Meyersdale, PA to Philadelphia, PA is 252.4 miles and takes about 4h 48m via Pennsylvania Turnpike and I-76, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. With 93% of the drive on highways, expect a straightforward trip focused on covering distance efficiently. Most travelers can complete this route in a single day, making it a convenient option for a quick transfer between these two points.
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
126.2 miles from Meyersdale, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
216.5 mi
3h 56m
I 76
18 mi
26m
Flight 93 Memorial Highway
9.5 mi
10m
Berlin Plank Road
2.3 mi
3m
Mason Dixon Highway
1.6 mi
2m
Vine Street Expressway
0.8 mi
1m
North Pleasant Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
Grant Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 216.5 mi, about 3h 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Meyersdale, PA and Philadelphia, PA.
1
Start on Meyers Avenue
365 ft·16 sec·Meyers Avenue
2
Turn right onto US 219 Business
0.5 mi·51 sec·Grant Street
3
Continue on US 219 Business
1.6 mi·2 min·Mason Dixon Highway
4
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward US 219 North: Somerset
5
Merge onto US 219
9.5 mi·10 min·Flight 93 Memorial Highway
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·50 sec
7
Turn left onto Berlin Plank Road
2.3 mi·3 min·Berlin Plank Road
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on PA 31
0.4 mi·35 sec·East Main Street
9
Turn right onto PA 281
0.6 mi·1 min·North Pleasant Avenue
10
Continue on Ramada Road
0.3 mi·31 sec·Ramada Road
11
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward I 76 East, I 70 East: Harrisburg
12
Merge onto I 70; I 76; PATP
217 mi·3 hr 56 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit onto I 76
18 mi·26 min·I 76
Exit 326Toward I 76 East: Valley Forge, PhiladelphiaUse the slight right lane.
14
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.
15
Take the exit
0.1 mi·17 sec
Toward Central PhiladelphiaUse the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork
313 ft·11 sec
Toward 15th Street, Central PhiladelphiaUse the slight right lane.
17
Turn right onto North 15th Street
0.4 mi·48 sec·North 15th Street
Use the right lane.
18
Turn slight left onto PA 611
379 ft·8 sec·South Penn Square
19
Keep slight left at fork onto South Penn Square
167 ft·2 sec·South Penn Square
20
Arrive at destination
South Penn Square
Trip Plan
Since this route is manageable in under 5 hours, you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning will allow you to arrive in Philadelphia with plenty of daylight. The primary highway stretch is 216.5 miles, so plan for one substantial stop for fuel and a break midway. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you near the urban areas around Philadelphia, as exit distances can vary. The estimated fuel cost is around $42, so budget accordingly.
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 126.2 miles from Meyersdale, PA, or about 2h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 216.5 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 56 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 126.2 miles or 2h 22m 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 51m
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 Meyersdale, 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 Meyersdale, PA
This is one driving day of about 252.4 miles and 4h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Meyersdale, 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 216.5 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 16.3 and 251.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
16.3 mi into trip|~22m in|I 70; I 76; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike
Merge onto I 70; I 76; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
232.9 mi into trip|~4h 19m 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
250.9 mi into trip|~4h 45m 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...
6
251.7 mi into trip|~4h 46m in
Take the exit toward Central Philadelphia
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Central Philadelphia
9
251.8 mi into trip|~4h 47m 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
$40.24 one way
$80.49 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg88 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$44.54
$89.08
premium
$4.81
$47.78
$95.55
diesel
$4.80
$47.66
$95.32
Estimated Tolls: $28.15
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(216.5 mi)$28.15
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
$40
Tolls
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$93–$118
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
75.7
0
$26.50
$12.12
Efficient EV
63.1
0
$22.09
$10.10
EV Truck/SUV
101
1
$35.34
$16.15
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
30 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Meyersdale, PA
Late night
in Meyersdale on Monday
Local time
3:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Smoke
S 3 mph16% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 9:35PM EDT until July 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 9:22PM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Destination
Philadelphia, PA
Late night
in Philadelphia on Monday
Local time
3:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Smoke
S 0 to 5 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 9:35PM EDT until July 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 9:22PM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
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
4 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 48m 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...
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Free
near mile 130.5
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 252.4
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...
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 26.1
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...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 174.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend 93% of your 252.4 miles on highways, primarily on the Pennsylvania Turnpike and I-76. The longest continuous stretch on these highways is 216.5 miles. Expect a mostly highway profile, meaning you'll encounter a good number of exits and potentially some urban merging as you approach Philadelphia. The transition to surface roads will likely occur in the final miles before reaching your destination.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 216.5 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 16.3 miles in near I 70; I 76; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike.
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 14 significant decision points across 252.4 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 16.3 miles (I 70; I 76; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 232.9 miles (I 76): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 250.9 miles (I 676; US 30 / Vine Street Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 48m. Total distance: 252.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 216.5 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $28.15 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 19 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 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. There are 19 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 16.3 miles (I 70; I 76; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 232.9 miles (I 76): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 250.9 miles (I 676; US 30 / Vine Street Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument, Independence National Historical Park and Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Philadelphia, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
