Spice Restaurant & Bar
Around the midpoint, short detour
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
Hours: 2–11 pm
+17176913131
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 24, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 19m
Distance
286.5 mi
461 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$50
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Youngwood, PA
WoodysMedia
Croydon, PA to Youngwood, PA is 286.5 miles and takes about 5h 19m via Pennsylvania Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $48 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, connecting the Northeast region from start to finish. Given its mostly highway profile and manageable duration, it's a straightforward drive for a single day. Expect a practical and efficient transit between these two points, ideal for those prioritizing getting to their destination.
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
143.2 miles from Croydon, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 41m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike | 276.8 mi | 5h 1m |
| Street Road | 4.2 mi | 7m |
| State Road | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| US 119 | 1.1 mi | 3m |
| I 70 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Lincoln Highway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Croydon, PA and Youngwood, 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 onto I 70
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on US 119
Turn right
Arrive at destination
To make the most of this 5-hour drive, consider leaving early in the morning to avoid potential rush hour congestion. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility, but breaking it up with one planned stop around the halfway point on the Pennsylvania Turnpike can help maintain focus. Keep an eye on your fuel; the estimated cost is $48, so plan your refueling accordingly, perhaps before you begin the longest stretch. The route is heavily highway-focused, so ensure your vehicle is in good condition for sustained travel.
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 63 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 143.2 miles or 2h 41m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 20m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Youngwood, 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 286.5 miles and 5h 19m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
143 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 63 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 143.2 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 276.8 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Best meal stop · around the midpoint
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
Around the midpoint, short detour
Hours: 2–11 pm
+17176913131
Around the midpoint, short detour
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
Hours: 2–11 pm
+17176913131
Visit websiteNear the start, ~9 min detour
Exton, Pennsylvania
Hours: 11 am–8 pm
+14848733198
Visit websiteNear the end, ~9 min detour
Greensburg, Pennsylvania
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+17248342332
Visit websiteNear the start, ~11 min detour
West Chester, Pennsylvania
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+16106962597
Visit websiteNear the start, ~12 min detour
Jenkintown, Pennsylvania
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+12158862266
Visit websiteNear the end, right off the route
Somerset, Pennsylvania
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteNear the end, right off the route
Somerset, Pennsylvania
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
New Stanton, Pennsylvania
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18336322778
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Somerset, Pennsylvania
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18777983752
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Jones Mills, Pennsylvania
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18889982546
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
New Stanton, Pennsylvania
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Somerset, Pennsylvania
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18889982546
Visit websiteNear the end, right off the route
Somerset, Pennsylvania
+18885577099
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+12152475777
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Ambler, Pennsylvania
Hours: 6 am–6 pm
+12674688000
Visit websiteNear the start, ~11 min detour
Malvern, Pennsylvania
+16106445822
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.6 and 284.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto Street Road
Lane positioning matters here
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 onto I 70 toward I 70 West, US 119, PA Turnpike 66 Toll: Greensburg, Wheeling WV, New Stanton
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 US 119, PA Turnpike 66: Connellsville, Greensburg, Delmont
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$50.04 one way
$100.07 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.86 | $54.78 | $109.57 |
| premium | $5.20 | $58.61 | $117.22 |
| diesel | $6.28 | $70.79 | $141.58 |
Estimated Tolls: $35.99
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
$50
Tolls
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$111–$136
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 100.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 86 | 1 | $30.08 | $13.75 |
| Efficient EV | 71.6 | 0 | $25.07 | $11.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 114.6 | 1 | $40.11 | $18.34 |
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Evening in Croydon on Friday
Local time
8:09 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Widespread Frost then Sunny
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 18 at 10:42PM EDT until October 19 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS State College PA
Destination
Evening in Youngwood on Friday
Local time
8:09 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Areas Of Frost then Sunny
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 18 at 10:42PM EDT until October 19 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS State College PA
47°F
State Line, PA
143 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.
National Historical Park
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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...
National Memorial
On Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, the U.S. came under attack when four commercial airliners were hijacked and used to strike targets on the ground. Nearly 3,000 people tragically lost their live...
National Scenic Trail
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...
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...
National Memorial
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This drive is predominantly highway, with 97% of the route on high-speed roads. You'll experience a very long stretch of 276.8 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, meaning extended periods of consistent driving. The transition to surface roads will happen late in the trip, near the end of your travel time. Be prepared for the high volume of exits and potential traffic merging as you approach your destination after such a long highway segment.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and Street Road. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.6 miles in near Street Road.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 286.5 miles you will encounter 9 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 1.6 miles (Street Road): Lane positioning matters here; 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.
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
2,672 ft
Total Descent
1,744 ft
Highest Point
2,332 ft
~245.6 mi in
Elevation Range
2,305 ft
Notable High Points
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 19m. Total distance: 286.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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