If you are planning a trip from Meadowood to Philadelphia, expect to cover 326.3 miles over the course of approximately 5 hours and 27 minutes. This journey is best suited as a single-day trip, as it doesn't require an overnight stay to complete comfortably. You should budget roughly $52 for fuel to get you from the Northeast region of Pennsylvania to your final destination. Because this route involves navigating local roads rather than major interstates, you will need to focus on your navigation throughout the day. It is a straightforward trip for those who prefer backroads over high-speed traffic, though you should be prepared for a steady pace across the 326-mile distance.
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
163.2 miles from Meadowood, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
287.8 mi
5h 13m
I 76
18 mi
26m
Pittsburgh Road
12.1 mi
19m
William Flinn Highway
4.4 mi
7m
Litman Drive
0.9 mi
2m
Vine Street Expressway
0.8 mi
1m
North 15th Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Old Plank Road
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 287.8 mi, about 5h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Meadowood, PA and Philadelphia, PA.
1
Start on Oakridge Drive
0.1 mi·32 sec·Oakridge Drive
2
Turn right onto Thornwood Road
489 ft·25 sec·Thornwood Road
3
Turn left onto White Oak Drive
0.1 mi·24 sec·White Oak Drive
4
Keep slight left at fork onto White Oak Drive
249 ft·16 sec·White Oak Drive
5
At end of road, turn left onto East Mc Quistion Road
0.2 mi·26 sec·East Mc Quistion Road
6
Continue on West McQuiston Road
0.3 mi·45 sec·West McQuiston Road
7
Turn left onto Old Plank Road
0.3 mi·44 sec·Old Plank Road
8
Turn right onto Litman Drive
0.9 mi·2 min·Litman Drive
9
At end of road, turn left onto PA 8
12 mi·19 min·Pittsburgh Road
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on PA 8
2.2 mi·3 min·William Flinn Highway
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on PA 8
2.2 mi·4 min·William Flinn Highway
Use the straight lane.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·56 sec
Toward I 76 Toll, PATPUse the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward I 76 East: Pittsburgh
14
Merge onto I 76; PATP
288 mi·5 hr 13 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit onto I 76
18 mi·26 min·I 76
Exit 326Toward I 76 East: Valley Forge, PhiladelphiaUse the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 676; US 30
0.8 mi·1 min·Vine Street Expressway
Toward I 676 East, US 30 East: Central PhiladelphiaUse the slight left / straight lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.1 mi·17 sec
Toward Central PhiladelphiaUse the slight right lane.
18
Keep slight right at fork
313 ft·11 sec
Toward 15th Street, Central PhiladelphiaUse the slight right lane.
19
Turn right onto North 15th Street
0.4 mi·48 sec·North 15th Street
Use the right lane.
20
Turn slight left onto PA 611
379 ft·8 sec·South Penn Square
21
Keep slight left at fork onto South Penn Square
167 ft·2 sec·South Penn Square
22
Arrive at destination
South Penn Square
Trip Plan
Since you are tackling a 5-hour and 27-minute drive on local roads, planning your timing is essential to avoid fatigue. With only one scheduled stop, you should use that break strategically to stretch and refuel your vehicle, keeping your $52 budget in mind. Leaving early in the morning will give you the best visibility for navigating the winding local paths that make up this route. Because there are no long stretches on major highways, flexibility is your greatest advantage, allowing you to adjust your pace as needed. A specific tip for this route is to double-check your turn-by-turn navigation before heading out, as the reliance on Thornwood Road and White Oak Drive means you will be making frequent course corrections.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 163.2 miles from Meadowood, PA, or about 3h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 287.8 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 72 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 163.2 miles or 3h 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Philadelphia, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Meadowood, 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 Meadowood, PA
This is one driving day of about 326.4 miles and 6h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 72 miles from Meadowood, 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 287.8 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 2 and 325.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
2 mi into trip|~6m in|PA 8 / Pittsburgh Road
At end of road, turn left onto PA 8 / Pittsburgh Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
18.5 mi into trip|~33m in
Take the exit toward I 76 Toll, PATP
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 I 76 Toll, PATP
8
306.9 mi into trip|~5h 48m in|I 76
Take the exit onto I 76 toward I 76 East: Valley Forge, Philadelphia
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 326
Toward I 76 East: Valley Forge, Philadelphia
8
325 mi into trip|~6h 14m in|I 676; US 30 / Vine Street Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 676; US 30 / Vine Street Expressway toward I 676 East, US 30 East: Central Philadelphia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward I 676 East, US 30 East: Central Philadel...
9
325.9 mi into trip|~6h 15m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 15th Street, Central Philadelphia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward 15th Street, Central Philadelphia
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$54.11 one way
$108.23 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg114 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$59.27
$118.53
premium
$4.93
$63.30
$126.60
diesel
$5.61
$72.07
$144.13
Estimated Tolls: $37.42
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(287.8 mi)$37.42
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
$54
Tolls
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$117–$142
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 114.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
97.9
1
$34.27
$15.67
Efficient EV
81.6
0
$28.56
$13.06
EV Truck/SUV
130.6
1
$45.70
$20.89
Gas CO2
114 kg
EV CO2
38 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 14, 2026
Origin
Meadowood, PA
Morning
in Meadowood on Sunday
Local time
6:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Philadelphia, PA
Morning
in Philadelphia on Sunday
Local time
6:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Isolated Rain Showers
SW 5 to 10 mph22% chanceLive forecast
54°F
Hancock, MD
163 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h 17m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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.
Independence National Historical Park
National Historical Park
The park represents the founding ideals of the nation, and preserves national and international symbols of freedom and democracy, including Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. The Declaration of I...
Visit the house where wounded Polish freedom fighter Thaddeus Kosciuszko lived and hear how this brilliant military engineer designed successful fortifications during the American Revolution. See the...
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Free
near mile 326.4
Valley Forge is the place where George Washington and the Continental Army took refuge during the winter of 1777-1778. Today the park protects 3,500 acres of meadows, woodlands, historic landscapes, a...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Free
near mile 303.9
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 202.6
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 101.3
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...
12 mi from route
~31 min detour
Free
near mile 247.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Forget the monotony of interstate travel; this route is a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. You will spend your time navigating Thornwood Road, White Oak Drive, and East Mc Quistion Road, as the highway share for this trip is zero percent. Because the longest stretch on any single road is zero miles on Thornwood Road, you will find yourself making frequent adjustments and turns. The personality of this drive is defined by its technical nature rather than high-speed cruising. Expect a hands-on experience that requires you to stay engaged with the road conditions as you transition between these local thoroughfares.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 287.8 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and I 76. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in near PA 8 / Pittsburgh Road.
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 16 significant decision points across 326.4 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 2 miles (PA 8 / Pittsburgh Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 18.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 306.9 miles (I 76): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,399 ft45 ft
Total Climb
2,317 ft
Total Descent
3,588 ft
Highest Point
2,399 ft
~81.6 mi in
Elevation Range
2,354 ft
Notable High Points
2,399 ft at ~81.6 miles+615 ft prominence
1,732 ft at ~149.6 miles+532 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Meadowood, PA to Philadelphia, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Patp along the way.
Patp
18.5 mi in|~33m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 17m. Total distance: 326.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 17m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 287.8 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $37.42 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 Philadelphia, 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 2 miles (PA 8 / Pittsburgh Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 18.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 306.9 miles (I 76): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Independence National Historical Park, Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial and Valley Forge National Historical Park (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.3 hours each way, a round trip means 12.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Philadelphia, PA before the return drive.
