Origin
Kennett Square, PA
Afternoon in Kennett Square on Sunday
Local time
12:41 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kennett Square, PA to Philadelphia, PA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 1m
Distance
35.7 mi
57 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 57m
★
6 AM
1h 2m
8 AM
1h 12m
10 AM
1h 5m
12 PM
1h 4m
3 PM
1h 6m
5 PM
1h 11m
8 PM
0h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kennett Square, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Philadelphia, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick transition from the charm of Kennett Square to the heart of Philadelphia, this 39.5-mile journey is an ideal day trip. You can expect to spend about 51 minutes behind the wheel, making it a highly manageable drive for a morning departure or an afternoon excursion. With a fuel budget of just $6, it is an economical way to navigate between these two Pennsylvania hubs. Because the entire route stays within the Northeast region, you will find a familiar atmosphere as you transition from local suburban settings into the city. Since the trip is under an hour, there is no need for an overnight stay, allowing you to easily complete the round trip in a single day.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Baltimore Pike | 9.6 mi | 16m |
| Delaware Expressway | 8.5 mi | 11m |
| Conchester Highway | 8.1 mi | 13m |
| Schuylkill Expressway | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Penrose Avenue | 2 mi | 3m |
| South 26th Street | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| East Cypress Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Market Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
East Baltimore Pike
— 9.6 mi, about 16m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kennett Square, PA and Philadelphia, PA.
1
Start on East State Street
31 ft
·
9 sec
·
East State Street
2
Turn left onto PA 82
369 ft
·
20 sec
·
South Union Street
3
Turn left onto East Cypress Street
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
East Cypress Street
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on East Baltimore Pike
9.6 mi
·
16 min
·
East Baltimore Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Turn right onto US 322
8.1 mi
·
13 min
·
Conchester Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
8.5 mi
·
11 min
·
Delaware Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Exit 13
Toward Valley Forge, Island Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 13
Toward Valley Forge, Island Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward Valley Forge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on PA 291
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Penrose Avenue
11
Turn left onto South 26th Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
South 26th Street
Use the left lane.
12
Merge onto I 76
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Schuylkill Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 345
Toward 30th Street
Use the slight right lane.
14
Turn straight onto PA 3
276 ft
·
8 sec
·
Schuylkill Avenue
15
Turn right onto PA 3
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Market Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
At end of road, turn right onto PA 611
85 ft
·
1 sec
·
South 15th Street
Use the right lane.
17
Turn slight left onto PA 611
379 ft
·
8 sec
·
South Penn Square
18
Keep slight left at fork onto South Penn Square
167 ft
·
2 sec
·
South Penn Square
19
Arrive at destination
South Penn Square
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 35.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.8 miles from Kennett Square, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 27.3 and 35.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
27.3 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Take the exit toward Valley Forge, Island Avenue
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 13
Toward Valley Forge, Island Avenue
9
28.2 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Valley Forge, Island Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 13
Toward Valley Forge, Island Avenue
8
28.5 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Valley Forge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Valley Forge
7
34.5 mi into trip
|
~58m in
Take the exit toward 30th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 345
Toward 30th Street
7
35.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
|
PA 611 / South 15th Street
At end of road, turn right onto PA 611 / South 15th Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.92 one way
$11.84 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $6.48 | $12.96 |
| premium | $4.93 | $6.92 | $13.85 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.88 | $15.76 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.7 | 0 | $3.75 | $1.71 |
| Efficient EV | 8.9 | 0 | $3.12 | $1.43 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.3 | 0 | $5.00 | $2.28 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Destination
Philadelphia, PA
Afternoon in Philadelphia on Sunday
Local time
12:41 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Isolated Rain Showers
SW 5 to 10 mph
22% chance
Live forecast
63°F
Chester, PA
18 mi in
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
1h 1m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous highway cruise, as this route features zero highway miles. You will navigate your way using South Union Street, East Cypress Street, and East Baltimore Pike to reach your destination. Because the journey relies entirely on local roads, you should stay alert for frequent turns and changing traffic patterns. Without any long, uninterrupted stretches, the road requires your full attention throughout the duration of the trip. This is a practical, direct route that prioritizes surface streets over high-speed interstate travel.
30% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 9.6 mi on East Baltimore Pike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 27.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 35.7 miles you will encounter 13 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 27.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.5 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.
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 Kennett Square, PA to Philadelphia, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Valley Forge along the way.
Valley Forge
27.3 mi in
|
~44m
About the Cities
Starting in Kennett Square, PA
Full guide →Kennett Square is a small, suburban town in Chester County, Pennsylvania, approximately 50 miles west of Philadelphia. It is home to about 6,200 people (2019) and is known for its mushroom production.
Arriving in Philadelphia, PA
Full guide →“City of Brotherly Love” · Founded 1682
Top landmarks
- • Independence Hall — historic building in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- • Liberty Bell — bell in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA that serves as a symbol of American inde...
- • Philadelphia Museum of Art — art museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 1m. Total distance: 35.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (30%). 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 9.6 miles on East Baltimore Pike. 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 Philadelphia, 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 27.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Independence National Historical Park, Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial and First State National Historical Park (4 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 Philadelphia, PA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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