McMurray, PA to Hilltown, PA is 178.2 miles and takes about 4h 4m via Pennsylvania Turnpike and Lincoln Highway, with a fuel budget near $29 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, primarily traveling through Pennsylvania. Expect a mix of highway cruising and surface road driving as you make your way east. With a recommended single day for completion, it's a manageable drive for most.
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
89.1 miles from McMurray, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
86.5 mi
1h 35m
Lincoln Highway
20.7 mi
29m
Lincoln Way West
17.2 mi
25m
Lincoln Way East
10.1 mi
16m
Chambersburg Road
6.1 mi
8m
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
6 mi
8m
Hayden Boulevard
5.1 mi
8m
West Newton Road
4.8 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 86.5 mi, about 1h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between McMurray, PA and Hilltown, 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
87 mi·1 hr 35 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
23
Take the exit onto I 70
1.9 mi·3 min·I 70
Toward US 30: Breezewood, Baltimore, Washington DCUse the slight right lane.
24
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·47 sec
Toward US 30 East: Chambersburg, GettysburgUse the slight right lane.
25
Merge onto US 30
21 mi·29 min·Lincoln Highway
26
Continue on US 30
17 mi·25 min·Lincoln Way West
27
Continue on US 30
0.7 mi·1 min·West Loudon Street
Use the right lane.
28
Continue on US 30
0.7 mi·1 min·West Queen Street
29
Merge onto US 30
10 mi·16 min·Lincoln Way East
Use the straight / right lanes.
30
Continue on US 30
6.1 mi·8 min·Chambersburg Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
31
Take the exit
184 ft·5 sec
32
Turn slight right onto High Street
361 ft·13 sec·High Street
33
Turn right onto Hilltown Road
0.2 mi·43 sec·Hilltown Road
34
Arrive at destination
Hilltown Road
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 4m estimated drive time and 178.2 miles, this trip is well-suited for a single day. Leaving in the morning should give you ample time to arrive before evening. Plan for one stop to break up the drive, perhaps after the initial 86.5-mile highway segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $29, and gas stations can be less frequent on surface roads. This route offers flexibility due to its manageable length.
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 89.1 miles from McMurray, PA, or about 2h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.5 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 39 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 89.1 miles or 2h 1m 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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hilltown, 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 178.2 miles and 4h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 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 86.5 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 18.4 and 122.3 — 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
7
120.4 mi into trip|~2h 35m in|I 70
Take the exit onto I 70 toward US 30: Breezewood, Baltimore, Washington DC
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 US 30: Breezewood, Baltimore, Washington...
8
122.3 mi into trip|~2h 39m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 30 East: Chambersburg, Gettysburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward US 30 East: Chambersburg, Gettysburg
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.26 one way
$62.52 round trip
$4.46/gal25.4 MPG avg62 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$34.51
$69.02
premium
$5.30
$37.17
$74.34
diesel
$6.55
$45.98
$91.96
Estimated Tolls: $11.25
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(86.5 mi)$11.25
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
$31
Tolls
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62.3 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
53.5
0
$18.71
$8.55
Efficient EV
44.6
0
$15.59
$7.13
EV Truck/SUV
71.3
0
$24.95
$11.40
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 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 Oct 16, 2026
Origin
McMurray, PA
Morning
in McMurray on Saturday
Local time
10:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 12 to 21 mph92% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Hilltown, PA
Morning
in Hilltown on Saturday
Local time
10:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 8 to 12 mph71% chanceLive forecast
38°F
Point, PA
89 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
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
4h 4m 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.
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 79.9
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...
23 mi from route
~58 min detour
Free
near mile 49.2
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...
24 mi from route
~59 min detour
Free
near mile 178.2
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...
24 mi from route
~61 min detour
Free
near mile 104.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This 178.2-mile trip features 51% highway driving. You'll experience an 86.5-mile stretch on the Pennsylvania Turnpike before transitioning to surface roads. Expect some urban merging as you approach your destination after leaving the main highway. The profile is mixed highway and surface, so be prepared for varying road conditions and speeds.
51% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 86.5 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 18.4 miles in near PA 136 / Rainbow Run Road.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 178.2 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 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
2,334 ft584 ft
Total Climb
2,904 ft
Total Descent
3,128 ft
Highest Point
2,334 ft
~76.4 mi in
Elevation Range
1,750 ft
Notable High Points
2,151 ft at ~127.3 miles+1,052 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 Hilltown, PA, road signs point toward Patp: Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Washington and Gettysburg.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 4m. Total distance: 178.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 86.5 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $11.25 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 9 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 Hilltown, 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 9 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 — Flight 93 National Memorial, Fort Necessity National Battlefield and Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Hilltown, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
