Origin
Chambersburg, PA
Late night in Chambersburg on Sunday
Local time
4:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chambersburg, PA to Harrisburg, PA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 12m
Distance
55.9 mi
90 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 7m
★
6 AM
1h 13m
8 AM
1h 24m
10 AM
1h 17m
12 PM
1h 16m
3 PM
1h 17m
5 PM
1h 24m
8 PM
1h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chambersburg, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Chambersburg, PA to Harrisburg, PA is 55.9 miles and takes about 1h 12m via I 81, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward drive connects two points within Pennsylvania's Northeast region. Expect a primarily highway-focused experience for this relatively short trip. With minimal travel time and a low fuel cost, this route is ideal for a quick, no-fuss journey between these cities, allowing for flexibility in your day.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 81 | 48.5 mi | 58m |
| North Cameron Street | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Lincoln Way East | 1 mi | 2m |
| American Legion Memorial Highway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| George N. Wade Memorial Bridge | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| East Queen Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Herr Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North 7th Street | 0.3 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 Harrisburg, 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
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
American Legion Memorial Highway
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 67B; 67A
Toward US 22 West, US 322 West, US 22 East, PA 230 East: Lewistown, State College, Harrisburg
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 67A
Toward US 22 East, PA 230 East: Harrisburg
13
Merge onto US 22
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
North Cameron Street
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn right onto Herr Street
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
Herr Street
15
Turn right onto North 7th Street
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
North 7th Street
16
Arrive at destination
North 7th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.9 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 53 — 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.
5
50.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
Take the exit toward US 11, US 15: Enola, Marysville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 11, US 15: Enola, Marysville
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
52.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
Take the exit toward US 22 West, US 322 West, US 22 East, PA 230 East: Lewistown, State College, Harrisburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 67B; 67A
Toward US 22 West, US 322 West, US 22 East, PA...
7
53 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 22 East, PA 230 East: Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 67A
Toward US 22 East, PA 230 East: Harrisburg
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.27 one way
$18.54 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $10.15 | $20.30 |
| premium | $4.93 | $10.84 | $21.68 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.34 | $24.68 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.8 | 0 | $5.87 | $2.68 |
| Efficient EV | 14 | 0 | $4.89 | $2.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.4 | 0 | $7.83 | $3.58 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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
Harrisburg, PA
Late night in Harrisburg on Sunday
Local time
4:13 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
16 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
1h 12m 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?
This drive is predominantly highway-focused, with 87% of the journey utilizing major roadways. You'll spend most of your time on I 81, experiencing a longest uninterrupted stretch of 48.5 miles on this interstate. Expect a consistent driving experience for the majority of the trip, characterized by efficient travel. As you approach Harrisburg, the route transitions to North Cameron Street and Lincoln Way East, offering a slight change in scenery and pace from the interstate.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 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?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and North Cameron Street. 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
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 55.9 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 50.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Between Chambersburg, PA and Harrisburg, PA, road signs point toward Marysville and State College.
Marysville
50.4 mi in
|
~1h 2m
State College
52.8 mi in
|
~1h 6m
About the Cities
Starting in Chambersburg, PA
Full guide →Chambersburg is a city in Pennsylvania.
Arriving in Harrisburg, PA
Full guide →Harrisburg is the capital and 4th-largest metropolitan area of Pennsylvania, with a metro population of 592,000 people in 2020. Harrisburg is known as the host city of the Pennsylvania Farm Show, the largest free indoor agriculture exposition in the United States, the largest annual outdoor sports show in North America, an auto show, which features a large static display of new and classic cars, and Motorama, a two-day event consisting of a car show, motocross racing, and remote control car racing.
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 1h 12m. Total distance: 55.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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.
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 Harrisburg, 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 1.9 miles (I 81): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 50.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Harrisburg, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Harrisburg, PA
More trips to Harrisburg, PA
Explore more options from Chambersburg, PA or browse trips ending in Harrisburg, PA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse PA road trips.