Origin
Allentown, PA
Morning in Allentown on Tuesday
Local time
11:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 7m
Distance
101.4 mi
163 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
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
Boiling Springs, PA
Michael Taccetta
This 101.4-mile drive from Allentown to Boiling Springs, Pennsylvania, can be completed in about 2 hours and 7 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. The route primarily utilizes the William Penn Highway and I-81, with a portion on the 78th Division Highway, offering a mixed driving experience. With an estimated fuel cost of $17, this journey through the Northeast region of Pennsylvania is economical and straightforward. You won't need to worry about breaking up the drive, as it's easily manageable in a single day. It’s a practical option for a quick getaway or a visit to a new town.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
50.7 miles from Allentown, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 2m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| William Penn Highway | 43.1 mi | 51m |
| I 81 | 39.7 mi | 48m |
| 78th Division Highway | 7.6 mi | 8m |
| Tilghman Street | 5 mi | 8m |
| Forge Road | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| Lehigh Valley Thruway | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| Fairfield Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| York Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Allentown, PA and Boiling Springs, 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
Turn straight onto PA 641
Turn left onto Fairfield Street
At end of road, turn left onto PA 74
Turn right onto Westminster Drive
Turn left onto SR 2003
Continue on Front Street
At end of road, turn left onto PA 174
Arrive at destination
For this 2-hour, 7-minute drive, starting your journey in the morning offers ample time to reach Boiling Springs and explore without feeling rushed. Given the relatively short distance and manageable fuel cost of $17, you have the flexibility to depart when it's most convenient. Consider taking advantage of the longest stretch on the William Penn Highway, which is 43.1 miles, to settle into a rhythm. While no specific stops are noted, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading onto I-81, to ensure you have enough for the entire trip.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
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 22 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 50.7 miles or 1h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Boiling Springs, 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 101.4 miles and 2h 7m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
51 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 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 50.7 miles from Allentown, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 5.8 and 101.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Merge onto I 78; US 22 / William Penn Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward I 81 South: Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the exit toward PA 641: High Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward PA 641: High St
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
At end of road, turn left onto PA 174 / East 1st Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$16.81 one way
$33.62 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $18.41 | $36.82 |
| premium | $4.93 | $19.67 | $39.33 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $22.39 | $44.78 |
Estimated Tolls: $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
$17
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 30.4 | 0 | $10.65 | $4.87 |
| Efficient EV | 25.4 | 0 | $8.87 | $4.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 40.6 | 0 | $14.20 | $6.49 |
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 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
Morning in Allentown on Tuesday
Local time
11:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Boiling Springs on Tuesday
Local time
11:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Sunny
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
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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
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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This 101.4-mile journey presents a mixed driving profile, with 39% of the route on highways. You'll experience a significant stretch of 43.1 miles on the William Penn Highway, offering a more consistent pace before transitioning to other roads. The drive progresses through varied landscapes, indicated by its 'Mixed drive' profile, suggesting shifts between more open roads and potentially more developed areas. While not exclusively an interstate grind, the inclusion of I-81 means you'll have periods of faster travel, interspersed with other road types that define the overall character of this trip.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.8 miles in near I 78; US 22 / William Penn Highway.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 101.4 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 5.8 miles (I 78; US 22 / William Penn Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 56.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 97 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 7m. Total distance: 101.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (39%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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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