Emsworth, PA to Allentown, PA is 289.2 miles and takes about 5h 45m via Pennsylvania Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $48 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Northeast region, specifically traversing Pennsylvania for its entirety. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip that's easily manageable in a single day. You'll primarily be on major roadways, making it a practical choice for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
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
144.6 miles from Emsworth, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
170.5 mi
3h 7m
William Penn Highway
42.8 mi
50m
American Legion Memorial Highway
22.5 mi
27m
Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
13.6 mi
18m
I 81
12.7 mi
15m
78th Division Highway
7.6 mi
8m
Ohio River Boulevard
6.4 mi
12m
Tilghman Street
4.9 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 170.5 mi, about 3h 7m
Traffic on I-81
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 56 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,785 veh/hr typical
Quietest
1 AM
~380 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Emsworth, PA and Allentown, PA.
1
Start on Lowry Avenue
81 ft·9 sec·Lowry Avenue
2
Turn right onto PA 65
6.4 mi·12 min·Ohio River Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
3
Keep slight right at fork
328 ft·6 sec
Toward I 279 South: Downtown Pittsburgh, Fort Pitt Bridge, Airport, Monroeville
4
Continue on this road
0.3 mi·28 sec·this road
Exit 1B-CToward US 19, PA 65: North Shore, Ohio River Boulevard
5
Continue on I 279
0.2 mi·22 sec·Fort Duquesne Bridge
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward Downtown, MonroevilleUse the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward Downtown PittsburghUse the slight left lane.
8
Continue on Fort Pitt Boulevard
0.2 mi·20 sec·Fort Pitt Boulevard
9
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 376 East: Monroeville
10
Merge onto I 376; US 22; US 30
14 mi·18 min·Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·1 min
Exit 85Toward I 76, PATP: Ohio, Harrisburg
12
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·30 sec·this road
Use the straight lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward I 76 East: HarrisburgUse the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto I 76; PATP
170 mi·3 hr 7 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
15
Take the exit
0.9 mi·2 min
Toward I 81, US 11: Carlisle, HarrisburgUse the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·54 sec
Toward US 11 North: HarrisburgUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on US 11
1.1 mi·2 min·Harrisburg Pike
Use the straight lane.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward I 81 North: Harrisburg
19
Merge onto I 81
13 mi·15 min·I 81
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi·14 sec
Toward US 11, US 15: Enola, Marysville
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·28 sec
Toward US 11 North, US 15 North: Marysville
22
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·32 sec
23
Merge onto I 81
0.7 mi·1 min·George N. Wade Memorial Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Continue on I 81
3.4 mi·4 min·American Legion Memorial Highway
25
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
19 mi·22 min·American Legion Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Take the exit
0.7 mi·45 sec
Exit 89Toward I 78 East: Allentown
27
Continue on I 78
7.6 mi·8 min·78th Division Highway
28
Continue on I 78; US 22
43 mi·50 min·William Penn Highway
Use the straight lane.
29
Keep slight right at fork onto US 22
1.0 mi·1 min·Lehigh Valley Thruway
Exit 51Toward US 22 East: Pennsylvania Turnpike, LVI AirportUse the slight right lane.
30
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward CetroniaUse the slight right lane.
31
Turn straight onto Tilghman Street
4.9 mi·8 min·Tilghman Street
Use the straight lane.
32
Arrive at destination
Tilghman Street
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour, 45-minute drive, leaving Emsworth, PA in the morning will allow you to reach Allentown, PA with plenty of daylight to spare. The $48 fuel cost is a good estimate, but always check current prices. With only one recommended stop, you can be strategic about where you take a break, perhaps around the halfway point to break up the 170.5-mile stretch on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Keep an eye on traffic conditions, especially as you approach the greater Lehigh Valley area near Allentown.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 144.6 miles from Emsworth, PA, or about 2h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 170.5 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 64 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 144.6 miles or 2h 51m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Allentown, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Emsworth, 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 Emsworth, PA
This is one driving day of about 289.2 miles and 5h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Emsworth, 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 170.5 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 24
5 decision points cluster between mile 7 and 283.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
7 mi into trip|~13m in
Take the exit toward Downtown, Monroeville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward Downtown, Monroeville
8
7.3 mi into trip|~13m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Downtown Pittsburgh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Downtown Pittsburgh
8
22.1 mi into trip|~36m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 76 East: Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 76 East: Harrisburg
7
192.7 mi into trip|~3h 44m in
Take the exit toward I 81, US 11: Carlisle, Harrisburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 81, US 11: Carlisle, Harrisburg
9
283.1 mi into trip|~5h 35m in|US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway toward US 22 East: Pennsylvania Turnpike, LVI Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 51
Toward US 22 East: Pennsylvania Turnpike, LVI A...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.11 one way
$92.23 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg101 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$51.03
$102.06
premium
$4.81
$54.74
$109.49
diesel
$4.80
$54.61
$109.21
Estimated Tolls: $22.23
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(170.5 mi)$22.16
Lehigh Valley Thruway
(1 mi)$0.07
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
$46
Tolls
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$93–$118
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 101.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
86.8
1
$30.37
$13.88
Efficient EV
72.3
0
$25.31
$11.57
EV Truck/SUV
115.7
1
$40.49
$18.51
Gas CO2
101 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Emsworth, PA
Evening
in Emsworth on Monday
Local time
7:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Sunny
N 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Allentown, PA
Evening
in Allentown on Monday
Local time
7:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Sunny
NW 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
82°F
Martinsburg, PA
145 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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 45m on the road
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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Free
near mile 189.8
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...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 239.8
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...
8 mi from route
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 89.9
The battle at Fort Necessity in the summer of 1754 was the opening action of the French and Indian War. This war was a clash of British, French and American Indian cultures. It ended with the removal...
The South Fork Dam failed on Friday, May 31, 1889, and unleashed 20,000,000 tons of water that devastated Johnstown, PA. The flood killed 2,209 people but it brought the nation and the world together...
24 mi from route
~59 min detour
Free
near mile 109.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip leans heavily into highway driving, with 68% of the journey on major roads like the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Expect a focused highway experience for the majority of your travel. The longest uninterrupted stretch will be approximately 170.5 miles along the Pennsylvania Turnpike, so plan for sustained driving during this segment. While the core route is highway-centric, you'll also utilize sections of the William Penn Highway and American Legion Memorial Highway, offering a slight variation in the road's character as you progress.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 170.5 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and William Penn Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7 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 24 significant decision points across 289.2 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 7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,412 ft346 ft
Total Climb
2,009 ft
Total Descent
2,389 ft
Highest Point
2,412 ft
~82.6 mi in
Elevation Range
2,066 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Emsworth, PA and Allentown, PA, road signs point toward Patp: Ohio, Harrisburg and Marysville.
Patp: Ohio
21.6 mi in|~34m
Harrisburg
21.6 mi in|~34m
Marysville
207.9 mi in|~4h 5m
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Allentown is the largest city in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania, the county seat and largest city in Lehigh County, and the third-largest city in Pennsylvania after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh with a population of 125,845 as of 2020.
Top landmarks
•Albertus L. Meyers Bridge — bridge in United States of America
•Allentown Masonic Temple — masonic temple in Allentown, Pennsylvania
•Allentown National Bank — bank building in Allentown, Pennsylvania
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 45m. Total distance: 289.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 170.5 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $22.23 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 23 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 Allentown, 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 23 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument, Appalachian National Scenic Trail and Flight 93 National Memorial (5 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Allentown, PA before the return drive.
