Ephrata, PA to Mount Lebanon, PA is 242.1 miles and takes about 4h 54m via Pennsylvania Turnpike and East 28th Division Highway, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, taking you from the Northeast region to the Northeast. It's a mostly highway route, designed for efficiency. With a recommended one-day drive, it’s a straightforward option for getting from point A to point B without extensive planning.
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
121.1 miles from Ephrata, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
199.7 mi
3h 38m
East 28th Division Highway
6.5 mi
9m
Lincoln Way
6.2 mi
11m
West Main Street
5 mi
9m
Lebanon Church Road
3.9 mi
6m
Twenty-Eighth Division Highway
3.9 mi
5m
Lincoln Highway
3.3 mi
6m
Broughton Road
2.5 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 199.7 mi, about 3h 38m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ephrata, PA and Mount Lebanon, PA.
1
Start on US 322
5.0 mi·9 min·West Main Street
2
Continue on US 322
6.5 mi·9 min·East 28th Division Highway
3
Continue on US 322
3.9 mi·5 min·Twenty-Eighth Division Highway
4
Keep slight left at fork
333 ft·11 sec
Toward PA 72 South: PA Turnpike, Lancaster
5
Turn left onto PA 72
1.7 mi·2 min·Lebanon Road
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward PATP
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward I 76 Toll West: Harrisburg
8
Merge onto I 76; PATP
200 mi·3 hr 38 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 67Toward US 30: Irwin, McKeesportUse the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward US 30 West: PittsburghUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto US 30
3.3 mi·6 min·Lincoln Highway
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn left onto Lincoln Way
6.2 mi·11 min·Lincoln Way
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn left onto PA 148; Yellow Belt
1.0 mi·2 min·5th Avenue
14
Turn straight onto PA 148; Yellow Belt
1.1 mi·1 min·Lysle Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Continue on Yellow Belt
0.1 mi·15 sec·Jerome Street Bridge
16
Continue on Yellow Belt
0.6 mi·59 sec·West 5th Avenue
17
Keep slight left at fork onto Yellow Belt
0.5 mi·1 min·West 5th Avenue
18
Continue on Yellow Belt
0.4 mi·34 sec·Richland Avenue
19
Continue on Yellow Belt
0.5 mi·47 sec·Pittsburgh McKeesport Boulevard
20
Turn slight left onto Yellow Belt
3.9 mi·6 min·Lebanon Church Road
21
Continue on Yellow Belt
1.3 mi·2 min·Curry Hollow Road
22
Continue on Yellow Belt
0.2 mi·25 sec·Brownsville Road
23
Turn right onto Broughton Road
2.5 mi·5 min·Broughton Road
Use the straight lane.
24
Turn right onto PA 88; Yellow Belt
1.0 mi·2 min·Library Road
25
Turn left onto Yellow Belt
1.2 mi·2 min·Connor Road
26
Turn right onto US 19; Yellow Belt
390 ft·15 sec·Washington Road
27
Turn right
156 ft·13 sec
28
Turn right
237 ft·17 sec
29
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
This is a comfortable one-day drive, so consider leaving Ephrata after the morning rush hour, around 9:00 AM, to reach Mount Lebanon by mid-afternoon. You'll have one recommended stop, and given the 4h 54m duration, you can easily complete the trip without needing an overnight stay. Keep an eye on your fuel; the estimated cost is $40, so plan your fill-ups accordingly, especially before you get too far into the longest stretch on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The route is mostly highway, so be prepared for tolls and potential traffic around major interchanges.
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 121.1 miles from Ephrata, PA, or about 2h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 199.7 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 53 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 121.1 miles or 2h 21m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mount Lebanon, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ephrata, 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 Ephrata, PA
This is one driving day of about 242.1 miles and 4h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Ephrata, 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 199.7 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 15.4 and 217.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
15.4 mi into trip|~24m in
Keep slight left at fork toward PA 72 South: PA Turnpike, Lancaster
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward PA 72 South: PA Turnpike, Lancaster
6
17.3 mi into trip|~27m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 76 Toll West: Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 76 Toll West: Harrisburg
5
17.6 mi into trip|~28m in|I 76; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike
Merge onto I 76; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
217.3 mi into trip|~4h 7m in
Take the exit toward US 30: Irwin, McKeesport
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 67
Toward US 30: Irwin, McKeesport
7
217.9 mi into trip|~4h 8m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 30 West: Pittsburgh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward US 30 West: Pittsburgh
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.60 one way
$77.21 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg85 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$42.72
$85.44
premium
$4.81
$45.83
$91.65
diesel
$4.80
$45.71
$91.43
Estimated Tolls: $25.96
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(199.7 mi)$25.96
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
$39
Tolls
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$90–$115
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
72.6
0
$25.42
$11.62
Efficient EV
60.5
0
$21.18
$9.68
EV Truck/SUV
96.8
1
$33.89
$15.49
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 18, 2026
Origin
Ephrata, PA
Evening
in Ephrata on Monday
Local time
8:36 PM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Patchy Smoke
SW 7 to 12 mph87% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 9:49AM EDT until July 18 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 18 at 9:42AM EDT until July 19 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA
Destination
Mount Lebanon, PA
Evening
in Mount Lebanon on Monday
Local time
8:36 PM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 12 to 15 mph68% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 9:49AM EDT until July 18 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 18 at 9:42AM EDT until July 19 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA
83°F
King, PA
121 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
4h 54m 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...
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...
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...
12 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 16.7
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...
24 mi from route
~61 min detour
Free
near mile 200.4
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
~60 min detour
Free
near mile 141.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 82% of your 242.1 miles on highways, with the longest continuous stretch being 199.7 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. After the turnpike, expect a shift to surface roads like East 28th Division Highway and Lincoln Way. The high highway percentage means you'll encounter frequent exits and interchanges for a significant portion of the drive.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 199.7 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and East 28th Division Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 15.4 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 242.1 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 15.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 17.6 miles (I 76; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,186 ft357 ft
Total Climb
2,716 ft
Total Descent
2,033 ft
Highest Point
2,186 ft
~172.9 mi in
Elevation Range
1,829 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Ephrata, PA and Mount Lebanon, PA, road signs point toward Lancaster, Patp and Mckeesport.
Mt. Lebanon is an affluent suburb in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, about seven miles south of Downtown Pittsburgh. Uptown Mt. Lebanon, a business district along Washington Road in the northern part of the township, is one of the more prominent business districts in the area outside of Pittsburgh itself.
Top landmarks
•First Church of Christ, Scientist — church building in Mt. Lebanon, United States of America
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 54m. Total distance: 242.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 199.7 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $25.96 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Mount Lebanon, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 15.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 17.6 miles (I 76; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument, Flight 93 National Memorial and Appalachian National Scenic Trail (5 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Mount Lebanon, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
