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Trip from Allentown, PA to Elizabeth, PA

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 19m

Distance

268.1 mi

431 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$44

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
5h 6m ★
6 AM
5h 20m
8 AM
5h 46m
10 AM
5h 29m
12 PM
5h 26m
3 PM
5h 30m
5 PM
5h 45m
8 PM
5h 11m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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county seat city in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, United States

Allentown, PA

Wikimedia Commons

borough in Pennsylvania, United States

Elizabeth, PA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 268.1-mile journey from Allentown, PA, to Elizabeth, PA, is estimated to take about 5 hours and 19 minutes of driving time. With a fuel cost estimated at $44, this route is best tackled as a single-day trip, especially since it's entirely within Pennsylvania. You'll be navigating primarily via US 22 West and the Lehigh Valley Thruway, which are local roads rather than interstates. Expect a turn-heavy driving experience, so plan for a steady pace rather than long stretches of high-speed travel. The route offers a straightforward way to get from point A to point B within the Northeast region.

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

134.1 miles from Allentown, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 41m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike 151.8 mi 2h 47m
William Penn Highway 43.1 mi 51m
I 81 36.6 mi 44m
78th Division Highway 7.6 mi 8m
I 70 6.6 mi 9m
Tilghman Street 5 mi 8m
East Main Street 4.8 mi 7m
Hayden Boulevard 4.6 mi 7m
Longest stretch: Pennsylvania Turnpike — 151.8 mi, about 2h 47m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Allentown, PA and Elizabeth, 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

152 mi · 2 hr 47 min · Pennsylvania Turnpike
14

Take the exit onto I 70

0.4 mi · 54 sec · I 70
Toward I 70 West, US 119, PA Turnpike 66 Toll: Greensburg, Wheeling WV, New Stanton Use the slight right lane.
15

Keep slight right at fork onto I 70

6.2 mi · 8 min · I 70
Toward I 70 West: New Stanton, Washington PA, Wheeling WV, Columbus OH
16

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 37 sec
Toward PA 31: Mt. Pleasant, West Newton
17

Turn right onto PA 31

3.5 mi · 5 min · Mount Pleasant Road
18

Continue on PA 136

4.8 mi · 7 min · East Main Street
19

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 21 sec
20

Merge onto PA 51

4.6 mi · 7 min · Hayden Boulevard
21

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 19 sec
Toward Elizabeth, Glassport
22

Turn right onto North 3rd Avenue

129 ft · 2 sec · North 3rd Avenue
23

Turn slight left

199 ft · 9 sec
24

Turn left onto McKeesport Road

143 ft · 2 sec · McKeesport Road
25

Continue on North 2nd Avenue

0.4 mi · 45 sec · North 2nd Avenue
26

Turn left onto Center Avenue

324 ft · 6 sec · Center Avenue
Use the straight lane.
27

Arrive at destination

Center Avenue

Trip Plan

Given the 5-hour 19-minute duration, this trip is comfortably manageable in a single day. Aim to depart Allentown earlier in the morning to avoid potential afternoon traffic on the local roads you'll be using. Since it's a turn-heavy route with no long highway stretches, plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs and refuel, perhaps around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as local roads can sometimes have fewer services than major highways. The $44 fuel cost is a good estimate, but always factor in a little extra for unexpected detours or traffic delays.

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 134.1 miles from Allentown, PA, or about 2h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 151.8 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 59 miles or 1h 12m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 134.1 miles or 2h 41m 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 16m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Elizabeth, 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 268.1 miles and 5h 19m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 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 151.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Hancock, MD, MD

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Hancock, MD

134 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

Hershey, PA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 59 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Hancock, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 134.1 miles from Allentown, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Pennsylvania Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 151.8 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best meal stop · home stretch

Rockwell's Red Lion Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Elizabeth, Pennsylvania

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch · 0min to go 0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour Moderately

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

+14123843909

Visit website

Carriage Inn Restaurant and Catering

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Elizabeth, Pennsylvania

2.6 mi

Rockwell's Red Lion Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour Moderately

Elizabeth, Pennsylvania

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

+14123843909

Visit website

Carriage Inn Restaurant and Catering

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.6 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20

Elizabeth, Pennsylvania

Hours: 11 am–10 pm

+14127511044

Visit website

Primanti Bros. Restaurant and Bar

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~12 min detour

Home stretch 4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour $10 to $20

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Hours: 11 am–12 pm

+14126536779

Visit website

Sheetz, Inc. Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

New Stanton, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, right off the route

Final third 0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour

Somerset, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

3.2 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.1 mi from route

New Stanton, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

3.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, right off the route

Final third 0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

Somerset, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour

Somerset, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

3.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2 mi from route ~5 min detour

Jones Mills, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour

Somerset, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Applegreen Electric Charging Station

Later in the drive, right off the route

Final third 0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

Somerset, Pennsylvania

+18885577099

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 22

5 decision points cluster between mile 56.5 and 247.6 — 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
247.6 mi into trip | ~4h 46m in | I 70

Take the exit onto I 70 toward I 70 West, US 119, PA Turnpike 66 Toll: Greensburg, Wheeling WV, New Stanton

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 I 70 West, US 119, PA Turnpike 66 Toll:...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$44.45 one way

$88.90 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 94 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $48.68 $97.36
premium $4.93 $51.99 $103.99
diesel $5.61 $59.19 $118.39

Estimated Tolls: $19.78

Pennsylvania Turnpike (151.8 mi) $19.73
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

$44

Tolls

$20

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$89–$114

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 93.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 80.4 0 $28.15 $12.87
Efficient EV 67 0 $23.46 $10.72
EV Truck/SUV 107.2 1 $37.53 $17.16

Gas CO2

94 kg

EV CO2

31 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 20, 2026

Origin

Allentown, PA

Morning in Allentown on Tuesday

Local time

8:22 AM

EDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Elizabeth, PA

Morning in Elizabeth on Tuesday

Local time

8:22 AM

EDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

67°F

Hancock, MD

134 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

10 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

5h 19m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

The character of this drive is decidedly 'turn-heavy local.' With a 0% highway share, you'll be on roads like US 22 West and the William Penn Highway for the entire 268.1 miles. This means you won't encounter monotonous interstate cruising; instead, anticipate frequent turns and a more engaged driving experience. While there's no specific longest uninterrupted stretch noted, the overall profile suggests a continuous engagement with local traffic and road conditions. This is a drive where you'll be actively navigating through communities rather than bypassing them on high-speed freeways.

73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 151.8 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 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 22 significant decision points across 268.1 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 Elizabeth, PA, road signs point toward Middlesex, Patp, Pa Turnpike 66 Toll: Greensburg, Wheeling, New Stanton and Washington - among others.

Middlesex

93.8 mi in | ~1h 54m

Patp

95.1 mi in | ~1h 57m

Pa Turnpike 66 Toll: Greensburg

247.6 mi in | ~4h 46m | via I 70

Wheeling

247.6 mi in | ~4h 46m | via I 70

New Stanton

247.6 mi in | ~4h 46m | via I 70

Washington

248 mi in | ~4h 47m | via I 70

Columbus

248 mi in | ~4h 47m | via I 70

Newton

254.2 mi in | ~4h 56m

About the Cities

Starting in Allentown, PA

Full guide →

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).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 19m. Total distance: 268.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 151.8 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $19.78 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 Elizabeth, 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.

Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Elizabeth, PA before the return drive.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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