McMurray, PA to Elizabethtown, PA is 219.9 miles and takes about 4h 31m via Pennsylvania Turnpike and PA 283, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. It's a straightforward, highway-focused drive that's easy to complete in a single day, making it a practical choice for a quick journey. You'll spend most of your time on major roadways, so expect a consistent driving experience. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient way 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
110 miles from McMurray, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 24m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
173.1 mi
3h 10m
PA 283
6 mi
6m
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
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 173.1 mi, about 3h 10m
Traffic on I-283
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 8 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,124 veh/hr typical
Quietest
1 AM
~197 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
10.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between McMurray, PA and Elizabethtown, 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
173 mi·3 hr 10 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
23
Take the exit
0.6 mi·2 min
Exit 247Toward I 283, PA 283: Harrisburg, HersheyUse the slight right lane.
24
Take the exit
0.4 mi·45 sec
Exit 1AToward PA 283 East: Airport, Lancaster
25
Merge onto PA 283
6.0 mi·6 min·PA 283
26
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward Toll House RoadUse the slight right lane.
27
Keep slight right at fork
288 ft·7 sec
Toward Middletown, Toll House RoadUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
28
Turn straight onto PA 341 Truck
0.1 mi·15 sec·Toll House Road
29
Turn left onto PA 230
2.6 mi·3 min·Harrisburg Pike
30
Continue on PA 230
2.7 mi·4 min·North Market Street
31
Turn left onto East High Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·East High Street
32
Turn left
34 ft·1 sec
33
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 31m estimated duration, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. To maximize daylight and minimize fatigue, aim for an early morning departure from McMurray, PA. The longest stretch is over 173 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, so plan for a fuel stop before or shortly after beginning this segment to ensure you have plenty of gas. While there's only one recommended stop, you can easily take a break for a meal or stretch your legs at one of the many service areas along the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Keep an eye out for the transition to PA 283 as you get closer to Elizabethtown, PA.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 110 miles from McMurray, PA, or about 2h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 173.1 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 48 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110 miles or 2h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Elizabethtown, 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 219.9 miles and 4h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 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 173.1 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 33 and 214.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
8
207 mi into trip|~4h 11m in
Take the exit toward I 283, PA 283: Harrisburg, Hershey
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 247
Toward I 283, PA 283: Harrisburg, Hershey
6
207.6 mi into trip|~4h 13m in
Take the exit toward PA 283 East: Airport, Lancaster
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 1A
Toward PA 283 East: Airport, Lancaster
8
214.3 mi into trip|~4h 22m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Middletown, Toll House Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Middletown, Toll House Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.06 one way
$70.13 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$38.80
$77.61
premium
$4.81
$41.63
$83.25
diesel
$4.80
$41.52
$83.04
Estimated Tolls: $22.50
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(173.1 mi)$22.50
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
$35
Tolls
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$83–$108
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66
0
$23.09
$10.56
Efficient EV
55
0
$19.24
$8.80
EV Truck/SUV
88
1
$30.79
$14.07
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 18, 2026
Origin
McMurray, PA
Late night
in McMurray on Monday
Local time
2:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 15 mph75% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 5:16PM EDT until July 18 at 5:30PM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA
Tornado Warning
Tornado Warning issued July 18 at 5:16PM EDT until July 18 at 5:45PM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA
Destination
Elizabethtown, PA
Late night
in Elizabethtown on Monday
Local time
2:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
89°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 12 mph50% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 5:16PM EDT until July 18 at 5:30PM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA
Tornado Warning
Tornado Warning issued July 18 at 5:16PM EDT until July 18 at 5:45PM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA
78°F
Centerville, PA
110 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
4h 31m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
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 75.8
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...
20 mi from route
~50 min detour
Free
near mile 212.3
The battle at Fort Necessity in the summer of 1754 was the opening action of the French and Indian War. This war was a clash of British, French and American Indian cultures. It ended with the removal...
25 mi from route
~62 min detour
Free
near mile 45.5
The South Fork Dam failed on Friday, May 31, 1889, and unleashed 20,000,000 tons of water that devastated Johnstown, PA. The flood killed 2,209 people but it brought the nation and the world together...
25 mi from route
~62 min detour
Free
near mile 98.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 83% of the journey taking place on major roadways like the Pennsylvania Turnpike and PA 283. You'll experience a long, uninterrupted stretch of 173.1 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, which means extended periods of consistent speed and minimal turns. While the majority of the drive is on these high-speed routes, the transition to PA 283 near the end offers a slight change in scenery and road type before reaching your destination. Expect a driving experience characterized by efficiency and straightforward navigation.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 173.1 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and PA 283. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 33 miles in near I 70.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 219.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 207 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,197 ft493 ft
Total Climb
194 ft
Total Descent
704 ft
Highest Point
1,197 ft
~94.3 mi in
Elevation Range
704 ft
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 Elizabethtown, PA, road signs point toward Patp: Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Hershey and Lancaster.
Elizabethtown is a small town in Pennsylvania.
The town was mainly agricultural until the 1900s, when Klien Chocolate Company and several shoe factories opened. The town probably best known for the small college in town, Elizabethtown College. Locals and college alumni often refer to the town as "E-town".
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 31m. Total distance: 219.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 173.1 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $22.50 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 16 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 Elizabethtown, 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 16 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 207 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument, Flight 93 National Memorial and Appalachian National Scenic Trail (5 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Elizabethtown, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
