Allentown to South Bend is 263.7 miles and takes about 5h 15m via Keystone Shortway, William Penn Highway, and Dowler Highway, with a fuel budget near $47 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, connecting the Northeast region from Allentown to South Bend. With a drive time of just over five hours and a mostly surface road profile, it’s a manageable one-day excursion. The estimated fuel cost of $47 makes it an economical option for a quick getaway.
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
131.9 miles from Allentown, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 39m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
103.9 mi
1h 51m
William Penn Highway
21.7 mi
26m
Dowler Highway
20.1 mi
23m
Locust Gap Highway
11.5 mi
13m
Centre Turnpike
10.6 mi
12m
Mahaffey Grampian Highway
9.8 mi
11m
South Market Street
9.7 mi
11m
Sunbury Road
9.4 mi
11m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 103.9 mi, about 1h 51m
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
12a6anoon6p11p
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 South Bend, 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
104 mi·1 hr 51 min·Keystone Shortway
27
Take the exit
0.3 mi·49 sec
Toward PA 879: Clearfield, Shawville
28
Turn left onto PA 879
4.3 mi·6 min·Clearfield Shawville Highway
29
Turn left onto PA 879
2.0 mi·2 min·Clearfield Curwensville Highway
30
Continue on PA 879
0.4 mi·24 sec·Curwensville Grampain Highway
31
Continue on PA 879
2.6 mi·2 min·Curwensville Grampian Highway
32
Continue on PA 879
4.7 mi·5 min·Curwensville Grampian Road
33
Continue on PA 879
0.7 mi·47 sec·1st Street
34
Continue on US 219
9.8 mi·11 min·Mahaffey Grampian Highway
35
Continue on US 219
0.6 mi·39 sec·West Main Street
36
Continue on US 219; PA 36
1.9 mi·2 min·Colonel Drake Highway
37
Continue on US 219
515 ft·6 sec·Burnside - McGees Highway
38
Continue on US 219
4.2 mi·4 min·Burnside McGee Highway
39
Keep slight right at fork onto PA 286
20 mi·23 min·Dowler Highway
40
Continue on PA 286
6.7 mi·7 min·Route 286 Highway East
41
Keep slight right at fork onto PA 286
3.1 mi·5 min·PA 286
Toward PA 286 West: Indiana
42
Continue on West Pike Road
0.2 mi·15 sec·West Pike Road
43
Continue on Philadelphia Street
0.5 mi·49 sec·Philadelphia Street
44
Continue on US 422 Business
1.6 mi·2 min·West Pike Road
45
Take the ramp onto US 422 Business
0.4 mi·53 sec·US 422 Business
Toward US 422: Kittanning
46
Continue on US 422; PA 56
4.8 mi·6 min·US 422; PA 56
47
Turn left onto PA 56; PA 156
4.3 mi·6 min·PA 56; PA 156
Use the left lane.
48
Turn left onto Ole Mill Drive
300 ft·13 sec·Ole Mill Drive
49
Arrive at destination
Ole Mill Drive
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 15m duration, departing Allentown in the morning is your best bet to arrive in South Bend with plenty of daylight left. You'll only have one recommended stop, so plan for that to be a longer break to stretch your legs and grab a bite. With a fuel cost estimate of $47, it’s wise to fill up before you leave Allentown, as there aren't extensive services noted on this particular stretch. The longest segment without a planned stop is 103.9 miles on the Keystone Shortway, so ensure you have snacks or entertainment for that portion.
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 131.9 miles from Allentown, PA, or about 2h 39m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 103.9 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 58 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 131.9 miles or 2h 39m 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 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Bend, 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 263.7 miles and 5h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 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 103.9 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 27.5 and 82.5 — 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
5
82.5 mi into trip|~1h 45m in|PA 54 / Danville-Riverside Bridge Road
Turn right onto PA 54 / Danville-Riverside Bridge Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.05 one way
$92.11 round trip
$4.44/gal25.4 MPG avg92 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.86
$50.42
$100.85
premium
$5.20
$53.94
$107.89
diesel
$6.28
$65.16
$130.31
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
$46
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
79.1
0
$27.69
$12.66
Efficient EV
65.9
0
$23.07
$10.55
EV Truck/SUV
105.5
1
$36.92
$16.88
Gas CO2
92 kg
EV CO2
31 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
Evening
in Allentown on Saturday
Local time
6:01 PM
EDT
Current temp
33°F
Widespread Frost
0 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
South Bend, PA
Evening
in South Bend on Saturday
Local time
6:01 PM
EDT
Current temp
33°F
Clear
E 1 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
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
5h 15m 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...
22 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 54.6
Park Closure: List of trail closures post-Hurricane Helene
Caution: Black Bears Frequenting the McAfee Knob Area in Virginia
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...
27 mi from route
~67 min detour
Free
near mile 236.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route covers 263.7 miles with only a 12% highway share, meaning you'll spend most of your time on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a major road is 103.9 miles on the Keystone Shortway. Expect to transition from limited-access highways to more typical local roads with intersections and varied speed limits. The profile indicates mostly surface roads, so be prepared for a more rural cruising experience outside of any brief highway segments.
Only 12% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
49 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 103.9 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 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 22 significant decision points across 263.7 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
1,664 ft346 ft
Total Climb
2,476 ft
Total Descent
1,863 ft
Highest Point
1,664 ft
~169.5 mi in
Elevation Range
1,318 ft
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 South Bend, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Shawville along the way.
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 5h 15m. Total distance: 263.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 103.9 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 15 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 South Bend, 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 15 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 and Johnstown Flood National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at South Bend, PA before the return drive.
