This 78.9-mile drive from Allentown to Rutherford, Pennsylvania, is a straightforward 1-hour-and-43-minute journey primarily through the Northeast region of the state. With a fuel cost estimated at $13, this route is easily manageable as a single-day trip. It's a local drive with a turn-heavy profile, meaning you'll be navigating a variety of roads rather than just cruising on an interstate. You'll spend about 20% of your time on highways, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 43.1 miles on the William Penn Highway. This trip is best suited for those who prefer a more engaged driving experience with frequent changes in direction.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.4 miles from Allentown, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
William Penn Highway
43.1 mi
51m
I 81
15.7 mi
18m
78th Division Highway
7.6 mi
8m
Tilghman Street
5 mi
8m
Nyes Road
2.7 mi
5m
Creek Crossing Drive
0.8 mi
2m
Lehigh Valley Thruway
0.7 mi
<1m
Conway Road
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
William Penn Highway
— 43.1 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Allentown, PA and Rutherford, 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
16 mi·18 min·I 81
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Exit 72Toward Paxtonia, LinglestownUse the slight right lane.
9
Turn left onto North Mountain Road
0.4 mi·44 sec·North Mountain Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
10
Continue on South Mountain Road
0.2 mi·36 sec·South Mountain Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Turn left onto Jonestown Road
0.4 mi·1 min·Jonestown Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
Turn right onto Nyes Road
2.7 mi·5 min·Nyes Road
Use the right lane.
13
Turn right onto Union Deposit Road
0.2 mi·23 sec·Union Deposit Road
14
Turn slight left onto Conway Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Conway Road
15
Turn right onto Lyters Lane
0.2 mi·26 sec·Lyters Lane
16
Turn left onto Atticks Lane
0.1 mi·32 sec·Atticks Lane
17
Continue on Creek Crossing Drive
0.8 mi·2 min·Creek Crossing Drive
18
Turn right onto Jefferson Street
521 ft·28 sec·Jefferson Street
19
Turn left onto Rudy Alley
243 ft·17 sec·Rudy Alley
20
Arrive at destination
Rudy Alley
Trip Plan
Given its relatively short duration of 1 hour and 43 minutes, this 78.9-mile trip from Allentown to Rutherford is ideal for a single-day excursion, offering flexibility in your departure time. Plan for your estimated fuel cost of $13 and keep in mind the turn-heavy nature of the drive, so be prepared for frequent adjustments. While no specific stops are indicated, you'll have ample opportunity to pull over if needed, especially during the 43.1-mile stretch on the William Penn Highway. A practical tip: pay close attention to your GPS or map as you navigate the numerous turns characteristic of this route.
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 39.4 miles from Allentown, PA, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43.1 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 17 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.4 miles or 49m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rutherford, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Allentown, PA
This is one driving day of about 78.9 miles and 1h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Allentown, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on William Penn Highway for about 43.1 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.8 and 73.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
5.8 mi into trip|~9m in|I 78; US 22 / William Penn Highway
Merge onto I 78; US 22 / William Penn Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
56.5 mi into trip|~1h 9m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 81 South: Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 1B
Toward I 81 South: Harrisburg
8
72.9 mi into trip|~1h 28m in
Take the exit toward Paxtonia, Linglestown
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 72
Toward Paxtonia, Linglestown
5
73.3 mi into trip|~1h 29m in|North Mountain Road
Turn left onto North Mountain Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
5
73.9 mi into trip|~1h 30m in|Jonestown Road
Turn left onto Jonestown Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.08 one way
$26.16 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$14.33
$28.65
premium
$4.93
$15.30
$30.60
diesel
$5.61
$17.42
$34.84
Estimated Tolls: $0.05
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
$13
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.7
0
$8.28
$3.79
Efficient EV
19.7
0
$6.90
$3.16
EV Truck/SUV
31.6
0
$11.05
$5.05
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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
Morning
in Allentown on Tuesday
Local time
6:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Rutherford, PA
Morning
in Rutherford on Tuesday
Local time
6:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°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
2 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 43m 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.
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...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 51.7
Park Closure: List of trail closures post-Hurricane Helene
Caution: Black Bears Frequenting the McAfee Knob Area in Virginia
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...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 73.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, which is a change of pace from monotonous interstate travel. While 20% of the journey involves highway driving, you'll primarily be on local roads, including the William Penn Highway and 78th Division Highway, with I-81 offering a brief interlude. The longest continuous segment you'll encounter is 43.1 miles on the William Penn Highway. This means you'll experience a dynamic driving experience with frequent turns and varying road conditions, making it an engaging trip for those who enjoy active navigation.
Only 20% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 43.1 mi on William Penn Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 5.8 miles in near I 78; US 22 / William Penn Highway.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 78.9 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 72.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Rutherford, PA, road signs point toward Paxtonia and Linglestown.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 43m. Total distance: 78.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 43.1 miles on William Penn Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.05 in tolls one way, starting with Lehigh Valley Thruway. 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 Rutherford, PA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 72.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Appalachian National Scenic Trail and Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Rutherford, PA before heading back.
