Fairdale, PA to Croydon, PA is 313.4 miles and takes about 6h 6m via Pennsylvania Turnpike and US 40, with a fuel budget near $51 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, primarily traversing Pennsylvania. It's a mostly highway route, making it a straightforward drive if you're looking for efficiency. With a single recommended day, you can cover the distance comfortably without feeling rushed. Consider this route for a direct connection between these two points in the state.
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
156.7 miles from Fairdale, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
262 mi
4h 45m
US 40
13.1 mi
15m
McClellandtown Road
10.5 mi
18m
Pleasant Valley Road
7.9 mi
13m
PA 31
6 mi
9m
Street Road
4 mi
6m
US 119
2.9 mi
3m
Eighty Eight Road
2.1 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 262 mi, about 4h 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairdale, PA and Croydon, PA.
1
Start on Schroyers Lane
281 ft·17 sec·Schroyers Lane
2
Turn left onto Nemacolin Road
85 ft·8 sec·Nemacolin Road
3
Turn sharp right onto Burnett Way
0.1 mi·29 sec·Burnett Way
4
Turn left onto PA 88
2.1 mi·3 min·Eighty Eight Road
5
Turn left onto PA 21
1.6 mi·2 min·Roy E. Furman Highway
6
Continue on PA 21
10 mi·18 min·McClellandtown Road
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Use the right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward US 119 North, US 40 West: Connellsville
9
Merge onto US 40; US 119
13 mi·15 min·US 40; US 119
10
Continue on US 119; PA 711 Truck
2.9 mi·3 min·US 119; PA 711 Truck
11
Take the exit
244 ft·6 sec
12
Turn straight onto PA 982
7.9 mi·13 min·Pleasant Valley Road
13
Turn right onto PA 31
6.0 mi·9 min·PA 31
14
Turn slight left
0.2 mi·33 sec
15
Turn left
28 ft·3 sec
16
Take the ramp
493 ft·12 sec
Toward PATP, I 70, I 76
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·35 sec
18
Merge onto I 70; I 76; PATP
262 mi·4 hr 45 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Exit 352Toward PA 132: Street RoadUse the slight right lane.
20
Turn left onto PA 132
4.0 mi·6 min·Street Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
21
At end of road, turn left onto State Road
1.6 mi·2 min·State Road
Use the left lane.
22
Arrive at destination
State Road
Trip Plan
For this 6-hour drive, leaving Fairdale, PA in the morning, around 8 or 9 AM, should get you to Croydon, PA in the mid-afternoon. This timing allows for a single planned stop without significantly impacting your arrival time. The majority of your driving will be on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, so be prepared for potential tolls and keep an eye on your fuel levels, as services can be spaced out. The fuel cost is estimated at $51, so plan accordingly. The final leg on US 40 and McClellandtown Road will have more local traffic and potentially more frequent exits than the turnpike segment.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 156.7 miles from Fairdale, PA, or about 3h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 262 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 69 miles or 1h 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 156.7 miles or 3h 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Croydon, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fairdale, 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 Fairdale, PA
This is one driving day of about 313.4 miles and 6h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 miles from Fairdale, 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 262 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 0.1 and 311.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Burnett Way
Turn sharp right onto Burnett Way
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
7
14.3 mi into trip|~25m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
14.5 mi into trip|~26m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 119 North, US 40 West: Connellsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 119 North, US 40 West: Connellsville
7
307.4 mi into trip|~5h 55m in
Take the exit toward PA 132: Street Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 352
Toward PA 132: Street Road
7
311.8 mi into trip|~6h 3m in|State Road
At end of road, turn left onto State Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.97 one way
$99.94 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg110 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$55.30
$110.60
premium
$4.81
$59.32
$118.65
diesel
$4.80
$59.18
$118.35
Estimated Tolls: $34.05
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(262 mi)$34.05
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
$50
Tolls
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$109–$134
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 109.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
94
1
$32.91
$15.04
Efficient EV
78.4
0
$27.42
$12.54
EV Truck/SUV
125.4
1
$43.88
$20.06
Gas CO2
110 kg
EV CO2
37 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 17, 2026
Origin
Fairdale, PA
Evening
in Fairdale on Monday
Local time
7:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Smoke
N 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 1:40PM EDT until July 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Destination
Croydon, PA
Evening
in Croydon on Monday
Local time
7:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Smoke
N 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 1:40PM EDT until July 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
82°F
Martinsburg, PA
157 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
3 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
6h 6m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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.
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...
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...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 183.7
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...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
Free
near mile 75.6
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...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
Free
near mile 21.6
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...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 226.9
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...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
$1
near mile 291.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 91% of the 313.4 miles on high-speed roads. You'll experience the longest continuous stretch of 262 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. After that, you'll transition to US 40 and McClellandtown Road, which will feel like a significant change from the turnpike. Expect a relatively consistent driving experience for the majority of the trip, with a notable shift to surface roads towards the end.
91% 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: 262 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and US 40. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Burnett Way.
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 313.4 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 0.1 miles (Burnett Way): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 14.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,259 ft26 ft
Total Climb
1,466 ft
Total Descent
2,442 ft
Highest Point
2,259 ft
~67.2 mi in
Elevation Range
2,233 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Fairdale, PA to Croydon, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Patp along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 6m. Total distance: 313.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 6m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 262 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $34.05 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 19 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 Croydon, 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 19 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Burnett Way): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 14.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Valley Forge National Historical Park, Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument 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 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Croydon, PA before the return drive.
