Origin
Derry, PA
Morning in Derry on Sunday
Local time
11:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Derry, PA to Harrisburg, PA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 56m
Distance
91.4 mi
147 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 48m
★
6 AM
1h 56m
8 AM
2h 13m
10 AM
2h 2m
12 PM
2h 0m
3 PM
2h 3m
5 PM
2h 12m
8 PM
1h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Derry, PA
Israyosoy S.
Trip Overview
Derry, PA to Harrisburg, PA is 91.4 miles and takes about 1h 56m via I 81 and State Route 54, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Pennsylvania, connecting two points in the Northeast region. It's primarily a highway-focused trip, making it a straightforward option if you're looking for efficient travel between these two locations. Expect a relatively quick journey, well within the scope of a single day's driving.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45.7 miles from Derry, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 59m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 81 | 48.3 mi | 56m |
| State Route 54 | 11.1 mi | 13m |
| Elysburg Road | 9.7 mi | 11m |
| Continental Boulevard | 7.6 mi | 10m |
| Sunbury Road | 4.3 mi | 4m |
| Washingtonville Road | 3.5 mi | 6m |
| Fairgrounds Road | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| North Cameron Street | 1.8 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 48.3 mi, about 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Derry, PA and Harrisburg, PA.
1
Start on Crawford Road
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Crawford Road
2
Turn left onto Greenleaf Road
0.2 mi
·
58 sec
·
Greenleaf Road
3
Turn right onto PA 254
3.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Washingtonville Road
4
Turn left onto PA 54
7.6 mi
·
10 min
·
Continental Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on PA 54
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Factory Street
6
Continue on PA 54
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Danville-Riverside Bridge Road
7
Turn left onto PA 54
9.7 mi
·
11 min
·
Elysburg Road
Use the left lane.
8
Continue on PA 54
11 mi
·
13 min
·
State Route 54
9
Continue on PA 901
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
Locust Gap Highway
10
Continue on PA 901
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Fairgrounds Road
11
Continue on PA 901
4.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Sunbury Road
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
13
Merge onto I 81
48 mi
·
56 min
·
I 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit onto US 322
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
US 322
Exit 67A; 67B
Toward US 22 East, PA 230 East, US 22 West, US 322 West: Harrisburg, Lewistown, State College
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 67A
Toward US 22 East: Harrisburg, Cameron Street
Use the slight left lane.
16
Merge onto US 22
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
North Cameron Street
Use the straight lane.
17
Turn right onto Herr Street
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
Herr Street
18
Turn right onto North 7th Street
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
North 7th Street
19
Arrive at destination
North 7th Street
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of just under two hours, this trip is easily completed in a single day, offering flexibility in your departure time. Aim to leave mid-morning to avoid the peak rush hour in either Derry or Harrisburg. With a fuel cost estimated at $15, you likely won't need to worry about frequent refueling stops, but it's always wise to top off before setting out. Keep an eye on your GPS as you transition from I 81 onto State Route 54 and Elysburg Road, as these local roads may have different speed limits and traffic patterns than the interstate.
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 45.7 miles from Derry, PA, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 48.3 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 20 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.7 miles or 59m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Harrisburg, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Derry, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Derry, PA
This is one driving day of about 91.4 miles and 1h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Derry, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 48.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
46 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 45.7 miles from Derry, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 3.9 and 88.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.9 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
PA 54 / Continental Boulevard
Turn left onto PA 54 / Continental Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
12 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
PA 54 / Elysburg Road
Turn left onto PA 54 / Elysburg Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
39.9 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
I 81
Merge onto I 81
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
88.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 49m in
|
US 322
Take the exit onto US 322 toward US 22 East, PA 230 East, US 22 West, US 322 West: Harrisburg, Lewistown, State College
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 67A; 67B
Toward US 22 East, PA 230 East, US 22 West, US...
9
88.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 49m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 22 East: Harrisburg, Cameron Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 67A
Toward US 22 East: Harrisburg, Cameron Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.15 one way
$30.31 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
32 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $16.60 | $33.19 |
| premium | $4.93 | $17.73 | $35.45 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $20.18 | $40.36 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 27.4 | 0 | $9.60 | $4.39 |
| Efficient EV | 22.9 | 0 | $8.00 | $3.66 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 36.6 | 0 | $12.80 | $5.85 |
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Harrisburg, PA
Morning in Harrisburg on Sunday
Local time
11:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live 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
20 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
1h 56m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This route leans heavily towards highway driving, with 65% of the journey on interstates and major roads like I 81. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 48.3 miles on I 81, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of the trip. While the main arteries provide speed, the inclusion of State Route 54 and Elysburg Road suggests a transition to more local driving as you approach your destination. Expect a mix of faster highway segments and potentially slower, more community-oriented roads.
65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 48.3 mi on I 81.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and State Route 54. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.9 miles in near PA 54 / Continental Boulevard.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 91.4 miles you will encounter 11 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 3.9 miles (PA 54 / Continental Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 12 miles (PA 54 / Elysburg Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 39.9 miles (I 81): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Harrisburg, PA
Full guide →Harrisburg is the capital and 4th-largest metropolitan area of Pennsylvania, with a metro population of 592,000 people in 2020. Harrisburg is known as the host city of the Pennsylvania Farm Show, the largest free indoor agriculture exposition in the United States, the largest annual outdoor sports show in North America, an auto show, which features a large static display of new and classic cars, and Motorama, a two-day event consisting of a car show, motocross racing, and remote control car racing.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 56m. Total distance: 91.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (65%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 48.3 miles on I 81. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Harrisburg, PA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.9 miles (PA 54 / Continental Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 12 miles (PA 54 / Elysburg Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 39.9 miles (I 81): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Harrisburg, PA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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