Hershey, PA to Haverford, PA is 84.5 miles and takes about 1 hour 49 minutes via Pennsylvania Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Northeast region and the state of Pennsylvania. You'll mostly be on highway, making it a straightforward trip for a single day. Given the short duration, it's an easy option for a quick getaway or a necessary commute.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.3 miles from Hershey, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
59.5 mi
1h 3m
Horseshoe Pike
11 mi
17m
West Montgomery Avenue
4.3 mi
9m
I 76
3.9 mi
6m
East Governor Road
2.1 mi
3m
Homestead Road
0.9 mi
2m
West Main Street
0.8 mi
1m
South Gulph Road
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 59.5 mi, about 1h 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hershey, PA and Haverford, PA.
1
Start on this road
77 ft·8 sec·this road
2
Take the ramp
393 ft·10 sec
3
Merge onto US 422
0.2 mi·36 sec·East Chocolate Avenue
4
Turn right onto Homestead Road
0.9 mi·2 min·Homestead Road
5
Turn left onto US 322
0.3 mi·33 sec·East Governor Road
6
Enter roundabout onto US 322
102 ft·1 sec·East Governor Road
7
Continue on US 322
0.4 mi·36 sec·East Governor Road
8
Enter roundabout onto US 322
102 ft·1 sec·East Governor Road
9
Continue on US 322
1.3 mi·1 min·East Governor Road
10
Continue on US 322
0.8 mi·1 min·Horseshoe Pike
11
Continue on US 322
0.8 mi·1 min·West Main Street
12
Continue on US 322
10 mi·15 min·Horseshoe Pike
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward PATP
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 76 Toll East: Valley Forge
15
Merge onto I 76; PATP
60 mi·1 hr 3 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit onto I 76
3.9 mi·6 min·I 76
Exit 326Toward I 76 East: Valley Forge, PhiladelphiaUse the slight right lane.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 330Toward PA 320: Gulph MillsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork
340 ft·9 sec
Toward PA 320 South: VillanovaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn straight onto PA 320
0.6 mi·1 min·South Gulph Road
20
Continue on PA 320
4.3 mi·9 min·West Montgomery Avenue
21
Turn left onto Woodside Road
525 ft·23 sec·Woodside Road
22
Turn left onto Winsor Lane
343 ft·18 sec·Winsor Lane
23
Turn left
10 ft·0 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 1 hour 49 minute drive, leaving in the morning or late afternoon can help you avoid peak commuter times. Since it's under two hours, you won't need to worry about extensive stops for rest or fuel, though there's a $14 fuel cost to factor in. The longest stretch is 59.5 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, so consider a quick break before or after that segment. Keep an eye on your GPS as you transition off the turnpike onto local roads for the final approach to Haverford.
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 42.3 miles from Hershey, PA, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.5 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 19 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.3 miles or 55m 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 26m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Haverford, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hershey, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Hershey, PA
This is one driving day of about 84.5 miles and 1h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Hershey, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Pennsylvania Turnpike for about 59.5 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 15.2 and 79.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
15.2 mi into trip|~25m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 76 Toll East: Valley Forge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 76 Toll East: Valley Forge
5
15.7 mi into trip|~26m in|I 76; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike
Merge onto I 76; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
75.2 mi into trip|~1h 30m in|I 76
Take the exit onto I 76 toward I 76 East: Valley Forge, Philadelphia
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 326
Toward I 76 East: Valley Forge, Philadelphia
7
79.1 mi into trip|~1h 36m in
Take the exit toward PA 320: Gulph Mills
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 330
Toward PA 320: Gulph Mills
7
79.4 mi into trip|~1h 37m in
Keep slight right at fork toward PA 320 South: Villanova
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward PA 320 South: Villanova
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.01 one way
$28.02 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$15.34
$30.69
premium
$4.93
$16.39
$32.78
diesel
$5.61
$18.66
$37.31
Estimated Tolls: $7.74
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(59.5 mi)$7.74
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
$14
Tolls
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.3
0
$8.87
$4.06
Efficient EV
21.1
0
$7.39
$3.38
EV Truck/SUV
33.8
0
$11.83
$5.41
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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 19, 2026
Origin
Hershey, PA
Morning
in Hershey on Sunday
Local time
10:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Haverford, PA
Morning
in Haverford on Sunday
Local time
10:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
61°F
Adamstown, PA
42 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
1 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 49m 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.
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...
1 mi from route
~4 min detour
Free
near mile 72.9
Park Closure: Sun, Apr 19 - Park Entrance and Tour Roads Temporarily Closed for Rev Run
Park Closure: Admin Parking Lot Closed Fri 4/17 Until Sun 4/19 at Noon for Rev Run Setup
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...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
Free
near mile 11.7
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...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
Free
near mile 84.5
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...
16 mi from route
~41 min detour
Free
near mile 64.1
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 75% of the 84.5 miles on major roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 59.5 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike before transitioning to surface roads like Horseshoe Pike and West Montgomery Avenue. Expect a steady pace on the turnpike, with a noticeable increase in exits and potential merging traffic as you approach the Philadelphia area.
75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 59.5 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and Horseshoe Pike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 15.2 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 84.5 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 15.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 15.7 miles (I 76; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 75.2 miles (I 76): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Between Hershey, PA and Haverford, PA, road signs point toward Patp and Philadelphia.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 49m. Total distance: 84.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 59.5 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $7.74 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.
Yes — we found about 4 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 Haverford, 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 15.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 15.7 miles (I 76; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 75.2 miles (I 76): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Valley Forge National Historical Park, Appalachian National Scenic Trail and Independence National Historical Park (6 total within detour distance). 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 Haverford, PA before heading back.
