Origin
King, PA
Morning in King on Tuesday
Local time
6:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from King, PA to Allentown, PA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 51m
Distance
193 mi
311 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 38m
★
6 AM
3h 51m
8 AM
4h 17m
10 AM
4h 0m
12 PM
3h 57m
3 PM
4h 1m
5 PM
4h 15m
8 PM
3h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
King, PA
Oscar Rockr
Allentown, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
King, PA to Allentown, PA is 193 miles and takes about 3h 51m via Pennsylvania Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, entirely within Pennsylvania. The route offers a mixed driving experience, balancing highway speeds with surface roads. Considering its manageable duration and cost, this drive is a practical choice for a single-day trip, allowing ample time for your destination upon arrival.
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
96.5 miles from King, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 50m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike | 81 mi | 1h 29m |
| William Penn Highway | 42.8 mi | 50m |
| American Legion Memorial Highway | 22.5 mi | 27m |
| I 81 | 12.7 mi | 15m |
| I 99 | 9.3 mi | 9m |
| 78th Division Highway | 7.6 mi | 8m |
| Tilghman Street | 4.9 mi | 8m |
| William Penn Road | 3.7 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 81 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between King, PA and Allentown, PA.
1
Start on Hickory Lane
213 ft
·
13 sec
·
Hickory Lane
2
Turn left onto William Penn Road
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
William Penn Road
3
Turn left onto Sarah Furnace Road
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Sarah Furnace Road
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Toward Blue Knob State Park
5
Merge onto I 99; US 220
9.3 mi
·
9 min
·
I 99; US 220
6
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward Pittsburgh, Harrisburg
7
Keep slight right at fork
284 ft
·
8 sec
Toward US 220 Business South: Bedford
8
Turn slight right onto US 220 BUS
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Business 220
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward I 70, I 76, PATP: Pittsburgh, Harrisburg
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward I 76 East, I 70 East: Harrisburg
11
Merge onto I 70; I 76; PATP
81 mi
·
1 hr 29 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike
12
Take the exit
0.9 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 81, US 11: Carlisle, Harrisburg
Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
Toward US 11 North: Harrisburg
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on US 11
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Harrisburg Pike
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward I 81 North: Harrisburg
16
Merge onto I 81
13 mi
·
15 min
·
I 81
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
Toward US 11, US 15: Enola, Marysville
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
Toward US 11 North, US 15 North: Marysville
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
20
Merge onto I 81
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
George N. Wade Memorial Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on I 81
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
American Legion Memorial Highway
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
19 mi
·
22 min
·
American Legion Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 89
Toward I 78 East: Allentown
24
Continue on I 78
7.6 mi
·
8 min
·
78th Division Highway
25
Continue on I 78; US 22
43 mi
·
50 min
·
William Penn Highway
Use the straight lane.
26
Keep slight right at fork onto US 22
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Lehigh Valley Thruway
Exit 51
Toward US 22 East: Pennsylvania Turnpike, LVI Airport
Use the slight right lane.
27
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward Cetronia
Use the slight right lane.
28
Turn straight onto Tilghman Street
4.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Tilghman Street
Use the straight lane.
29
Arrive at destination
Tilghman Street
Trip Plan
With a drive time under 4 hours, this trip is ideal for a same-day excursion. Aim to depart King, PA in the morning to maximize your time in Allentown. The route includes just one recommended stop, but you have flexibility given the shorter distance. Keep an eye on your fuel, budgeting around $32 for the trip, and consider filling up before you leave King if you prefer not to stop. Watch for the transition from highway to surface roads around mile 102 (estimated based on highway share) as traffic patterns will change.
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 96.5 miles from King, PA, or about 1h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 81 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 42 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 96.5 miles or 1h 50m 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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Allentown, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving King, 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, PA
This is one driving day of about 193 miles and 3h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 miles from King, 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 81 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
97 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 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 96.5 miles from King, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Pennsylvania Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 81 miles.
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 225 decision points cluster between mile 15.1 and 186.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
15.1 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 76 East, I 70 East: Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 76 East, I 70 East: Harrisburg
7
96.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 50m in
Take the exit toward I 81, US 11: Carlisle, Harrisburg
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 81, US 11: Carlisle, Harrisburg
7
97.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 52m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 11 North: Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 11 North: Harrisburg
6
111.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 11m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 11 North, US 15 North: Marysville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 11 North, US 15 North: Marysville
9
186.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 41m in
|
US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway toward US 22 East: Pennsylvania Turnpike, LVI Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 51
Toward US 22 East: Pennsylvania Turnpike, LVI A...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.00 one way
$63.99 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
68 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $35.04 | $70.09 |
| premium | $4.93 | $37.43 | $74.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $42.61 | $85.22 |
Estimated Tolls: $10.60
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(81 mi)
$10.53
Lehigh Valley Thruway
(1 mi)
$0.07
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
$32
Tolls
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 57.9 | 0 | $20.26 | $9.26 |
| Efficient EV | 48.3 | 0 | $16.89 | $7.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 77.2 | 0 | $27.02 | $12.35 |
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (66% 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
Allentown, PA
Morning in Allentown on Tuesday
Local time
6:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
62°F
Hilltown, PA
97 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
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
3h 51m 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.
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...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Free
near mile 93.2
View on nps.gov
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...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 139.7
View on nps.gov
Johnstown Flood National Memorial
National Memorial
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...
18 mi from route
~45 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Flight 93 National Memorial
National Memorial
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...
20 mi from route
~50 min detour
Free
near mile 13.3
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 53% of the 193 miles on highways, primarily the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 81 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, offering a consistent cruising experience. After leaving the turnpike, you'll transition to surface roads like the William Penn Highway and American Legion Memorial Highway, which will likely feature more local traffic and varied speed limits.
53% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 81 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 15.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 22 significant decision points across 193 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 15.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 96.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 97.3 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.
Between King, PA and Allentown, PA, road signs point toward Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Patp: Pittsburgh and Marysville.
Pittsburgh
13.7 mi in
|
~17m
Harrisburg
13.7 mi in
|
~17m
Patp: Pittsburgh
14.9 mi in
|
~19m
Marysville
111.6 mi in
|
~2h 11m
About the Cities
Arriving in Allentown, PA
Full guide →Allentown is the largest city in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania, the county seat and largest city in Lehigh County, and the third-largest city in Pennsylvania after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh with a population of 125,845 as of 2020.
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 3h 51m. Total distance: 193 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 81 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $10.60 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 Allentown, 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 15.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 96.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 97.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument, Appalachian National Scenic Trail and Johnstown Flood National Memorial (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Allentown, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
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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