This 214.5-mile journey from Hershey to Mount Lebanon, Pennsylvania, is designed for a single day of travel, taking approximately 4 hours and 25 minutes. You'll navigate primarily through local roads, with no highway driving, and should budget around $35 for fuel. The drive is characterized by frequent turns, making it a more engaging local experience rather than a high-speed transit. Given its duration and profile, it's a manageable day trip, allowing for flexibility in your departure and arrival times. You'll remain within the Northeast region throughout this Pennsylvania-bound adventure.
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
107.3 miles from Hershey, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
169.4 mi
3h 6m
US 322
7.2 mi
9m
Lincoln Way
6.2 mi
11m
I 83
4.3 mi
5m
Lebanon Church Road
3.9 mi
6m
Lincoln Highway
3.3 mi
6m
US 15
3.2 mi
4m
Broughton Road
2.5 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 169.4 mi, about 3h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hershey, PA and Mount Lebanon, PA.
1
Start on this road
77 ft·7 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto US 422
2.4 mi·4 min·West Chocolate Avenue
Use the straight lane.
3
Continue on US 322
7.2 mi·9 min·US 322
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Continue on I 83
4.3 mi·5 min·I 83
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto PA 581
2.0 mi·2 min·American Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial Highway
Exit 41AToward PA 581 West: Camp Hill, GettysburgUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 5B-AToward US 15 South, US 11 North, US 15 North: Gettysburg, Camp HillUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 5BToward US 15 South: GettysburgUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on US 15
3.2 mi·4 min·US 15
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward I 76, PATP: Philadelphia, PittsburghUse the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward I 76 West: PittsburghUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 76; PATP
169 mi·3 hr 6 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
12
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 67Toward US 30: Irwin, McKeesportUse the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward US 30 West: PittsburghUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto US 30
3.3 mi·6 min·Lincoln Highway
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn left onto Lincoln Way
6.2 mi·11 min·Lincoln Way
Use the straight lane.
16
Turn left onto PA 148; Yellow Belt
1.0 mi·2 min·5th Avenue
17
Turn straight onto PA 148; Yellow Belt
1.1 mi·1 min·Lysle Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Continue on Yellow Belt
0.1 mi·15 sec·Jerome Street Bridge
19
Continue on Yellow Belt
0.6 mi·59 sec·West 5th Avenue
20
Keep slight left at fork onto Yellow Belt
0.5 mi·1 min·West 5th Avenue
21
Continue on Yellow Belt
0.4 mi·34 sec·Richland Avenue
22
Continue on Yellow Belt
0.5 mi·47 sec·Pittsburgh McKeesport Boulevard
23
Turn slight left onto Yellow Belt
3.9 mi·6 min·Lebanon Church Road
24
Continue on Yellow Belt
1.3 mi·2 min·Curry Hollow Road
25
Continue on Yellow Belt
0.2 mi·25 sec·Brownsville Road
26
Turn right onto Broughton Road
2.5 mi·5 min·Broughton Road
Use the straight lane.
27
Turn right onto PA 88; Yellow Belt
1.0 mi·2 min·Library Road
28
Turn left onto Yellow Belt
1.2 mi·2 min·Connor Road
29
Turn right onto US 19; Yellow Belt
390 ft·15 sec·Washington Road
30
Turn right
156 ft·13 sec
31
Turn right
237 ft·17 sec
32
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 4 hour and 25-minute drive, consider an early morning departure to maximize your daylight and enjoy a more relaxed pace. With only one recommended stop and a $35 fuel cost, planning your refueling before you leave Hershey is a good idea. The 'turn-heavy local drive' profile means you'll want to stay focused on your navigation, perhaps setting up your GPS before you begin. Since it's a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to stop as needed, but be mindful that the frequent turns can make the journey feel longer than the mileage suggests.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 107.3 miles from Hershey, PA, or about 2h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 169.4 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 47 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 107.3 miles or 2h 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mount Lebanon, 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.
+
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 Hershey, PA
This is one driving day of about 214.5 miles and 4h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Hershey, 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 Pennsylvania Turnpike for about 169.4 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 13.9 and 189.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
13.9 mi into trip|~20m in|PA 581 / American Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto PA 581 / American Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial Highway toward PA 581 West: Camp Hill, Gettysburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 41A
Toward PA 581 West: Camp Hill, Gettysburg
8
15.9 mi into trip|~23m in
Take the exit toward US 15 South, US 11 North, US 15 North: Gettysburg, Camp Hill
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 5B-A
Toward US 15 South, US 11 North, US 15 North: G...
8
16.1 mi into trip|~23m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 15 South: Gettysburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 5B
Toward US 15 South: Gettysburg
7
19.7 mi into trip|~30m in
Take the exit toward I 76, PATP: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh
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 I 76, PATP: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh
8
189.7 mi into trip|~3h 38m in
Take the exit toward US 30: Irwin, McKeesport
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 67
Toward US 30: Irwin, McKeesport
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.56 one way
$71.12 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg75 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$38.95
$77.90
premium
$4.93
$41.60
$83.20
diesel
$5.61
$47.36
$94.72
Estimated Tolls: $22.02
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(169.4 mi)$22.02
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
$36
Tolls
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$83–$108
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
64.4
0
$22.52
$10.30
Efficient EV
53.6
0
$18.77
$8.58
EV Truck/SUV
85.8
1
$30.03
$13.73
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 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
Mount Lebanon, PA
Morning
in Mount Lebanon on Sunday
Local time
10:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
64°F
Berlin, PA
107 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
13 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
4h 25m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
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...
On Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, the U.S. came under attack when four commercial airliners were hijacked and used to strike targets on the ground. Nearly 3,000 people tragically lost their live...
7 mi from route
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 140.6
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...
The South Fork Dam failed on Friday, May 31, 1889, and unleashed 20,000,000 tons of water that devastated Johnstown, PA. The flood killed 2,209 people but it brought the nation and the world together...
24 mi from route
~60 min detour
Free
near mile 118.4
The battle at Fort Necessity in the summer of 1754 was the opening action of the French and Indian War. This war was a clash of British, French and American Indian cultures. It ended with the removal...
25 mi from route
~61 min detour
Free
near mile 170.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for the entirety of this 214.5-mile trip. With a 0% highway share, you won't encounter long stretches of high-speed travel. Instead, the route involves consistent navigation through communities and along local byways like West Chocolate Avenue and US 15 South. The American Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial Highway also features in this section. The absence of a longest uninterrupted stretch suggests frequent changes in direction and speed, requiring your full attention as you transition between different road segments.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 169.4 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and US 322. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13.9 miles in near PA 581 / American Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial Highway.
Driving Effort9/10
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 18 significant decision points across 214.5 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 13.9 miles (PA 581 / American Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Mount Lebanon, PA, road signs point toward Gettysburg, Camp Hill, Patp: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Mckeesport.
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.
Mt. Lebanon is an affluent suburb in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, about seven miles south of Downtown Pittsburgh. Uptown Mt. Lebanon, a business district along Washington Road in the northern part of the township, is one of the more prominent business districts in the area outside of Pittsburgh itself.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 25m. Total distance: 214.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 169.4 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $22.02 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Mount Lebanon, 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 13.9 miles (PA 581 / American Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument, Flight 93 National Memorial and Appalachian National Scenic Trail (5 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Mount Lebanon, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
