McMurray, PA to Lancaster, PA is 239.1 miles and takes about 4h 55m via Pennsylvania Turnpike and PA 283, with a fuel budget near $39 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, traversing Pennsylvania for its entirety. Given its relatively short duration and predominantly highway profile, it’s a straightforward drive. You’ll likely find this route efficient for getting between these two points in PA.
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
119.6 miles from McMurray, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
173.1 mi
3h 10m
PA 283
28.2 mi
33m
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 4 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 Lancaster, 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
28 mi·33 min·PA 283
26
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward Fruitville Pike
27
Keep slight right at fork
294 ft·7 sec
28
Keep slight right at fork
284 ft·8 sec
29
Turn straight onto Fruitville Pike
0.9 mi·1 min·Fruitville Pike
30
Continue on PA 72
1.4 mi·4 min·North Prince Street
Use the straight lane.
31
Turn left onto West Vine Street
0.1 mi·23 sec·West Vine Street
32
Turn left onto PA 72
507 ft·19 sec·South Queen Street
33
Turn right
88 ft·6 sec
Use the right lane.
34
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 4h 55m drive, leaving in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight. With a single recommended stop and a fuel cost around $39, this trip is easily manageable in one day. Since the longest continuous highway stretch is 173.1 miles, plan your fuel and rest stop around that point. Consider that the Pennsylvania Turnpike will likely have multiple service plazas available for your convenience.
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 119.6 miles from McMurray, PA, or about 2h 35m 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 53 miles or 1h 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 119.6 miles or 2h 35m 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 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lancaster, 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 239.1 miles and 4h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 33 and 239.1 — 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
6
239.1 mi into trip|~4h 55m in
Turn right
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.28 one way
$84.57 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg84 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$46.31
$92.63
premium
$5.24
$49.36
$98.73
diesel
$5.35
$50.36
$100.72
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
$42
Tolls
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$90–$115
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 83.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
71.7
0
$25.11
$11.48
Efficient EV
59.8
0
$20.92
$9.56
EV Truck/SUV
95.6
1
$33.47
$15.30
Gas CO2
84 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
McMurray, PA
Evening
in McMurray on Wednesday
Local time
5:48 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Mostly Clear
N 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Lancaster, PA
Evening
in Lancaster on Wednesday
Local time
5:48 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Mostly Clear
W 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
74°F
Centerville, PA
120 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
2 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 55m 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...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 181.4
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...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 74.2
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...
20 mi from route
~49 min detour
Free
near mile 222.6
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 49.5
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 86% of the 239.1 miles on freeways. You'll experience a long stretch of 173.1 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike before transitioning to surface roads. Expect frequent exits and entries as you navigate the highway system for the majority of your trip.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
34 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?
9/10
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 Effort9/10
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 21 significant decision points across 239.1 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
Gently rolling terrain
2,122 ft346 ft
Total Climb
1,545 ft
Total Descent
2,190 ft
Highest Point
2,122 ft
~68.3 mi in
Elevation Range
1,776 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 Lancaster, PA, road signs point toward Patp: Harrisburg, Pittsburgh and Hershey.
Lancaster is a city of around 59,000 people (2021) in Lancaster County in the Pennsylvania Dutch Country. It is one of the oldest inland towns in the United States, and the center of an area inhabited by many members of the Amish community.
Top landmarks
•Soldiers and Sailors Monument — monument in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
•Lancaster station — Amtrak rail station in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States
•Fulton Opera House — theater in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 55m. Total distance: 239.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). 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 18 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 Lancaster, 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 18 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 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Lancaster, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
