This 315-mile journey from Allentown to Big Beaver, Pennsylvania, is a straightforward drive primarily utilizing the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Expect to spend about 6 hours and 2 minutes on the road, making it a feasible, albeit long, day trip. The estimated fuel cost for this route is $52. Given its highway-focused profile and an 81% highway share, this drive is best suited for those who prefer covering distance efficiently. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a substantial 217.3 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, so plan your breaks accordingly. This route stays within the Northeast region of the US, offering a consistent driving experience across the state.
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
157.5 miles from Allentown, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
217.3 mi
3h 57m
William Penn Highway
43.1 mi
51m
I 81
36.6 mi
44m
78th Division Highway
7.6 mi
8m
Tilghman Street
5 mi
8m
Harrisburg Pike
1 mi
2m
Lehigh Valley Thruway
0.7 mi
<1m
Shenango Road
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 217.3 mi, about 3h 57m
Traffic on I-81
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 28 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,785 veh/hr typical
Quietest
1 AM
~380 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Allentown, PA and Big Beaver, PA.
1
Start on Tilghman Street
5.0 mi·8 min·Tilghman Street
Use the straight lane.
2
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward US 22 West: Harrisburg
3
Merge onto US 22
0.7 mi·54 sec·Lehigh Valley Thruway
4
Merge onto I 78; US 22
43 mi·51 min·William Penn Highway
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on I 78; US 22
7.6 mi·8 min·78th Division Highway
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·49 sec
Exit 1BToward I 81 South: Harrisburg
7
Merge onto I 81
37 mi·44 min·I 81
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·48 sec
Exit 52Toward US 11: New Kingstown, MiddlesexUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
201 ft·7 sec
Toward US 11 SouthUse the right lane.
10
Merge onto US 11
1.0 mi·2 min·Harrisburg Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 76, PATP
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·37 sec
Toward I 76 West: PittsburghUse the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto I 76; PATP
217 mi·3 hr 57 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
14
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 10Toward I 376: New Castle, PittsburghUse the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward I 376 Toll West: New Castle
16
Keep slight right at fork
501 ft·17 sec
17
Turn right onto Shenango Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Shenango Road
18
Turn left onto Foxwood Road
0.1 mi·17 sec·Foxwood Road
19
Turn right onto Valley Drive
0.3 mi·1 min·Valley Drive
20
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 6-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from Allentown to maximize daylight and minimize potential traffic, especially if you plan to complete it in a single day. With the longest stretch of 217.3 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, plan at least one significant stop for fuel and a break roughly halfway through your journey. While you'll have one scheduled stop in the data, be prepared for additional needs. The fuel cost is estimated at $52, so ensure your tank is full before you leave, as gas stations can be spaced out on longer highway segments.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 157.5 miles from Allentown, PA, or about 3h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 217.3 miles.
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 69 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 157.5 miles or 3h 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Big Beaver, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 315 miles and 6h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 miles from Allentown, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Pennsylvania Turnpike for about 217.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 56.5 and 313.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
56.5 mi into trip|~1h 9m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 81 South: Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 1B
Toward I 81 South: Harrisburg
8
93.8 mi into trip|~1h 54m in
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
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 52
Toward US 11: New Kingstown, Middlesex
8
94.1 mi into trip|~1h 55m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 11 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward US 11 South
7
95.6 mi into trip|~1h 59m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 76 West: Pittsburgh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 76 West: Pittsburgh
8
313.1 mi into trip|~5h 57m in
Take the exit toward I 376: New Castle, Pittsburgh
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 10
Toward I 376: New Castle, Pittsburgh
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$50.23 one way
$100.45 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg110 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$55.58
$111.17
premium
$4.81
$59.63
$119.25
diesel
$4.80
$59.48
$118.96
Estimated Tolls: $28.30
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(217.3 mi)$28.25
Lehigh Valley Thruway
(0.7 mi)$0.05
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
$50
Tolls
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$104–$129
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 110.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
94.5
1
$33.08
$15.12
Efficient EV
78.8
0
$27.56
$12.60
EV Truck/SUV
126
1
$44.10
$20.16
Gas CO2
110 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Allentown, PA
Afternoon
in Allentown on Sunday
Local time
1:41 PM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Smoke
NW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 1:40PM EDT until July 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Destination
Big Beaver, PA
Afternoon
in Big Beaver on Sunday
Local time
1:41 PM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Smoke
NW 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 1:40PM EDT until July 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
82°F
Martinsburg, PA
158 mi in
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h 2m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument
National Monument
More than 7,800 children from 140 Tribes went to the Carlisle School from 1879 to 1918. The National Park Service will collaborate with families, affiliated Tribal Nations, the US Army, historians, an...
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...
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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 206.4
The battle at Fort Necessity in the summer of 1754 was the opening action of the French and Indian War. This war was a clash of British, French and American Indian cultures. It ended with the removal...
24 mi from route
~61 min detour
Free
near mile 239
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...
24 mi from route
~60 min detour
Free
near mile 184.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly a highway-focused experience, with 81% of the route consisting of major highways like the Pennsylvania Turnpike and I-81. You'll encounter long stretches of fast-paced driving, particularly during the 217.3-mile segment on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. While the William Penn Highway offers a change of pace, the overall character is one of efficient travel on well-maintained roadways. Be prepared for a consistent driving rhythm, as the landscape shifts gradually rather than dramatically.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 217.3 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 56.5 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 18 significant decision points across 315 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 56.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; 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.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,242 ft346 ft
Total Climb
2,866 ft
Total Descent
2,036 ft
Highest Point
2,242 ft
~202.5 mi in
Elevation Range
1,895 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Allentown, PA and Big Beaver, PA, road signs point toward Middlesex and Patp.
Allentown is the largest city in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania, the county seat and largest city in Lehigh County, and the third-largest city in Pennsylvania after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh with a population of 125,845 as of 2020.
Top landmarks
•Albertus L. Meyers Bridge — bridge in United States of America
•Allentown Masonic Temple — masonic temple in Allentown, Pennsylvania
•Allentown National Bank — bank building in Allentown, Pennsylvania
This article is about the borough in Beaver County. For the neighborhood of the same name in Pittsburgh, see Pittsburgh/Strip District-Lawrenceville.
Homewood is a borough in the North Pittsburgh Region, Pennsylvania.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 2m. Total distance: 315 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 2m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 217.3 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $28.30 in tolls one way, starting with Pennsylvania Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 24 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Big Beaver, PA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 24 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 56.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; 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.
Yes — Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument, Appalachian National Scenic Trail and Flight 93 National Memorial (5 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.0 hours each way, a round trip means 12.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Big Beaver, PA before the return drive.
