Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 44m
Distance
169.4 mi
273 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
McMurray, PA
Haneul Trac
Salem, PA
Haneul Trac
This 169.4-mile journey from McMurray, PA to Salem, PA is a straightforward drive, taking approximately 3 hours and 44 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $28, it's an economical option for a single-day trip. The route is predominantly highway-focused, suggesting a consistent pace. You'll spend a significant portion on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, offering a long, uninterrupted stretch of 114.4 miles. Given its manageable duration and highway nature, this route is well-suited for a day trip without the need for an overnight stay. It keeps you within the Northeast region throughout your travels.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
84.7 miles from McMurray, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 56m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike | 114.4 mi | 2h 6m |
| Upper Strasburg Road | 9.2 mi | 16m |
| 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 |
| Cumberland Highway | 4 mi | 5m |
| Mount Pleasant Road | 3.6 mi | 6m |
Step-by-step road directions between McMurray, PA and Salem, PA.
Start on Thomas Road
Turn right onto East McMurray Road
Turn right onto Valley Brook Road
Enter roundabout onto Bebout Road
Continue on Bebout Road
At end of road, turn left onto Venetia Road
Continue on Rankintown Road
Continue on Washington Avenue
Continue on Washington Avenue
Continue on Finleyville Elrama Road
Turn left onto PA 837
Take the ramp
Merge onto PA 51
Take the exit
Turn left onto PA 136
Continue on PA 136
Continue on PA 136
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 70
Take the exit onto I 70
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
Merge onto I 70; I 76; PATP
Take the exit
Continue on Willow Hill Interchange
Turn right onto PA 75
Turn left onto Fannettsburg Road East
Continue on Shinabrook Road
Turn straight onto Upper Strasburg Road
At end of road, turn right onto Upper Strasburg Road
Turn right onto PA 997
Turn right onto Coffey Avenue
Continue on Letterkenny Road
Turn left onto Salem Road
Arrive at destination
For this 3-hour and 44-minute drive, starting your journey in the morning will allow ample time to reach Salem, PA, with flexibility for any brief stops. The $28 fuel cost is manageable, but it's always wise to start with a full tank. With only one recommended stop indicated, you can choose to make it a quick break or enjoy a longer pause. Pay attention to your navigation as you transition off the Pennsylvania Turnpike onto roads like Upper Strasburg Road to ensure you remain on track for your destination in Salem.
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.
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 37 miles or 1h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.7 miles or 1h 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 56m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Salem, PA than in the middle of the route.
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 169.4 miles and 3h 44m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
85 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.
A short stop after about 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 84.7 miles from McMurray, 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 114.4 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 148.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto East McMurray Road
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto PA 136 / Rainbow Run Road
Navigation decision point
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
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
Take the exit toward PA 75: Willow Hill, Fort Loudon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$28.08 one way
$56.17 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $30.76 | $61.52 |
| premium | $4.93 | $32.85 | $65.71 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $37.40 | $74.80 |
Estimated Tolls: $14.88
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
$28
Tolls
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 50.8 | 0 | $17.79 | $8.13 |
| Efficient EV | 42.4 | 0 | $14.82 | $6.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 67.8 | 0 | $23.72 | $10.84 |
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in McMurray on Sunday
Local time
6:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Mostly Clear
Destination
Morning in Salem on Sunday
Local time
6:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
64°F
Berlin, PA
85 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
National Battlefield
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...
National Memorial
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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Expect a highway-focused experience for this trip, with 69% of your drive utilizing major roadways. The bulk of your travel will be on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, which provides a substantial 114.4-mile stretch of consistent driving. You'll also navigate parts of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. While primarily a high-speed route, transitions onto roads like Upper Strasburg Road will offer a change of pace. This drive generally maintains a steady momentum, ideal for covering distance efficiently.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and Upper Strasburg Road. You will hit about 19 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near East McMurray Road.
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 169.4 miles you will encounter 19 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: near the start (East McMurray Road): Navigation decision point; 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.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between McMurray, PA and Salem, PA, road signs point toward Patp: Harrisburg, Pittsburgh and Fort Loudon.
Patp: Harrisburg
Pittsburgh
Fort Loudon
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 44m. Total distance: 169.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
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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