Hemlock, PA to Whitman, PA is 336.5 miles and takes about 7h 3m via Keystone Shortway, with a fuel budget near $56 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania's Northeast region, offering a full day of driving. You'll encounter a mix of highway and surface roads, so plan for varied speeds and road conditions. With only 2 recommended stops and a longest stretch of 165.4 miles, it's a manageable one-day excursion for those looking to cover ground efficiently.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
168.2 miles from Hemlock, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
165.4 mi
3h
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
75.1 mi
1h 21m
PA 948
23.8 mi
35m
Schuylkill Expressway
15.6 mi
22m
Boot Jack Road
11.2 mi
16m
State Park Road
8.1 mi
14m
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
7.4 mi
11m
Hoovertown Road
5 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 165.4 mi, about 3h
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 52 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,067 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,528
Quietest
2 AM
~190 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 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 Hemlock, PA and Whitman, PA.
1
Start on this road
99 ft·9 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto Hemlock Road
3.5 mi·13 min·Hemlock Road
3
Continue on Hemlock Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Hemlock Street
4
Turn left onto US 6 Business
0.2 mi·33 sec·Pennsylvania Avenue East
Use the left lane.
5
At end of road, turn left onto US 6
0.2 mi·35 sec·Main Street
6
Continue on US 6
2.9 mi·4 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on US 6
1.4 mi·2 min·North Main Street
8
Continue on US 6
4.5 mi·6 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
9
Continue on US 6
1.1 mi·2 min·West Main Street
10
Take the exit
265 ft·9 sec
Toward PA 666 West
11
Merge onto PA 666
2.3 mi·4 min·South Main Street
12
Continue on PA 948
8.5 mi·12 min·PA 948
13
At end of road, turn left onto PA 66
2.9 mi·4 min·PA 66
14
Turn right onto PA 948
15 mi·22 min·PA 948
15
Turn left onto PA 948
1.0 mi·2 min·West Main Street
16
Continue on US 219; PA 948
11 mi·16 min·Boot Jack Road
17
Turn left onto PA 153
3.7 mi·6 min·Penfield Road
18
Continue on PA 153
5.0 mi·8 min·Hoovertown Road
19
Continue on PA 153
8.1 mi·14 min·State Park Road
20
Turn left
0.3 mi·40 sec
21
Merge onto I 80
165 mi·3 hr·Keystone Shortway
22
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward PA 940, PATP, I 476: Wilkes-Barre, Allentown
Exit 16Toward I 76 East, I 76 West: Philadelphia, Valley ForgeUse the slight right lane.
30
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·42 sec
Exit 16AToward I 76 East: PhiladelphiaUse the slight left lane.
31
Merge onto I 76
13 mi·17 min·Schuylkill Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76
3.0 mi·4 min·Schuylkill Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
33
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 347BToward Passyunk Avenue, Oregon Avenue
34
Keep slight left at fork
151 ft·5 sec
Toward I 76 East: Walt Whitman Bridge
35
Continue on West Oregon Vare Avenue
0.1 mi·13 sec·West Oregon Vare Avenue
36
Continue on Oregon Avenue/Vare Avenue
1.8 mi·3 min·Oregon Avenue/Vare Avenue
Use the left lane.
37
Turn left onto South 5th Street
0.2 mi·30 sec·South 5th Street
Use the left lane.
38
Turn right onto Porter Street
465 ft·24 sec·Porter Street
39
Turn right onto South 4th Street
270 ft·13 sec·South 4th Street
40
Turn right onto Vollmer Street
238 ft·10 sec·Vollmer Street
41
Arrive at destination
Vollmer Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 7-hour drive, consider departing early in the morning to maximize daylight. With only 2 stops suggested, you can plan for longer breaks or fewer interruptions. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 165.4-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway, as services can be spaced out. Given the mixed highway and surface road profile, be prepared for varying traffic and speed limits as you move between the Keystone Shortway, PA 948, and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. The estimated fuel cost of $56 is a good baseline for budgeting.
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 168.2 miles from Hemlock, PA, or about 3h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 165.4 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 74 miles or 2h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 168.2 miles or 3h 50m 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 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Whitman, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hemlock, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Hemlock, PA
This is one driving day of about 336.5 miles and 7h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 74 miles from Hemlock, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Keystone Shortway for about 165.4 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 26
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.8 and 318 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
3.8 mi into trip|~15m in|US 6 Business / Pennsylvania Avenue East
Turn left onto US 6 Business / Pennsylvania Avenue East
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
238.9 mi into trip|~5h 8m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 476 South: Allentown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 476 South: Allentown
7
314 mi into trip|~6h 29m in|I 476; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Keep slight left at fork onto I 476; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
8
317.6 mi into trip|~6h 34m in
Take the exit toward I 76 East, I 76 West: Philadelphia, Valley Forge
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 16
Toward I 76 East, I 76 West: Philadelphia, Vall...
8
318 mi into trip|~6h 35m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 76 East: Philadelphia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 16A
Toward I 76 East: Philadelphia
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$58.77 one way
$117.54 round trip
$4.44/gal25.4 MPG avg118 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.86
$64.35
$128.69
premium
$5.20
$68.84
$137.67
diesel
$6.28
$83.14
$166.29
Estimated Tolls: $9.76
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(75.1 mi)$9.76
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
$59
Tolls
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$94–$119
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 117.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
101
1
$35.33
$16.15
Efficient EV
84.1
0
$29.44
$13.46
EV Truck/SUV
134.6
1
$47.11
$21.54
Gas CO2
118 kg
EV CO2
39 kg (67% 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Hemlock, PA
Late night
in Hemlock on Saturday
Local time
5:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Widespread Frost then Sunny
SW 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 18 at 10:42PM EDT until October 19 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS State College PA
Destination
Whitman, PA
Late night
in Whitman on Saturday
Local time
5:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Clear
N 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 18 at 10:42PM EDT until October 19 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS State College PA
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
27 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
7h 3m 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...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Free
near mile 336.5
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...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
Free
near mile 313.3
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...
22 mi from route
~56 min detour
Free
near mile 324.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is about 36% highway, meaning you'll spend a significant portion of your time on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 165.4 miles along the Keystone Shortway. After this, expect to transition to PA 948 and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, which will likely involve more frequent exits and changes in speed. You'll likely notice a shift from open highway cruising to more varied rural terrain.
36% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
41 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 165.4 mi on Keystone Shortway.
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 3.8 miles in near US 6 Business / Pennsylvania Avenue East.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 26 significant decision points across 336.5 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: at 3.8 miles (US 6 Business / Pennsylvania Avenue East): Lane positioning matters here; at 238.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 314 miles (I 476; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,159 ft12 ft
Total Climb
2,930 ft
Total Descent
4,127 ft
Highest Point
2,159 ft
~45.4 mi in
Elevation Range
2,147 ft
Notable High Points
1,512 ft at ~136.2 miles+814 ft prominence
1,718 ft at ~227 miles+631 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Hemlock, PA and Whitman, PA, road signs point toward Patp, Allentown and Valley Forge.
Patp
238 mi in|~5h 6m
Allentown
238 mi in|~5h 6m
Valley Forge
317.6 mi in|~6h 34m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 3m. Total distance: 336.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 3m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 165.4 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $9.76 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 24 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 Whitman, 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 24 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.8 miles (US 6 Business / Pennsylvania Avenue East): Lane positioning matters here; at 238.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 314 miles (I 476; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 7.1 hours each way, a round trip means 14.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Whitman, PA before the return drive.
