Origin
Chambersburg, PA
Morning in Chambersburg on Sunday
Local time
10:40 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chambersburg, PA to Allentown, PA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 42m
Distance
131.7 mi
212 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 32m
★
6 AM
2h 43m
8 AM
3h 4m
10 AM
2h 50m
12 PM
2h 48m
3 PM
2h 51m
5 PM
3h 3m
8 PM
2h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chambersburg, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Allentown, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Chambersburg, PA to Allentown, PA is 131.7 miles and takes about 2h 42m via I 81 and William Penn Highway, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, primarily within Pennsylvania. Expect a mixed drive that's manageable for a single day, making it a straightforward journey. It’s a practical option if you’re looking for a direct connection between these two Pennsylvania cities without significant detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
65.9 miles from Chambersburg, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 22m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 81 | 48.5 mi | 58m |
| William Penn Highway | 42.8 mi | 50m |
| American Legion Memorial Highway | 22.5 mi | 27m |
| 78th Division Highway | 7.6 mi | 8m |
| Tilghman Street | 4.9 mi | 8m |
| Lincoln Way East | 1 mi | 2m |
| Lehigh Valley Thruway | 1 mi | 1m |
| George N. Wade Memorial Bridge | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 48.5 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chambersburg, PA and Allentown, PA.
1
Start on US 11
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
North Main Street
2
Turn left onto US 30
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Queen Street
3
Merge onto US 30
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Lincoln Way East
4
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
5
Merge onto I 81
48 mi
·
58 min
·
I 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
Toward US 11, US 15: Enola, Marysville
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
Toward US 11 North, US 15 North: Marysville
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
9
Merge onto I 81
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
George N. Wade Memorial Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 81
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
American Legion Memorial Highway
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
19 mi
·
22 min
·
American Legion Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 89
Toward I 78 East: Allentown
13
Continue on I 78
7.6 mi
·
8 min
·
78th Division Highway
14
Continue on I 78; US 22
43 mi
·
50 min
·
William Penn Highway
Use the straight lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto US 22
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Lehigh Valley Thruway
Exit 51
Toward US 22 East: Pennsylvania Turnpike, LVI Airport
Use the slight right lane.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward Cetronia
Use the slight right lane.
17
Turn straight onto Tilghman Street
4.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Tilghman Street
Use the straight lane.
18
Arrive at destination
Tilghman Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 42m duration, this trip is easily completed in a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. Starting earlier in the morning can help you avoid potential traffic, especially as you navigate through more populated areas. With a fuel cost estimated around $22, it's a budget-friendly excursion. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, particularly during the 48.5-mile stretch on I 81, as services might be more spaced out on the highway itself compared to the local road segments.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 65.9 miles from Chambersburg, PA, or about 1h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48.5 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 29 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65.9 miles or 1h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Allentown, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Chambersburg, 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 Chambersburg, PA
This is one driving day of about 131.7 miles and 2h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Chambersburg, 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 I 81 for about 48.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
66 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 65.9 miles from Chambersburg, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 1.9 and 126.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
I 81
Merge onto I 81
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
50.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 11 North, US 15 North: Marysville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 11 North, US 15 North: Marysville
6
55.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
|
I 81 / American Legion Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81 / American Legion Memorial Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
125.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 33m in
|
US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway toward US 22 East: Pennsylvania Turnpike, LVI Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 51
Toward US 22 East: Pennsylvania Turnpike, LVI A...
6
126.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 34m in
Take the exit toward Cetronia
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Cetronia
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.83 one way
$43.67 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
46 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $23.91 | $47.83 |
| premium | $4.93 | $25.54 | $51.08 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $29.08 | $58.16 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.07
Lehigh Valley Thruway
(1 mi)
$0.07
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
$22
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 39.5 | 0 | $13.83 | $6.32 |
| Efficient EV | 32.9 | 0 | $11.52 | $5.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 52.7 | 0 | $18.44 | $8.43 |
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 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
Allentown, PA
Morning in Allentown on Sunday
Local time
10:40 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Cloudy
0 mph
0% chance
Live 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
8 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
2h 42m 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.
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
~5 min detour
Free
near mile 36.3
View on nps.gov
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
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...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 77.2
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a mixed drive experience, with 37% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 48.5 miles on I 81, providing a period of consistent, faster travel. Beyond the interstate segments, the drive incorporates roads like the William Penn Highway and American Legion Memorial Highway, suggesting a transition to more local or scenic byways. This blend means you'll experience both efficient highway cruising and potentially more engaging stretches as you approach your destination.
37% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 48.5 mi on I 81.
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 1.9 miles in near I 81.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 13 significant decision points across 131.7 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 1.9 miles (I 81): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 55.4 miles (I 81 / American Legion Memorial Highway): 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 Chambersburg, PA to Allentown, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Marysville along the way.
Marysville
50.4 mi in
|
~1h 2m
About the Cities
Starting in Chambersburg, PA
Full guide →Chambersburg is a city in 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 2h 42m. Total distance: 131.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (37%). 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 48.5 miles on I 81. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.07 in tolls one way, starting with Lehigh Valley Thruway. 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.
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 Allentown, 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 1.9 miles (I 81): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 55.4 miles (I 81 / American Legion Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument and Appalachian National Scenic Trail. 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 Allentown, 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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