Origin
Monongahela, PA
Late night in Monongahela on Tuesday
Local time
5:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Monongahela, PA to Upper Darby, PA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 43m
Distance
291.1 mi
469 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$48
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 30m
★
6 AM
5h 43m
8 AM
6h 9m
10 AM
5h 52m
12 PM
5h 50m
3 PM
5h 54m
5 PM
6h 8m
8 PM
5h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Monongahela, PA
Michael Taccetta
Trip Overview
This 291.1-mile journey from Monongahela, PA to Upper Darby, PA is designed for a single day of travel, taking approximately 5 hours and 43 minutes. You'll primarily be on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, accounting for 96% of the highway driving. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $48. Given its highway-focused nature and manageable duration, it's a straightforward drive that can be completed comfortably in one day, connecting two points within the Northeast region. Plan for a single stop along the way to break up the drive.
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
145.6 miles from Monongahela, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 50m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike | 252 mi | 4h 34m |
| PA 136 | 13.2 mi | 22m |
| Mid-County Expressway | 6.4 mi | 8m |
| Dwight D Eisenhower Highway | 6 mi | 8m |
| I 76 | 5.1 mi | 7m |
| Lansdowne Avenue | 3 mi | 8m |
| West Chester Pike | 2.5 mi | 5m |
| I 70 | 0.9 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 252 mi, about 4h 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Monongahela, PA and Upper Darby, PA.
1
Start on PA 88; PA 837; PA 136
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
PA 88; PA 837; PA 136
2
Continue on PA 88; PA 136; PA 837
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
PA 88; PA 136; PA 837
3
Turn left onto PA 136
13 mi
·
22 min
·
PA 136
4
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
5
Merge onto I 70
6.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
6
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.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
I 70
Toward I 70 East, I 76 East: Harrisburg
8
Merge onto I 70; I 76; PATP
252 mi
·
4 hr 34 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto I 76
5.1 mi
·
7 min
·
I 76
Exit 326
Toward I 76 East: Valley Forge, Philadelphia
Use the slight right lane.
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 331A
Toward I 476 South: Chester
Use the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 476
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Mid-County Expressway
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
59 sec
Exit 9
Toward PA 3: Upper Darby, Broomall
Use the slight right lane.
13
Turn left onto PA 3
2.5 mi
·
5 min
·
West Chester Pike
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
14
Turn slight right onto Darby Road
471 ft
·
13 sec
·
Darby Road
Use the right lane.
15
Continue on Lansdowne Avenue
3.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Lansdowne Avenue
Use the straight lane.
16
Turn right onto West Providence Road
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
West Providence Road
17
Arrive at destination
West Providence Road
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5-hour and 43-minute drive, consider departing early in the morning to bypass potential traffic, especially as you approach Upper Darby. The 291.1-mile distance means you can comfortably complete it in one go, but planning for one stop around the halfway point will help you stay refreshed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch on the Pennsylvania Turnpike is quite substantial. With a fuel cost estimated at $48, it's an economical trip that offers flexibility in your timing.
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 145.6 miles from Monongahela, PA, or about 2h 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 252 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 64 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 145.6 miles or 2h 50m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Upper Darby, 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 291.1 miles and 5h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 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 252 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
146 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 64 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 145.6 miles from Monongahela, 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 252 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 20 and 284.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
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...
6
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
8
272.9 mi into trip
|
~5h 9m 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
7
277.9 mi into trip
|
~5h 17m in
Take the exit toward I 476 South: Chester
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 331A
Toward I 476 South: Chester
8
284.9 mi into trip
|
~5h 27m in
Take the exit toward PA 3: Upper Darby, Broomall
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 9
Toward PA 3: Upper Darby, Broomall
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$48.26 one way
$96.52 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
102 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $52.86 | $105.71 |
| premium | $4.93 | $56.46 | $112.91 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $64.27 | $128.54 |
Estimated Tolls: $32.77
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(252 mi)
$32.77
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
$48
Tolls
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$106–$131
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 101.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 87.3 | 1 | $30.57 | $13.97 |
| Efficient EV | 72.8 | 0 | $25.47 | $11.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 116.4 | 1 | $40.75 | $18.63 |
Gas CO2
102 kg
EV CO2
34 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.
Destination
Upper Darby, PA
Late night in Upper Darby on Tuesday
Local time
5:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
67°F
Hancock, MD
146 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
6 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 43m 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 170.7
View on nps.gov
Valley Forge National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Free
near mile 271
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...
7 mi from route
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 70.3
View on nps.gov
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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
$1
near mile 291.1
View on nps.gov
Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial
National Memorial
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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 291.1
View on nps.gov
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...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 210.8
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 predominantly highway-focused experience on this route, with the vast majority of your travel occurring on major roadways like the Pennsylvania Turnpike and the Mid-County Expressway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is a significant 252 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, indicating long periods of consistent speed. While PA 136 offers a brief departure from the main highways, the overall character of this drive is one of efficient, high-speed travel across Pennsylvania.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 252 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and PA 136. 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
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 291.1 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 272.9 miles (I 76): 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.
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 Upper Darby, PA, road signs point toward Patp: Harrisburg, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.
Patp: Harrisburg
20 mi in
|
~32m
|
via I 70
Pittsburgh
20 mi in
|
~32m
|
via I 70
Philadelphia
272.9 mi in
|
~5h 9m
|
via I 76
About the Cities
Arriving in Upper Darby, PA
Full guide →Upper Darby is a city in Pennsylvania.
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 43m. Total distance: 291.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 43m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 252 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $32.77 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 Upper Darby, 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 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 272.9 miles (I 76): 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, Valley Forge National Historical Park and Flight 93 National Memorial (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Upper Darby, 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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