Origin
Nanticoke, PA
Late night in Nanticoke on Tuesday
Local time
4:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Nanticoke, PA to Allentown, 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
1h 29m
Distance
70 mi
113 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 23m
★
6 AM
1h 29m
8 AM
1h 43m
10 AM
1h 34m
12 PM
1h 33m
3 PM
1h 35m
5 PM
1h 42m
8 PM
1h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Nanticoke, PA
Haneul Trac
Allentown, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 70-mile drive from Nanticoke, PA to Allentown, PA is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 29 minutes. Given its short duration, it's an ideal day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. You'll primarily be on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, with segments of I-81 and PA 115 also incorporated. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $12, making it an economical option. This route stays within Pennsylvania's Northeast region, offering a consistent travel experience.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension | 47.8 mi | 52m |
| I 81 | 5.3 mi | 7m |
| PA 115 | 4 mi | 6m |
| South Cross Valley Expressway | 3.7 mi | 5m |
| Tilghman Street | 3.6 mi | 5m |
| East Main Street | 1 mi | 3m |
| PA 309 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Lehigh Valley Thruway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
— 47.8 mi, about 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Nanticoke, PA and Allentown, PA.
1
Start on North Market Street
62 ft
·
9 sec
·
North Market Street
2
Turn left onto East Main Street
1.0 mi
·
3 min
·
East Main Street
3
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
4
Merge onto PA 29
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
South Cross Valley Expressway
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
6
Merge onto I 81
5.3 mi
·
7 min
·
I 81
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Toward PA 115 east, PA 309 north: Bear Creek
8
Merge onto PA 115
4.0 mi
·
6 min
·
PA 115
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward PATP
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Toward PATP
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Toward I 476 South: Allentown
12
Merge onto I 476; PATP
48 mi
·
52 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 56
Toward I 78, US 22, PA 309: Allentown, Harrisburg
14
Turn slight right
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward US 22 East: Allentown
15
Merge onto US 22
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Lehigh Valley Thruway
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Toward PA 309 South: Quakertown
Use the slight right lane.
17
Merge onto PA 309
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
PA 309
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward Tilghman Street East
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Turn straight onto Tilghman Street
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Tilghman Street
20
Arrive at destination
Tilghman Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 35 miles from Nanticoke, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 155 decision points cluster between mile 5.2 and 66.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
5.2 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
5
11.3 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the exit toward PA 115 east, PA 309 north: Bear Creek
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward PA 115 east, PA 309 north: Bear Creek
6
64.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m in
Take the exit toward I 78, US 22, PA 309: Allentown, Harrisburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 56
Toward I 78, US 22, PA 309: Allentown, Harrisbu...
6
65.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m in
Take the exit toward PA 309 South: Quakertown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward PA 309 South: Quakertown
6
66.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 23m in
Take the exit toward Tilghman Street East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward Tilghman Street East
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.61 one way
$23.21 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $12.71 | $25.42 |
| premium | $4.93 | $13.58 | $27.15 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.46 | $30.91 |
Estimated Tolls: $6.22
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(47.8 mi)
$6.22
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$12
Tolls
$6
Total
$18
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21 | 0 | $7.35 | $3.36 |
| Efficient EV | 17.5 | 0 | $6.13 | $2.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28 | 0 | $9.80 | $4.48 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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
Allentown, PA
Late night in Allentown on Tuesday
Local time
4:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers
W 5 mph
20% chance
Live forecast
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
18 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
1h 29m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect an 88% highway-focused drive, meaning you'll spend the majority of your time on faster-paced roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 47.8 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. This section provides a consistent cruising experience, allowing for efficient travel. While primarily highway, the integration of I-81 and PA 115 ensures some variation in the road's feel without significantly slowing your progress.
88% 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: 47.8 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 70 miles you will encounter 15 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 5.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 11.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 64.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Nanticoke, PA and Allentown, PA, road signs point toward Patp, Harrisburg and Tilghman Street East.
Patp
15.5 mi in
|
~25m
Harrisburg
64.3 mi in
|
~1h 19m
Tilghman Street East
66.2 mi in
|
~1h 23m
About the Cities
Starting in Nanticoke, PA
Full guide →Founded 1926
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 1h 29m. Total distance: 70 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 47.8 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $6.22 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.
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.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 11.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 64.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Allentown, PA before heading back.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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