Centre County Rest Area Westbound
0 mi from route
Trip from Allentown, PA to Russell, PA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 57m
Distance
277.6 mi
447 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$49
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 44m
★
6 AM
5h 57m
8 AM
6h 23m
10 AM
6h 7m
12 PM
6h 4m
3 PM
6h 8m
5 PM
6h 22m
8 PM
5h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Allentown, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Russell, PA
FurtherMore Studio
Trip Overview
Allentown to Russell is 277.6 miles and takes about 5h 57m via Keystone Shortway, with a fuel budget near $47 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Pennsylvania, beginning in the Northeast region and heading toward the same region. The route is primarily on surface roads, offering a more connected-to-the-landscape experience than a pure interstate trip. With a recommended one-day drive, it's a straightforward option for getting from point A to point B across the state.
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
138.8 miles from Allentown, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 47m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Keystone Shortway | 112.9 mi | 2h 1m |
| William Penn Highway | 21.7 mi | 26m |
| US 219 | 12.3 mi | 18m |
| 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 |
| Montmorenci Road | 8.8 mi | 13m |
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 112.9 mi, about 2h 1m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 36 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,050 veh/hr typical · worst 1,469
Quietest
2 AM
~189 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 103 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 Russell, 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 29
Toward PA 61 North: Pottsville
Use the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 29
Toward 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
113 mi
·
2 hr 1 min
·
Keystone Shortway
27
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward PA 153: Clearfield, Penfield
28
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
29
Turn straight onto PA 153
7.5 mi
·
13 min
·
State Park Road
30
Continue on PA 153
5.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Hoovertown Road
31
Continue on PA 153
3.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Penfield Road
32
At end of road, turn right onto US 219
12 mi
·
18 min
·
US 219
33
Turn right onto PA 948
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Montmorenci Avenue
34
Continue on PA 948
8.8 mi
·
13 min
·
Montmorenci Road
35
Continue on PA 948
5.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Highland Road
36
At end of road, turn left onto PA 66
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Kane-Russell City Road
37
Take the exit onto PA 948
8.6 mi
·
12 min
·
PA 948
38
Continue on PA 666
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
PA 666
39
At end of road, turn left onto US 6
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Street
40
Continue on US 6
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
41
Continue on US 6
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
South Main Street
42
Continue on US 6
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
43
Continue on US 6
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Main Street
44
Continue on US 6
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Crescent Park
Use the straight lane.
45
Continue on Crescent Park
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Crescent Park
Use the right lane.
46
Turn right onto Hickory Bridge
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Hickory Bridge
Use the right lane.
47
Continue on Hickory Street
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Hickory Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
48
Turn right onto US 62
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
West 4th Avenue
49
Turn left onto US 62
6.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Market Street
50
Turn right onto Liberty Street
175 ft
·
7 sec
·
Liberty Street
51
Turn slight left onto East Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
East Street
52
Turn left onto Main Street
54 ft
·
2 sec
·
Main Street
53
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
Starting your drive from Allentown in the morning is a good plan, allowing you to reach Russell with plenty of daylight. Since this is a single-day trip at under 6 hours, you have flexibility in your timing. Plan for one stop, perhaps around the halfway point, to stretch your legs and refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you move onto the surface road portions, as stations might be less frequent than on major interstates. The $47 fuel estimate is a good baseline for budgeting.
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 138.8 miles from Allentown, PA, or about 2h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 112.9 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 61 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 138.8 miles or 2h 47m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Russell, 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 277.6 miles and 5h 57m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 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 112.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
139 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 61 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 138.8 miles from Allentown, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Keystone Shortway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 112.9 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.
Montour County Rest Area Westbound
0 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Clinton County Rest Area Eastbound
0.1 mi from route
Centre County Rest Area Eastbound
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Sapp Brothers Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Clinton County Rest Area Westbound
0.2 mi from route
Montour County Rest Area Eastbound
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Allentown Service Plaza
1 mi from route
Allegheny National Forest
4.8
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Near the end, ~11 min detour
Home stretch
4.3 mi from route
~11 min detour
Marienville, Pennsylvania
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18149275700
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 285 decision points cluster between mile 27.5 and 270 — 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
5
28 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
PA 61 / Pottsville Pike
Merge onto PA 61 / Pottsville Pike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
44.3 mi into trip
|
~57m in
|
US 209 / Mauch Chunk Street
Turn left onto US 209 / Mauch Chunk Street
Navigation decision point
6
270 mi into trip
|
~5h 47m in
|
Hickory Bridge
Turn right onto Hickory Bridge
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$48.85 one way
$97.71 round trip
$4.47/gal
25.4 MPG avg
97 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.89 | $53.42 | $106.84 |
| premium | $5.23 | $57.12 | $114.23 |
| diesel | $6.18 | $67.53 | $135.06 |
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
$49
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 97.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 83.3 | 1 | $29.15 | $13.32 |
| Efficient EV | 69.4 | 0 | $24.29 | $11.10 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 111 | 1 | $38.86 | $17.77 |
Gas CO2
97 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% 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.
Origin
Allentown, PA
Morning in Allentown on Saturday
Local time
7:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
S 5 to 10 mph
95% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Russell, PA
Morning in Russell on Saturday
Local time
7:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
W 13 mph
97% chance
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
9 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
5h 57m 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.
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 47.9
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is mostly surface roads, with only about 13% of the drive on highways. You'll experience a solid 112.9-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway before transitioning to surface travel. Expect to navigate through more local traffic and potentially encounter more traffic signals as you move away from the limited highway sections. The profile suggests a route that keeps you closer to the ground, with less high-speed cruising.
Only 13% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
53 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 112.9 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 Effort
9/10
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 28 significant decision points across 277.6 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 28 miles (PA 61 / Pottsville Pike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,106 ft
346 ft
Total Climb
2,921 ft
Total Descent
2,017 ft
Highest Point
2,106 ft
~198.3 mi in
Elevation Range
1,760 ft
Notable High Points
1,583 ft at ~119 miles
+603 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Allentown, PA to Russell, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Penfield along the way.
Penfield
199.3 mi in
|
~3h 52m
About the Cities
Starting in Allentown, PA
Full guide →Founded 1762
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
Arriving in Russell, PA
Full guide →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 57m. Total distance: 277.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 112.9 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 13 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 Russell, 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 13 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 28 miles (PA 61 / Pottsville Pike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Appalachian National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.0 hours each way, a round trip means 11.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Russell, 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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