This 252.4-mile journey from Fernway, PA to Hempfield, PA is designed for efficiency, taking approximately 4 hours and 48 minutes. Primarily utilizing the Pennsylvania Turnpike and PA 283, this route is highly focused on highway driving, with 96% of the distance covered on major roadways. Given its duration and highway-centric nature, it’s perfectly suited as a single-day trip, eliminating the need for an overnight stop. Expect a fuel cost of around $42 for this drive. This trip is ideal if you're looking for a straightforward, no-fuss transit between two points 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
126.2 miles from Fernway, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
219.8 mi
4h
PA 283
21.8 mi
25m
Prospect Road
2.5 mi
4m
Rochester Road
1.4 mi
3m
Marietta Avenue
1.4 mi
2m
Perry Highway
1.2 mi
2m
Spooky Nook Road
1 mi
1m
Summit Drive
0.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 219.8 mi, about 4h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fernway, PA and Hempfield, PA.
1
Start on Hartland Drive
422 ft·20 sec·Hartland Drive
2
Turn right onto Woodhollow Drive
346 ft·16 sec·Woodhollow Drive
3
Turn right onto Rochester Road
1.4 mi·3 min·Rochester Road
4
Turn right onto US 19
1.2 mi·2 min·Perry Highway
Use the right lane.
5
Take the exit
0.1 mi·13 sec
Toward I 76, PATP: Youngstown Ohio, HarrisburgUse the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 76 East: HarrisburgUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward I 76 East: Harrisburg
8
Merge onto I 76; PATP
220 mi·4 hr·Pennsylvania Turnpike
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi·2 min
Exit 247Toward I 283, PA 283: Harrisburg, HersheyUse the slight right lane.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·45 sec
Exit 1AToward PA 283 East: Airport, Lancaster
11
Merge onto PA 283
22 mi·25 min·PA 283
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
Toward Salunga
13
Turn right onto Spooky Nook Road
1.0 mi·1 min·Spooky Nook Road
14
Continue on Prospect Road
2.5 mi·4 min·Prospect Road
15
Turn left onto PA 23
1.4 mi·2 min·Marietta Avenue
Use the left lane.
16
Turn right onto Summit Drive
0.5 mi·1 min·Summit Drive
17
Continue on Summit Drive
0.4 mi·55 sec·Summit Drive
18
Arrive at destination
Summit Drive
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour, 48-minute drive, consider an early morning departure to maximize your daylight hours and potentially avoid peak traffic. With only one suggested stop and the longest stretch being over 200 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, plan your breaks accordingly. Aim to refuel before you leave Fernway, PA, as the majority of your journey will be on high-speed highways where services might be less frequent or more expensive. The $42 fuel cost is an estimate, so keeping an eye on your gauge, especially during that long 219.8-mile stretch on the turnpike, is wise.
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 126.2 miles from Fernway, PA, or about 2h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 219.8 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 56 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 126.2 miles or 2h 22m 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hempfield, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Fernway, 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 Fernway, PA
This is one driving day of about 252.4 miles and 4h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Fernway, 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 219.8 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 1.6 and 224.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.6 mi into trip|~3m in|US 19 / Perry Highway
Turn right onto US 19 / Perry Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
2.8 mi into trip|~5m in
Take the exit toward I 76, PATP: Youngstown Ohio, 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 76, PATP: Youngstown Ohio, Harrisburg
7
2.9 mi into trip|~6m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 76 East: Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 76 East: Harrisburg
8
223.6 mi into trip|~4h 8m in
Take the exit toward I 283, PA 283: Harrisburg, Hershey
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 247
Toward I 283, PA 283: Harrisburg, Hershey
6
224.2 mi into trip|~4h 11m in
Take the exit toward PA 283 East: Airport, Lancaster
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 1A
Toward PA 283 East: Airport, Lancaster
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.84 one way
$83.69 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg88 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$45.83
$91.66
premium
$4.93
$48.95
$97.90
diesel
$5.61
$55.73
$111.45
Estimated Tolls: $28.58
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(219.8 mi)$28.58
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
$42
Tolls
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$95–$120
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
75.7
0
$26.50
$12.12
Efficient EV
63.1
0
$22.09
$10.10
EV Truck/SUV
101
1
$35.34
$16.15
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Fernway, PA
Late night
in Fernway on Sunday
Local time
12:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hempfield, PA
Late night
in Hempfield on Sunday
Local time
12:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
55°F
Oil City, PA
126 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
15 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 48m 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 199.4
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 95.4
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...
18 mi from route
~45 min detour
Free
near mile 234.1
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 112.7
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...
25 mi from route
~62 min detour
Free
near mile 60.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a highway-focused drive for the vast majority of this trip. With 96% of the route on major highways, you'll experience a consistent pace for much of the 252.4 miles. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a significant 219.8 miles along the Pennsylvania Turnpike, offering a chance to settle in for a long haul. While Prospect Road and PA 283 will offer minor variations, the overall character is one of steady, high-speed travel, prioritizing directness over scenic detours. This is a route built for covering ground efficiently.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 219.8 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and PA 283. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.6 miles in near US 19 / Perry Highway.
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 252.4 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 1.6 miles (US 19 / Perry Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Fernway, PA and Hempfield, PA, road signs point toward Hershey and Lancaster.
Hershey
223.6 mi in|~4h 8m
Lancaster
224.2 mi in|~4h 11m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 48m. Total distance: 252.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 219.8 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $28.58 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 Hempfield, 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 1.6 miles (US 19 / Perry Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Hempfield, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
