Origin
Chester, PA
Late night in Chester on Sunday
Local time
12:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chester, 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
1h 22m
Distance
65.3 mi
105 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 16m
★
6 AM
1h 23m
8 AM
1h 36m
10 AM
1h 27m
12 PM
1h 26m
3 PM
1h 28m
5 PM
1h 35m
8 PM
1h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chester, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Allentown, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Chester to Allentown covers 65.3 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 22 minutes, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day trip. You will spend the vast majority of your time on major thoroughfares, including the Mid-County Expressway and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, before finishing your journey on Tilghman Street. Budgeting approximately $11 for fuel is sufficient for this straightforward trek across the Northeast region of Pennsylvania. Because the travel time is relatively short, you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations or complicated logistics. This route is designed for efficiency, serving as a practical connection between these two Pennsylvania hubs without unnecessary detours.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension | 37.5 mi | 40m |
| Mid-County Expressway | 19.5 mi | 26m |
| Tilghman Street | 3.6 mi | 5m |
| PA 309 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Lehigh Valley Thruway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Delaware Expressway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East 9th Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Madison Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
— 37.5 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chester, PA and Allentown, PA.
1
Start on East 5th Street
274 ft
·
17 sec
·
East 5th Street
2
Turn left onto PA 320
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Madison Street
3
Turn right onto US 13 Business
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
East 9th Street
4
Turn left onto US 13
424 ft
·
16 sec
·
Morton Avenue
5
Turn left onto Chestnut Street
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Chestnut Street
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 476 North: Plymouth Meeting
7
Merge onto I 95
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
Delaware Expressway
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 7
Toward I 476 North: Plymouth Meeting
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 476 North: Plymouth Meeting
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 476
19 mi
·
26 min
·
Mid-County Expressway
11
Turn slight left onto I 476
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
·
Mid-County Expressway
12
Continue on I 476; PATP
38 mi
·
40 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
2 min
Exit 56
Toward I 78, US 22, PA 309: Allentown, Harrisburg
Use the slight right lane.
14
Turn slight right
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward US 22 East: Allentown
15
Merge onto US 22
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Lehigh Valley Thruway
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Toward PA 309 South: Quakertown
Use the slight right lane.
17
Merge onto PA 309
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
PA 309
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward Tilghman Street East
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Turn straight onto Tilghman Street
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Tilghman Street
20
Arrive at destination
Tilghman Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 32.6 miles from Chester, 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 1.4 and 61.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
1.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the exit toward I 476 North: Plymouth Meeting
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 7
Toward I 476 North: Plymouth Meeting
7
2 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 476 North: Plymouth Meeting
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 476 North: Plymouth Meeting
8
59.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
Take the exit toward I 78, US 22, PA 309: Allentown, Harrisburg
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 56
Toward I 78, US 22, PA 309: Allentown, Harrisbu...
6
60.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
Take the exit toward PA 309 South: Quakertown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward PA 309 South: Quakertown
6
61.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
Take the exit toward Tilghman Street East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward Tilghman Street East
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.83 one way
$21.65 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $11.86 | $23.71 |
| premium | $4.93 | $12.66 | $25.33 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.42 | $28.83 |
Estimated Tolls: $4.88
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(37.5 mi)
$4.88
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Tolls
$5
Total
$16
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.6 | 0 | $6.86 | $3.13 |
| Efficient EV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.71 | $2.61 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.1 | 0 | $9.14 | $4.18 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 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
Allentown, PA
Late night in Allentown on Sunday
Local time
12:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°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
19 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
1h 22m 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?
Expect a focused, highway-heavy experience, as 89% of this trip is spent on major roads. The drive moves quickly, with a significant 37.5-mile uninterrupted stretch along the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension serving as the backbone of your journey. While the Mid-County Expressway handles the initial transition, the character of the road remains consistent and fast-paced throughout the majority of the 65.3-mile distance. You won't encounter many technical local segments until you reach the final approach into Allentown via Tilghman Street. Overall, this is a utilitarian drive that prioritizes speed and directness over winding backroads or scenic diversions.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37.5 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and Mid-County Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 65.3 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 1.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 59.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. 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 Chester, PA and Allentown, PA, road signs point toward Harrisburg and Tilghman Street East.
Harrisburg
59.3 mi in
|
~1h 12m
Tilghman Street East
61.5 mi in
|
~1h 16m
About the Cities
Starting in Chester, PA
Full guide →Chester is a city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Chester is a suburb of the city of Philadelphia. The current population estimate is 30,409. The city is predominantly made up of African Americans, making up 79% of the population. Chester is known for poverty and high crime, as almost 40% of residents live below the poverty line.
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 22m. Total distance: 65.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37.5 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.88 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.
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.
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 1.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 59.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Valley Forge National Historical Park, Independence National Historical Park and Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial (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 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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