Traveling from McMurray to Strasburg covers 246.6 miles across the state of Pennsylvania. You can comfortably complete this journey in about 5 hours and 6 minutes, making it a feasible one-day trip for most drivers. Budgeting approximately $41 for fuel will cover your transit across the Northeast region. Because the route is highway-focused, you will spend the majority of your time cruising on major thoroughfares. Whether you are heading out for a quick weekend getaway or a necessary business trek, this drive is straightforward enough to handle in a single session without feeling overly drained.
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
123.3 miles from McMurray, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 39m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
173.1 mi
3h 10m
PA 283
28.6 mi
33m
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
6 mi
8m
Hayden Boulevard
5.1 mi
8m
US 30
5 mi
6m
West Newton Road
4.8 mi
7m
Finleyville Elrama Road
4.6 mi
8m
Mount Pleasant Road
3.6 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 173.1 mi, about 3h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between McMurray, PA and Strasburg, 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
29 mi·33 min·PA 283
26
Merge onto US 30
5.0 mi·6 min·US 30
27
Take the exit
0.1 mi·22 sec
Toward PA 462
28
Turn right onto PA 462
0.1 mi·24 sec·Lincoln Highway East
Toward PA 462 West: Lancaster
29
Turn left onto Strasburg Pike
3.5 mi·7 min·Strasburg Pike
30
Continue on Lancaster Avenue
1.3 mi·3 min·Lancaster Avenue
31
At end of road, turn left onto PA 741
348 ft·11 sec·West Main Street
32
Arrive at destination
PA 741
Trip Plan
To keep your 5-hour drive smooth, aim to depart early to avoid potential peak-hour congestion on the busy Turnpike sections. Since the trip includes one recommended stop, use that break to stretch and refuel your vehicle, keeping your $41 fuel budget in mind as you navigate. Because this route is heavily concentrated on high-speed highways, stay alert for changing traffic patterns during that long 173.1-mile stretch. Being flexible with your departure time is your best advantage here, as it allows you to manage the highway intensity at your own pace. Keep a close eye on your mileage, as the transition onto PA 283 marks the final leg of your journey into the Strasburg area.
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 123.3 miles from McMurray, PA, or about 2h 39m 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 54 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 123.3 miles or 2h 39m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Strasburg, 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 246.6 miles and 5h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 54 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 241.6 — 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
241.6 mi into trip|~4h 55m in|PA 462 / Lincoln Highway East
Turn right onto PA 462 / Lincoln Highway East toward PA 462 West: Lancaster
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Toward PA 462 West: Lancaster
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$40.88 one way
$81.77 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg86 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$44.78
$89.55
premium
$4.93
$47.82
$95.65
diesel
$5.61
$54.45
$108.89
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
$41
Tolls
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$88–$113
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
74
0
$25.89
$11.84
Efficient EV
61.7
0
$21.58
$9.86
EV Truck/SUV
98.6
1
$34.52
$15.78
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
McMurray, PA
Morning
in McMurray on Sunday
Local time
6:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Strasburg, PA
Morning
in Strasburg on Sunday
Local time
6:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 6m 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
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 187.1
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 76.5
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...
19 mi from route
~47 min detour
Free
near mile 221.1
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...
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
~59 min detour
Free
near mile 102.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highly efficient, highway-oriented experience that relies on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, PA 283, and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. With 85% of your time spent on high-speed roads, the trip feels like a focused interstate haul rather than a meandering backroad tour. You will spend a significant chunk of your travel time on a single 173.1-mile stretch along the Pennsylvania Turnpike, which allows for consistent speeds and steady progress. As you transition between these major arteries, the road maintains a predictable, reliable character that keeps you moving toward your destination with minimal technical navigation required.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 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?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and PA 283. You will hit about 20 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 33 miles in near I 70.
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 246.6 miles you will encounter 20 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 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.
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 Strasburg, PA, road signs point toward Patp: Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Hershey and Lancaster.
Patp: Harrisburg
33 mi in|~58m|via I 70
Pittsburgh
33 mi in|~58m|via I 70
Hershey
207 mi in|~4h 11m
Lancaster
207.6 mi in|~4h 13m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 6m. Total distance: 246.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Strasburg, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Strasburg, PA before the return drive.
