Origin
Ambler, PA
Morning in Ambler on Tuesday
Local time
11:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ambler, PA to Philadelphia, PA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
32m
Distance
17 mi
27 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 30m
★
6 AM
0h 33m
8 AM
0h 38m
10 AM
0h 35m
12 PM
0h 34m
3 PM
0h 35m
5 PM
0h 38m
8 PM
0h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ambler, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Philadelphia, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Ambler to Philadelphia is a straightforward 23.3-mile journey that typically takes about 35 minutes. Because this is a short trip within the Northeast region, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $4 on fuel for the trek, making it a very economical commute. Since the route relies entirely on local roads rather than interstates, you will stay off major highways for the duration of the drive. It is an ideal distance for those seeking a quick transition from the suburbs into the city.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Washington Expressway | 4.5 mi | 6m |
| Ogontz Avenue | 3.7 mi | 6m |
| North 12th Street | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| Old York Road | 1.2 mi | 3m |
| Fort Washington Fort Washington Expressway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Germantown Avenue | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Belfield Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| North Broad Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Fort Washington Expressway
— 4.5 mi, about 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ambler, PA and Philadelphia, PA.
1
Start on South Ridge Avenue
33 ft
·
6 sec
·
South Ridge Avenue
2
Turn right onto East Butler Avenue
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
East Butler Avenue
3
Turn slight right onto Lindenwold Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Lindenwold Avenue
4
Turn right onto South Bethlehem Pike
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
South Bethlehem Pike
5
Turn left onto Highland Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Highland Avenue
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Toward PA 309 South, PATP: Philadelphia
Use the right lane.
7
Merge onto PA 309
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Fort Washington Expressway
8
Continue on PA 309
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Fort Washington Fort Washington Expressway
9
Continue on PA 309
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Fort Washington Expressway
10
Continue on PA 309
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
Limekiln Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on PA 309
3.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Ogontz Avenue
Use the left lane.
12
Continue on Belfield Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Belfield Avenue
13
Turn right onto Old York Road
1.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Old York Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Turn slight right onto Rising Sun Avenue
185 ft
·
7 sec
·
Rising Sun Avenue
15
Turn left onto Germantown Avenue
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Germantown Avenue
16
Turn right onto West Lehigh Avenue
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
West Lehigh Avenue
17
Turn left onto North 12th Street
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
North 12th Street
18
Turn right onto Callowhill Street
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Callowhill Street
19
Turn left onto PA 611
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
North Broad Street
20
Turn slight right onto PA 611
49 ft
·
0 sec
·
John F. Kennedy Boulevard
Use the right lane.
21
Turn left onto PA 611
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
North 15th Street
Use the left lane.
22
Turn slight left onto PA 611
379 ft
·
8 sec
·
South Penn Square
23
Keep slight left at fork onto South Penn Square
167 ft
·
2 sec
·
South Penn Square
24
Arrive at destination
South Penn Square
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 17 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Butler Avenue
Turn right onto East Butler Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
1.2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp toward PA 309 South, PATP: Philadelphia
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward PA 309 South, PATP: Philadelphia
4
11.6 mi into trip
|
~20m in
|
Old York Road
Turn right onto Old York Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
16.8 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
PA 611 / North 15th Street
Turn left onto PA 611 / North 15th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
17 mi into trip
|
~32m in
|
South Penn Square
Keep slight left at fork onto South Penn Square
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.82 one way
$5.64 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $3.09 | $6.17 |
| premium | $4.93 | $3.30 | $6.59 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.75 | $7.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.1 | 0 | $1.78 | $0.82 |
| Efficient EV | 4.3 | 0 | $1.49 | $0.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.8 | 0 | $2.38 | $1.09 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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.
Destination
Philadelphia, PA
Morning in Philadelphia on Tuesday
Local time
11:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
32m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention as you navigate your way into the heart of Philadelphia. With 0% of the trip spent on highways, you will be maneuvering through local streets rather than cruising on an open expressway. Your route relies on East Butler Avenue, Lindenwold Avenue, and South Bethlehem Pike to bridge the gap between your origin and destination. Because the longest stretch on any single road is 0 miles on East Butler Avenue, you should anticipate frequent turns and changing road conditions. This is a hands-on driving experience that prioritizes local navigation over speed.
31% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 4.5 mi on Fort Washington Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East Butler Avenue.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 17 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 32m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (East Butler Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.6 miles (Old York Road): Lane positioning matters here.
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 Ambler, PA to Philadelphia, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Patp: Philadelphia along the way.
Patp: Philadelphia
1.2 mi in
|
~3m
About the Cities
Starting in Ambler, PA
Full guide →Founded 1859
Arriving in Philadelphia, PA
Full guide →“City of Brotherly Love” · Founded 1682
Top landmarks
- • Independence Hall — historic building in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- • Liberty Bell — bell in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA that serves as a symbol of American inde...
- • Philadelphia Museum of Art — art museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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 32m. Total distance: 17 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (31%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 4.5 miles on Fort Washington Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Philadelphia, 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: near the start (East Butler Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.6 miles (Old York Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Independence National Historical Park, Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial and Valley Forge National Historical Park (4 total within detour distance). 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 Philadelphia, PA before heading back.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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