This 290.6-mile journey from Fairchance, PA to Upper Darby, PA is a feasible one-day trip, estimated to take around 5 hours and 43 minutes of driving time. The route is heavily focused on highways, with 92% of the drive utilizing major roadways like the Pennsylvania Turnpike and the Mon/Fayette Expressway. Budget approximately $48 for fuel, and plan for at least one stop along the way. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a substantial 236.3 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent driving. This is a straightforward, efficient drive primarily within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania.
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
145.3 miles from Fairchance, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
236.3 mi
4h 17m
Mon/Fayette Expressway
12.2 mi
14m
Pleasant Valley Road
7.9 mi
13m
Mid-County Expressway
6.4 mi
8m
PA 31
6 mi
9m
I 76
5.1 mi
7m
South 8th Street
3.9 mi
4m
Lansdowne Avenue
3 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 236.3 mi, about 4h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairchance, PA and Upper Darby, PA.
1
Start on PA 857
0.7 mi·1 min·North Morgantown Street
2
Continue on PA 857
2.3 mi·4 min·Georges Fairchance Road
3
Continue on US 119
0.1 mi·17 sec·US 119
4
Merge onto US 119
12 mi·14 min·Mon/Fayette Expressway
5
Continue on US 119
2.2 mi·2 min·Morrell Avenue
6
Continue on US 119
3.9 mi·4 min·South 8th Street
7
Take the exit
244 ft·6 sec
8
Turn straight onto PA 982
7.9 mi·13 min·Pleasant Valley Road
9
Turn right onto PA 31
6.0 mi·9 min·PA 31
10
Turn slight left
0.2 mi·33 sec
11
Turn left
28 ft·3 sec
12
Take the ramp
493 ft·12 sec
Toward PATP, I 70, I 76
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·35 sec
14
Merge onto I 70; I 76; PATP
236 mi·4 hr 17 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit onto I 76
5.1 mi·7 min·I 76
Exit 326Toward I 76 East: Valley Forge, PhiladelphiaUse the slight right lane.
16
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 331AToward I 476 South: ChesterUse the slight right lane.
17
Merge onto I 476
6.4 mi·8 min·Mid-County Expressway
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·59 sec
Exit 9Toward PA 3: Upper Darby, BroomallUse the slight right lane.
19
Turn left onto PA 3
2.5 mi·5 min·West Chester Pike
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
20
Turn slight right onto Darby Road
471 ft·13 sec·Darby Road
Use the right lane.
21
Continue on Lansdowne Avenue
3.0 mi·8 min·Lansdowne Avenue
Use the straight lane.
22
Turn right onto West Providence Road
0.3 mi·39 sec·West Providence Road
23
Arrive at destination
West Providence Road
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour, 43-minute drive, starting early in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight and avoid potential rush hour traffic as you approach Upper Darby. With 92% of the drive on highways and a longest stretch of 236.3 miles, plan for your single recommended stop to be around the halfway point for fuel and a break. Given the substantial highway share, staying alert is key, especially during the long stretches on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The fuel cost is estimated at $48, so ensure your tank is full before departing Fairchance.
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 145.3 miles from Fairchance, PA, or about 2h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 236.3 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 64 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 145.3 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Upper Darby, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fairchance, 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 Fairchance, PA
This is one driving day of about 290.6 miles and 5h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Fairchance, 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 236.3 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 35.7 and 284.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
35.7 mi into trip|~50m in
Take the ramp toward PATP, I 70, I 76
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward PATP, I 70, I 76
5
35.8 mi into trip|~51m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
8
272.3 mi into trip|~5h 9m 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
7
277.4 mi into trip|~5h 17m in
Take the exit toward I 476 South: Chester
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 331A
Toward I 476 South: Chester
8
284.4 mi into trip|~5h 27m in
Take the exit toward PA 3: Upper Darby, Broomall
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 9
Toward PA 3: Upper Darby, Broomall
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$48.18 one way
$96.36 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg102 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$52.77
$105.53
premium
$4.93
$56.36
$112.72
diesel
$5.61
$64.16
$128.32
Estimated Tolls: $30.72
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(236.3 mi)$30.72
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
$48
Tolls
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$104–$129
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 101.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
87.2
1
$30.51
$13.95
Efficient EV
72.7
0
$25.43
$11.62
EV Truck/SUV
116.2
1
$40.68
$18.60
Gas CO2
102 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (67% 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 Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Fairchance, PA
Late night
in Fairchance on Tuesday
Local time
4:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Upper Darby, PA
Late night
in Upper Darby on Tuesday
Local time
4:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Partly Sunny
E 5 to 10 mph1% chanceLive forecast
67°F
Hancock, MD
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
5 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 43m 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...
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Free
near mile 170.3
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...
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Free
near mile 270.5
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...
7 mi from route
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 70.1
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...
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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 290.6
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, with 92% of the drive being on major expressways. You'll be spending a significant amount of time on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, including a lengthy 236.3-mile segment where the road offers a consistent driving pace. The Mon/Fayette Expressway and Pleasant Valley Road will also contribute to the highway feel, ensuring a relatively fast and direct transit. While mostly high-speed, the inclusion of shorter segments on local roads like Pleasant Valley Road might offer a brief change of scenery before rejoining the expressways.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 236.3 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and Mon/Fayette Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 35.7 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 290.6 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 35.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 272.3 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.
Between Fairchance, PA and Upper Darby, PA, road signs point toward Patp and Philadelphia.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 43m. Total distance: 290.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 236.3 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $30.72 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 Upper Darby, 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 35.7 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 272.3 miles (I 76): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument, Valley Forge National Historical Park and Flight 93 National Memorial (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Upper Darby, PA before the return drive.
