Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 50m
Distance
192.9 mi
310 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
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
Tipton, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Allentown to Tipton is 192.9 miles and takes about 3h 50m via Keystone Shortway and William Penn Highway, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to the same region. Expect a route with frequent turns, suggesting a more local and less highway-focused experience overall. With a recommended one-day drive time and a manageable distance, this trip is well-suited for a spontaneous excursion or a planned day trip.
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
96.5 miles from Allentown, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 1m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Keystone Shortway | 63.1 mi | 1h 8m |
| Jacksonville Road | 24.2 mi | 28m |
| William Penn Highway | 21.7 mi | 26m |
| I 99 | 16.7 mi | 17m |
| 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 |
Step-by-step road directions between Allentown, PA and Tipton, PA.
Start on Tilghman Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 22
Merge onto I 78; US 22
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto PA 61
Continue on PA 61
Continue on PA 61
Continue on PA 61
Continue on PA 61
Turn left onto US 209
At end of road, turn right onto US 209
Turn left onto US 209
Continue on US 209; PA 901
At end of road, turn left onto PA 901
Continue on PA 901
Continue on PA 901
Continue on PA 901
Continue on PA 54; PA 901
Continue on PA 54
Turn right onto PA 54
Continue on PA 54
Continue on PA 54
Take the exit
Merge onto I 80
Take the exit
Turn left onto US 220; PA 26
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220
Take the exit
At end of road, turn left onto US 220 Business
Turn right onto Tipton Road
Turn right onto Mainline Drive
Arrive at destination
Given the 3h 50m estimated drive time, starting your trip in the morning will give you ample daylight to reach Tipton comfortably. While only one stop is noted, consider breaking up the 192.9 miles with a brief pause, especially since the drive is characterized by frequent turns. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge; the estimated cost is $32, but it's always wise to top off before embarking on a route with limited highway stretches. A good tip is to familiarize yourself with the primary roads like the Keystone Shortway and William Penn Highway beforehand, as they form the backbone of this predominantly local drive.
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.
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 42 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 96.5 miles or 2h 1m 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 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tipton, 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 192.9 miles and 3h 50m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
96 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 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 96.5 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 63.1 miles.
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 27.5 and 174 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward PA 61 North: Pottsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward PA 61 North: Pottsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Merge onto PA 61 / Pottsville Pike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 99 South, US 220 South, PA 26: Bellefonte
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto I 99; US 220 toward I 99 South, US 220 South: Port Matilda, Altoona
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$31.98 one way
$63.96 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $35.03 | $70.05 |
| premium | $4.93 | $37.41 | $74.82 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $42.59 | $85.18 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.79
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
$32
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 57.9 | 0 | $20.25 | $9.26 |
| Efficient EV | 48.2 | 0 | $16.88 | $7.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 77.2 | 0 | $27.01 | $12.35 |
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
23 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 Sunday
Local time
7:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Morning in Tipton on Sunday
Local time
7:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This route features a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, with only 16% of the journey on highways. You'll navigate primarily using roads like the Keystone Shortway, Jacksonville Road, and William Penn Highway, indicating a more direct, less freeway-oriented experience. The longest continuous stretch without a significant turn or change in road type is 63.1 miles on the Keystone Shortway. Be prepared for a driving experience that demands more attention to navigation and road conditions compared to a pure interstate journey.
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.
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 21 significant decision points across 192.9 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.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Allentown, PA to Tipton, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Altoona along the way.
Altoona
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 50m. Total distance: 192.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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