Origin
Harrisburg, PA
Morning in Harrisburg on Tuesday
Local time
8:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Harrisburg, PA to Denver, PA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 7m
Distance
52.2 mi
84 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 2m
★
6 AM
1h 8m
8 AM
1h 19m
10 AM
1h 11m
12 PM
1h 10m
3 PM
1h 12m
5 PM
1h 18m
8 PM
1h 4m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Denver, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Harrisburg, PA to Denver, PA is 52.2 miles and takes about 1h 7m via Pennsylvania Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a short trip entirely within Pennsylvania, making it a convenient option for a quick drive. The majority of your journey will be on major highways, so expect a straightforward commute. It's a good choice if you're looking for a simple, direct route without much fuss. Consider this drive when you need to get from point A to point B efficiently within the Northeast region.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike | 38.7 mi | 41m |
| I 283 | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| I 83 | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| North Reading Road | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Colonel Howard Boulevard | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| North 13th Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| West Church Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 38.7 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Harrisburg, PA and Denver, PA.
1
Start on North 7th Street
89 ft
·
3 sec
·
North 7th Street
2
Enter roundabout onto North 7th Street
209 ft
·
7 sec
·
North 7th Street
3
Continue on North 7th Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North 7th Street
4
Continue on Fisher Plaza
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Fisher Plaza
5
Keep slight left at fork onto State Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
State Street
6
Turn right onto North 13th Street
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
North 13th Street
7
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Use the left lane.
8
Merge onto I 83
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
I 83
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Exit 46A
Toward I 283 South: Harrisburg International Airport, Lancaster
Use the slight right lane.
10
Merge onto I 283
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
I 283
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 76 East: Philadelphia
12
Merge onto I 76; PATP
39 mi
·
41 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
Toward US 222: Reading, Ephrata
Use the slight right lane.
14
Continue on Colonel Howard Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Colonel Howard Boulevard
15
Keep slight left at fork onto Colonel Howard Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Colonel Howard Boulevard
16
Keep slight left at fork onto Colonel Howard Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Colonel Howard Boulevard
17
Turn left onto PA 272
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
North Reading Road
18
Turn right onto West Church Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West Church Street
19
Continue on Main Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
20
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.1 miles from Harrisburg, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 47.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North 7th Street
Enter roundabout onto North 7th Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
2.3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
2.6 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 83
Merge onto I 83
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
4.9 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the exit toward I 283 South: Harrisburg International Airport, Lancaster
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 46A
Toward I 283 South: Harrisburg International Ai...
7
47.4 mi into trip
|
~57m in
Take the exit toward US 222: Reading, Ephrata
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 US 222: Reading, Ephrata
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.65 one way
$17.31 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $9.48 | $18.96 |
| premium | $4.93 | $10.12 | $20.25 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.53 | $23.05 |
Estimated Tolls: $5.04
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(38.7 mi)
$5.04
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$5
Total
$14
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.7 | 0 | $5.48 | $2.51 |
| Efficient EV | 13.1 | 0 | $4.57 | $2.09 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.9 | 0 | $7.31 | $3.34 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Destination
Denver, PA
Morning in Denver on Tuesday
Local time
8:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°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
1 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
1h 7m 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 is primarily highway-focused, with 84% of the route utilizing major interstates. You'll experience the efficiency of the Pennsylvania Turnpike for a significant stretch of 38.7 miles, offering a consistent pace. The remaining portions involve other high-speed roads like I-283 and I-83, ensuring a smooth and rapid transit. Expect minimal slowdowns as you navigate these well-maintained highways. The character of the drive remains largely consistent, prioritizing speed and directness over scenic detours.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 38.7 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and I 283. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North 7th Street.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 52.2 miles you will encounter 14 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: near the start (North 7th Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (I 83): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 Harrisburg, PA and Denver, PA, road signs point toward Lancaster and Ephrata.
Lancaster
4.9 mi in
|
~8m
Ephrata
47.4 mi in
|
~57m
About the Cities
Starting in Harrisburg, PA
Full guide →Founded 1719
Harrisburg is the capital and 4th-largest metropolitan area of Pennsylvania, with a metro population of 592,000 people in 2020. Harrisburg is known as the host city of the Pennsylvania Farm Show, the largest free indoor agriculture exposition in the United States, the largest annual outdoor sports show in North America, an auto show, which features a large static display of new and classic cars, and Motorama, a two-day event consisting of a car show, motocross racing, and remote control car racing.
Top landmarks
- • Pennsylvania State Capitol — state capitol building of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania
- • Cathedral of Saint Patrick — cathedral of the Catholic Church in downtown Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United St...
- • Harrisburg Transportation Center — intermodal station in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Arriving in Denver, PA
Full guide →Founded 1863
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 7m. Total distance: 52.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 38.7 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $5.04 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 Denver, 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: near the start (North 7th Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 2.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (I 83): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Appalachian National Scenic Trail and Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument. 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 Denver, 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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