King of Prussia to Pittsburgh is 286.7 miles and takes about 5h 21m via the Pennsylvania Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $48 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, almost entirely highway drive across Pennsylvania, connecting two major urban areas in the Northeast. Given its 99% highway share and single recommended day, this route is best suited for travelers looking to get from point A to point B efficiently. You'll spend most of your time on well-maintained turnpikes and expressways, making it a practical choice for a quick transit.
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
143.3 miles from King of Prussia, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 37m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
270.7 mi
4h 54m
Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
13.2 mi
18m
Schuylkill Expressway
0.4 mi
<1m
I 76
0.4 mi
1m
Second Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Ross Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Grant Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Fifth Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 270.7 mi, about 4h 54m
Traffic on I-376
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~3,320 veh/hr typical
Quietest
3 AM
~202 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 King of Prussia, PA and Pittsburgh, PA.
1
Start on this road
61 ft·5 sec·this road
2
Turn right
178 ft·15 sec
3
Continue on this road
0.3 mi·42 sec·this road
Toward PATP
4
Merge onto I 76
0.4 mi·48 sec·Schuylkill Expressway
Toward I 76 West: New Jersey, Harrisburg
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 76
0.4 mi·1 min·I 76
Toward I 76 West: HarrisburgUse the slight left lane.
6
Merge onto I 76; PATP
271 mi·4 hr 54 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi·2 min
Exit 57Toward I 376 West, US 22: Pittsburgh, MonroevilleUse the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward US 22 Business, I 376 West, US 22 West: Monroeville, Pittsburgh
9
Keep slight right at fork
353 ft·8 sec
Toward I 376 West, US 22 West: Pittsburgh
10
Merge onto I 376; US 22
13 mi·18 min·Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
Use the slight left lane.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·38 sec
Exit 71BToward Second AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn straight onto Second Avenue
0.3 mi·41 sec·Second Avenue
13
At end of road, turn right onto Ross Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·Ross Street
14
Turn left onto Fifth Avenue
352 ft·10 sec·Fifth Avenue
15
Turn right onto Grant Street
513 ft·21 sec·Grant Street
Use the right lane.
16
Arrive at destination
Grant Street
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour, 286.7-mile drive, leaving King of Prussia in the morning is your best bet to avoid rush hour on either end. Since it's a single-day trip with a fuel cost around $48, you can comfortably complete it without needing an overnight stop. The 270.7-mile stretch on the Pennsylvania Turnpike means you can cover a lot of ground before needing to think about significant detours for fuel or a break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach Pittsburgh, as highway services can become less frequent in urban areas.
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 143.3 miles from King of Prussia, PA, or about 2h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 270.7 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 63 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 143.3 miles or 2h 37m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pittsburgh, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving King of Prussia, 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 King of Prussia, PA
This is one driving day of about 286.7 miles and 5h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from King of Prussia, 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 270.7 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 286.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.8 mi into trip|~1m in|I 76
Keep slight left at fork onto I 76 toward I 76 West: Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 76 West: Harrisburg
8
271.8 mi into trip|~4h 57m in
Take the exit toward I 376 West, US 22: Pittsburgh, Monroeville
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 57
Toward I 376 West, US 22: Pittsburgh, Monroevil...
7
272.6 mi into trip|~5h in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 376 West, US 22 West: Pittsburgh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 376 West, US 22 West: Pittsburgh
7
285.8 mi into trip|~5h 18m in
Take the exit toward Second Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 71B
Toward Second Avenue
7
286.6 mi into trip|~5h 20m in|Grant Street
Turn right onto Grant Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.71 one way
$91.43 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg100 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$50.59
$101.18
premium
$4.81
$54.27
$108.54
diesel
$4.80
$54.13
$108.27
Estimated Tolls: $35.19
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(270.7 mi)$35.19
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
$46
Tolls
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$106–$131
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 100.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
86
1
$30.10
$13.76
Efficient EV
71.7
0
$25.09
$11.47
EV Truck/SUV
114.7
1
$40.14
$18.35
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (66% 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
King of Prussia, PA
Morning
in King of Prussia on Monday
Local time
6:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Smoke
W 0 to 5 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 3:59PM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 1:40PM EDT until July 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Destination
Pittsburgh, PA
Morning
in Pittsburgh on Monday
Local time
6:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Smoke
SE 5 mph51% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 3:59PM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 1:40PM EDT until July 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
83°F
King, PA
143 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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 21m 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.
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...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
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
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...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
Free
near mile 207.6
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...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 59.3
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...
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...
17 mi from route
~41 min detour
Free
near mile 9.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 99% of the 286.7 miles on major expressways. You'll experience a longest stretch of 270.7 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike before any significant shift in road type. Expect a consistent cruising speed for the vast majority of your trip. The transition to Penn-Lincoln Parkway East and then Schuylkill Expressway will likely involve more merging traffic as you approach Pittsburgh.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 270.7 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and Penn-Lincoln Parkway East. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near I 76.
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 12 significant decision points across 286.7 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 0.8 miles (I 76): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 271.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 272.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
2,696 ft201 ft
Total Climb
3,292 ft
Total Descent
2,727 ft
Highest Point
2,696 ft
~204.8 mi in
Elevation Range
2,495 ft
Notable High Points
1,665 ft at ~163.8 miles+530 ft prominence
2,696 ft at ~204.8 miles+530 ft prominence
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 King of Prussia, PA to Pittsburgh, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Monroeville along the way.
Monroeville
271.8 mi in|~4h 57m
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
King of Prussia is a suburban community in the greater Philadelphia region of Pennsylvania in Montgomery County. It is northwest of Philadelphia proper. It is located in the township of Upper Merion, PA. The community took its name in the 18th century from a local tavern named "The King of Prussia Inn", which was named after Frederick II, King of Prussia. King of Prussia's boundaries are the Schuylkill River to the north and U.S Route 422 to the west. Located to the west of King of Prussia is the village of Valley Forge, where General George Washington and the Continental Army made a winter encampment during the winter of 1777-78.
Top landmarks
•National Memorial Arch — triumphal arch in Pennsylvania, U.S.
The pleasure of Pittsburgh remains a well-kept secret. Though not built up by reputation, the city's unique combination of bridges, steep hills, and broad rivers make it one of the most naturally scenic cities in the country. Cheap food and beer abound in this true sports town and the locals are amazingly friendly. A city of about 303,000 (2021) in Allegheny County, at the center of a metro area of about 2.4 million in southwestern Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh is situated at the confluence of three rivers: the Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers, which meet to form the Ohio River. The city's unique terrain has resulted in an unusual city design and a hodge-podge of unique neighborhood "pockets" with diverse ethnic and architectural heritage.
Top landmarks
•Carnegie Museum of Natural History — natural history museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
•Allegheny Observatory — historic observatory of the University of Pittsburgh
•Carnegie Museum of Art — museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 21m. Total distance: 286.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 270.7 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $35.19 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 20 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 Pittsburgh, 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. There are 20 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (I 76): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 271.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 272.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Valley Forge National Historical Park, Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument and Flight 93 National Memorial (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Pittsburgh, PA before the return drive.
