Trip from Monongahela, PA to Allentown, PA

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 23m

Distance

269.4 mi

433 km

Drive Score

10/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$45

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

5h 10m ★

6 AM

5h 24m

8 AM

5h 50m

10 AM

5h 33m

12 PM

5h 30m

3 PM

5h 34m

5 PM

5h 49m

8 PM

5h 15m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Monongahela, PA

Michael Taccetta

county seat city in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, United States

Allentown, PA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 269.4-mile drive from Monongahela, PA to Allentown, PA, is a solid day trip, estimated to take around 5 hours and 23 minutes. You'll primarily be on major roadways, with 67% of the journey on highways, making it a focused drive across Pennsylvania. With a fuel cost estimated at $45, it's an economical way to travel between these two points within the Northeast region. While there's only one recommended stop, the longest stretch without a break is a considerable 152 miles, so plan accordingly. This route is best tackled in a single day, offering a straightforward journey across the state.

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

134.7 miles from Monongahela, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 40m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike	152 mi	2h 47m
William Penn Highway	42.8 mi	50m
American Legion Memorial Highway	22.5 mi	27m
PA 136	13.2 mi	22m
I 81	12.7 mi	15m
78th Division Highway	7.6 mi	8m
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway	6 mi	8m
Tilghman Street	4.9 mi	8m

Longest stretch: Pennsylvania Turnpike — 152 mi, about 2h 47m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Monongahela, PA and Allentown, PA.

Start on PA 88; PA 837; PA 136

0.3 mi · 39 sec · PA 88; PA 837; PA 136

Continue on PA 88; PA 136; PA 837

0.3 mi · 39 sec · PA 88; PA 136; PA 837

Turn left onto PA 136

13 mi · 22 min · PA 136

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 18 sec

Merge onto I 70

6.0 mi · 8 min · Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

Take the exit onto I 70

0.5 mi · 1 min · I 70

Exit 58 Toward I 70 Toll East, I 76 Toll, PATP: Harrisburg, Pittsburgh Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 70

0.4 mi · 1 min · I 70

Toward I 70 East, I 76 East: Harrisburg

Merge onto I 70; I 76; PATP

152 mi · 2 hr 47 min · Pennsylvania Turnpike

Take the exit

0.9 mi · 2 min

Toward I 81, US 11: Carlisle, Harrisburg Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 54 sec

Toward US 11 North: Harrisburg Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on US 11

1.1 mi · 2 min · Harrisburg Pike

Use the straight lane.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 34 sec

Toward I 81 North: Harrisburg

Merge onto I 81

13 mi · 15 min · I 81

Use the straight / right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 14 sec

Toward US 11, US 15: Enola, Marysville

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 28 sec

Toward US 11 North, US 15 North: Marysville

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 32 sec

Merge onto I 81

0.7 mi · 1 min · George N. Wade Memorial Bridge

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 81

3.4 mi · 4 min · American Legion Memorial Highway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 81

19 mi · 22 min · American Legion Memorial Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 45 sec

Exit 89 Toward I 78 East: Allentown

Continue on I 78

7.6 mi · 8 min · 78th Division Highway

Continue on I 78; US 22

43 mi · 50 min · William Penn Highway

Use the straight lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto US 22

1.0 mi · 1 min · Lehigh Valley Thruway

Exit 51 Toward US 22 East: Pennsylvania Turnpike, LVI Airport Use the slight right lane.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec

Toward Cetronia Use the slight right lane.

Turn straight onto Tilghman Street

4.9 mi · 8 min · Tilghman Street

Use the straight lane.

Arrive at destination

Tilghman Street

Trip Plan

Given the 5 hour and 23 minute duration, starting your 269.4-mile journey from Monongahela in the morning will allow you to reach Allentown with daylight to spare. The longest stretch is 152 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, so plan to refuel and stretch your legs before embarking on that segment or immediately after. With a fuel cost around $45, keep an eye on your gauge, especially during that extended highway portion. Since this is a manageable day trip, you have flexibility with your departure time, but an early start is generally recommended for such drives.

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 134.7 miles from Monongahela, PA, or about 2h 40m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 152 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 59 miles or 1h 17m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 134.7 miles or 2h 40m 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 23m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Allentown, PA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Monongahela, 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 Monongahela, PA

This is one driving day of about 269.4 miles and 5h 23m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Monongahela, 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 152 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Hancock, MD

135 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.

Pacing Suggestions

Cumberland, MD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 59 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Hancock, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 134.7 miles from Monongahela, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Pennsylvania Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 152 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Sheetz, Inc. Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

First break 0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour

New Stanton, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

3.2 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

First break 0.2 mi from route

New Stanton, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, right off the route

Early stretch 1 mi from route ~2 min detour

Somerset, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour

Somerset, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18777983752

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

3.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, right off the route

Early stretch 0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour

Somerset, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

Early stretch 1.2 mi from route ~3 min detour

Somerset, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

3.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

First break 1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour

Jones Mills, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

4.2 mi from route ~10 min detour

Donora, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 19

5 decision points cluster between mile 20 and 263.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

20 mi into trip | ~32m 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...

20.4 mi into trip | ~33m 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

172.8 mi into trip | ~3h 22m in

Take the exit toward I 81, US 11: Carlisle, Harrisburg

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 81, US 11: Carlisle, Harrisburg

173.7 mi into trip | ~3h 24m in

Keep slight left at fork toward US 11 North: Harrisburg

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward US 11 North: Harrisburg

263.3 mi into trip | ~5h 13m in | US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway toward US 22 East: Pennsylvania Turnpike, LVI Airport

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 51 Toward US 22 East: Pennsylvania Turnpike, LVI A...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$44.66 one way

$89.33 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 94 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.61	$48.92	$97.83
premium	$4.93	$52.25	$104.49
diesel	$5.61	$59.48	$118.96

Estimated Tolls: $19.83

Pennsylvania Turnpike (152 mi) $19.76

Lehigh Valley Thruway (1 mi) $0.07

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

$45

Tolls

$20

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$89–$114

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 94.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	80.8	0	$28.29	$12.93
Efficient EV	67.4	0	$23.57	$10.78
EV Truck/SUV	107.8	1	$37.72	$17.24

Gas CO2

94 kg

EV CO2

32 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 18, 2026

Origin

Monongahela, PA

Morning in Monongahela on Tuesday

Local time

6:37 AM

EDT

Current temp

69°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Allentown, PA

Morning in Allentown on Tuesday

Local time

6:37 AM

EDT

Current temp

56°F

Mostly Cloudy

0 mph 0% chance Live forecast

67°F

Hancock, MD

135 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

13 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 23m 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.

Appalachian National Scenic Trail

National Scenic Trail

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...

4 mi from route ~9 min detour Free near mile 213.6

Park Closure: List of trail closures post-Hurricane Helene

Caution: Black Bears Frequenting the McAfee Knob Area in Virginia

View on nps.gov

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...

4 mi from route ~11 min detour Free near mile 176.5

View on nps.gov

Flight 93 National Memorial

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...

6 mi from route ~15 min detour Free near mile 65

View on nps.gov

Fort Necessity National Battlefield

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...

24 mi from route ~59 min detour Free near mile 37.2

View on nps.gov

Johnstown Flood National Memorial

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...

24 mi from route ~60 min detour Free near mile 83.6

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a highway-focused drive for this trip, with 67% of the 269.4 miles on high-speed roads. The Pennsylvania Turnpike will be your main artery for a significant portion, including a continuous stretch of 152 miles. This means you'll experience long periods of consistent speed and steady progress. While the profile suggests a highway-centric experience, don't be surprised by transitions onto roads like the William Penn Highway and American Legion Memorial Highway, which may offer a slightly different driving feel as you approach your destination.

67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 152 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and William Penn Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 20 miles in near I 70.

Driving Effort 10/10

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 19 significant decision points across 269.4 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 20 miles (I 70): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.4 miles (I 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 172.8 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 Monongahela, PA and Allentown, PA, road signs point toward Patp: Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Marysville.

Patp: Harrisburg

20 mi in | ~32m | via I 70

Pittsburgh

20 mi in | ~32m | via I 70

Harrisburg

172.8 mi in | ~3h 22m

Marysville

188 mi in | ~3h 43m

About the Cities

Arriving in Allentown, PA

Full guide →

Allentown is the largest city in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania, the county seat and largest city in Lehigh County, and the third-largest city in Pennsylvania after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh with a population of 125,845 as of 2020.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 23m. Total distance: 269.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 152 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $19.83 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 Allentown, 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.

Yes — Appalachian National Scenic Trail, Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument and Flight 93 National Memorial (5 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Allentown, PA before the return drive.

How this page is built

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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Trip from Monongahela, PA to Allentown, PA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Sheetz, Inc. Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

Tesla Supercharger

Tesla Supercharger

Tesla Supercharger

Blink Charging Station

Blink Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Monongahela, PA

Allentown, PA

Same local time

13 degrees cooler at arrival

5h 23m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Appalachian National Scenic Trail

Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument

Flight 93 National Memorial

Fort Necessity National Battlefield

Johnstown Flood National Memorial

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Arriving in Allentown, PA

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

How do I pay the tolls on this route?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

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