Origin
Allentown, PA
Morning in Allentown on Sunday
Local time
8:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
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
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Allentown, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Concord, PA
Haneul Trac
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 .
| 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 |
Step-by-step road directions between Allentown, PA and Concord, 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 right onto PA 997
Continue on PA 997
Continue on PA 997
Turn right onto PA 641; PA 997
Continue on PA 641
Continue on PA 641
At end of road, turn left onto PA 641
Turn right onto PA 75
Arrive at destination
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.
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.
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.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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.
A short stop after about 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
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.
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.
Keep slight left at fork toward I 81 South: Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
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 PA 997: Shippensburg, Chambersburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$23.69 one way
$47.38 round trip
| 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
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Allentown on Sunday
Local time
8:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Concord on Sunday
Local time
8:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
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
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
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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
Patp
Chambersburg
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.
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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