This 116.6-mile drive from Allentown to Great Bend, Pennsylvania, is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in about 2 hours and 20 minutes. It's a perfect candidate for a day trip, requiring no overnight stops. The route is predominantly highway, with 95% of the drive on major roads, making it efficient. Expect a fuel cost of around $19 for this trip. The drive stays within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania, offering a consistent travel experience throughout.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
58.3 miles from Allentown, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 10m into the drive
.
Exit 131Toward I 81, US 6, US 11: Clarks Summit, Scranton
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward I 81, US 6 East: Binghamton, Wilkes-Barre
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·1 min
Toward Binghamton
8
Merge onto I 81
37 mi·42 min·I 81
9
Take the exit
0.1 mi·24 sec
Toward PA 171: Great Bend, Susquehanna
10
Turn left onto PA 171
0.2 mi·25 sec·State Route 171
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn right onto US 11
0.4 mi·48 sec·US 11
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Turn right onto Williams Street
76 ft·3 sec·Williams Street
13
Arrive at destination
Williams Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 2 hours and 20 minutes, this trip offers a lot of flexibility. You can depart anytime that suits your schedule, but leaving in the morning will give you ample time to enjoy your destination without feeling rushed. With no specific stops recommended, consider using the longest stretch on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension as a marker for when you might want to take a quick break if needed. The estimated fuel cost of $19 is quite manageable, so factor that into your budget.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 58.3 miles from Allentown, PA, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 73.5 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 26 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.3 miles or 1h 10m 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 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Great Bend, 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 116.6 miles and 2h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Allentown, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension for about 73.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.9 and 116.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
4.9 mi into trip|~8m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 476 North: Scranton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 476 North: Scranton
6
78.8 mi into trip|~1h 34m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 81, US 6 East: Binghamton, Wilkes-Barre
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 81, US 6 East: Binghamton, Wilkes-Barr...
5
79.1 mi into trip|~1h 35m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Binghamton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward Binghamton
5
115.9 mi into trip|~2h 18m in
Take the exit toward PA 171: Great Bend, Susquehanna
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward PA 171: Great Bend, Susquehanna
5
116.1 mi into trip|~2h 18m in|PA 171 / State Route 171
Turn left onto PA 171 / State Route 171
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.33 one way
$38.66 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$21.17
$42.34
premium
$4.93
$22.61
$45.23
diesel
$5.61
$25.74
$51.49
Estimated Tolls: $9.55
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(73.5 mi)$9.55
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
$19
Tolls
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35
0
$12.24
$5.60
Efficient EV
29.2
0
$10.20
$4.66
EV Truck/SUV
46.6
0
$16.32
$7.46
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 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 20, 2026
Origin
Allentown, PA
Late night
in Allentown on Tuesday
Local time
5:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Great Bend, PA
Late night
in Great Bend on Tuesday
Local time
5:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 20m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive for the most part, designed for covering distance. You'll spend nearly all of your time on major routes like the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and I-81. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 73.5 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, so be prepared for a significant period of consistent highway travel. While the majority is highway, you will navigate local roads like Tilghman Street near the start.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 73.5 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.9 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 116.6 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 4.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 78.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 79.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 Great Bend, PA, road signs point toward Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and Binghamton.
Scranton
78 mi in|~1h 32m|via I 476; PATP
Wilkes-Barre
78.8 mi in|~1h 34m
Binghamton
79.1 mi in|~1h 35m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 20m. Total distance: 116.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 73.5 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $9.55 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.
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 Great Bend, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 78.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 79.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Great Bend, PA before heading back.
