Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 40m
Distance
73.7 mi
119 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
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
Burnside, PA
Michael Taccetta
This 73.7-mile journey from Allentown to Burnside, Pennsylvania, is easily manageable as a day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes. You'll navigate primarily via the William Penn Highway, Centre Turnpike, and Sunbury Road, with about 18% of the drive on highways. With an estimated fuel cost of $12, this is an economical excursion. The route offers a turn-heavy local driving experience that is best enjoyed at a relaxed pace. Since both your origin and destination are within the Northeast region, you'll remain in familiar territory throughout this Pennsylvania drive.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36.9 miles from Allentown, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| William Penn Highway | 21.7 mi | 26m |
| Centre Turnpike | 10.6 mi | 12m |
| Sunbury Road | 9.4 mi | 11m |
| Tilghman Street | 5 mi | 8m |
| Chestnut Street | 4.5 mi | 6m |
| Locust Gap Highway | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| Route 61 South | 3 mi | 3m |
| Pottsville Pike | 2.4 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between Allentown, PA and Burnside, PA.
Start on Tilghman Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 22
Merge onto I 78; US 22
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto PA 61
Continue on PA 61
Continue on PA 61
Continue on PA 61
Continue on PA 61
Turn left onto US 209
At end of road, turn right onto US 209
Turn left onto US 209
Continue on US 209; PA 901
At end of road, turn left onto PA 901
Continue on PA 901
Continue on PA 901
Continue on PA 901
Continue on PA 54; PA 901
Turn left onto Brennans Farm Road
Continue on South 6th Street
Turn left onto PA 61
Continue on PA 61
Turn left onto PA 125
Turn right onto PA 125
Continue on PA 125
Arrive at destination
Given the relatively short 1-hour and 40-minute duration, this drive offers plenty of flexibility. You can depart at your leisure, perhaps in the late morning to avoid any early rush. While there are no specific stops noted, consider breaking up the 73.7 miles with a brief pause if needed, especially since the longest stretch without a turn is over 21 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is around $12, and ensure you're comfortable with navigating numerous turns as you make your way to Burnside.
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 16 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.9 miles or 48m 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 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Burnside, PA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Allentown, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Allentown, PA
This is one driving day of about 73.7 miles and 1h 40m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
37 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 36.9 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 0 and 44.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Depart onto Tilghman Street
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward PA 61 North: Pottsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward PA 61 North: Pottsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Merge onto PA 61 / Pottsville Pike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto US 209 / Mauch Chunk Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$12.22 one way
$24.44 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $13.38 | $26.76 |
| premium | $4.93 | $14.29 | $28.59 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.27 | $32.54 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.79
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
$12
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.1 | 0 | $7.74 | $3.54 |
| Efficient EV | 18.4 | 0 | $6.45 | $2.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.5 | 0 | $10.32 | $4.72 |
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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 Sunday
Local time
9:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Morning in Burnside on Sunday
Local time
9:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°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
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.
Expect a dynamic driving experience on this route, characterized by frequent turns rather than long, straight stretches. While 18% of the drive involves highway travel, much of it will feel like a local road exploration. The longest uninterrupted segment you'll encounter is 21.7 miles along the William Penn Highway. This suggests a drive where you'll be adjusting your speed and direction often, keeping you engaged behind the wheel as the road winds through the landscape.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Tilghman Street.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 73.7 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Tilghman Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 27.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 40m. Total distance: 73.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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