Cressona to Whitman is 98.4 miles and takes about 2h 5m via Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, William Penn Highway, and Schuylkill Expressway, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This 1-day trip stays within Pennsylvania's Northeast region, offering a practical drive for those needing to cover ground efficiently. The route is a mix of highway and local roads, making it a straightforward journey. Consider this drive if you're looking for a relatively short, direct connection with a predictable fuel cost.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
49.2 miles from Cressona, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 2m into the drive
.
Exit 16Toward I 76 East, I 76 West: Philadelphia, Valley ForgeUse the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 16AToward I 76 East: PhiladelphiaUse the slight left lane.
20
Merge onto I 76
13 mi·17 min·Schuylkill Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76
3.0 mi·4 min·Schuylkill Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 347BToward Passyunk Avenue, Oregon Avenue
23
Keep slight left at fork
151 ft·5 sec
Toward I 76 East: Walt Whitman Bridge
24
Continue on West Oregon Vare Avenue
0.1 mi·13 sec·West Oregon Vare Avenue
25
Continue on Oregon Avenue/Vare Avenue
1.8 mi·3 min·Oregon Avenue/Vare Avenue
Use the left lane.
26
Turn left onto South 5th Street
0.2 mi·30 sec·South 5th Street
Use the left lane.
27
Turn right onto Porter Street
465 ft·24 sec·Porter Street
28
Turn right onto South 4th Street
270 ft·13 sec·South 4th Street
29
Turn right onto Vollmer Street
238 ft·10 sec·Vollmer Street
30
Arrive at destination
Vollmer Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 5m duration, this is a comfortable same-day trip, allowing you to leave Cressona any time of day and still arrive in Whitman with ample daylight. With no designated stops in the data, you have the flexibility to pull over when needed. Keep an eye on your fuel; the estimated cost is $16, and it's wise to top off before leaving Cressona, especially given the 37.4-mile stretch on the Turnpike where services might be less frequent. The mix of road types means you should be prepared for changing traffic patterns as you progress.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 49.2 miles from Cressona, PA, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 37.4 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 22 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.2 miles or 1h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Whitman, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cressona, 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 Cressona, PA
This is one driving day of about 98.4 miles and 2h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Cressona, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension for about 37.4 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 36.6 and 79.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
36.6 mi into trip|~47m in|US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway toward US 22 East: Pennsylvania Turnpike, LVI Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 51
Toward US 22 East: Pennsylvania Turnpike, LVI A...
7
37.9 mi into trip|~49m in
Take the exit toward PATP, I 476: Philadelphia, Scranton
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 476: Philadelphia, Scranton
7
38.4 mi into trip|~50m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 476 South: Philadelphia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 476 South: Philadelphia
8
79.6 mi into trip|~1h 36m in
Take the exit toward I 76 East, I 76 West: Philadelphia, Valley Forge
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 16
Toward I 76 East, I 76 West: Philadelphia, Vall...
8
79.9 mi into trip|~1h 37m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 76 East: Philadelphia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 16A
Toward I 76 East: Philadelphia
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.31 one way
$32.63 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$17.87
$35.73
premium
$4.93
$19.08
$38.17
diesel
$5.61
$21.73
$43.45
Estimated Tolls: $4.96
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(37.4 mi)$4.87
Lehigh Valley Thruway
(1.3 mi)$0.09
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
$16
Tolls
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.5
0
$10.33
$4.72
Efficient EV
24.6
0
$8.61
$3.94
EV Truck/SUV
39.4
0
$13.78
$6.30
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
12 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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Cressona, PA
Morning
in Cressona on Sunday
Local time
11:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Whitman, PA
Morning
in Whitman on Sunday
Local time
11:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Mostly Cloudy
E 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
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
12 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
2h 5m 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.
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...
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...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 78.1
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...
Famous as the First State to ratify the Constitution, Delaware was born out of a conflict among three world powers for dominance of the Delaware Valley. From this beginning, the region developed a dis...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive features a mixed profile, with 57% of the journey on highways. You'll experience a 37.4-mile stretch on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, offering a chance to maintain a steady pace. As you transition to roads like the William Penn Highway and the Schuylkill Expressway, the character of the drive will shift, incorporating more local traffic and potentially varying speed limits. Expect a blend of faster highway segments and more typical road conditions as you approach your destination.
57% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37.4 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 36.6 miles in near US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway.
Driving Effort10/10
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 20 significant decision points across 98.4 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 36.6 miles (US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Between Cressona, PA and Whitman, PA, road signs point toward Lvi Airport, Patp, Scranton and Valley Forge.
Lvi Airport
36.6 mi in|~47m|via US 22
Patp
37.9 mi in|~49m
Scranton
37.9 mi in|~49m
Valley Forge
79.6 mi in|~1h 36m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 5m. Total distance: 98.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (57%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37.4 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.96 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 Whitman, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 36.6 miles (US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Independence National Historical Park, Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial and Valley Forge National Historical Park (5 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 Whitman, PA before heading back.
