Traveling from Lehighton to Upper Darby is a straightforward journey covering 76.5 miles, typically taking about 1 hour and 38 minutes. Because this trip is well within the scope of a single day, there is no need to worry about overnight accommodations. You can expect to spend approximately $13 on fuel, making this a highly budget-friendly commute or day trip. The route stays entirely within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania, transitioning from the quiet atmosphere of Lehighton down toward the dense suburbs of Upper Darby. Whether you are heading out for business or a visit, the ease of this drive makes it an uncomplicated choice for your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.3 miles from Lehighton, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 44m into the drive
.
Exit 9Toward PA 3: Upper Darby, BroomallUse the slight right lane.
16
Turn left onto PA 3
2.5 mi·5 min·West Chester Pike
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
17
Turn slight right onto Darby Road
471 ft·13 sec·Darby Road
Use the right lane.
18
Continue on Lansdowne Avenue
3.0 mi·8 min·Lansdowne Avenue
Use the straight lane.
19
Turn right onto West Providence Road
0.3 mi·39 sec·West Providence Road
20
Arrive at destination
West Providence Road
Trip Plan
Since this 76.5-mile drive is relatively short, you have the flexibility to plan your departure based on local traffic patterns rather than strict fatigue management. Aim to avoid peak commuting hours to ensure you don't spend unnecessary time on the Mid-County Expressway or local streets. Because the entire trip should take less than two hours, you likely won't need to plan for formal rest stops, though filling up your tank before you leave will keep your total fuel costs near that $13 estimate. A helpful tip for this specific route is to keep a close watch on GPS traffic updates as you approach the final stretch on Lansdowne Avenue, as local congestion can fluctuate significantly depending on the time of day.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 38.3 miles from Lehighton, PA, or about 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.1 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 17 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.3 miles or 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Upper Darby, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lehighton, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lehighton, PA
This is one driving day of about 76.5 miles and 1h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Lehighton, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension for about 56.1 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 0.1 and 70.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|3rd Street
Turn right onto 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
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
7
59.2 mi into trip|~1h 7m in|I 476; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Keep slight left at fork onto I 476; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
8
70.3 mi into trip|~1h 22m in
Take the exit toward PA 3: Upper Darby, Broomall
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 9
Toward PA 3: Upper Darby, Broomall
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.68 one way
$25.37 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$13.89
$27.78
premium
$4.93
$14.84
$29.67
diesel
$5.61
$16.89
$33.78
Estimated Tolls: $7.30
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(56.1 mi)$7.30
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
$13
Tolls
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23
0
$8.03
$3.67
Efficient EV
19.1
0
$6.69
$3.06
EV Truck/SUV
30.6
0
$10.71
$4.90
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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 20, 2026
Origin
Lehighton, PA
Morning
in Lehighton on Tuesday
Local time
10:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Upper Darby, PA
Morning
in Upper Darby on Tuesday
Local time
10:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
20 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
1h 38m 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.
Independence National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
Visit the house where wounded Polish freedom fighter Thaddeus Kosciuszko lived and hear how this brilliant military engineer designed successful fortifications during the American Revolution. See the...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 76.5
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...
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...
16 mi from route
~40 min detour
Free
near mile 71.2
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 88% of your time spent on major routes. You will spend the bulk of your journey on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, which serves as the longest uninterrupted stretch at 56.1 miles. As you transition onto the Mid-County Expressway, the character of the road shifts from open highway travel to the more congested infrastructure of the Philadelphia suburbs. You will eventually conclude your trip by navigating local roads like Lansdowne Avenue to reach your final destination. Expect a consistent pace for the majority of the trip before the final transition into the busier, more stop-and-go environment of the Upper Darby area.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 56.1 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and Mid-County Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near 3rd Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 76.5 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.1 miles (3rd Street): Navigation decision point; 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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
692 ft56 ft
Total Climb
649 ft
Total Descent
1,168 ft
Highest Point
692 ft
~32.8 mi in
Elevation Range
635 ft
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 Lehighton, PA to Upper Darby, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Broomall along the way.
Lehighton is a borough in the Coal Region, near Jim Thorpe, Allentown and the Lehigh Valley, in the state of Pennsylvania in the United States of America.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 38m. Total distance: 76.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 56.1 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $7.30 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 Upper Darby, 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 0.1 miles (3rd Street): Navigation decision point; 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.
Yes — Independence National Historical Park, Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial and Valley Forge 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 Upper Darby, PA before heading back.
