Origin
Chadds Ford, PA
Morning in Chadds Ford on Tuesday
Local time
11:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chadds Ford, 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
48m
Distance
28.5 mi
46 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 44m
★
6 AM
0h 48m
8 AM
0h 56m
10 AM
0h 51m
12 PM
0h 50m
3 PM
0h 52m
5 PM
0h 56m
8 PM
0h 46m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chadds Ford, PA
Michael Taccetta
Philadelphia, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Chadds Ford to Philadelphia is a straightforward 28.5-mile journey that typically takes about 41 minutes. Because of the short distance, this trip is perfectly suited as a quick day outing rather than an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via Baltimore Pike, Conchester Highway, and the Delaware Expressway to reach the city. With a modest fuel budget of $5, this route is an incredibly affordable way to transition from the suburban Northeast into the heart of Philadelphia. It serves as a practical, no-fuss connection between these two Pennsylvania locations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware Expressway | 8.5 mi | 11m |
| Conchester Highway | 8.1 mi | 13m |
| Baltimore Pike | 3.5 mi | 6m |
| Schuylkill Expressway | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Penrose Avenue | 2 mi | 3m |
| South 26th Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Market Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| South Penn Square | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Delaware Expressway
— 8.5 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chadds Ford, PA and Philadelphia, PA.
1
Start on Station Way Road
69 ft
·
5 sec
·
Station Way Road
2
Turn right onto US 1
3.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Baltimore Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Turn right onto US 322
8.1 mi
·
13 min
·
Conchester Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
8.5 mi
·
11 min
·
Delaware Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 13
Toward Valley Forge, Island Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 13
Toward Valley Forge, Island Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward Valley Forge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on PA 291
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Penrose Avenue
9
Turn left onto South 26th Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
South 26th Street
Use the left lane.
10
Merge onto I 76
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Schuylkill Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 345
Toward 30th Street
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn straight onto PA 3
276 ft
·
8 sec
·
Schuylkill Avenue
13
Turn right onto PA 3
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Market Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
At end of road, turn right onto PA 611
85 ft
·
1 sec
·
South 15th Street
Use the right lane.
15
Turn slight left onto PA 611
379 ft
·
8 sec
·
South Penn Square
16
Keep slight left at fork onto South Penn Square
167 ft
·
2 sec
·
South Penn Square
17
Arrive at destination
South Penn Square
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 20.1 and 28.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
20.1 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Take the exit toward Valley Forge, Island Avenue
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 13
Toward Valley Forge, Island Avenue
9
21.1 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Valley Forge, Island Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 13
Toward Valley Forge, Island Avenue
8
21.3 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Valley Forge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Valley Forge
7
27.3 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Take the exit toward 30th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 345
Toward 30th Street
7
28.4 mi into trip
|
~48m in
|
PA 611 / South 15th Street
At end of road, turn right onto PA 611 / South 15th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.72 one way
$9.45 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $5.17 | $10.35 |
| premium | $4.93 | $5.53 | $11.05 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.29 | $12.58 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.99 | $1.37 |
| Efficient EV | 7.1 | 0 | $2.49 | $1.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.99 | $1.82 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
11:45 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Mostly Cloudy
E 5 mph
0% chance
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
4 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
48m on the road
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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy, local driving experience throughout this entire 28.5-mile span. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this route features zero highway miles, meaning you will be navigating local roads for the duration of your trip. There is no single long, uninterrupted stretch; for example, you will find zero miles of continuous driving on Baltimore Pike alone. The road's personality is defined by frequent turns and constant adjustments, requiring your full attention behind the wheel. Prepare for a more hands-on drive that keeps you engaged with the local road network rather than coasting at high speeds.
38% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 8.5 mi on Delaware Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 around 20.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 28.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 48m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 20.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.3 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.
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 Chadds Ford, PA to Philadelphia, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Valley Forge along the way.
Valley Forge
20.1 mi in
|
~31m
About the Cities
Starting in Chadds Ford, PA
Full guide →Chadds Ford is a township of 3,700 people (as of 2016) on the western outskirts of Philadelphia in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The Chadds Ford community was named after John Chadds, who began operating a ferry there in 1737. Historically, one of the major events that draws tourists near is the Battle of the Brandywine fought by George Washington and his troops, which was a major defeat for troops in 1777.
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 48m. Total distance: 28.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (38%). 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 8.5 miles on Delaware 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: at 20.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Independence National Historical Park, Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial and First State 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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