Franklin, PA to Croydon, PA is 69.6 miles and takes about 1h 42m via Delaware Expressway and Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, connecting two points in the Northeast region. You'll mostly be on major highways, making for a straightforward drive. With a total travel time under two hours, this route is ideal for a quick day trip or an easy addition to a longer itinerary.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
34.8 miles from Franklin, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Delaware Expressway
36.1 mi
49m
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
11.7 mi
13m
New London Road
7 mi
13m
Delaware Turnpike
3.6 mi
4m
Ogletown Road
3.4 mi
5m
Wilmington Expressway
1.6 mi
1m
State Road
1.6 mi
2m
West Cleveland Avenue
1.2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Delaware Expressway
— 36.1 mi, about 49m
Traffic on I-95
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 71 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~5,043 veh/hr typical
· worst 5,983
Quietest
1 AM
~521 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 49 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Franklin, PA and Croydon, PA.
1
Start on Walker Road
0.4 mi·1 min·Walker Road
2
Continue on Peacedale Road
0.1 mi·31 sec·Peacedale Road
3
Turn right onto PA 841
1.1 mi·1 min·Chesterville Road
4
Turn right onto PA 896
7.0 mi·13 min·New London Road
5
Turn left onto West Cleveland Avenue
1.2 mi·3 min·West Cleveland Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
Turn right onto DE 2; DE 72
0.2 mi·23 sec·Capitol Trail
7
Turn left onto DE 273
3.4 mi·5 min·Ogletown Road
Use the left lane.
8
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·13 sec
Toward I 95 North, I 95 South Toll: Delaware Memorial Bridge, Wilmington, Newark, BaltimoreUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 95 North: Delaware Memorial Bridge, Wilmington
10
Merge onto I 95
3.6 mi·4 min·Delaware Turnpike
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
1.4 mi·1 min·Wilmington Expressway
Toward I 95, I 495: Wilmington, Philadelphia
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 495
12 mi·13 min·Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 95
0.2 mi·14 sec·Wilmington Expressway
14
Continue on I 95
3.5 mi·4 min·Delaware Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
33 mi·44 min·Delaware Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·36 sec
Exit 37Toward PA 132: Street RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Turn right onto Street Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Street Road
18
At end of road, turn left onto State Road
1.6 mi·2 min·State Road
Use the left lane.
19
Arrive at destination
State Road
Trip Plan
For this relatively short trip of just over an hour and a half, you have a lot of flexibility. Leaving in the morning or early afternoon should give you plenty of time to reach your destination before evening. Given the short duration, you won't need to plan for extensive stops, but a quick break around the halfway point might be nice. Keep an eye on your fuel; at an estimated $11 cost, it’s a small expense, but ensuring you have enough before embarking on the 36.1-mile stretch on the Delaware Expressway is a good idea.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 34.8 miles from Franklin, PA, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36.1 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 15 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 34.8 miles or 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 26m
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 Franklin, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Franklin, PA
This is one driving day of about 69.6 miles and 1h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Franklin, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Delaware Expressway for about 36.1 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 8.6 and 68 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
8.6 mi into trip|~17m in|West Cleveland Avenue
Turn left onto West Cleveland Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
10 mi into trip|~21m in|DE 273 / Ogletown Road
Turn left onto DE 273 / Ogletown Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
13.4 mi into trip|~26m in
Take the ramp toward I 95 North, I 95 South Toll: Delaware Memorial Bridge, Wilmington, Newark, Baltimore
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 North, I 95 South Toll: Delaware Me...
7
67.2 mi into trip|~1h 37m in
Take the exit toward PA 132: Street Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 37
Toward PA 132: Street Road
7
68 mi into trip|~1h 39m in|State Road
At end of road, turn left onto State Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.36 one way
$22.71 round trip
$4.14/gal25.4 MPG avg24 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.56
$12.49
$24.97
premium
$4.86
$13.33
$26.65
diesel
$5.40
$14.81
$29.61
Estimated Tolls: $0.25
Delaware Turnpike
(3.6 mi)$0.25
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
$11
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
20.9
0
$7.31
$3.34
Efficient EV
17.4
0
$6.09
$2.78
EV Truck/SUV
27.8
0
$9.74
$4.45
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (67% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 26, 2026
Origin
Franklin, PA
Afternoon
in Franklin on Sunday
Local time
3:37 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Mostly Cloudy
NE 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Croydon, PA
Afternoon
in Croydon on Sunday
Local time
3:37 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Mostly Cloudy
NE 10 to 15 mph8% chanceLive forecast
44°F
Brookhaven, PA
35 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 42m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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.
Independence National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
Famous as the First State to ratify the Constitution, Delaware was born out of a conflict among three world powers for dominance of the Delaware Valley. From this beginning, the region developed a dis...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
Free
near mile 28.8
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...
17 mi from route
~43 min detour
Free
near mile 38.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 59% highway, so expect a significant portion of your drive to be on limited-access roads. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 36.1 miles on the Delaware Expressway. After this, you'll transition to surface roads, indicated by the 'Mixed highway & surface' profile. You'll notice the change in environment as you move from faster highway cruising to navigating local streets.
59% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 36.1 mi on Delaware Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 8.6 miles in near West Cleveland Avenue.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 69.6 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 8.6 miles (West Cleveland Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 10 miles (DE 273 / Ogletown Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.4 miles: 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 Franklin, PA and Croydon, PA, road signs point toward Wilmington, Newark, Baltimore and Philadelphia.
Franklin is a city in Venango County, in the Erie Region of Pennsylvania. Franklin, Titusville and Oil City, make up the Oil Region. Although the town remains rather quiet, the oil boom has left the city with many historic buildings. The architectural features range from Victorian to Gothic Revival; it is said that all of the architectural styles used in the state from 1830 to 1930 can be observed in Franklin. The Appalachian Mountains and forests that surround the area also make it a popular destination for hikers and bikers looking to get out of the cities to experience nature.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 42m. Total distance: 69.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (59%). 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 36.1 miles on Delaware Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.25 in tolls one way, starting with Delaware 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 1 rest area or service plaza 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.
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 8.6 miles (West Cleveland Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 10 miles (DE 273 / Ogletown Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.4 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Independence National Historical Park, Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial and First State National Historical Park (4 total within detour distance). 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 Croydon, PA before heading back.
