Bensalem, PA to Chartiers, PA is 318.6 miles and takes about 6h 4m via the Pennsylvania Turnpike and I-70, with a fuel budget near $52 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Pennsylvania, offering a straightforward path across the state. With 98% of the route on major highways, it's designed for efficient travel. Consider this trip if you need to get from the Philadelphia area to western Pennsylvania with minimal fuss and a predictable timeline. It's a solid choice for a single-day transit.
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
159.3 miles from Bensalem, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
276.8 mi
5h 1m
I 70
20.6 mi
29m
Mon/Fayette Expressway
7.1 mi
7m
PA 88
6.6 mi
10m
Main Street
2.2 mi
4m
Street Road
1.9 mi
3m
Castile Run Road
0.9 mi
2m
Chartiers Road
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 276.8 mi, about 5h 1m
Traffic on I-70
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,285 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,526
Quietest
2 AM
~137 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 50 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 Bensalem, PA and Chartiers, PA.
1
Start on this road
135 ft·16 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto Knights Road
261 ft·7 sec·Knights Road
3
Turn left onto PA 132
1.9 mi·3 min·Street Road
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward US 1 North: Trenton
5
Merge onto US 1
0.3 mi·26 sec·Lincoln Highway
Toward US 1 North: Morrisville
6
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 276, PATPUse the right lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 276 Toll West: Harrisburg, AllentownUse the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 276; PATP
277 mi·5 hr 1 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto I 70
0.4 mi·54 sec·I 70
Toward I 70 West, US 119, PA Turnpike 66 Toll: Greensburg, Wheeling WV, New StantonUse the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70
20 mi·28 min·I 70
Toward I 70 West: New Stanton, Washington PA, Wheeling WV, Columbus OH
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward Toll PA 43: California, Pittsburgh
12
Merge onto PA Tpke 43
7.1 mi·7 min·Mon/Fayette Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit onto PA 88
0.5 mi·59 sec·PA 88
Exit 28Toward PA 88 South: West Brownsville, Fredericktown
14
Keep slight right at fork onto PA 88
6.1 mi·9 min·PA 88
15
Turn right onto SR 2039
2.2 mi·4 min·Main Street
16
Continue on Center Street
0.3 mi·42 sec·Center Street
17
Continue on Castile Run Road
0.9 mi·2 min·Castile Run Road
18
Continue on Seven Creeks Road
362 ft·10 sec·Seven Creeks Road
19
Continue on Chartiers Road
0.4 mi·53 sec·Chartiers Road
20
Arrive at destination
Chartiers Road
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 6-hour drive, aim for an early morning departure from Bensalem to avoid potential commuter traffic. The bulk of your travel will be on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, so plan your stops accordingly. With a longest stretch of 276.8 miles, consider a mid-drive break around the halfway point to stretch your legs and refuel. The estimated fuel cost is around $52, so ensure you have sufficient funds or a reliable payment method. Given it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility, but sticking to the highway profile means rest areas will be your primary amenity stops.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 159.3 miles from Bensalem, PA, or about 2h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 276.8 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 70 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 159.3 miles or 2h 56m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chartiers, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bensalem, 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 Bensalem, PA
This is one driving day of about 318.6 miles and 6h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 miles from Bensalem, 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 276.8 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.4 and 308.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
2.4 mi into trip|~4m in
Take the exit toward I 276, PATP
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 276, PATP
8
3 mi into trip|~5m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 276 Toll West: Harrisburg, Allentown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 276 Toll West: Harrisburg, Allentown
7
280 mi into trip|~5h 7m in|I 70
Take the exit onto I 70 toward I 70 West, US 119, PA Turnpike 66 Toll: Greensburg, Wheeling WV, New Stanton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 70 West, US 119, PA Turnpike 66 Toll:...
6
280.5 mi into trip|~5h 8m in|I 70
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70 toward I 70 West: New Stanton, Washington PA, Wheeling WV, Columbus OH
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 70 West: New Stanton, Washington PA, W...
6
308.1 mi into trip|~5h 45m in|PA 88
Take the exit onto PA 88 toward PA 88 South: West Brownsville, Fredericktown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 28
Toward PA 88 South: West Brownsville, Frederick...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$56.34 one way
$112.69 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg112 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$61.71
$123.43
premium
$5.24
$65.78
$131.55
diesel
$5.35
$67.11
$134.21
Estimated Tolls: $36.49
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(276.8 mi)$35.99
Mon/Fayette Expressway
(7.1 mi)$0.50
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
$56
Tolls
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$118–$143
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 111.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
95.6
1
$33.45
$15.29
Efficient EV
79.7
0
$27.88
$12.74
EV Truck/SUV
127.4
1
$44.60
$20.39
Gas CO2
111 kg
EV CO2
37 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 May 31, 2026
Origin
Bensalem, PA
Evening
in Bensalem on Wednesday
Local time
5:40 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Clear
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Chartiers, PA
Evening
in Chartiers on Wednesday
Local time
5:40 PM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Clear
N 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
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
6 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
6h 4m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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.
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...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 131.8
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...
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...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 230.7
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...
12 mi from route
~31 min detour
Free
near mile 87.9
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a nearly all-highway experience, with 98% of the 318.6 miles on major interstates like the Pennsylvania Turnpike and I-70. You'll encounter one exceptionally long stretch of 276.8 miles primarily on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The Mon/Fayette Expressway also contributes to this high highway share. Given the extensive highway mileage, anticipate consistent cruising speeds and a landscape that shifts from the urban edge of Bensalem to the more rural stretches as you head west.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 276.8 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and I 70. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.4 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 14 significant decision points across 318.6 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 2.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 280 miles (I 70): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,090 ft104 ft
Total Climb
2,272 ft
Total Descent
1,371 ft
Highest Point
2,090 ft
~250.3 mi in
Elevation Range
1,986 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bensalem, PA and Chartiers, PA, road signs point toward Pa Turnpike 66 Toll: Greensburg, Wheeling, New Stanton, Washington, Columbus and Toll Pa 43: California - among others.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 4m. Total distance: 318.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 4m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 276.8 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $36.49 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 — we found about 21 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 Chartiers, 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 21 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 280 miles (I 70): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument, Valley Forge National Historical Park 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 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Chartiers, PA before the return drive.
