | 7m |
Step-by-step road directions between Allentown, PA and Beaverdale, PA.
Start on Tilghman Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 22
Merge onto I 78; US 22
Continue on I 78; US 22
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 81
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto US 11
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 76; PATP
Take the exit
Turn left onto US 220 BUS
Take the ramp
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 99; US 220
Take the exit
Turn left onto PA 869
Continue on PA 869
Turn left
Turn slight right onto PA 869
Turn right onto PA 869
Continue on PA 869
Continue on PA 869
Keep slight left at fork onto PA 869
Turn right onto PA 869
Continue on PA 869
Turn slight right onto PA 869
Continue on PA 869
Turn right onto PA 869
Turn right onto PA 869
Arrive at destination
Given the 4h 11m estimated drive time, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Consider departing in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for an unhurried arrival. The longest stretch without a major road change is 81.1 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly, perhaps before embarking on this longer segment. With a total duration under five hours, you have the flexibility to leave when it's most convenient for you, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge as highway driving can consume it quickly; aim to refuel before hitting that 81.1-mile stretch.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 45 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 101.6 miles or 2h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Beaverdale, PA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Allentown, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Allentown, PA
This is one driving day of about 203.2 miles and 4h 11m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
102 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 45 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 101.6 miles from Allentown, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Pennsylvania Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 81.1 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 93.8 and 177.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward US 11: New Kingstown, Middlesex
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward US 11 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward I 76 West: Pittsburgh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Altoona, Johnstown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 99 North, US 220 North: Altoona
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$33.69 one way
$67.38 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $36.90 | $73.79 |
| premium | $4.93 | $39.41 | $78.82 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $44.86 | $89.73 |
Estimated Tolls: $10.59
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Tolls
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 71.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 61 | 0 | $21.34 | $9.75 |
| Efficient EV | 50.8 | 0 | $17.78 | $8.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 81.3 | 1 | $28.45 | $13.00 |
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Allentown on Sunday
Local time
12:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Late night in Beaverdale on Sunday
Local time
12:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Monument
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National Scenic Trail
The Appalachian Trail is a 2,190+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by p...
National Memorial
The South Fork Dam failed on Friday, May 31, 1889, and unleashed 20,000,000 tons of water that devastated Johnstown, PA. The flood killed 2,209 people but it brought the nation and the world together...
National Memorial
On Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, the U.S. came under attack when four commercial airliners were hijacked and used to strike targets on the ground. Nearly 3,000 people tragically lost their live...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This route is predominantly a highway drive, with 61% of the journey on major interstates and turnpikes. You'll experience a significant stretch of 81.1 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, offering a chance for steady progress. The blend of highways like I 81 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike suggests a generally fast-paced experience, though the inclusion of William Penn Highway might introduce some varied road conditions. Overall, anticipate a driving experience dominated by efficient, high-speed travel.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and William Penn Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 93.8 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 203.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 93.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 94.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 95.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Allentown, PA and Beaverdale, PA, road signs point toward Middlesex, Patp, Altoona, Johnstown and Osterburg.
Middlesex
Patp
Altoona
Johnstown
Osterburg
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 11m. Total distance: 203.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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