Origin
Franconia, PA
Morning in Franconia on Sunday
Local time
6:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Franconia, PA to Allentown, PA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
42m
Distance
30 mi
48 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 39m
★
6 AM
0h 42m
8 AM
0h 50m
10 AM
0h 45m
12 PM
0h 44m
3 PM
0h 45m
5 PM
0h 49m
8 PM
0h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Franconia, PA
K6
Allentown, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Franconia, PA to Allentown, PA is 30 miles and takes about 42 minutes via Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive connecting two points within Pennsylvania's Northeast region. You'll mostly be on highway, making it a quick trip for commuting or a short hop between cities. The route is ideal for a same-day excursion, requiring minimal planning and offering a straightforward journey.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension | 16.7 mi | 17m |
| Allentown Road | 5.4 mi | 9m |
| Tilghman Street | 3.6 mi | 5m |
| Upper Ridge Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| Finland Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| PA 309 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Lehigh Valley Thruway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Old Woods Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
— 16.7 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Franconia, PA and Allentown, PA.
1
Start on Allentown Road
5.4 mi
·
9 min
·
Allentown Road
2
Continue on Finland Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Finland Road
3
Continue on Upper Ridge Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Upper Ridge Road
4
Turn right onto Old Woods Road
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Old Woods Road
5
Turn left
115 ft
·
10 sec
6
Turn right onto I 476; PATP
17 mi
·
17 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
2 min
Exit 56
Toward I 78, US 22, PA 309: Allentown, Harrisburg
Use the slight right lane.
8
Turn slight right
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward US 22 East: Allentown
9
Merge onto US 22
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Lehigh Valley Thruway
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Toward PA 309 South: Quakertown
Use the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto PA 309
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
PA 309
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward Tilghman Street East
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Turn straight onto Tilghman Street
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Tilghman Street
14
Arrive at destination
Tilghman Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 7.4 and 26.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
7.4 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
I 476; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Turn right onto I 476; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
24.1 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Take the exit toward I 78, US 22, PA 309: Allentown, 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.
Exit 56
Toward I 78, US 22, PA 309: Allentown, Harrisbu...
6
25.2 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Take the exit toward PA 309 South: Quakertown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward PA 309 South: Quakertown
5
25.7 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
PA 309
Merge onto PA 309
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
26.2 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Take the exit toward Tilghman Street East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward Tilghman Street East
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.97 one way
$9.95 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $5.45 | $10.89 |
| premium | $4.93 | $5.82 | $11.64 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.62 | $13.25 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.17
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(16.7 mi)
$2.17
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$2
Total
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9 | 0 | $3.15 | $1.44 |
| Efficient EV | 7.5 | 0 | $2.63 | $1.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12 | 0 | $4.20 | $1.92 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (60% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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.
Destination
Allentown, PA
Morning in Allentown on Sunday
Local time
6:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
24 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
42m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive offers a mixed experience, with 57% of it being highway. You'll encounter stretches on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, which provides a consistent cruising speed for a significant portion of the trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll cover is 16.7 miles on this turnpike. You'll also navigate local roads like Allentown Road and Tilghman Street as you approach your destination, which will require adjusting your speed and attention.
57% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.7 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.4 miles in near I 476; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 8 decision points packed into just 30 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 42m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 7.4 miles (I 476; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension): Lane positioning matters here; at 24.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Franconia, PA and Allentown, PA, road signs point toward Harrisburg and Tilghman Street East.
Harrisburg
24.1 mi in
|
~31m
Tilghman Street East
26.2 mi in
|
~36m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 42m. Total distance: 30 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (57%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 16.7 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.17 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.
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.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 7.4 miles (I 476; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension): Lane positioning matters here; at 24.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Valley Forge National Historical Park, Independence National Historical Park and Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Allentown, PA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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