Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 5, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
25m
Distance
14.7 mi
24 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Harrisburg, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Hershey, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Harrisburg, PA to Hershey, PA is 14.7 miles and takes about 25m via North 7th Street, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short drive stays within Pennsylvania's Northeast region, connecting two well-known towns. Given its minimal distance and duration, this trip is ideal for a spontaneous outing or as a quick add-on to a larger regional exploration. You'll find it's a straightforward trip, perfect for a late start or if you just need to get from point A to point B without much fuss.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 322 | 6.7 mi | 9m |
| US 422 | 2.6 mi | 5m |
| I 83 | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| North 13th Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| State Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North 7th Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Fisher Plaza | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Park Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Harrisburg, PA and Hershey, PA.
Start on North 7th Street
Enter roundabout onto North 7th Street
Continue on North 7th Street
Continue on Fisher Plaza
Keep slight left at fork onto State Street
Turn right onto North 13th Street
Turn left
Merge onto I 83
Continue on this road
Continue on US 322
Continue on US 322
Continue on US 422
Turn left onto PA 743
Turn right
Turn right
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 14.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Enter roundabout onto North 7th Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto I 83
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto PA 743 / Park Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$2.46 one way
$4.91 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.67 | $2.70 | $5.41 |
| premium | $5.01 | $2.90 | $5.80 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $3.24 | $6.48 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.4 | 0 | $1.54 | $0.71 |
| Efficient EV | 3.7 | 0 | $1.29 | $0.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.9 | 0 | $2.06 | $0.94 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Harrisburg on Saturday
Local time
2:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Late night in Hershey on Saturday
Local time
2:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Clear
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This route is entirely on surface roads, meaning you'll be navigating local streets for the full 14.7 miles. With no highway driving, expect to encounter traffic signals and intersections throughout the entire trip. The main roads you'll follow include North 7th Street, Fisher Plaza, and State Street, so be prepared for city or town cruising.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 322 and US 422. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North 7th Street.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 14.7 miles you will encounter 9 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.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
256 ft
Total Descent
173 ft
Highest Point
527 ft
~7.4 mi in
Elevation Range
195 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Harrisburg, PA to Hershey, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Palmyra along the way.
Palmyra
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
Founded 1903
Hershey is an unincorporated village in the Harrisburg area of Pennsylvania. It has a rich history and cultural significance being the birthplace of Hershey's Chocolate. One of the village's most well known attractions is Hersheypark, a theme park that provides fun for the family.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 25m. Total distance: 14.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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