Darby, PA to McMurray, PA is 309.5 miles and takes about 6h 10m via Pennsylvania Turnpike and I 70, with a fuel budget near $51 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Pennsylvania, traversing mostly highway miles through the Northeast region. Expect a straightforward drive that's well-suited for a single-day trip, making it a practical choice for getting between these two points efficiently. The estimated fuel cost provides a good baseline for your budgeting.
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
154.8 miles from Darby, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
251.9 mi
4h 34m
I 70
15.2 mi
21m
Mon/Fayette Expressway
8 mi
8m
Mid-County Expressway
7 mi
9m
Schuylkill Expressway
4.2 mi
5m
South Lansdowne Avenue
3.3 mi
8m
Bebout Road
2.9 mi
6m
West Chester Pike
2.2 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 251.9 mi, about 4h 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Darby, PA and McMurray, PA.
1
Start on Ridge Avenue
47 ft·4 sec·Ridge Avenue
2
Turn right onto Main Street
0.8 mi·2 min·Main Street
3
Continue on South Lansdowne Avenue
3.3 mi·8 min·South Lansdowne Avenue
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
4
Continue on Darby Road
471 ft·13 sec·Darby Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
5
Turn slight left onto PA 3
2.2 mi·4 min·West Chester Pike
Use the straight lane.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·58 sec
Toward I 476 North: Plymouth MeetingUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 476
7.0 mi·9 min·Mid-County Expressway
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
Exit 16BToward I 76 West: Valley ForgeUse the right lane.
9
Merge onto I 76
3.7 mi·5 min·Schuylkill Expressway
10
Take the exit
0.1 mi·10 sec
Exit 328B-A/327Toward US 202, US 422 West: King of Prussia, West Chester, PottstownUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·22 sec
Toward US 202 South, US 422 West: Mall Boulevard, West Chester, Pottstown, Swedesford RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·20 sec
Toward Mall BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·8 sec
Toward I 76 West: New Jersey, Harrisburg
14
Merge onto I 76
0.4 mi·52 sec·Schuylkill Expressway
Toward I 76 West: New Jersey, Harrisburg
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 76
0.4 mi·1 min·I 76
Toward I 76 West: HarrisburgUse the slight left lane.
16
Merge onto I 76; PATP
252 mi·4 hr 34 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit onto I 70
0.4 mi·54 sec·I 70
Toward I 70 West, US 119, PA Turnpike 66 Toll: Greensburg, Wheeling WV, New StantonUse the slight right lane.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70
15 mi·20 min·I 70
Toward I 70 West: New Stanton, Washington PA, Wheeling WV, Columbus OH
19
Take the exit
0.1 mi·20 sec
Toward PA 201, PA 837: Donora, Fayette City
20
Turn slight right onto PA 201
440 ft·7 sec·Rostraver Road
21
Turn slight left onto Vance Deicas Highway
1.7 mi·2 min·Vance Deicas Highway
22
Continue on Donora-Monessen Bridge
0.4 mi·34 sec·Donora-Monessen Bridge
23
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·33 sec
24
Turn straight onto PA 837
1.2 mi·2 min·McKean Avenue
25
Turn left onto PA 837
1.8 mi·2 min·Monogahela Avenue
26
Turn left onto PA 88
0.5 mi·48 sec·Country Club Road
27
Turn right onto Coyle Curtin Road
0.9 mi·1 min·Coyle Curtin Road
28
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
29
Merge onto PA Tpke 43
8.0 mi·8 min·Mon/Fayette Expressway
30
Take the exit
0.4 mi·59 sec
Exit 48Toward West Elizabeth, Finleyville
31
Turn left onto Finleyville Elrama Road
0.8 mi·1 min·Finleyville Elrama Road
32
Continue on Washington Avenue
0.3 mi·41 sec·Washington Avenue
33
At end of road, turn left onto PA 88
0.3 mi·51 sec·Washington Avenue
34
Continue on Rankintown Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Rankintown Road
35
Continue on Venetia Road
1.5 mi·3 min·Venetia Road
36
Turn right onto Bebout Road
2.9 mi·6 min·Bebout Road
37
Enter roundabout onto Valley Brook Road
184 ft·5 sec·Valley Brook Road
38
Continue on Valley Brook Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Valley Brook Road
39
Turn left onto East McMurray Road
458 ft·26 sec·East McMurray Road
40
Turn left onto Thomas Road
52 ft·2 sec·Thomas Road
41
Arrive at destination
Thomas Road
Trip Plan
Given the 6h 10m estimated drive time, leaving in the morning will allow you to comfortably complete this trip in one day. With only one recommended stop, you can plan for a brief break or fuel up strategically. Pay attention to your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, to ensure you have enough to reach a service area or exit. The majority of the drive is on highways, so plan accordingly for tolls and the potential for higher speeds.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 154.8 miles from Darby, PA, or about 3h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 251.9 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 68 miles or 1h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 154.8 miles or 3h 3m 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 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near McMurray, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Darby, 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 Darby, PA
This is one driving day of about 309.5 miles and 6h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 68 miles from Darby, 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 251.9 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 28
5 decision points cluster between mile 13.9 and 18.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
13.9 mi into trip|~26m in
Take the exit toward I 76 West: Valley Forge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 16B
Toward I 76 West: Valley Forge
8
18 mi into trip|~33m in
Take the exit toward US 202, US 422 West: King of Prussia, West Chester, Pottstown
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 328B-A/327
Toward US 202, US 422 West: King of Prussia, We...
9
18.1 mi into trip|~33m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 202 South, US 422 West: Mall Boulevard, West Chester, Pottstown, Swedesford Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 202 South, US 422 West: Mall Boulevar...
8
18.4 mi into trip|~33m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Mall Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Mall Boulevard
7
18.7 mi into trip|~33m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 76 West: New Jersey, Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 76 West: New Jersey, Harrisburg
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.35 one way
$98.70 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg108 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$54.61
$109.23
premium
$4.81
$58.59
$117.17
diesel
$4.80
$58.44
$116.88
Estimated Tolls: $33.31
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(251.9 mi)$32.75
Mon/Fayette Expressway
(8 mi)$0.56
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
$49
Tolls
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$108–$133
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 108.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
92.9
1
$32.50
$14.86
Efficient EV
77.4
0
$27.08
$12.38
EV Truck/SUV
123.8
1
$43.33
$19.81
Gas CO2
108 kg
EV CO2
36 kg (67% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Darby, PA
Late night
in Darby on Sunday
Local time
2:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Smoke
W 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 1:40PM EDT until July 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Destination
McMurray, PA
Late night
in McMurray on Sunday
Local time
2:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Smoke
NW 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 1:40PM EDT until July 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
55°F
Martinsburg, PA
155 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
2 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
6h 10m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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.
Valley Forge National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
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...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 117.4
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...
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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 224.1
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...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 74.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on highways for 93% of this 309.5-mile trip. The longest continuous stretch of highway driving is 251.9 miles, primarily on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. This means you'll experience mostly highway cruising, with a significant amount of time spent on high-speed interstates before transitioning to surface roads closer to your destination. Expect a consistent driving pace for the majority of the trip.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
41 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 251.9 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and I 70. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13.9 miles in.
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 28 significant decision points across 309.5 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 13.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 18 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,156 ft45 ft
Total Climb
2,834 ft
Total Descent
1,876 ft
Highest Point
2,156 ft
~243.2 mi in
Elevation Range
2,111 ft
Notable High Points
1,682 ft at ~176.9 miles+549 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Darby, PA and McMurray, PA, road signs point toward Chester, Pottstown, Harrisburg, Pa Turnpike 66 Toll: Greensburg, Wheeling and New Stanton - among others.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 10m. Total distance: 309.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 10m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 251.9 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $33.31 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.
Yes — we found about 21 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 McMurray, 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. There are 21 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 13.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 18 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Valley Forge National Historical Park, Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument and Independence National Historical Park (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.2 hours each way, a round trip means 12.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at McMurray, PA before the return drive.
