Allentown to Lawrence Park is 363.6 miles and takes about 6h 56m via Keystone Shortway and I 79, with a fuel budget near $61 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, connecting the Northeast region from start to finish. With most of the drive on surface roads, expect a more local feel rather than a high-speed interstate cruise. Given the 6h 56m estimated drive time, it's a solid day trip, but you could also break it up if you prefer a more leisurely pace. Plan for about 22% of your travel to be on highways.
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
181.8 miles from Allentown, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 33m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
204 mi
3h 39m
I 79
65.8 mi
1h 10m
William Penn Highway
21.7 mi
26m
Locust Gap Highway
11.5 mi
13m
Centre Turnpike
10.6 mi
12m
South Market Street
9.7 mi
11m
Sunbury Road
9.4 mi
11m
West 12th Street
5.1 mi
10m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 204 mi, about 3h 39m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 26 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,074 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,411
Quietest
2 AM
~183 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Allentown, PA and Lawrence Park, 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
22 mi·26 min·William Penn Highway
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 29Toward PA 61 North: PottsvilleUse the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 29Toward PA 61 North: Pottsville
7
Merge onto PA 61
2.4 mi·3 min·Pottsville Pike
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on PA 61
11 mi·12 min·Centre Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on PA 61
3.0 mi·3 min·Route 61 South
10
Continue on PA 61
0.3 mi·18 sec·Pottsville Boulevard
11
Continue on PA 61
0.2 mi·20 sec·South Claude A. Lord Boulevard
12
Turn left onto US 209
0.1 mi·10 sec·Mauch Chunk Street
13
At end of road, turn right onto US 209
0.4 mi·38 sec·South Centre Street
14
Turn left onto US 209
2.3 mi·4 min·West Market Street
15
Continue on US 209; PA 901
1.8 mi·2 min·Pottsville Minersville Highway
Use the straight lane.
16
At end of road, turn left onto PA 901
0.8 mi·1 min·East Sunbury Street
17
Continue on PA 901
9.4 mi·11 min·Sunbury Road
18
Continue on PA 901
2.2 mi·2 min·Fairgrounds Road
19
Continue on PA 901
0.3 mi·43 sec·Locust Gap Highway
20
Continue on PA 54; PA 901
11 mi·13 min·Locust Gap Highway
21
Continue on PA 54
9.7 mi·11 min·South Market Street
22
Turn right onto PA 54
0.3 mi·45 sec·Danville-Riverside Bridge Road
Use the right lane.
23
Continue on PA 54
0.1 mi·19 sec·Factory Street
Use the straight lane.
24
Continue on PA 54
3.0 mi·3 min·Continental Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
26
Merge onto I 80
204 mi·3 hr 39 min·Keystone Shortway
27
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 79 North: Erie
28
Merge onto I 79
66 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 79
29
Take the exit
0.3 mi·49 sec
Exit 183AToward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
30
Turn right onto PA 5; PA 290
5.1 mi·10 min·West 12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
31
At end of road, turn left onto PA 5
0.5 mi·1 min·Franklin Avenue
Use the left lane.
32
Turn right onto PA 5
0.8 mi·1 min·East Lake Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
33
Turn right onto Lawrence Parkway
341 ft·8 sec·Lawrence Parkway
34
Arrive at destination
Lawrence Parkway
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 363.6-mile drive, consider leaving Allentown in the morning to take advantage of the full daylight. With a total estimated drive time of just under 7 hours, it's achievable in a single day, but you do have one scheduled stop which might add time depending on your needs. The longest stretch without a significant break is 204 miles on the Keystone Shortway, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially as you move from highway to surface roads, as gas stations may be less frequent in some stretches.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 181.8 miles from Allentown, PA, or about 3h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 204 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 80 miles or 1h 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 181.8 miles or 3h 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lawrence Park, 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 363.6 miles and 6h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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 Keystone Shortway for about 204 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 27.5 and 362.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
27.5 mi into trip|~36m in
Take the exit toward PA 61 North: Pottsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 29
Toward PA 61 North: Pottsville
7
27.7 mi into trip|~36m in
Keep slight right at fork toward PA 61 North: Pottsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 29
Toward PA 61 North: Pottsville
6
356.9 mi into trip|~6h 42m in
Take the exit toward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 183A
Toward PA 5 East, PA 290 East: 12th Street
7
362.2 mi into trip|~6h 53m in|PA 5 / Franklin Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto PA 5 / Franklin Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
362.7 mi into trip|~6h 54m in|PA 5 / East Lake Road
Turn right onto PA 5 / East Lake Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$57.98 one way
$115.95 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg127 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$64.16
$128.32
premium
$4.81
$68.83
$137.65
diesel
$4.80
$68.65
$137.31
Estimated Tolls: $0.79
Centre Turnpike
(10.6 mi)$0.74
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
$58
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$84–$109
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 127.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
109.1
1
$38.18
$17.45
Efficient EV
90.9
1
$31.82
$14.54
EV Truck/SUV
145.4
1
$50.90
$23.27
Gas CO2
127 kg
EV CO2
43 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Allentown, PA
Late night
in Allentown on Sunday
Local time
5:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
W 5 to 10 mph86% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 10:02PM EDT until July 19 at 7:00AM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 10:01PM EDT until July 19 at 6:00AM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA
Destination
Lawrence Park, PA
Late night
in Lawrence Park on Sunday
Local time
5:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Patchy Smoke
N 9 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 10:02PM EDT until July 19 at 7:00AM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 10:01PM EDT until July 19 at 6:00AM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA
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
1 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
6h 56m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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.
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...
21 mi from route
~52 min detour
Free
near mile 50.2
Park Closure: List of trail closures post-Hurricane Helene
Caution: Black Bears Frequenting the McAfee Knob Area in Virginia
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route features 22% highway driving, meaning you'll spend most of your time on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on highways is 204 miles on the Keystone Shortway. After the highway sections, you'll transition to primarily surface roads, which often means more varied speed limits and potentially more traffic signals. Be prepared for a more rural cruising experience for significant portions of the drive.
Only 22% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 204 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 27.5 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 363.6 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 27.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 356.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,624 ft346 ft
Total Climb
2,075 ft
Total Descent
1,777 ft
Highest Point
1,624 ft
~181.8 mi in
Elevation Range
1,278 ft
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
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.
Top landmarks
•Albertus L. Meyers Bridge — bridge in United States of America
•Allentown Masonic Temple — masonic temple in Allentown, Pennsylvania
•Allentown National Bank — bank building in Allentown, Pennsylvania
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 56m. Total distance: 363.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 56m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 204 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.79 in tolls one way, starting with Centre 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.
Yes — we found about 29 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Lawrence Park, 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. There are 29 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 356.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Appalachian National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.9 hours each way, a round trip means 13.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lawrence Park, PA before the return drive.
