This 313.7-mile drive from McMurray, PA to Bensalem, PA is a substantial journey, typically taking around 6 hours and 7 minutes. It's primarily a highway-focused route, with 90% of the drive on major roads, making it a solid option for a single-day trip if you're looking to cover ground efficiently. The estimated fuel cost for this adventure is about $52. Given its Northeast to Northeast location within Pennsylvania, you'll be navigating familiar terrain. This route is designed for moving quickly, so plan accordingly if you prefer a more leisurely pace.
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
156.8 miles from McMurray, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 14m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
277.7 mi
5h 2m
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
6 mi
8m
Hayden Boulevard
5.1 mi
8m
West Newton Road
4.8 mi
7m
Finleyville Elrama Road
4.6 mi
8m
Mount Pleasant Road
3.6 mi
6m
Bebout Road
2.9 mi
7m
PA 837
2.3 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 277.7 mi, about 5h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between McMurray, PA and Bensalem, PA.
1
Start on Thomas Road
52 ft·4 sec·Thomas Road
2
Turn right onto East McMurray Road
304 ft·8 sec·East McMurray Road
3
Turn right onto Valley Brook Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Valley Brook Road
4
Enter roundabout onto Bebout Road
35 ft·1 sec·Bebout Road
5
Continue on Bebout Road
2.9 mi·7 min·Bebout Road
6
At end of road, turn left onto Venetia Road
1.5 mi·3 min·Venetia Road
7
Continue on Rankintown Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Rankintown Road
8
Continue on Washington Avenue
0.3 mi·54 sec·Washington Avenue
9
Continue on Washington Avenue
0.3 mi·36 sec·Washington Avenue
10
Continue on Finleyville Elrama Road
4.6 mi·8 min·Finleyville Elrama Road
11
Turn left onto PA 837
2.3 mi·4 min·PA 837
12
Take the ramp
362 ft·10 sec
13
Merge onto PA 51
5.1 mi·8 min·Hayden Boulevard
14
Take the exit
0.1 mi·25 sec
15
Turn left onto PA 136
320 ft·6 sec·Rainbow Run Road
16
Continue on PA 136
4.8 mi·7 min·West Newton Road
17
Continue on PA 136
3.6 mi·6 min·Mount Pleasant Road
18
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·18 sec
19
Merge onto I 70
6.0 mi·8 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
20
Take the exit onto I 70
0.5 mi·1 min·I 70
Exit 58Toward I 70 Toll East, I 76 Toll, PATP: Harrisburg, PittsburghUse the slight right lane.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
0.4 mi·1 min·I 70
Toward I 70 East, I 76 East: Harrisburg
22
Merge onto I 70; I 76; PATP
278 mi·5 hr 2 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Exit 352Toward PA 132: Street RoadUse the slight right lane.
24
Turn left onto PA 132
1.7 mi·2 min·Street Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
25
Turn right onto Knights Road
261 ft·8 sec·Knights Road
26
Turn right
135 ft·9 sec
27
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 6-hour, 7-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from McMurray to avoid potential traffic, especially as you approach the Philadelphia area. With the longest stretch on the Pennsylvania Turnpike being 277.7 miles, plan for a single, well-timed stop for fuel and a break. The $52 fuel cost is a good estimate, but always check current prices. This route is best suited for a single day, so focus on maintaining a comfortable pace and staying alert during the longer highway segments.
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 156.8 miles from McMurray, PA, or about 3h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 277.7 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 69 miles or 1h 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 156.8 miles or 3h 14m 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 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bensalem, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving McMurray, 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 McMurray, PA
This is one driving day of about 313.7 miles and 6h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 miles from McMurray, 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 277.7 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 18.4 and 311.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
18.4 mi into trip|~36m in|PA 136 / Rainbow Run Road
Turn left onto PA 136 / Rainbow Run Road
Navigation decision point
8
33 mi into trip|~58m in|I 70
Take the exit onto I 70 toward I 70 Toll East, I 76 Toll, PATP: Harrisburg, Pittsburgh
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 58
Toward I 70 Toll East, I 76 Toll, PATP: Harrisb...
6
33.5 mi into trip|~59m in|I 70
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70 toward I 70 East, I 76 East: Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 70 East, I 76 East: Harrisburg
5
33.9 mi into trip|~1h in|I 70; I 76; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike
Merge onto I 70; I 76; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
311.5 mi into trip|~6h 3m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$50.02 one way
$100.04 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg110 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$55.35
$110.71
premium
$4.81
$59.38
$118.76
diesel
$4.80
$59.23
$118.46
Estimated Tolls: $36.09
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(277.7 mi)$36.09
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
$50
Tolls
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$111–$136
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 109.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
94.1
1
$32.94
$15.06
Efficient EV
78.4
0
$27.45
$12.55
EV Truck/SUV
125.5
1
$43.92
$20.08
Gas CO2
110 kg
EV CO2
37 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.
Forecast as of Jul 17, 2026
Origin
McMurray, PA
Late night
in McMurray on Sunday
Local time
2:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Smoke
NW 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 1:40PM EDT until July 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Destination
Bensalem, PA
Late night
in Bensalem on Sunday
Local time
2:43 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Areas Of Smoke
NW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 1:40PM EDT until July 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
55°F
Martinsburg, PA
157 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
4 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
6h 7m 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.
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...
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Free
near mile 183.9
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...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 281.2
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
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 75.7
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...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 227.1
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...
14 mi from route
~35 min detour
Free
near mile 292
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of this 313.7-mile trip, with 90% of your travel occurring on major roadways. You'll spend a significant amount of time on the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch spans an impressive 277.7 miles, meaning extended periods of consistent driving. This profile suggests a journey characterized by steady speeds and minimal detours, prioritizing direct travel over varied landscapes.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 277.7 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 18.4 miles in near PA 136 / Rainbow Run Road.
Driving Effort6/10
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 313.7 miles you will encounter 16 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 18.4 miles (PA 136 / Rainbow Run Road): Navigation decision point; at 33 miles (I 70): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.5 miles (I 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,193 ft79 ft
Total Climb
1,564 ft
Total Descent
2,462 ft
Highest Point
2,193 ft
~67.2 mi in
Elevation Range
2,114 ft
Notable High Points
2,193 ft at ~67.2 miles+623 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between McMurray, PA and Bensalem, PA, road signs point toward Patp: Harrisburg and Pittsburgh.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 7m. Total distance: 313.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 7m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 277.7 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $36.09 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 — we found about 21 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Bensalem, 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. There are 21 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 18.4 miles (PA 136 / Rainbow Run Road): Navigation decision point; at 33 miles (I 70): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.5 miles (I 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument, Valley Forge National Historical Park 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 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Bensalem, PA before the return drive.
