Spanning 240.2 miles across Pennsylvania, this journey from Cresson to Philadelphia is a manageable trek that typically takes about 3 hours and 56 minutes. Because the route is categorized as a turn-heavy local drive, you should plan for a full day of travel rather than a quick sprint. Budgeting roughly $39 for fuel will cover your transit across the state from the Northeast region. While the drive is feasible as a single-day trip, the winding nature of local roads means you will want to stay alert. It serves as a practical connection between the mountainous terrain near Cresson and the urban landscape of Philadelphia.
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
120.1 miles from Cresson, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
181 mi
3h 16m
I 99
27.2 mi
29m
I 76
18 mi
26m
William Penn Highway
8.2 mi
9m
Admiral Peary Highway
1.4 mi
2m
Vine Street Expressway
0.8 mi
1m
North 15th Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Business 220
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 181 mi, about 3h 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cresson, PA and Philadelphia, PA.
1
Start on PA 53
196 ft·12 sec·2nd Street
2
Turn left onto Admiral Peary Highway
1.4 mi·2 min·Admiral Peary Highway
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward US 22 East: AltoonaUse the left lane.
4
Merge onto US 22
8.2 mi·9 min·William Penn Highway
5
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·45 sec·this road
Toward I 99, US 220: Altoona, Bedford
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·43 sec
Toward I 99 South, US 220 South: Bedford
7
Merge onto I 99; US 220
27 mi·29 min·I 99; US 220
8
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward Pittsburgh, Harrisburg
9
Keep slight right at fork
284 ft·8 sec
Toward US 220 Business South: Bedford
10
Turn slight right onto US 220 BUS
0.2 mi·26 sec·Business 220
11
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward I 70, I 76, PATP: Pittsburgh, Harrisburg
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward I 76 East, I 70 East: Harrisburg
13
Merge onto I 70; I 76; PATP
181 mi·3 hr 16 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit onto I 76
18 mi·26 min·I 76
Exit 326Toward I 76 East: Valley Forge, PhiladelphiaUse the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 676; US 30
0.8 mi·1 min·Vine Street Expressway
Toward I 676 East, US 30 East: Central PhiladelphiaUse the slight left / straight lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.1 mi·17 sec
Toward Central PhiladelphiaUse the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork
313 ft·11 sec
Toward 15th Street, Central PhiladelphiaUse the slight right lane.
18
Turn right onto North 15th Street
0.4 mi·48 sec·North 15th Street
Use the right lane.
19
Turn slight left onto PA 611
379 ft·8 sec·South Penn Square
20
Keep slight left at fork onto South Penn Square
167 ft·2 sec·South Penn Square
21
Arrive at destination
South Penn Square
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 240.2-mile journey, consider departing early in the morning to account for the slower pace of local roads. Since the route involves no major highways, traffic patterns on local streets can significantly impact your 3-hour and 56-minute travel time, so check for local construction before you head out. Because you are navigating turn-heavy segments, ensure your vehicle is well-prepared and your fuel tank is topped off at the start; the $39 estimate is a baseline, but local driving can sometimes impact efficiency. Use the flexibility of this shorter drive to pace yourself, as there are no mandated long stretches that force you to push through without breaks. Prioritize frequent rest stops to stay sharp, especially when navigating the more technical sections of the route.
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 120.1 miles from Cresson, PA, or about 2h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 181 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 53 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 120.1 miles or 2h 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Philadelphia, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cresson, 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 Cresson, PA
This is one driving day of about 240.3 miles and 4h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Cresson, 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 181 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 239.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.4 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward US 22 East: Altoona
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward US 22 East: Altoona
6
10.4 mi into trip|~13m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 99 South, US 220 South: Bedford
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 99 South, US 220 South: Bedford
8
220.8 mi into trip|~4h 3m in|I 76
Take the exit onto I 76 toward I 76 East: Valley Forge, 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.
Exit 326
Toward I 76 East: Valley Forge, Philadelphia
8
238.8 mi into trip|~4h 29m in|I 676; US 30 / Vine Street Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 676; US 30 / Vine Street Expressway toward I 676 East, US 30 East: Central Philadelphia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward I 676 East, US 30 East: Central Philadel...
9
239.7 mi into trip|~4h 31m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 15th Street, Central Philadelphia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward 15th Street, Central Philadelphia
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.84 one way
$79.68 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg84 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$43.63
$87.26
premium
$4.93
$46.60
$93.21
diesel
$5.61
$53.06
$106.11
Estimated Tolls: $23.54
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(181 mi)$23.54
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
$40
Tolls
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$88–$113
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
72.1
0
$25.23
$11.53
Efficient EV
60.1
0
$21.03
$9.61
EV Truck/SUV
96.1
1
$33.64
$15.38
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Cresson, PA
Morning
in Cresson on Tuesday
Local time
8:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Philadelphia, PA
Morning
in Philadelphia on Tuesday
Local time
8:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
46°F
Middlesex, PA
120 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
10 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
4h 32m 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.
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...
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...
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Free
near mile 240.3
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...
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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 215.4
The South Fork Dam failed on Friday, May 31, 1889, and unleashed 20,000,000 tons of water that devastated Johnstown, PA. The flood killed 2,209 people but it brought the nation and the world together...
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
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 165.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a hands-on driving experience as you navigate this route, which features zero percent highway travel. The path is characterized by a turn-heavy local profile, requiring your full attention as you transition between various smaller roadways. Unlike a standard interstate cruise, this drive demands active steering and consistent engagement with the road's layout. You will find that the character of the journey remains intimate and grounded, avoiding the monotony of long, straight highway stretches. It is a technical drive that rewards drivers who prefer local backroads over high-speed transit.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 181 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and I 99. 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 Effort9/10
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 16 significant decision points across 240.3 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 1.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 10.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 220.8 miles (I 76): 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.
Between Cresson, PA and Philadelphia, PA, road signs point toward Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Patp: Pittsburgh.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 32m. Total distance: 240.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 181 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $23.54 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 10.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 220.8 miles (I 76): 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 Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Philadelphia, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
