Origin
Lower Saucon, PA
Morning in Lower Saucon on Sunday
Local time
6:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lower Saucon, PA to Philadelphia, PA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 28m
Distance
61.3 mi
99 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 22m
★
6 AM
1h 28m
8 AM
1h 42m
10 AM
1h 33m
12 PM
1h 32m
3 PM
1h 34m
5 PM
1h 41m
8 PM
1h 24m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lower Saucon, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Philadelphia, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Lower Saucon to Philadelphia is a straightforward 60.4-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 22 minutes. Since this is a relatively short trip, it works perfectly as a day excursion, allowing you to reach the city without needing to book an overnight stay. You can expect to spend roughly $10 on fuel for the one-way trip, making it an affordable regional commute within Pennsylvania. The route keeps you entirely within the Northeast region, transitioning from the more suburban outskirts of Lower Saucon into the heart of Philadelphia. Because there are no mandatory stops required, you have the flexibility to head straight to your destination or pace yourself as you see fit.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension | 24.3 mi | 26m |
| Schuylkill Expressway | 12.6 mi | 17m |
| PA 309 | 4.7 mi | 7m |
| Mid-County Expressway | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| Easton Road | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| John Fries Highway | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Taylor Drive | 2 mi | 3m |
| Main Street | 2 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
— 24.3 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lower Saucon, PA and Philadelphia, PA.
1
Start on Lower Saucon Road
77 ft
·
2 sec
·
Lower Saucon Road
2
Turn right onto Easton Road
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Easton Road
3
Turn slight right onto Cherry Lane
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Cherry Lane
4
Turn left onto PA 412
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on PA 412
0.6 mi
·
55 sec
·
Leithsville Road
6
Turn right onto Apples Church Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Apples Church Road
7
Continue on Taylor Drive
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Taylor Drive
8
Continue on Flint Hill Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Flint Hill Road
9
Turn right onto Passer Road
340 ft
·
8 sec
·
Passer Road
10
Turn left onto PA 309
4.7 mi
·
7 min
·
PA 309
11
Turn right onto West Pumping Station Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
West Pumping Station Road
12
Turn left onto Portzer Road
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
Portzer Road
13
Continue on Portzer Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Portzer Road
14
Turn right onto PA 663
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
John Fries Highway
15
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward PATP
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 476 South: Philadelphia
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
17
Merge onto I 476; PATP
24 mi
·
25 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 476; PATP
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Exit 20
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 476; PATP
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Use the slight left lane.
20
Continue on I 476
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Mid-County Expressway
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 16
Toward I 76 East, I 76 West: Philadelphia, Valley Forge
Use the slight right lane.
22
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 16A
Toward I 76 East: Philadelphia
Use the slight left lane.
23
Merge onto I 76
13 mi
·
17 min
·
Schuylkill Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 676; US 30
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Vine Street Expressway
Toward I 676 East, US 30 East: Central Philadelphia
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward Central Philadelphia
Use the slight right lane.
26
Keep slight right at fork
313 ft
·
11 sec
Toward 15th Street, Central Philadelphia
Use the slight right lane.
27
Turn right onto North 15th Street
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
North 15th Street
Use the right lane.
28
Turn slight left onto PA 611
379 ft
·
8 sec
·
South Penn Square
29
Keep slight left at fork onto South Penn Square
167 ft
·
2 sec
·
South Penn Square
30
Arrive at destination
South Penn Square
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
31 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 30.6 miles from Lower Saucon, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 205 decision points cluster between mile 18.3 and 60.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
18.3 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 476 South: Philadelphia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 476 South: Philadelphia
8
46.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
Take the exit toward I 76 East, I 76 West: Philadelphia, Valley Forge
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 16
Toward I 76 East, I 76 West: Philadelphia, Vall...
8
46.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 76 East: Philadelphia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 16A
Toward I 76 East: Philadelphia
8
59.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
|
I 676; US 30 / Vine Street Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 676; US 30 / Vine Street Expressway toward I 676 East, US 30 East: Central Philadelphia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward I 676 East, US 30 East: Central Philadel...
9
60.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 15th Street, Central Philadelphia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward 15th Street, Central Philadelphia
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.16 one way
$20.33 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $11.13 | $22.26 |
| premium | $4.93 | $11.89 | $23.78 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.53 | $27.07 |
Estimated Tolls: $3.17
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(24.3 mi)
$3.17
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Tolls
$3
Total
$13
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 18.4 | 0 | $6.44 | $2.94 |
| Efficient EV | 15.3 | 0 | $5.36 | $2.45 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 24.5 | 0 | $8.58 | $3.92 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Destination
Philadelphia, PA
Morning in Philadelphia on Sunday
Local time
6:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°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
5 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 28m 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 turn-heavy, local driving experience that stays off major interstates entirely. With a highway share of 0%, this route favors secondary roads over high-speed transit, requiring your full attention behind the wheel. The journey lacks long, monotonous stretches, instead offering a more technical drive that demands consistent navigation through local turns. You will find that the road's personality remains grounded in local traffic patterns rather than the open-road feel of a highway. Prepare for a hands-on driving experience that prioritizes local connectivity over rapid, long-distance speed.
75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 24.3 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and Schuylkill Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 18.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 61.3 miles you will encounter 20 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 18.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 46.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 46.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
562 ft
45 ft
Total Climb
322 ft
Total Descent
618 ft
Highest Point
562 ft
~13.1 mi in
Elevation Range
518 ft
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 Lower Saucon, PA and Philadelphia, PA, road signs point toward Patp and Valley Forge.
Patp
17.9 mi in
|
~32m
Valley Forge
46.5 mi in
|
~1h 6m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 28m. Total distance: 61.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 24.3 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.17 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 Philadelphia, 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 18.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 46.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 46.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Philadelphia, 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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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