Origin
Colwyn, PA
Late night in Colwyn on Tuesday
Local time
5:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Colwyn, PA to Allentown, 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
1h 25m
Distance
61.8 mi
99 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 19m
★
6 AM
1h 26m
8 AM
1h 39m
10 AM
1h 30m
12 PM
1h 29m
3 PM
1h 31m
5 PM
1h 38m
8 PM
1h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Colwyn, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Allentown, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a trip from Colwyn to Allentown, expect a 72.4-mile journey that takes approximately 1 hour and 19 minutes. This route is best suited as a straightforward day trip, as the distance is short enough that an overnight stay is rarely necessary. Budgeting about $12 for fuel should cover your travel costs comfortably. By sticking to local roads rather than major interstates, you will navigate through the heart of the Northeast region. It is a practical, no-nonsense drive that gets you from point A to point B without the need for complex planning or multiple stops.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension | 37.5 mi | 40m |
| Mid-County Expressway | 10.8 mi | 14m |
| Tilghman Street | 3.6 mi | 5m |
| South Lansdowne Avenue | 3.3 mi | 8m |
| West Chester Pike | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| Main Street | 1.2 mi | 3m |
| PA 309 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| South 4th 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 Colwyn, PA and Allentown, PA.
1
Start on Pine Street
92 ft
·
6 sec
·
Pine Street
2
Turn right onto South 4th Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
South 4th Street
3
Turn left onto Main Street
1.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Main Street
4
Continue on South Lansdowne Avenue
3.3 mi
·
8 min
·
South Lansdowne Avenue
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
5
Continue on Darby Road
471 ft
·
13 sec
·
Darby Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
6
Turn slight left onto PA 3
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
West Chester Pike
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
Toward I 476 North: Plymouth Meeting
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 476
11 mi
·
14 min
·
Mid-County Expressway
9
Turn slight left onto I 476
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
·
Mid-County Expressway
10
Continue on I 476; PATP
38 mi
·
40 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
2 min
Exit 56
Toward I 78, US 22, PA 309: Allentown, Harrisburg
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn slight right
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward US 22 East: Allentown
13
Merge onto US 22
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Lehigh Valley Thruway
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Toward PA 309 South: Quakertown
Use the slight right lane.
15
Merge onto PA 309
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
PA 309
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward Tilghman Street East
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn straight onto Tilghman Street
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Tilghman Street
18
Arrive at destination
Tilghman Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 30.9 miles from Colwyn, 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 7.1 and 58 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
7.1 mi into trip
|
~18m 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.
Toward I 476 North: Plymouth Meeting
8
55.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m 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
57 mi into trip
|
~1h 17m 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
5
57.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 18m in
|
PA 309
Merge onto PA 309
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
58 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m 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
$10.25 one way
$20.49 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
22 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $11.22 | $22.44 |
| premium | $4.93 | $11.99 | $23.97 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.64 | $27.29 |
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
$10
Tolls
$5
Total
$15
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.5 | 0 | $6.49 | $2.97 |
| Efficient EV | 15.5 | 0 | $5.41 | $2.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.7 | 0 | $8.65 | $3.96 |
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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 Tuesday
Local time
5:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°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
3 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 25m 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?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. You will navigate primarily via South 4th Street, Main Street, and South Lansdowne Avenue throughout the 72.4-mile trek. Because this route features a 0% highway share, you will spend your entire time on local roads rather than fast-paced interstates. Expect a consistent, technical driving experience rather than a monotonous highway grind. Since there are no designated long, uninterrupted stretches, you will need to remain attentive to frequent turns and changing road conditions as you move toward Allentown.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 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?
8/10
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 7.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 61.8 miles you will encounter 10 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 7.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 55.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 57 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Between Colwyn, PA and Allentown, PA, road signs point toward Harrisburg and Tilghman Street East.
Harrisburg
55.8 mi in
|
~1h 14m
Tilghman Street East
58 mi in
|
~1h 19m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 25m. Total distance: 61.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). 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 7.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 55.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 57 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 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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