Allentown to Meyersdale is 229.2 miles and takes about 4h 32m via Pennsylvania Turnpike and I-81, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, moving you from the Northeast region towards the western part of the state. With 67% of the drive on highways, expect a fairly straightforward commute for most of the 4.5 hours. This route is best suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to cover the distance efficiently.
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
114.6 miles from Allentown, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
116.8 mi
2h 9m
William Penn Highway
43.1 mi
51m
I 81
36.6 mi
44m
Flight 93 Memorial Highway
9.6 mi
11m
78th Division Highway
7.6 mi
8m
Tilghman Street
5 mi
8m
Berlin Plank Road
2 mi
3m
Mason Dixon Highway
1.9 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 116.8 mi, about 2h 9m
Traffic on I-81
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 56 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,821 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,332
Quietest
1 AM
~392 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 101 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 Meyersdale, 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 1BToward 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 52Toward US 11: New Kingstown, MiddlesexUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
201 ft·7 sec
Toward US 11 SouthUse 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: PittsburghUse the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto I 76; PATP
117 mi·2 hr 9 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
Toward US 219: Somerset, JohnstownUse the slight right lane.
15
Continue on Ramada Road
0.3 mi·34 sec·Ramada Road
Toward US 219: Somerset, Johnstown
16
Continue on North Pleasant Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·North Pleasant Avenue
17
Turn left onto PA 31
0.3 mi·30 sec·East Main Street
18
Turn slight right onto Berlin Plank Road
2.0 mi·3 min·Berlin Plank Road
19
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·45 sec
Toward US 219 South
20
Merge onto US 219
9.6 mi·11 min·Flight 93 Memorial Highway
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward US 219 Business: Meyersdale, GarrettUse the slight right lane.
22
Turn left onto US 219 Business
1.9 mi·3 min·Mason Dixon Highway
Use the straight lane.
23
Continue on US 219 Business
0.5 mi·52 sec·Grant Street
24
Turn left onto Center Street
106 ft·10 sec·Center Street
25
Keep slight right at fork onto Meyers Avenue
313 ft·13 sec·Meyers Avenue
26
Arrive at destination
Meyers Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 32m estimated drive time, leaving Allentown in the morning is your best bet for completing this trip in one day. You'll have one recommended stop, and the $39 fuel cost suggests you'll want to keep an eye on your tank, especially during the 116.8-mile stretch on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Consider filling up before you begin the longest highway segment. Since this is a single-day drive, you have flexibility with your departure time and can adjust your pace as needed.
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 114.6 miles from Allentown, PA, or about 2h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 116.8 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 50 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 114.6 miles or 2h 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Meyersdale, 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 229.2 miles and 4h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 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 116.8 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 93.8 and 226.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
212.6 mi into trip|~4h 9m in
Take the exit toward US 219: Somerset, Johnstown
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 US 219: Somerset, Johnstown
7
226.3 mi into trip|~4h 27m in
Take the exit toward US 219 Business: Meyersdale, Garrett
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 US 219 Business: Meyersdale, Garrett
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.03 one way
$80.06 round trip
$4.44/gal25.4 MPG avg80 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.86
$43.83
$87.66
premium
$5.20
$46.89
$93.77
diesel
$6.28
$56.63
$113.26
Estimated Tolls: $15.24
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(116.8 mi)$15.19
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
$40
Tolls
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 80.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68.8
0
$24.07
$11.00
Efficient EV
57.3
0
$20.06
$9.17
EV Truck/SUV
91.7
1
$32.09
$14.67
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Allentown, PA
Morning
in Allentown on Saturday
Local time
7:40 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Widespread Frost then Sunny
NE 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 18 at 10:42PM EDT until October 19 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS State College PA
Destination
Meyersdale, PA
Morning
in Meyersdale on Saturday
Local time
7:40 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°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
21 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
4h 32m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument
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...
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...
On Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, the U.S. came under attack when four commercial airliners were hijacked and used to strike targets on the ground. Nearly 3,000 people tragically lost their live...
6 mi from route
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 205.4
The South Fork Dam failed on Friday, May 31, 1889, and unleashed 20,000,000 tons of water that devastated Johnstown, PA. The flood killed 2,209 people but it brought the nation and the world together...
25 mi from route
~62 min detour
Free
near mile 181.7
The battle at Fort Necessity in the summer of 1754 was the opening action of the French and Indian War. This war was a clash of British, French and American Indian cultures. It ended with the removal...
30 mi from route
~74 min detour
Free
near mile 221.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 67% of your time on highways, covering a significant portion of the 229.2 miles. The longest continuous highway stretch is 116.8 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. After this, you'll transition to surface roads like the William Penn Highway for the remainder of your trip, likely noticing a change in traffic patterns and speed limits. Expect a mix of efficient highway cruising and more local road driving.
67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 116.8 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 93.8 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 19 significant decision points across 229.2 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 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; at 95.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,111 ft346 ft
Total Climb
2,054 ft
Total Descent
413 ft
Highest Point
2,111 ft
~212.8 mi in
Elevation Range
1,765 ft
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 Meyersdale, PA, road signs point toward Middlesex, Patp and Johnstown.
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 4h 32m. Total distance: 229.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 116.8 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $15.24 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.
Yes — we found about 22 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 Meyersdale, 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 22 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 95.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument, Appalachian National Scenic Trail and Flight 93 National Memorial (5 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Meyersdale, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
