Origin
Elizabethtown, PA
Morning in Elizabethtown on Sunday
Local time
11:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elizabethtown, 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 59m
Distance
94.8 mi
153 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 50m
★
6 AM
1h 59m
8 AM
2h 16m
10 AM
2h 5m
12 PM
2h 3m
3 PM
2h 6m
5 PM
2h 15m
8 PM
1h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elizabethtown, PA
Jack Pace
Philadelphia, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 94.8-mile drive from Elizabethtown, PA to Philadelphia, PA is a straightforward, highway-focused trip that can easily be completed in under two hours. With an estimated fuel cost of $16, it's an affordable and efficient journey. The route primarily utilizes the Pennsylvania Turnpike and I-76, making it a convenient option for a single-day excursion. Given its short duration and highway nature, no overnight stops are typically necessary. This route stays within the Northeast region, offering a consistent travel experience throughout its 1 hour and 59-minute span.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.4 miles from Elizabethtown, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike | 39.4 mi | 42m |
| I 76 | 18 mi | 26m |
| US 222 | 15.8 mi | 19m |
| PA 283 | 13.7 mi | 16m |
| South Market Street | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| US 30 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Cloverleaf Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| North Spruce Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 39.4 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elizabethtown, PA and Philadelphia, PA.
1
Start on this road
199 ft
·
15 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Mechanics Alley
123 ft
·
11 sec
·
Mechanics Alley
3
Turn right onto North Spruce Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
North Spruce Street
4
Turn slight left onto PA 230
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
South Market Street
5
Turn left onto Cloverleaf Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Cloverleaf Road
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward PA 283 East: Lancaster
7
Merge onto PA 283
14 mi
·
16 min
·
PA 283
8
Merge onto US 30
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
US 30
9
Take the exit onto US 222
16 mi
·
19 min
·
US 222
Toward US 222 North: Reading
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 76, PATP, PA 272: Denver, PA Turnpike
11
Turn right onto Colonel Howard Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Colonel Howard Boulevard
Toward I 76, PATP
12
Keep slight left at fork onto Colonel Howard Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Colonel Howard Boulevard
Toward I 76, PATP
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 76 Toll East: Philadelphia
14
Merge onto I 76; PATP
39 mi
·
42 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit onto I 76
18 mi
·
26 min
·
I 76
Exit 326
Toward I 76 East: Valley Forge, Philadelphia
Use the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 676; US 30
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Vine Street Expressway
Toward I 676 East, US 30 East: Central Philadelphia
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward Central Philadelphia
Use the slight right lane.
18
Keep slight right at fork
313 ft
·
11 sec
Toward 15th Street, Central Philadelphia
Use the slight right lane.
19
Turn right onto North 15th Street
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
North 15th Street
Use the right lane.
20
Turn slight left onto PA 611
379 ft
·
8 sec
·
South Penn Square
21
Keep slight left at fork onto South Penn Square
167 ft
·
2 sec
·
South Penn Square
22
Arrive at destination
South Penn Square
Trip Plan
For this relatively short 94.8-mile trip, departing Elizabethtown, PA, you have the flexibility to leave whenever suits you best, aiming to avoid peak Philadelphia traffic. With a total duration of under two hours and a fuel cost around $16, you won't need to plan for extensive stops. However, it's always wise to utilize rest areas on the Pennsylvania Turnpike as needed. Keep an eye out for potential tolls associated with the turnpike sections of your journey.
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 47.4 miles from Elizabethtown, PA, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 39.4 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 21 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.4 miles or 1h 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 Philadelphia, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Elizabethtown, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Elizabethtown, PA
This is one driving day of about 94.8 miles and 1h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Elizabethtown, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Pennsylvania Turnpike for about 39.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
47 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 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 47.4 miles from Elizabethtown, 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 185 decision points cluster between mile 34.9 and 94.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
34.9 mi into trip
|
~45m in
|
Colonel Howard Boulevard
Turn right onto Colonel Howard Boulevard toward I 76, PATP
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 76, PATP
6
35.1 mi into trip
|
~46m in
|
Colonel Howard Boulevard
Keep slight left at fork onto Colonel Howard Boulevard toward I 76, PATP
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 76, PATP
8
75.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 30m in
|
I 76
Take the exit onto I 76 toward I 76 East: Valley Forge, Philadelphia
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 326
Toward I 76 East: Valley Forge, Philadelphia
8
93.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 56m in
|
I 676; US 30 / Vine Street Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 676; US 30 / Vine Street Expressway toward I 676 East, US 30 East: Central Philadelphia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward I 676 East, US 30 East: Central Philadel...
9
94.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 57m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 15th Street, Central Philadelphia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward 15th Street, Central Philadelphia
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.72 one way
$31.43 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
33 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $17.21 | $34.43 |
| premium | $4.93 | $18.39 | $36.77 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $20.93 | $41.86 |
Estimated Tolls: $5.12
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(39.4 mi)
$5.12
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
$16
Tolls
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 28.4 | 0 | $9.95 | $4.55 |
| Efficient EV | 23.7 | 0 | $8.30 | $3.79 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 37.9 | 0 | $13.27 | $6.07 |
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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
Morning in Philadelphia on Sunday
Local time
11:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°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
1 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 59m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Independence National Historical Park
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...
1 mi from route
~2 min detour
$1
near mile 94.8
Park Closure: Congress Hall Temporary Closure
Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial
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...
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Free
near mile 94.8
View on nps.gov
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...
2 mi from route
~4 min detour
Free
near mile 75.2
View on nps.gov
First State National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Famous as the First State to ratify the Constitution, Delaware was born out of a conflict among three world powers for dominance of the Delaware Valley. From this beginning, the region developed a dis...
16 mi from route
~41 min detour
Free
near mile 65.4
View on nps.gov
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
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...
20 mi from route
~50 min detour
Free
near mile 6.5
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway experience on this route, with 94% of the drive taking place on high-speed roadways like the Pennsylvania Turnpike and I-76. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 39.4 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, allowing for consistent progress. While largely highway-focused, you might encounter brief transitions onto US 222, but the overall character remains one of efficient travel. This drive is designed for making good time rather than exploring winding backroads.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 39.4 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 76. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 34.9 miles in near Colonel Howard Boulevard.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 94.8 miles you will encounter 18 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 34.9 miles (Colonel Howard Boulevard): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35.1 miles (Colonel Howard Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 75.3 miles (I 76): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Elizabethtown, PA and Philadelphia, PA, road signs point toward Patp and Pa Turnpike.
Patp
34.6 mi in
|
~45m
Pa Turnpike
34.6 mi in
|
~45m
About the Cities
Starting in Elizabethtown, PA
Full guide →Elizabethtown is a small town in Pennsylvania. The town was mainly agricultural until the 1900s, when Klien Chocolate Company and several shoe factories opened. The town probably best known for the small college in town, Elizabethtown College. Locals and college alumni often refer to the town as "E-town".
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 59m. Total distance: 94.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 39.4 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $5.12 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.
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 34.9 miles (Colonel Howard Boulevard): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35.1 miles (Colonel Howard Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 75.3 miles (I 76): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Independence National Historical Park, Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial and Valley Forge National Historical Park (5 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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