Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 44m
Distance
133.2 mi
214 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
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
Lewistown, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Allentown to Lewistown is 133 miles and takes about 2 hours 44 minutes via US 322 and I-81, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania's Northeast region, offering a straightforward drive that transitions from highway cruising to surface roads. It's a solid choice for a single-day excursion when you want a manageable drive without extensive planning. The route is designed for a single day, making it easy to accomplish with a relaxed pace.
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
66.6 miles from Allentown, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 21m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 322 | 52 mi | 1h 3m |
| William Penn Highway | 43.1 mi | 51m |
| I 81 | 20.8 mi | 25m |
| 78th Division Highway | 7.6 mi | 8m |
| Tilghman Street | 5 mi | 8m |
| US 22 BUS | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| Lehigh Valley Thruway | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| West Water Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Allentown, PA and Lewistown, 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 onto US 322
Keep slight right at fork onto US 322
Keep slight right at fork onto US 22 BUS
Turn right onto West Water Street
At end of road, turn left onto South Dorcas Street
Turn right onto Chestnut Street
Arrive at destination
Given the 2 hour 44 minute duration, leaving Allentown in the morning allows ample time to reach Lewistown comfortably. With only one recommended stop and a total distance of 133 miles, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. The fuel cost is estimated at $22, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before departing. Pay attention as you transition from I-81 onto US 322, as this is where the road character changes significantly.
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.
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 29 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66.6 miles or 1h 21m 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 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lewistown, 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 133.2 miles and 2h 44m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
67 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 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 66.6 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 5.8 and 130.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Merge onto I 78; US 22 / William Penn Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward I 81 South: Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the exit onto US 322 toward US 22 East, PA 230 East, US 22 West, US 322 West: Harrisburg, Lewistown, State College
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto US 322 toward US 22 West, US 322 West: Lewistown, State College
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto US 22 BUS toward US 22 Business West: Lewistown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$22.08 one way
$44.17 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $24.19 | $48.37 |
| premium | $4.93 | $25.83 | $51.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $29.41 | $58.82 |
Estimated Tolls: $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
$22
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 40 | 0 | $13.99 | $6.39 |
| Efficient EV | 33.3 | 0 | $11.65 | $5.33 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 53.3 | 0 | $18.65 | $8.52 |
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 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 Tuesday
Local time
8:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Morning in Lewistown on Tuesday
Local time
8:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
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
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This 133-mile route features a 57% highway share, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on faster roads like I-81 before transitioning. The longest stretch without a major change in road type is 52 miles on US 322. Expect a mixed driving experience, moving from potentially dense highway exits to more open surface road cruising. The transition from highway to surface roads happens gradually.
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 5.8 miles in near I 78; US 22 / William Penn Highway.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 133.2 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 5.8 miles (I 78; US 22 / William Penn Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 56.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 78.1 miles (US 322): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
478 ft
Total Descent
321 ft
Highest Point
620 ft
~38.1 mi in
Elevation Range
274 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Allentown, PA to Lewistown, PA, road signs begin pointing toward State College along the way.
State College
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.
Founded 1790
Lewistown is a city in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 44m. Total distance: 133.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (57%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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