Manheim, PA to Upper Darby, PA is 84.2 miles and takes about 1h 49m via Pennsylvania Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This one-day trip stays within Pennsylvania, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Expect a highway-focused drive that's efficient for getting from point A to point B. With a relatively short duration and a straightforward route, it's a manageable journey for most drivers looking for a direct connection between these two locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
42.1 miles from Manheim, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
59.5 mi
1h 3m
Mid-County Expressway
6.4 mi
8m
Lebanon Road
5.1 mi
8m
I 76
5.1 mi
7m
Lansdowne Avenue
3 mi
8m
West Chester Pike
2.5 mi
5m
South Main Street
0.6 mi
1m
West Providence Road
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 59.5 mi, about 1h 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Manheim, PA and Upper Darby, 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
60 mi·1 hr 3 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit onto I 76
5.1 mi·7 min·I 76
Exit 326Toward I 76 East: Valley Forge, PhiladelphiaUse the slight right lane.
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 331AToward I 476 South: ChesterUse the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 476
6.4 mi·8 min·Mid-County Expressway
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·59 sec
Exit 9Toward PA 3: Upper Darby, BroomallUse the slight right lane.
10
Turn left onto PA 3
2.5 mi·5 min·West Chester Pike
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
11
Turn slight right onto Darby Road
471 ft·13 sec·Darby Road
Use the right lane.
12
Continue on Lansdowne Avenue
3.0 mi·8 min·Lansdowne Avenue
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn right onto West Providence Road
0.3 mi·39 sec·West Providence Road
14
Arrive at destination
West Providence Road
Trip Plan
Given the 1h 49m duration, this is a trip best suited for a single day, and you can easily complete it within daylight hours. Consider departing mid-morning to avoid the peak rush hour. Since the drive is under two hours and largely on highways, you may not need many stops, but there are no designated stops in the data, so plan accordingly for any necessary breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $14 for the 84.2 miles; ensure you have enough to cover the longest stretch on the Pennsylvania Turnpike before you begin.
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 42.1 miles from Manheim, PA, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 59.5 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 19 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 42.1 miles or 50m 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 25m
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 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 84.2 miles and 1h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 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 59.5 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.7 and 78 — 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
8
65.9 mi into trip|~1h 15m in|I 76
Take the exit onto I 76 toward I 76 East: Valley Forge, Philadelphia
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 326
Toward I 76 East: Valley Forge, Philadelphia
7
71 mi into trip|~1h 23m in
Take the exit toward I 476 South: Chester
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 331A
Toward I 476 South: Chester
8
78 mi into trip|~1h 33m 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
$13.96 one way
$27.92 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg30 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$15.29
$30.58
premium
$4.93
$16.33
$32.66
diesel
$5.61
$18.59
$37.18
Estimated Tolls: $7.74
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(59.5 mi)$7.74
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
$14
Tolls
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25.3
0
$8.84
$4.04
Efficient EV
21.1
0
$7.37
$3.37
EV Truck/SUV
33.7
0
$11.79
$5.39
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Manheim, PA
Morning
in Manheim on Tuesday
Local time
6:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Upper Darby, PA
Morning
in Upper Darby on Tuesday
Local time
6:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Isolated Rain Showers
NW 5 mph15% chanceLive forecast
Dense Fog Advisory
Dense Fog Advisory issued April 17 at 4:51AM EDT until April 17 at 11:00AM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
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
7 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 49m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 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 84.2
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 5.8
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
~39 min detour
Free
near mile 78.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 84% of the journey on major roadways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, including the longest uninterrupted stretch of 59.5 miles. The route utilizes the Mid-County Expressway and Lebanon Road as well, offering a blend of high-speed travel. Expect a consistent driving experience primarily on well-maintained expressways, making for a generally smooth and predictable ride.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 59.5 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and Mid-County Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.7 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 84.2 miles you will encounter 10 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 5.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 5.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 65.9 miles (I 76): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. 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.
Between Manheim, PA and Upper Darby, PA, road signs point toward Patp, Philadelphia and Broomall.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 49m. Total distance: 84.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 59.5 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $7.74 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 5.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 5.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 65.9 miles (I 76): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Valley Forge National Historical Park, Independence National Historical Park and Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial (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 Upper Darby, PA before heading back.
