Origin
Mars, PA
Late night in Mars on Tuesday
Local time
5:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mars, PA to Croydon, PA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 9m
Distance
329.7 mi
531 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$55
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 57m
★
6 AM
6h 10m
8 AM
6h 35m
10 AM
6h 19m
12 PM
6h 16m
3 PM
6h 20m
5 PM
6h 34m
8 PM
6h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mars, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Mars, PA to Croydon, PA is 329.7 miles and takes about 6h 9m via the Pennsylvania Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $55 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Northeast region, specifically Pennsylvania, making it a straightforward trip. Given its highway-focused profile and recommended single-day completion, this route is ideal for those looking to cover ground efficiently. You'll spend most of your time on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, so expect a consistent driving experience from start to finish. It's a solid option if you need to get from point A to point B without many detours.
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
164.8 miles from Mars, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 6m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike | 313.4 mi | 5h 40m |
| Street Road | 4 mi | 6m |
| Bakerstown Road | 3.9 mi | 6m |
| William Flinn Highway | 2.8 mi | 5m |
| Mars Valencia Road | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| State Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Babcock Boulevard | 1 mi | 1m |
| Irvine Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 313.4 mi, about 5h 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mars, PA and Croydon, PA.
1
Start on Crowe Avenue
35 ft
·
3 sec
·
Crowe Avenue
2
Turn slight left onto Irvine Street
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Irvine Street
3
Continue on Mars Valencia Road
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Mars Valencia Road
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on Babcock Boulevard
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Babcock Boulevard
5
Turn sharp left onto Red Belt
3.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Bakerstown Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Take the ramp
343 ft
·
9 sec
Toward PA 8 South
7
Merge onto PA 8
0.6 mi
·
59 sec
·
William Flinn Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on PA 8
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
William Flinn Highway
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
Toward I 76 Toll, PATP
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward I 76 East: Pittsburgh
11
Merge onto I 76; PATP
313 mi
·
5 hr 40 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Exit 352
Toward PA 132: Street Road
Use the slight right lane.
13
Turn left onto PA 132
4.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Street Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
14
At end of road, turn left onto State Road
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
State Road
Use the left lane.
15
Arrive at destination
State Road
Trip Plan
With a total duration of just over 6 hours, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. To maximize your daylight, consider departing early in the morning. The longest stretch on the Pennsylvania Turnpike is over 313 miles, so plan for at least one substantial break during that time, perhaps around the halfway point. Given the $55 fuel cost estimate, keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is wise, especially since you'll be on a major highway for most of the drive. The flexibility of a one-day trip means you can adjust your departure time based on real-time traffic conditions.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 164.8 miles from Mars, PA, or about 3h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 313.4 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 73 miles or 1h 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 164.8 miles or 3h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 1m
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 Mars, 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 Mars, PA
This is one driving day of about 329.7 miles and 6h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 73 miles from Mars, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Pennsylvania Turnpike for about 313.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
165 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 73 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 164.8 miles from Mars, 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 313.4 miles.
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 105 decision points cluster between mile 2.9 and 328.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
2.9 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
Red Belt / Bakerstown Road
Turn sharp left onto Red Belt / Bakerstown Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
6.9 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
PA 8 / William Flinn Highway
Merge onto PA 8 / William Flinn Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
9.6 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward I 76 Toll, PATP
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 76 Toll, PATP
7
323.7 mi into trip
|
~5h 59m 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
328.1 mi into trip
|
~6h 6m in
|
State Road
At end of road, turn left onto State Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$54.66 one way
$109.32 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
115 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $59.87 | $119.73 |
| premium | $4.93 | $63.94 | $127.88 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $72.79 | $145.59 |
Estimated Tolls: $40.75
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(313.4 mi)
$40.75
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
$55
Tolls
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$120–$145
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 115.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 98.9 | 1 | $34.62 | $15.83 |
| Efficient EV | 82.4 | 0 | $28.85 | $13.19 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 131.9 | 1 | $46.16 | $21.10 |
Gas CO2
115 kg
EV CO2
39 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Croydon, PA
Late night in Croydon on Tuesday
Local time
5:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
67°F
Hancock, MD
165 mi in
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
5 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h 9m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
2 mi from route
~4 min detour
Free
near mile 295.9
Park Closure: Sun, Apr 19 - Park Entrance and Tour Roads Temporarily Closed for Rev Run
Park Closure: Admin Parking Lot Closed Fri 4/17 Until Sun 4/19 at Noon for Rev Run Setup
Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument
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...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 193.5
View on nps.gov
Flight 93 National Memorial
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...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
Free
near mile 91.1
View on nps.gov
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
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...
12 mi from route
~31 min detour
Free
near mile 239
View on nps.gov
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...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
$1
near mile 307.3
View on nps.gov
Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial
National Memorial
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
~34 min detour
Free
near mile 307.3
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 95% of your journey on major roadways. You'll be on the Pennsylvania Turnpike for the longest stretch, an uninterrupted 313.4 miles. This means you can expect a consistent pace for the majority of the trip. While the route primarily utilizes the Turnpike and connecting roads like Street Road and Bakerstown Road, the sheer dominance of the highway means the character remains largely consistent. Prepare for a driving experience that prioritizes speed and directness over varied scenery.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 313.4 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and Street Road. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.9 miles in near Red Belt / Bakerstown Road.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 329.7 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 2.9 miles (Red Belt / Bakerstown Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.9 miles (PA 8 / William Flinn Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Starting in Mars, PA
Full guide →Mars is a town in Pennsylvania. Yes, you read that right. It is one of the most quirky places you can find in Pennsylvania. The main reason to visit us to enjoy the signage that makes use of the town's name, and to see the flying saucer, if it's there.
Arriving in Croydon, PA
Full guide →City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 9m. Total distance: 329.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 9m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 313.4 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $40.75 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Croydon, PA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.9 miles (Red Belt / Bakerstown Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.9 miles (PA 8 / William Flinn Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.6 miles: 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, Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument and Flight 93 National Memorial (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.2 hours each way, a round trip means 12.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Croydon, PA before the return drive.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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