Origin
Harrisburg, PA
Morning in Harrisburg on Sunday
Local time
6:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Harrisburg, PA to Quakertown, PA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 59m
Distance
94.4 mi
152 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 51m
★
6 AM
1h 59m
8 AM
2h 16m
10 AM
2h 5m
12 PM
2h 4m
3 PM
2h 6m
5 PM
2h 16m
8 PM
1h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Quakertown, PA
Michael Taccetta
Trip Overview
Harrisburg to Quakertown is 94.4 miles and takes about 1 hour 59 minutes via William Penn Highway, American Legion Memorial Highway, and Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Pennsylvania, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Expect a local feel with frequent turns rather than a straightforward interstate journey. It's a manageable drive, perfect for a single day trip without feeling rushed.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.2 miles from Harrisburg, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 59m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| William Penn Highway | 42.8 mi | 50m |
| American Legion Memorial Highway | 20.9 mi | 25m |
| Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension | 12.7 mi | 13m |
| 78th Division Highway | 7.6 mi | 8m |
| John Fries Highway | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| West Broad Street | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Lehigh Valley Thruway | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| North Cameron Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
William Penn Highway
— 42.8 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Harrisburg, PA and Quakertown, PA.
1
Start on North 7th Street
89 ft
·
3 sec
·
North 7th Street
2
Enter roundabout onto North 7th Street
81 ft
·
2 sec
·
North 7th Street
3
Continue on North 7th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North 7th Street
4
Turn right onto Maclay Street
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
Maclay Street
5
Turn left onto US 22
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Cameron Street
Use the left lane.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward I 81 South, I 81 North, US 322 East: Carlisle, Hazleton, Allentown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 81 North, US 322 East: Hazleton, Allentown
Use the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 81; US 322
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
American Legion Memorial Highway
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
19 mi
·
22 min
·
American Legion Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 89
Toward I 78 East: Allentown
11
Continue on I 78
7.6 mi
·
8 min
·
78th Division Highway
12
Continue on I 78; US 22
43 mi
·
50 min
·
William Penn Highway
Use the straight lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto US 22
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Lehigh Valley Thruway
Exit 51
Toward US 22 East: Pennsylvania Turnpike, LVI Airport
Use the slight right lane.
14
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward PATP, I 476: Philadelphia, Scranton
Use the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Toward I 476 South: Philadelphia
Use the right lane.
16
Merge onto I 476; PATP
13 mi
·
13 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
17
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
2 min
Exit 44
Toward PA 663: Pottstown, Quakertown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork
227 ft
·
7 sec
Toward PA 663 North: Quakertown
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Turn left onto PA 663
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
John Fries Highway
Use the left lane.
20
Continue on PA 663
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
West Broad Street
21
Arrive at destination
PA 313
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour 59 minute duration, this is a very manageable same-day trip from Harrisburg to Quakertown. You could comfortably leave in the morning and arrive well before lunch. The $16 fuel budget is a good estimate, but it's always wise to start with a full tank. Pay attention to the numerous turns, as indicated by the 'turn-heavy' profile; using GPS navigation is highly recommended to avoid missing any key junctions on roads like the William Penn Highway or American Legion Memorial Highway.
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 47.2 miles from Harrisburg, PA, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 42.8 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 21 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.2 miles or 59m 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 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Quakertown, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Harrisburg, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Harrisburg, PA
This is one driving day of about 94.4 miles and 1h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Harrisburg, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on William Penn Highway for about 42.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
47 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 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 47.2 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 155 decision points cluster between mile 1.9 and 89.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
1.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the exit toward I 81 South, I 81 North, US 322 East: Carlisle, Hazleton, Allentown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 81 South, I 81 North, US 322 East: Car...
8
2.1 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 81 North, US 322 East: Hazleton, Allentown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 81 North, US 322 East: Hazleton, Allen...
9
74.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 31m in
|
US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway toward US 22 East: Pennsylvania Turnpike, LVI Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 51
Toward US 22 East: Pennsylvania Turnpike, LVI A...
7
75.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 33m in
Take the exit toward PATP, I 476: Philadelphia, Scranton
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 PATP, I 476: Philadelphia, Scranton
8
89.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 49m in
Take the exit toward PA 663: Pottstown, Quakertown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 44
Toward PA 663: Pottstown, Quakertown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.65 one way
$31.30 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
33 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $17.14 | $34.28 |
| premium | $4.93 | $18.31 | $36.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $20.84 | $41.68 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.74
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(12.7 mi)
$1.65
Lehigh Valley Thruway
(1.3 mi)
$0.09
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
$16
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 28.3 | 0 | $9.91 | $4.53 |
| Efficient EV | 23.6 | 0 | $8.26 | $3.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 37.8 | 0 | $13.22 | $6.04 |
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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
Quakertown, PA
Morning in Quakertown on Sunday
Local time
6:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Kutztown, PA
47 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
20 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 59m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
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...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 29.3
Park Closure: List of trail closures post-Hurricane Helene
Caution: Black Bears Frequenting the McAfee Knob Area in Virginia
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...
16 mi from route
~40 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Valley Forge National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
23 mi from route
~59 min detour
Free
near mile 91.2
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll be navigating more local roads and intersections than a typical highway cruise. While it incorporates some highway driving, with 13% of the journey on such roads, the longest uninterrupted stretch is 42.8 miles on the William Penn Highway. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience where the road conditions and speed can change frequently as you transition between different types of thoroughfares.
Only 13% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 42.8 mi on William Penn Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 94.4 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 1.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 74.5 miles (US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
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 Quakertown, PA, road signs point toward Lvi Airport, Patp and Scranton.
Lvi Airport
74.5 mi in
|
~1h 31m
|
via US 22
Patp
75.9 mi in
|
~1h 33m
Scranton
75.9 mi in
|
~1h 33m
About the Cities
Starting in Harrisburg, PA
Full guide →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.
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 59m. Total distance: 94.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 42.8 miles on William Penn Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.74 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 Quakertown, 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 1.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 74.5 miles (US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Appalachian National Scenic Trail, Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument and Valley Forge National Historical Park. 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 Quakertown, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Quakertown, PA
Explore more options from Harrisburg, PA or browse trips ending in Quakertown, PA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse PA road trips.