Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 48m
Distance
224 mi
361 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
Sparse
1 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ligonier, PA
Quyển Phạm Xuân
Allentown, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Ligonier, PA to Allentown, PA is 224 miles and takes about 4h 48m via Pennsylvania Turnpike and William Penn Highway, with a fuel budget near $37 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This one-day trip primarily stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. Expect a mixed drive that balances highway speed with some local road travel. It's a straightforward journey for those looking to cover ground efficiently between these two points in PA.
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
112 miles from Ligonier, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 30m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike | 81 mi | 1h 29m |
| William Penn Highway | 42.8 mi | 50m |
| Lincoln Highway | 42.1 mi | 1h 6m |
| American Legion Memorial Highway | 22.5 mi | 27m |
| I 81 | 12.7 mi | 15m |
| 78th Division Highway | 7.6 mi | 8m |
| Tilghman Street | 4.9 mi | 8m |
| West Pitt Street | 1.3 mi | 2m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 56 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,785 veh/hr typical
Quietest
1 AM
~380 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Ligonier, PA and Allentown, PA.
Start on PA 711
Continue on PA 711
Turn left onto US 30
Continue on US 30
Continue on US 30
Continue on US 30
Continue on US 30
Turn left onto Country Ridge Road
Turn right onto Weber Lane
Turn left onto US 220 BUS
Take the ramp
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 70; I 76; PATP
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on US 11
Take the exit
Merge onto I 81
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 81
Continue on I 81
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
Take the exit
Continue on I 78
Continue on I 78; US 22
Keep slight right at fork onto US 22
Take the exit
Turn straight onto Tilghman Street
Arrive at destination
With a drive time under 5 hours, this route is comfortably a one-day trip, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. Aim to leave in the morning to maximize daylight and take advantage of the single recommended stop for a break. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially before entering the longest stretch on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, as services can be spaced out. The $37 fuel cost suggests a moderate expense, so budget accordingly. A good tip is to utilize the main roads like the William Penn Highway and Lincoln Highway strategically for refueling or a quick stretch if needed, as they often pass through towns.
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.
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 49 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 112 miles or 2h 30m 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 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Allentown, PA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Ligonier, 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 Ligonier, PA
This is one driving day of about 224 miles and 4h 48m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
112 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.
A short stop after about 49 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 112 miles from Ligonier, 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.
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Near the start, right off the route
Ligonier, Pennsylvania
Hours: Open 24 hours
+19094681118
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 45.9 and 217.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the ramp toward I 70, I 76, PATP: Pittsburgh, Harrisburg
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
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
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
Keep slight left at fork toward US 11 North: Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
Regular Gas
$35.72 one way
$71.43 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $39.53 | $79.05 |
| premium | $4.81 | $42.40 | $84.80 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $42.30 | $84.59 |
Estimated Tolls: $10.60
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
$36
Tolls
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 67.2 | 0 | $23.52 | $10.75 |
| Efficient EV | 56 | 0 | $19.60 | $8.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 89.6 | 1 | $31.36 | $14.34 |
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Ligonier on Monday
Local time
7:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
Tornado Warning
Tornado Warning issued July 18 at 3:31PM EDT until July 18 at 3:45PM EDT by NWS State College PA
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 3:22PM EDT by NWS State College PA
Destination
Morning in Allentown on Monday
Local time
7:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Patchy Smoke
Tornado Warning
Tornado Warning issued July 18 at 3:31PM EDT until July 18 at 3:45PM EDT by NWS State College PA
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 3:22PM EDT by NWS State College PA
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
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...
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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This drive offers a 42% highway share, meaning you'll experience a good mix of faster travel and more localized roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 81 miles, found on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, allowing for significant mileage to be covered at speed. As you transition from the turnpike to roads like the William Penn Highway and Lincoln Highway, the character will shift, likely involving more towns and varied speed limits. It’s a journey that keeps you engaged without being overly demanding, shifting from open highway to more community-focused stretches.
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 45.9 miles in.
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 20 significant decision points across 224 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 45.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 46.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 127.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
1,686 ft
Total Descent
2,541 ft
Highest Point
2,094 ft
~32 mi in
Elevation Range
1,790 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Ligonier, PA and Allentown, PA, road signs point toward Patp: Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Marysville.
Patp: Pittsburgh
Harrisburg
Marysville
Founded 1762
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.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 48m. Total distance: 224 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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