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Trip from Allentown, PA to Concord, PA

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 4m

Distance

142.9 mi

230 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$24

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min
4 AM
2h 53m ★
6 AM
3h 5m
8 AM
3h 28m
10 AM
3h 13m
12 PM
3h 11m
3 PM
3h 14m
5 PM
3h 27m
8 PM
2h 58m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

county seat city in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, United States

Allentown, PA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Concord, PA, PA

Concord, PA

Haneul Trac

Trip Overview

Allentown, PA to Concord, PA is 142.9 miles and takes about 3h 4m via William Penn Highway and I 81, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. It's a manageable drive that should feel pretty straightforward, making it a good option if you're looking for a direct journey without too many complexities. Consider this route for a quick hop between locations within the state, especially if you value a predictable travel time.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

71.4 miles from Allentown, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 27m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
William Penn Highway 43.1 mi 51m
I 81 36.6 mi 44m
Pennsylvania Turnpike 24.5 mi 26m
Path Valley Road 9.1 mi 16m
78th Division Highway 7.6 mi 8m
Tilghman Street 5 mi 8m
Timmons Road 3.9 mi 7m
Forge Hill Road 3 mi 5m
Longest stretch: William Penn Highway — 43.1 mi, about 51m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Allentown, PA and Concord, 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 1B Toward 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 52 Toward US 11: New Kingstown, Middlesex Use the slight right lane.
9

Keep slight right at fork

201 ft · 7 sec
Toward US 11 South Use 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: Pittsburgh Use the slight right lane.
13

Merge onto I 76; PATP

24 mi · 26 min · Pennsylvania Turnpike
14

Take the exit

0.8 mi · 1 min
Toward PA 997: Shippensburg, Chambersburg Use the slight right lane.
15

Turn right onto PA 997

0.9 mi · 1 min · Cumberland Highway
16

Continue on PA 997

1.6 mi · 2 min · Trout Run
17

Continue on PA 997

1.5 mi · 2 min · Cumberland Highway
18

Turn right onto PA 641; PA 997

0.1 mi · 12 sec · Newburg Road
19

Continue on PA 641

3.0 mi · 5 min · Forge Hill Road
20

Continue on PA 641

3.9 mi · 7 min · Timmons Road
21

At end of road, turn left onto PA 641

1.6 mi · 2 min · Spring Run Road East
22

Turn right onto PA 75

9.1 mi · 16 min · Path Valley Road
23

Arrive at destination

PA 75

Trip Plan

Given this is a single-day trip of just over 3 hours, you have a lot of flexibility in when you depart. Leaving Allentown in the morning should get you to Concord with plenty of daylight to spare. While the total drive time is relatively short, it's still a good idea to plan for one stop to stretch your legs or grab a quick bite. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 43.1-mile stretch on the William Penn Highway, as services might be less frequent compared to major interstates.

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 71.4 miles from Allentown, PA, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43.1 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 31 miles or 39m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 71.4 miles or 1h 27m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 22m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Concord, 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 142.9 miles and 3h 4m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 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 William Penn Highway for about 43.1 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Middlesex, PA, PA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Middlesex, PA

71 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.

Pacing Suggestions

Kutztown, PA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Harrisburg, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 71.4 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.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 17

5 decision points cluster between mile 56.5 and 120.3 — 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
7
120.3 mi into trip | ~2h 25m in

Take the exit toward PA 997: Shippensburg, Chambersburg

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward PA 997: Shippensburg, Chambersburg

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$23.69 one way

$47.38 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 50 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $25.95 $51.89
premium $4.93 $27.71 $55.43
diesel $5.61 $31.55 $63.10

Estimated Tolls: $3.23

Pennsylvania Turnpike (24.5 mi) $3.18
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

$24

Tolls

$3

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$52–$77

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 50 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 42.9 0 $15.00 $6.86
Efficient EV 35.7 0 $12.50 $5.72
EV Truck/SUV 57.2 0 $20.01 $9.15

Gas CO2

50 kg

EV CO2

17 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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Allentown, PA

Morning in Allentown on Sunday

Local time

8:10 AM

EDT

Current temp

44°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Concord, PA

Morning in Concord on Sunday

Local time

8:10 AM

EDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

48°F

Middlesex, PA

71 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

3 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

3h 4m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

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

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...

2 mi from route ~4 min detour Free near mile 98.5
View on nps.gov
Appalachian National Scenic Trail

Appalachian National Scenic Trail

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...

3 mi from route ~8 min detour Free near mile 54.2
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

This drive offers a mixed experience, with 43% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches on the William Penn Highway before transitioning to I 81. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll navigate is 43.1 miles on the William Penn Highway, suggesting a good portion of the route involves more local road driving before hitting the interstate. Expect the feel of the road to change as you progress, from potentially more scenic or developed highway sections to faster-paced interstate travel.

43% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 43.1 mi on William Penn Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

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 56.5 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

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 17 significant decision points across 142.9 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.

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 Concord, PA, road signs point toward Middlesex, Patp and Chambersburg.

Middlesex

93.8 mi in | ~1h 54m

Patp

95.1 mi in | ~1h 57m

Chambersburg

120.3 mi in | ~2h 25m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 4m. Total distance: 142.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 43.1 miles on William Penn Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $3.23 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.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

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 Concord, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

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 and Appalachian National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Concord, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.

How this page is built

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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Explore more options from Allentown, PA or browse trips ending in Concord, PA.

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