Origin
Cheltenham, PA
Morning in Cheltenham on Tuesday
Local time
6:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cheltenham, 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
22m
Distance
10.9 mi
18 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 20m
★
6 AM
0h 22m
8 AM
0h 26m
10 AM
0h 24m
12 PM
0h 23m
3 PM
0h 24m
5 PM
0h 26m
8 PM
0h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cheltenham, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Philadelphia, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Cheltenham to Philadelphia covers a short 13-mile distance, making this a quick trip that typically takes about 27 minutes. You can easily complete this journey in a single day, as it functions perfectly as a straightforward local commute. With a fuel budget of just $2, it is an incredibly economical route to navigate within the Northeast region. Because the drive is so brief, there is no need to worry about overnight accommodations or complex logistics. You will find this trip to be a practical, no-fuss way to move between these two Pennsylvania locations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Castor Avenue | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Frankford Avenue | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Martins Mill Road | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Vine Street Expressway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Summerdale Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Aramingo Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Delaware Expressway | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| Oxford Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Castor Avenue
— 1.6 mi, about 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cheltenham, PA and Philadelphia, PA.
1
Start on East Laurel Avenue
150 ft
·
11 sec
·
East Laurel Avenue
2
Turn left onto Central Avenue
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Central Avenue
3
Turn left onto Old Soldiers Road
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
Old Soldiers Road
4
Continue on Martins Mill Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Martins Mill Road
5
Continue on Martins Mill Road
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Martins Mill Road
6
Continue on PA 232
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Oxford Avenue
7
Turn right onto Summerdale Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Summerdale Avenue
8
Turn slight left onto Adams Avenue
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
·
Adams Avenue
Use the right lane.
9
Turn slight right onto Castor Avenue
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
Castor Avenue
Use the right lane.
10
Enter roundabout onto Castor Avenue
151 ft
·
2 sec
·
Castor Avenue
11
Continue on Castor Avenue
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Castor Avenue
12
Turn right onto Frankford Avenue
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Frankford Avenue
13
Turn left onto East Lehigh Avenue
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
East Lehigh Avenue
Use the right lane.
14
Turn right onto Aramingo Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Aramingo Avenue
Use the right lane.
15
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 95 South: Chester
16
Merge onto I 95
0.7 mi
·
55 sec
·
Delaware Expressway
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 22
Toward I 676, US 30: Central Philadelphia, Independence Hall, Callowhill Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 676 West, US 30 West: Central Philadelphia
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on Vine Street Expressway
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Vine Street Expressway
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward PA 611: Broad Street, Central Philadelphia
Use the slight right lane.
21
Continue on North 15th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North 15th Street
Use the straight lane.
22
Turn slight left onto PA 611
379 ft
·
8 sec
·
South Penn Square
23
Keep slight left at fork onto South Penn Square
167 ft
·
2 sec
·
South Penn Square
24
Arrive at destination
South Penn Square
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 10.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Old Soldiers Road
Turn left onto Old Soldiers Road
Navigation decision point
5
3.4 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
Castor Avenue
Enter roundabout onto Castor Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
8
8.4 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Take the exit toward I 676, US 30: Central Philadelphia, Independence Hall, Callowhill Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 22
Toward I 676, US 30: Central Philadelphia, Inde...
8
8.6 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 676 West, US 30 West: Central Philadelphia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 676 West, US 30 West: Central Philadel...
7
10.1 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Take the exit toward PA 611: Broad Street, Central Philadelphia
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 PA 611: Broad Street, Central Philadelph...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.81 one way
$3.61 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $1.98 | $3.96 |
| premium | $4.93 | $2.11 | $4.23 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.41 | $4.81 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.3 | 0 | $1.14 | $0.52 |
| Efficient EV | 2.7 | 0 | $0.95 | $0.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.4 | 0 | $1.53 | $0.70 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
6:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
92°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 5 to 15 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 4:45AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 4:42AM EDT by NWS State College PA
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
45 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
22m 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 drive as you make your way through the suburban streets toward the city. Unlike an interstate trek, this route features zero highway driving, meaning you will be navigating local intersections and changing traffic patterns throughout the entire 13-mile stretch. There are no long, uninterrupted highway segments here, so keep your focus on the road and be prepared for frequent turns. The experience is best described as a direct, urban-facing commute rather than a leisurely scenic cruise. You should anticipate a steady, attentive pace rather than the high-speed cruising associated with major thoroughfares.
Only 14% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 1.6 mi on Castor Avenue.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Old Soldiers Road.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 10.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 22m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Old Soldiers Road): Navigation decision point; at 3.4 miles (Castor Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 8.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
135 ft
15 ft
Total Climb
57 ft
Total Descent
144 ft
Highest Point
135 ft
~0.8 mi in
Elevation Range
121 ft
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 Cheltenham, PA to Philadelphia, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Independence Hall along the way.
Independence Hall
8.4 mi in
|
~17m
About the Cities
Starting in Cheltenham, PA
Full guide →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 22m. Total distance: 10.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 1.6 miles on Castor Avenue. 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 0.1 miles (Old Soldiers Road): Navigation decision point; at 3.4 miles (Castor Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 8.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Independence National Historical Park, Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial and Valley Forge 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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