Avalon, PA to Haverford, PA is 300.8 miles and takes about 5h 48m via Pennsylvania Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $50 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily takes place within Pennsylvania, making it a straightforward journey across the state. Expect a highway-focused experience for most of the trip, with a very high percentage of your mileage on major roads. With its relatively short duration and predictable route, this trip is well-suited for a single-day drive if you're looking to cover ground efficiently.
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
150.4 miles from Avalon, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
270.5 mi
4h 54m
Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
13.6 mi
18m
Ohio River Boulevard
4.6 mi
8m
West Montgomery Avenue
4.3 mi
9m
I 76
3.9 mi
6m
South Gulph Road
0.6 mi
1m
Elizabeth Avenue
0.3 mi
1m
Fort Duquesne Bridge
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 270.5 mi, about 4h 54m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Avalon, PA and Haverford, PA.
1
Start on this road
52 ft·5 sec·this road
2
Turn right
72 ft·7 sec
3
Turn right onto California Avenue
0.2 mi·37 sec·California Avenue
4
Turn right onto Elizabeth Avenue
0.3 mi·1 min·Elizabeth Avenue
5
At end of road, turn left onto PA 65
4.6 mi·8 min·Ohio River Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork
328 ft·6 sec
Toward I 279 South: Downtown Pittsburgh, Fort Pitt Bridge, Airport, Monroeville
7
Continue on this road
0.3 mi·28 sec·this road
Exit 1B-CToward US 19, PA 65: North Shore, Ohio River Boulevard
8
Continue on I 279
0.2 mi·22 sec·Fort Duquesne Bridge
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward Downtown, MonroevilleUse the straight / slight left lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward Downtown PittsburghUse the slight left lane.
11
Continue on Fort Pitt Boulevard
0.2 mi·20 sec·Fort Pitt Boulevard
12
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 376 East: Monroeville
13
Merge onto I 376; US 22; US 30
14 mi·18 min·Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·1 min
Exit 85Toward I 76, PATP: Ohio, Harrisburg
15
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·30 sec·this road
Use the straight lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward I 76 East: HarrisburgUse the slight right lane.
17
Merge onto I 76; PATP
271 mi·4 hr 54 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit onto I 76
3.9 mi·6 min·I 76
Exit 326Toward I 76 East: Valley Forge, PhiladelphiaUse the slight right lane.
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 330Toward PA 320: Gulph MillsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork
340 ft·9 sec
Toward PA 320 South: VillanovaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Turn straight onto PA 320
0.6 mi·1 min·South Gulph Road
22
Continue on PA 320
4.3 mi·9 min·West Montgomery Avenue
23
Turn left onto Woodside Road
525 ft·23 sec·Woodside Road
24
Turn left onto Winsor Lane
343 ft·18 sec·Winsor Lane
25
Turn left
10 ft·0 sec
26
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 5h 48m estimated drive time, starting in the morning is recommended to ensure you arrive with plenty of daylight. While the longest stretch on the Pennsylvania Turnpike is 270.5 miles, it's wise to plan for at least one stop for fuel and a break, especially with a $50 fuel budget. Keep an eye on the mileage on the Turnpike itself, as it's easy to cover significant distances quickly. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility, but a mid-drive stop will make the 300.8-mile journey more comfortable.
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 150.4 miles from Avalon, PA, or about 2h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 270.5 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 66 miles or 1h 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 150.4 miles or 2h 55m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Haverford, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Avalon, 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 Avalon, PA
This is one driving day of about 300.8 miles and 5h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 miles from Avalon, 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 Pennsylvania Turnpike for about 270.5 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.8 and 295.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
5.8 mi into trip|~11m in
Take the exit toward Downtown, Monroeville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward Downtown, Monroeville
8
6 mi into trip|~12m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Downtown Pittsburgh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Downtown Pittsburgh
8
20.8 mi into trip|~34m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 76 East: Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 76 East: Harrisburg
8
291.5 mi into trip|~5h 29m in|I 76
Take the exit onto I 76 toward I 76 East: Valley Forge, Philadelphia
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 326
Toward I 76 East: Valley Forge, Philadelphia
7
295.4 mi into trip|~5h 35m in
Take the exit toward PA 320: Gulph Mills
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 330
Toward PA 320: Gulph Mills
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.87 one way
$99.74 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg105 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$54.62
$109.24
premium
$4.93
$58.34
$116.67
diesel
$5.61
$66.41
$132.83
Estimated Tolls: $35.17
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(270.5 mi)$35.17
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
$50
Tolls
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$110–$135
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 105.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
90.2
1
$31.58
$14.44
Efficient EV
75.2
0
$26.32
$12.03
EV Truck/SUV
120.3
1
$42.11
$19.25
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 18, 2026
Origin
Avalon, PA
Night
in Avalon on Saturday
Local time
10:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Haverford, PA
Night
in Haverford on Saturday
Local time
10:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
54°F
Hancock, MD
150 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
11 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
5h 48m 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.
Valley Forge National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Valley Forge is the place where George Washington and the Continental Army took refuge during the winter of 1777-1778. Today the park protects 3,500 acres of meadows, woodlands, historic landscapes, a...
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Free
near mile 290.4
Park Closure: Sun, Apr 19 - Park Entrance and Tour Roads Temporarily Closed for Rev Run
Park Closure: Admin Parking Lot Closed Fri 4/17 Until Sun 4/19 at Noon for Rev Run Setup
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...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 186.7
On Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, the U.S. came under attack when four commercial airliners were hijacked and used to strike targets on the ground. Nearly 3,000 people tragically lost their live...
The park represents the founding ideals of the nation, and preserves national and international symbols of freedom and democracy, including Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. The Declaration of I...
Visit the house where wounded Polish freedom fighter Thaddeus Kosciuszko lived and hear how this brilliant military engineer designed successful fortifications during the American Revolution. See the...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
Free
near mile 300.8
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...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 228.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is overwhelmingly a highway-focused drive, with 96% of the mileage on major roads. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, experiencing a long, uninterrupted stretch of 270.5 miles. While the Penn-Lincoln Parkway East and Ohio River Boulevard offer brief introductions and conclusions to the journey, the core of this drive is on high-speed, limited-access highways. Expect a consistent driving experience with minimal changes in road type until the very beginning and end.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 270.5 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and Penn-Lincoln Parkway East. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.8 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
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 20 significant decision points across 300.8 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 5.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Between Avalon, PA and Haverford, PA, road signs point toward Patp: Ohio and Harrisburg.
Patp: Ohio
20.4 mi in|~32m
Harrisburg
20.4 mi in|~32m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 48m. Total distance: 300.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 270.5 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $35.17 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Haverford, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Valley Forge National Historical Park, Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument and Flight 93 National Memorial (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Haverford, PA before the return drive.
