If you are planning a trip from Allentown to Tunkhannock, expect a straightforward journey spanning 85.8 miles. You can comfortably complete this drive in about 1 hour and 56 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. Your travel budget should account for approximately $14 in fuel costs for the round trip. Traveling entirely within Pennsylvania's Northeast region, the route keeps you on familiar territory as you head north. This is a practical, efficient path that bridges two distinct areas of the state without demanding too much of your time behind the wheel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.9 miles from Allentown, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Since this is a sub-two-hour drive, you have significant flexibility with your departure time to avoid potential traffic. While the route is short enough to drive straight through without scheduled stops, keeping an eye on your fuel gauge before entering the longer highway stretches is always a smart move. Because the turnpike makes up the longest portion of your trip, ensure you have your toll payment method ready to keep your movement efficient. Use the freedom of this quick drive to plan your arrival in Tunkhannock exactly when you need to be there, rather than worrying about mid-trip rest stops. Since there are no mandatory stops listed, you can easily tailor the pace to your personal comfort level.
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 42.9 miles from Allentown, PA, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.7 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 19 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.9 miles or 50m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tunkhannock, 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 85.8 miles and 1h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Allentown, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension for about 47.7 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.5 and 53.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
4.5 mi into trip|~7m in
Take the ramp toward I 476, PATP
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 476, PATP
7
4.9 mi into trip|~8m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 476 North: Scranton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 476 North: Scranton
3
5.3 mi into trip|~9m in|I 476; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Merge onto I 476; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Merge point - match speed before joining
6
53.1 mi into trip|~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward PA 115: Wilkes-Barre, Bear Creek
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 105
Toward PA 115: Wilkes-Barre, Bear Creek
4
53.8 mi into trip|~1h 3m in|PA 115 / Bear Creek Boulevard
Turn left onto PA 115 / Bear Creek Boulevard
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.22 one way
$28.45 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$15.58
$31.16
premium
$4.93
$16.64
$33.28
diesel
$5.61
$18.94
$37.89
Estimated Tolls: $6.20
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(47.7 mi)$6.20
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
$14
Tolls
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.7
0
$9.01
$4.12
Efficient EV
21.5
0
$7.51
$3.43
EV Truck/SUV
34.3
0
$12.01
$5.49
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (67% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Allentown, PA
Morning
in Allentown on Sunday
Local time
6:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Tunkhannock, PA
Morning
in Tunkhannock on Sunday
Local time
6:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
67°F
Hudson, PA
43 mi in
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 56m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 67% of your travel time spent on major routes. You will spend the bulk of your journey on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, which accounts for a 47.7-mile stretch of uninterrupted driving. Transitioning from the high-speed turnpike, the route eventually shifts to PA 309 and the Tunkhannock Highway. Expect a mix of efficient, fast-paced interstate cruising that gradually gives way to local highway driving as you approach your destination. The experience is consistent and functional, designed to get you between these two points with minimal navigation effort.
67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 47.7 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and Tunkhannock Highway. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 4.5 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 56m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.3 miles (I 476; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension): Merge point - match speed before joining.
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 Tunkhannock, PA, road signs point toward Patp and Bear Creek.
Patp
4.5 mi in|~7m
Bear Creek
53.1 mi in|~1h 1m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 56m. Total distance: 85.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 47.7 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $6.20 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. 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 4.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.3 miles (I 476; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension): Merge point - match speed before joining.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Tunkhannock, PA before heading back.
