Manheim, PA to Croydon, PA is 97.5 miles and takes about 1h 53m via Pennsylvania Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region and the state of Pennsylvania, making it a straightforward drive. Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of your journey. With a duration under two hours and a low estimated fuel cost, this route is ideal for a quick, efficient transit between these two points without needing an overnight stop.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.7 miles from Manheim, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 57m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
85.1 mi
1h 31m
Lebanon Road
5.1 mi
8m
Street Road
4 mi
6m
State Road
1.6 mi
2m
South Main Street
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 85.1 mi, about 1h 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Manheim, PA and Croydon, PA.
1
Start on PA 72; PA 772
0.6 mi·1 min·South Main Street
2
Continue on PA 72
5.1 mi·8 min·Lebanon Road
3
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward PATP
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 76 Toll East: Valley Forge
5
Merge onto I 76; PATP
85 mi·1 hr 31 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Exit 352Toward PA 132: Street RoadUse the slight right lane.
7
Turn left onto PA 132
4.0 mi·6 min·Street Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
8
At end of road, turn left onto State Road
1.6 mi·2 min·State Road
Use the left lane.
9
Arrive at destination
State Road
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of 1h 53m, you have considerable flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning can help you avoid potential midday traffic. Since the longest uninterrupted stretch is over 85 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, plan to take a break before or immediately after this segment if needed. With a fuel cost estimated at $16, it's a budget-friendly trip, but always check your fuel gauge before heading out on longer highway stretches. There are no recommended stops on this route, so you can push through if time is tight.
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 48.7 miles from Manheim, PA, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 85.1 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 21 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.7 miles or 57m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Croydon, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Manheim, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Manheim, PA
This is one driving day of about 97.5 miles and 1h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Manheim, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Pennsylvania Turnpike for about 85.1 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.7 and 95.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
5.7 mi into trip|~10m in
Take the exit toward PATP
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward PATP
5
5.9 mi into trip|~10m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 76 Toll East: Valley Forge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 76 Toll East: Valley Forge
5
6.4 mi into trip|~12m in|I 76; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike
Merge onto I 76; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
91.5 mi into trip|~1h 43m in
Take the exit toward PA 132: Street Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 352
Toward PA 132: Street Road
7
95.9 mi into trip|~1h 50m in|State Road
At end of road, turn left onto State Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.16 one way
$32.33 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$17.70
$35.41
premium
$4.93
$18.91
$37.82
diesel
$5.61
$21.53
$43.05
Estimated Tolls: $11.07
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(85.1 mi)$11.07
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
$16
Tolls
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.3
0
$10.24
$4.68
Efficient EV
24.4
0
$8.53
$3.90
EV Truck/SUV
39
0
$13.65
$6.24
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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
Manheim, PA
Morning
in Manheim on Tuesday
Local time
6:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Croydon, PA
Morning
in Croydon on Tuesday
Local time
6:20 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
2 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 53m 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.
Valley Forge National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
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...
12 mi from route
~31 min detour
Free
near mile 6.7
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...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 77.3
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
~41 min detour
Free
near mile 53.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is heavily oriented towards highway travel, with 87% of the route utilizing high-speed roads. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, including a continuous stretch of 85.1 miles. The primary roads indicate a focus on efficient movement, suggesting limited opportunities for leisurely exploration. Lebanon Road and Street Road will likely form the latter part of the journey, potentially offering a slight shift in pace as you approach your destination.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
9 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 85.1 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and Lebanon Road. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 5.7 miles in.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 53m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 5.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 5.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 6.4 miles (I 76; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
On the drive from Manheim, PA to Croydon, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Patp along the way.
The longest stretch is about 85.1 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $11.07 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.
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 5.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 5.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 6.4 miles (I 76; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Valley Forge National Historical Park, Appalachian National Scenic Trail and Independence National Historical Park (5 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 Croydon, PA before heading back.
