North Somerset Service Plaza
0 mi from route
Trip from Cheltenham, PA to Penn Hills, PA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 23, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 47m
Distance
303.6 mi
489 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$53
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 34m
★
6 AM
5h 47m
8 AM
6h 13m
10 AM
5h 56m
12 PM
5h 54m
3 PM
5h 58m
5 PM
6h 12m
8 PM
5h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cheltenham, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Penn Hills, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Cheltenham, PA to Penn Hills, PA is 303.6 miles and takes about 5h 47m via Pennsylvania Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $51 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region and entirely within Pennsylvania, making it a straightforward drive. Given its mostly highway profile and single recommended stop, it’s a solid option for a single-day excursion. You’ll spend the vast majority of your time on the turnpike, so prepare for consistent travel speeds. This route is best suited for those who want 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
151.8 miles from Cheltenham, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 53m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike | 282.7 mi | 5h 7m |
| Penn-Lincoln Parkway East | 4.6 mi | 6m |
| Fort Washington Expressway | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| Township Line Road | 2.2 mi | 5m |
| Verona Road | 2.1 mi | 5m |
| Church Road | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Beulah Road | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Coal Hollow Road | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 282.7 mi, about 5h 7m
Traffic on I-376
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~3,243 veh/hr typical
Quietest
3 AM
~204 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 105 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 Cheltenham, PA and Penn Hills, PA.
1
Start on East Laurel Avenue
150 ft
·
8 sec
·
East Laurel Avenue
2
Turn right onto Central Avenue
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Central Avenue
3
Turn left onto PA 73
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Cottman Avenue
4
Continue on PA 73
2.2 mi
·
5 min
·
Township Line Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
5
Turn left onto PA 73
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Lane
6
Turn right onto PA 73
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Church Road
7
Turn left onto PA 152
346 ft
·
9 sec
·
Limekiln Pike
Use the left lane.
8
Turn right onto PA 152
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
South Easton Road
Use the right lane.
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward PA 309 North: Fort Washington
Use the right lane.
10
Merge onto PA 309
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Fort Washington Expressway
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward PATP, I 276: PA Turnpike, Fort Washington
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward PATP, I 276: Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 276 West: Harrisburg
Use the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto I 276; PATP
283 mi
·
5 hr 7 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
2 min
Exit 57
Toward I 376 West, US 22: Pittsburgh, Monroeville
Use the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward US 22 Business, I 376 West, US 22 West: Monroeville, Pittsburgh
17
Keep slight right at fork
353 ft
·
8 sec
Toward I 376 West, US 22 West: Pittsburgh
18
Merge onto I 376; US 22
4.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
Use the slight left lane.
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
Exit 79B
Toward PA 130: Churchill
Use the slight left lane.
20
Turn right onto PA 130
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Beulah Road
Use the right lane.
21
Continue on PA 130
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
Old Coal Hollow Road
22
Continue on PA 130
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Coal Hollow Road
Use the right lane.
23
Turn right onto Verona Road
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
Verona Road
Use the right lane.
24
Continue on Verona Road
1.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Verona Road
25
Turn left onto Mount Avenue
519 ft
·
24 sec
·
Mount Avenue
26
Turn right onto Sylvan Avenue
134 ft
·
5 sec
·
Sylvan Avenue
27
Arrive at destination
Sylvan Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour, 47-minute drive, leaving Cheltenham, PA in the morning, perhaps around 8 or 9 AM, should allow you to arrive in Penn Hills, PA well before evening. With only one recommended stop and a 282.7-mile stretch on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, you can easily complete this trip in one day without feeling rushed. Plan your single stop strategically along the turnpike for fuel and a quick break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch means fewer immediate options for gas stations once you're committed to that segment.
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 151.8 miles from Cheltenham, PA, or about 2h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 282.7 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 67 miles or 1h 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 151.8 miles or 2h 53m 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 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Penn Hills, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cheltenham, 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 Cheltenham, PA
This is one driving day of about 303.6 miles and 5h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 67 miles from Cheltenham, 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 282.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
152 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 67 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 151.8 miles from Cheltenham, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Pennsylvania Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 282.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
South Somerset Service Plaza
0 mi from route
South Midway Service Plaza
0 mi from route
North Midway Service Plaza
0 mi from route
Blue Mountain Service Plaza
0 mi from route
Lawn Service Plaza
0 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
King of Prussia Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Valley Forge Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
New Stanton Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Sideling Hill Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Peter J. Camiel Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.2 mi from route
Bomansville Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Cumberland Valley Service Plaza
0.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.4 mi from route
TA
0.6 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.6 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.6 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
1.1 mi from route
Oakmont Plum Service Plaza
1.9 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 215 decision points cluster between mile 9.3 and 293.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
9.3 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Take the exit toward PATP, I 276: PA Turnpike, Fort Washington
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 PATP, I 276: PA Turnpike, Fort Washingto...
8
9.6 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Keep slight right at fork toward PATP, I 276: Pennsylvania Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward PATP, I 276: Pennsylvania Turnpike
7
10.1 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 276 West: Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 276 West: Harrisburg
8
293.1 mi into trip
|
~5h 27m in
Take the exit toward I 376 West, US 22: Pittsburgh, Monroeville
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 57
Toward I 376 West, US 22: Pittsburgh, Monroevil...
7
293.9 mi into trip
|
~5h 30m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 376 West, US 22 West: Pittsburgh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 376 West, US 22 West: Pittsburgh
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$53.02 one way
$106.04 round trip
$4.44/gal
25.4 MPG avg
106 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.86 | $58.05 | $116.11 |
| premium | $5.20 | $62.11 | $124.21 |
| diesel | $6.28 | $75.02 | $150.03 |
Estimated Tolls: $36.75
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(282.7 mi)
$36.75
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
$53
Tolls
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$115–$140
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 106.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 91.1 | 1 | $31.88 | $14.57 |
| Efficient EV | 75.9 | 0 | $26.57 | $12.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 121.4 | 1 | $42.50 | $19.43 |
Gas CO2
106 kg
EV CO2
36 kg (66% 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.
Origin
Cheltenham, PA
Evening in Cheltenham on Friday
Local time
6:12 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Sunny
N 10 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Penn Hills, PA
Evening in Penn Hills on Friday
Local time
6:12 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Sunny
NE 2 to 8 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
42°F
King, PA
152 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
5h 47m 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.
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 125.6
View on nps.gov
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...
3 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 20.9
View on nps.gov
Flight 93 National Memorial
National Memorial
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...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
Free
near mile 230.3
View on nps.gov
Independence National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
$1
View on nps.gov
Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial
National Memorial
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
~21 min detour
Free
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...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 83.8
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on highways for 96% of this 303.6-mile drive. The Pennsylvania Turnpike accounts for the longest stretch at 282.7 miles, so expect continuous travel with fewer interruptions. The Fort Washington Expressway and Penn-Lincoln Parkway East are also part of the main roads, indicating a significant portion of your drive will involve moderate to heavy traffic merging and exiting. You’ll notice a dense pattern of exits for much of the route, especially as you approach your destination.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 282.7 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 9.3 miles in.
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 21 significant decision points across 303.6 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 9.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,127 ft
132 ft
Total Climb
2,294 ft
Total Descent
1,488 ft
Highest Point
2,127 ft
~238.3 mi in
Elevation Range
1,995 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Cheltenham, PA
Full guide →Arriving in Penn Hills, PA
Full guide →Founded 1850
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 5h 47m. Total distance: 303.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 47m 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 282.7 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $36.75 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 Penn Hills, 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 9.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 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 Penn Hills, PA before the return drive.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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