Hempfield, PA to Plymouth, PA is 112.2 miles and takes about 2h 32m via I 81 and PA 183, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, single-day trip entirely within Pennsylvania's Northeast region. Expect a mixed drive profile that balances highway speeds with some local road navigation. Given its manageable distance and duration, this route is ideal for a quick transit between these two points, offering a practical way to get where you need to go without significant time commitment.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
56.1 miles from Hempfield, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
40.7 mi
47m
PA 183
9.9 mi
15m
Stiegel Pike
6 mi
6m
US 30
5.9 mi
8m
Lancaster Avenue
5.5 mi
6m
South College Street
5.5 mi
6m
Lititz Pike
5.1 mi
9m
Joseph H. Long Boulevard
4.8 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 40.7 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hempfield, PA and Plymouth, PA.
1
Start on Summit Drive
0.6 mi·1 min·Summit Drive
2
Continue on Hill Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Hill Street
3
Turn right onto North Church Street
254 ft·14 sec·North Church Street
4
Turn left onto PA 462
0.2 mi·26 sec·West Main Street
5
Turn left onto College Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·College Avenue
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward US 30 East: Lancaster
7
Merge onto US 30
5.9 mi·8 min·US 30
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·18 sec
Toward PA 501
9
Continue on Chester Road
0.3 mi·26 sec·Chester Road
Use the left lane.
10
Turn left onto US 222; PA 501
5.1 mi·9 min·Lititz Pike
Use the left lane.
11
Continue on PA 501
1.7 mi·2 min·South Broad Street
12
Continue on PA 501
2.4 mi·3 min·Furnace Hills Pike
13
Continue on PA 501
4.2 mi·4 min·Furnace Hill Pike
14
Continue on PA 501
6.0 mi·6 min·Stiegel Pike
15
Continue on PA 501
5.5 mi·6 min·South College Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
16
Continue on PA 501
4.1 mi·4 min·Lancaster Avenue
17
Continue on PA 501
1.2 mi·1 min·Lancaster Avenue
18
Continue on PA 501
0.2 mi·31 sec·Lancaster Avenue
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 78 East, US 22 East: Allentown
20
Merge onto I 78; US 22
3.5 mi·4 min·William Penn Highway
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 17Toward PA 419: RehrersburgUse the slight right lane.
22
Turn left onto PA 419
1.9 mi·2 min·Four Point Road
23
Turn left onto PA 183
9.9 mi·15 min·PA 183
24
Turn right onto PA 183
0.7 mi·2 min·Pottsville Street
25
Turn left onto PA 61
2.9 mi·3 min·Route 61 South
26
Continue on PA 61
0.3 mi·18 sec·Pottsville Boulevard
27
Continue on PA 61
1.5 mi·2 min·South Claude A. Lord Boulevard
28
Continue on PA 61
1.0 mi·1 min·Pottsville Saint Clair Highway
29
Continue on PA 61
4.8 mi·5 min·Joseph H. Long Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
30
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I 81 North: Hazleton
31
Merge onto I 81
41 mi·47 min·I 81
32
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward PA 309 south, PA 309 Business: Mountain Top, Wilkes-Barre
33
Continue on PA 309
0.1 mi·12 sec·PA 309
34
Turn straight onto PA 309 BUS
0.2 mi·35 sec·Wilkes-Barre Township Boulevard
35
Turn left onto Blackman Street
1.4 mi·3 min·Blackman Street
36
Continue on Horton Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Horton Street
37
At end of road, turn left onto Carey Avenue
0.4 mi·54 sec·Carey Avenue
38
Turn right onto West End Road
0.7 mi·1 min·West End Road
39
Continue on Carey Avenue Bridge
0.5 mi·1 min·Carey Avenue Bridge
Use the left lane.
40
At end of road, turn left onto US 11
0.7 mi·2 min·East Main Street
Use the straight lane.
41
Turn left onto South Center Avenue
227 ft·14 sec·South Center Avenue
42
Turn left onto West Railroad Street
140 ft·6 sec·West Railroad Street
43
Arrive at destination
West Railroad Street
Trip Plan
With a total drive time of just over 2.5 hours, this trip is easily manageable in a single day, giving you flexibility on when to depart. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid rush hour and allow for a relaxed start. There's one recommended stop, and with a total distance of 112.2 miles, you won't need to worry about extensive fuel planning, though keeping an eye on your gauge is always wise. A specific tip for this route is to be mindful of the transition from I 81 to PA 183; ensure you're in the correct lane well in advance to smoothly exit the interstate.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 56.1 miles from Hempfield, PA, or about 1h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 40.7 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 25 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56.1 miles or 1h 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Plymouth, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hempfield, 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 Hempfield, PA
This is one driving day of about 112.2 miles and 2h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Hempfield, 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 I 81 for about 40.7 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 107 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in|PA 462 / West Main Street
Turn left onto PA 462 / West Main Street
Navigation decision point
6
8.5 mi into trip|~13m in|US 222; PA 501 / Lititz Pike
Turn left onto US 222; PA 501 / Lititz Pike
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
39 mi into trip|~53m in
Take the exit toward I 78 East, US 22 East: Allentown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 78 East, US 22 East: Allentown
7
42.7 mi into trip|~57m in
Take the exit toward PA 419: Rehrersburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 17
Toward PA 419: Rehrersburg
5
107 mi into trip|~2h 20m in
Take the exit toward PA 309 south, PA 309 Business: Mountain Top, Wilkes-Barre
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward PA 309 south, PA 309 Business: Mountain...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.60 one way
$37.20 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$20.37
$40.75
premium
$4.93
$21.76
$43.52
diesel
$5.61
$24.77
$49.54
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.7
0
$11.78
$5.39
Efficient EV
28.1
0
$9.82
$4.49
EV Truck/SUV
44.9
0
$15.71
$7.18
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Hempfield, PA
Afternoon
in Hempfield on Sunday
Local time
12:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Plymouth, PA
Afternoon
in Plymouth on Sunday
Local time
12:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live 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
3 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
2h 32m 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...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 30.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive features a 53% highway share, primarily on I 81, offering stretches of efficient travel. You'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch of 40.7 miles on I 81, allowing for consistent speed. The route transitions from this main interstate onto PA 183 and Stiegel Pike, introducing more local road characteristics. This mixed drive profile means you'll experience both the ease of interstate cruising and the slightly more varied pace of secondary roads as you approach your destination.
53% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
43 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 40.7 mi on I 81.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 1.1 miles in near PA 462 / West Main Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 112.2 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: at 1.1 miles (PA 462 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 8.5 miles (US 222; PA 501 / Lititz Pike): Lane positioning matters here; at 39 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 32m. Total distance: 112.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (53%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 40.7 miles on I 81. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Plymouth, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles (PA 462 / West Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 8.5 miles (US 222; PA 501 / Lititz Pike): Lane positioning matters here; at 39 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Appalachian National Scenic Trail. 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 Plymouth, PA before heading back.
