Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 53m
Distance
237.6 mi
382 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$39
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sterling, PA
Clément Proust
Croydon, PA to Sterling, PA is 237.6 miles and takes about 4h 53m via Pennsylvania Turnpike and US 22, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route is a straightforward, highway-focused trip that stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region towards the Northeast region. Given its relatively short duration, it's a manageable one-day drive, meaning you can likely get on the road mid-morning and arrive with time to spare. The primary roads are well-maintained highways, making for a predictable journey.
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
118.8 miles from Croydon, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 16m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike | 103.7 mi | 1h 51m |
| US 322 | 54.4 mi | 1h 7m |
| US 22 | 24.5 mi | 32m |
| Mount Nittany Expressway | 17.5 mi | 21m |
| Port Matilda Highway | 10.2 mi | 14m |
| Street Road | 4.2 mi | 7m |
| I 83 | 3.7 mi | 5m |
| Walton Street | 3.4 mi | 5m |
Step-by-step road directions between Croydon, PA and Sterling, PA.
Start on State Road
Turn right onto Street Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 1
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 276; PATP
Take the exit
Continue on I 283
Keep slight right at fork onto I 283
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on I 83
Continue on US 322
Take the exit onto US 322
Keep slight right at fork onto US 322
Keep slight left at fork onto US 22; US 322
Continue on US 322; PA 144 Truck
Continue on US 322; PA 144 Truck
Keep slight right at fork onto US 322
Continue on US 322
Turn left onto PA 504
Turn left onto PA 53
Turn right onto PA 53
Continue on PA 53
Continue on PA 53
Turn right onto Kate Street
At end of road, turn left onto Elizabeth Street
Turn right onto PA 53
Continue on PA 53
Turn right onto Sterling Avenue
Arrive at destination
Since this is a one-day, 237.6-mile trip, leaving in the morning gives you plenty of flexibility. The drive is projected to take under 5 hours, so you could aim for a 9 or 10 AM departure. Given the 87% highway share, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on the longest stretch of 103.7 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. While there's only one recommended stop in the data, planning for a quick break around the halfway point, perhaps after exiting the Turnpike, can help break up the 4h 53m drive.
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.
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 52 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 118.8 miles or 2h 16m 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 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sterling, PA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Croydon, 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 Croydon, PA
This is one driving day of about 237.6 miles and 4h 53m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
119 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.
A short stop after about 52 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 118.8 miles from Croydon, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Pennsylvania Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 103.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.2 and 120.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I 276, PATP
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 276 Toll West: Harrisburg, Allentown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward I 283, PA 283: Harrisburg, Hershey
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 83 North, US 322 West: Hazleton, State College
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto US 322 toward US 22 West, US 322 West: Lewistown, State College
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$39.39 one way
$78.78 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $43.14 | $86.28 |
| premium | $4.93 | $46.08 | $92.16 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $52.46 | $104.92 |
Estimated Tolls: $13.48
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
$39
Tolls
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$78–$103
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 83.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 71.3 | 0 | $24.95 | $11.40 |
| Efficient EV | 59.4 | 0 | $20.79 | $9.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 95 | 1 | $33.26 | $15.21 |
Gas CO2
83 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Croydon on Sunday
Local time
12:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
93°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Afternoon in Sterling on Sunday
Local time
12:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
48°F
Middlesex, PA
119 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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This drive is predominantly a highway-focused experience, with 87% of the journey taking place on high-speed roads. You'll spend a significant portion on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, including one uninterrupted stretch of 103.7 miles. The route then transitions to US 322 and US 22, maintaining a consistent highway feel for most of the 4h 53m trip. Expect a steady pace with minimal slowdowns, as the bulk of the mileage is on major arteries designed for efficient travel.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and US 322. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.2 miles in.
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 21 significant decision points across 237.6 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 6.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 110.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Croydon, PA and Sterling, PA, road signs point toward Hershey, State College and Lewistown.
Hershey
State College
Lewistown
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 53m. Total distance: 237.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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