Haverford, PA to Mercer, PA is 349.2 miles and takes about 6h 29m via Keystone Shortway, with a fuel budget near $62 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, passing through the Northeast region on its way to its destination. With a recommended one-day drive, this route is primarily on surface roads, suggesting a more local feel than a pure interstate trip. It's a straightforward drive that offers a chance to see more of Pennsylvania's landscape.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
174.6 miles from Haverford, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
261.1 mi
4h 42m
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
75 mi
1h 21m
Mid-County Expressway
3.4 mi
4m
Old Gulph Road
2.3 mi
5m
South Erie Street
2.3 mi
3m
West Matsonford Road
1.2 mi
2m
New Gulph Road
1.1 mi
2m
Montgomery Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 261.1 mi, about 4h 42m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 38 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,080 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,454
Quietest
2 AM
~183 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Haverford, PA and Mercer, PA.
1
Start on this road
10 ft·4 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Winsor Lane
343 ft·14 sec·Winsor Lane
3
Turn right onto Woodside Road
525 ft·21 sec·Woodside Road
4
Turn right onto Montgomery Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·Montgomery Avenue
5
Turn slight right onto New Gulph Road
1.1 mi·2 min·New Gulph Road
6
Continue on Old Gulph Road
2.3 mi·5 min·Old Gulph Road
7
Turn right onto West Matsonford Road
1.2 mi·2 min·West Matsonford Road
8
Take the ramp
110 ft·3 sec
Toward I 76 West, I 476 North: Valley Forge, Plymouth MeetingUse the right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·54 sec
Toward I 476 North: Plymouth MeetingUse the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 95Toward PA 940, I 80: Hazleton, Mount Pocono
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·23 sec
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I 80 West: Hazleton
16
Merge onto I 80
261 mi·4 hr 42 min·Keystone Shortway
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 15Toward US 19: Mercer
18
Keep slight right at fork
240 ft·7 sec
19
Turn straight onto US 19
2.3 mi·3 min·South Erie Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Arrive at destination
US 19; US 62; PA 58; PA 258
Trip Plan
For this 6-hour drive, leaving in the morning is ideal to ensure you arrive with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing, but consider breaking up the longest stretch of 261.1 miles on the Keystone Shortway. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you move onto the surface roads where services might be less frequent. The estimated fuel cost of $62 is a good planning figure, but always budget a little extra for unexpected needs.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 174.6 miles from Haverford, PA, or about 3h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 261.1 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 77 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 174.6 miles or 3h 18m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mercer, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Haverford, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Haverford, PA
This is one driving day of about 349.2 miles and 6h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 77 miles from Haverford, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Keystone Shortway for about 261.1 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 84.4 — 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|Winsor Lane
Turn right onto Winsor Lane
Navigation decision point
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Woodside Road
Turn right onto Woodside Road
Navigation decision point
7
5.5 mi into trip|~12m in
Take the ramp toward I 76 West, I 476 North: Valley Forge, Plymouth Meeting
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 76 West, I 476 North: Valley Forge, Pl...
7
5.5 mi into trip|~12m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 476 North: Plymouth Meeting
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 476 North: Plymouth Meeting
6
84.4 mi into trip|~1h 39m in
Take the exit toward PA 940, I 80: Hazleton, Mount Pocono
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 95
Toward PA 940, I 80: Hazleton, Mount Pocono
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$55.68 one way
$111.36 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg122 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$61.62
$123.24
premium
$4.81
$66.10
$132.20
diesel
$4.80
$65.94
$131.87
Estimated Tolls: $9.75
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(75 mi)$9.75
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
$56
Tolls
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$90–$115
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 122.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
104.8
1
$36.67
$16.76
Efficient EV
87.3
0
$30.56
$13.97
EV Truck/SUV
139.7
1
$48.89
$22.35
Gas CO2
122 kg
EV CO2
41 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Haverford, PA
Late night
in Haverford on Sunday
Local time
5:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
89°F
Smoke
NW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Mercer, PA
Late night
in Mercer on Sunday
Local time
5:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Smoke
NW 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
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
2 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
6h 29m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This 349.2-mile drive features 22% highway driving, with the majority of your time spent on surface roads. You'll experience a significant stretch of 261.1 miles on the Keystone Shortway, which will likely feel more rural. Expect to encounter numerous exits and local traffic patterns as you transition between major highways like the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and the Mid-County Expressway, and the more local roadways.
Only 22% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 261.1 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 early in the drive near Winsor Lane.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 349.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Winsor Lane): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Woodside Road): Navigation decision point; at 5.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
1,980 ft319 ft
Total Climb
3,454 ft
Total Descent
2,507 ft
Highest Point
1,980 ft
~249.4 mi in
Elevation Range
1,661 ft
Notable High Points
1,777 ft at ~174.6 miles+717 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Haverford, PA to Mercer, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Mount Pocono along the way.
Haverford Township is a region of Delaware County in Southeastern Pennsylvania. It is a western suburb of Philadelphia. About 50,000 people live in Haverford Township. It was founded by the Welsh Quakers in 1681 and purchased by William Penn.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 29m. Total distance: 349.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 29m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 261.1 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $9.75 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.
Yes — we found about 35 rest areas or service plazas 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 Mercer, PA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 35 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Winsor Lane): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (Woodside Road): Navigation decision point; at 5.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Independence National Historical Park, Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial and Valley Forge National Historical Park (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.5 hours each way, a round trip means 13.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Mercer, PA before the return drive.
