Origin
Lehighton, PA
Afternoon in Lehighton on Sunday
Local time
1:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lehighton, PA to Allentown, PA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
37m
Distance
27.2 mi
44 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Sparse
1 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 34m
★
6 AM
0h 37m
8 AM
0h 44m
10 AM
0h 39m
12 PM
0h 39m
3 PM
0h 40m
5 PM
0h 43m
8 PM
0h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lehighton, PA
Andaru Firmansyah
Allentown, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick and straightforward commute, the 27.2-mile journey from Lehighton to Allentown is an ideal option. Spanning just 37 minutes, this trip is easily completed as a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stays. You will primarily navigate via the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, Interchange Road, and Tilghman Street. With fuel costs estimated at around $5, it is a very budget-friendly transit within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania. Whether you are traveling for business or a brief visit, this route provides a reliable connection between these two communities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension | 18.2 mi | 20m |
| Tilghman Street | 3.6 mi | 5m |
| Interchange Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| PA 309 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| East Bridge Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Lehigh Valley Thruway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Bankway Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South First Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
— 18.2 mi, about 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lehighton, PA and Allentown, PA.
1
Start on South 4th Street
87 ft
·
4 sec
·
South 4th Street
2
Turn right onto Mahoning Street
457 ft
·
14 sec
·
Mahoning Street
3
Turn right onto 3rd Street
66 ft
·
6 sec
·
3rd Street
4
Turn left onto South Street
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
South Street
5
At end of road, turn right onto US 209
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
South First Street
6
Continue on US 209
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Bankway Street
7
Continue on US 209
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Bridge Street
Use the left lane.
8
Continue on US 209
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Interchange Road
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward I 476, PATP
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Toward I 476 South: Allentown
11
Merge onto I 476; PATP
18 mi
·
20 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 56
Toward I 78, US 22, PA 309: Allentown, Harrisburg
13
Turn slight right
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward US 22 East: Allentown
14
Merge onto US 22
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Lehigh Valley Thruway
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Toward PA 309 South: Quakertown
Use the slight right lane.
16
Merge onto PA 309
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
PA 309
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward Tilghman Street East
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn straight onto Tilghman Street
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Tilghman Street
19
Arrive at destination
Tilghman Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 23.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 209 / South First Street
At end of road, turn right onto US 209 / South First Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
3.1 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 476 South: Allentown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 476 South: Allentown
6
21.5 mi into trip
|
~27m in
Take the exit toward I 78, US 22, PA 309: Allentown, Harrisburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 56
Toward I 78, US 22, PA 309: Allentown, Harrisbu...
6
22.5 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Take the exit toward PA 309 South: Quakertown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward PA 309 South: Quakertown
6
23.4 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Take the exit toward Tilghman Street East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward Tilghman Street East
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.51 one way
$9.02 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $4.94 | $9.88 |
| premium | $4.93 | $5.28 | $10.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.01 | $12.01 |
Estimated Tolls: $2.36
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(18.2 mi)
$2.36
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$2
Total
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.86 | $1.31 |
| Efficient EV | 6.8 | 0 | $2.38 | $1.09 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.9 | 0 | $3.81 | $1.74 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
Afternoon in Allentown on Sunday
Local time
1:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
23 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
37m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as roughly 69% of your time behind the wheel will be spent at higher speeds. The Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension serves as the backbone of the trip, offering an uninterrupted 18.2-mile stretch that allows for a steady pace. As you transition off the turnpike and navigate onto Interchange Road and Tilghman Street, the character of the drive shifts from an open highway grind to a more localized flow. The balance of high-speed transit and standard road travel keeps the drive feeling efficient from start to finish.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.2 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and Tilghman Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near US 209 / South First Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 27.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 37m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (US 209 / South First Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 3.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 21.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lehighton, PA and Allentown, PA, road signs point toward Patp, Harrisburg and Tilghman Street East.
Patp
2.8 mi in
|
~5m
Harrisburg
21.5 mi in
|
~27m
Tilghman Street East
23.4 mi in
|
~31m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 37m. Total distance: 27.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (69%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18.2 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.36 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.
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.
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 0.3 miles (US 209 / South First Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 3.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 21.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Allentown, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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