Origin
Durham, PA
Afternoon in Durham on Sunday
Local time
1:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Durham, PA to Philadelphia, 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 25m
Distance
50.5 mi
81 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 19m
★
6 AM
1h 26m
8 AM
1h 39m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 29m
3 PM
1h 31m
5 PM
1h 39m
8 PM
1h 22m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Durham, PA
Frank Samet
Philadelphia, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Durham to Philadelphia covers a 60.5-mile span that takes approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes to complete. This journey is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you to easily reach the heart of the city without the need for an overnight stay. You will navigate through the scenic Northeast region of Pennsylvania, transitioning from the quiet atmosphere of Durham into the urban environment of Philadelphia. Budgeting about $10 for fuel should cover your needs for this excursion. Because this route avoids major highways entirely, it offers a more personal, localized experience than typical interstate travel. Use this drive when you prefer a slower, more deliberate pace rather than a high-speed commute.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Easton Road | 12.1 mi | 17m |
| Fort Washington Expressway | 9 mi | 12m |
| Lower State Road | 6.8 mi | 13m |
| Durham Road | 3.8 mi | 7m |
| Ogontz Avenue | 3.7 mi | 6m |
| Gallows Hill Road | 3 mi | 5m |
| Doylestown Bypass | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| North 12th Street | 2.4 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
Easton Road
— 12.1 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Durham, PA and Philadelphia, PA.
1
Start on Old Furnace Road
54 ft
·
2 sec
·
Old Furnace Road
2
Continue on Durham Road
0.1 mi
·
32 sec
·
Durham Road
3
Continue on PA 212
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
Durham Road
4
Turn left onto Gallows Hill Road
3.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Gallows Hill Road
5
Turn slight left onto PA 412
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Harrow Road
6
Continue on PA 412
3.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Durham Road
7
At end of road, turn right onto PA 611
11 mi
·
15 min
·
Easton Road
8
Keep slight right at fork onto PA 611
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Easton Road
9
Continue on PA 611
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Doylestown Bypass
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward US 202 South: Norristown
Use the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto US 202
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
US 202 Parkway
12
Turn left onto Lower State Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Lower State Road
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on Lower State Road
3.6 mi
·
7 min
·
Lower State Road
14
Continue on PA 152
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Limekiln Pike
15
Turn right onto Lower State Road
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Lower State Road
Use the right lane.
16
Turn right onto PA 63
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Welsh Road
17
Turn sharp left onto PA 309
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
Bethlehem Pike
Use the left / straight lanes.
18
Continue on PA 309
6.7 mi
·
9 min
·
Fort Washington Expressway
19
Continue on PA 309
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Fort Washington Fort Washington Expressway
20
Continue on PA 309
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Fort Washington Expressway
21
Continue on PA 309
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
Limekiln Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Continue on PA 309
3.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Ogontz Avenue
Use the left lane.
23
Continue on Belfield Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Belfield Avenue
24
Turn right onto Old York Road
1.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Old York Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
25
Turn slight right onto Rising Sun Avenue
185 ft
·
7 sec
·
Rising Sun Avenue
26
Turn left onto Germantown Avenue
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Germantown Avenue
27
Turn right onto West Lehigh Avenue
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
West Lehigh Avenue
28
Turn left onto North 12th Street
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
North 12th Street
29
Turn right onto Callowhill Street
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Callowhill Street
30
Turn left onto PA 611
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
North Broad Street
31
Turn slight right onto PA 611
49 ft
·
0 sec
·
John F. Kennedy Boulevard
Use the right lane.
32
Turn left onto PA 611
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
North 15th Street
Use the left lane.
33
Turn slight left onto PA 611
379 ft
·
8 sec
·
South Penn Square
34
Keep slight left at fork onto South Penn Square
167 ft
·
2 sec
·
South Penn Square
35
Arrive at destination
South Penn Square
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.2 miles from Durham, 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 175 decision points cluster between mile 21.7 and 50.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
21.7 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Take the exit toward US 202 South: Norristown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 202 South: Norristown
5
22.7 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
Lower State Road
Turn left onto Lower State Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
27.3 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
Lower State Road
Turn right onto Lower State Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
30.2 mi into trip
|
~50m in
|
PA 309 / Bethlehem Pike
Turn sharp left onto PA 309 / Bethlehem Pike
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
5
50.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
|
PA 611 / North 15th Street
Turn left onto PA 611 / North 15th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.37 one way
$16.74 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $9.17 | $18.34 |
| premium | $4.93 | $9.79 | $19.59 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.15 | $22.30 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.30 | $2.42 |
| Efficient EV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.42 | $2.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.2 | 0 | $7.07 | $3.23 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (67% 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
Philadelphia, PA
Afternoon in Philadelphia on Sunday
Local time
1:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
5 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
1h 25m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. The route relies exclusively on local thoroughfares like Durham Road, Gallows Hill Road, and Harrow Road, meaning your highway share is a flat 0%. You won't find any long, monotonous stretches here, as the longest uninterrupted segment on Durham Road is 0 miles. Instead, the trip is defined by constant navigation through local turns and curves. It is an ideal path for drivers who enjoy staying alert and maneuvering through the countryside rather than settling into the repetitive rhythm of a multi-lane interstate.
Only 21% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
35 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.1 mi on Easton Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 21.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 50.5 miles you will encounter 17 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 21.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.7 miles (Lower State Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 27.3 miles (Lower State Road): Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Arriving in Philadelphia, PA
Full guide →“City of Brotherly Love” · Founded 1682
Top landmarks
- • Independence Hall — historic building in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- • Liberty Bell — bell in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA that serves as a symbol of American inde...
- • Philadelphia Museum of Art — art museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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 25m. Total distance: 50.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.1 miles on Easton Road. 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 Philadelphia, 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 21.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.7 miles (Lower State Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 27.3 miles (Lower State Road): Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Independence National Historical Park, Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial and Valley Forge National Historical Park (4 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 Philadelphia, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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