Oakland, PA to Allentown, PA is 211.7 miles and takes about 4h 22m via Pennsylvania Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Northeast region, primarily traversing Pennsylvania. The route offers a mixed driving experience, balancing highway cruising with surface road travel. It's a straightforward trip, suitable for a single day, making it a convenient option for anyone needing to travel between these two points without an overnight commitment.
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
105.8 miles from Oakland, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 10m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
81 mi
1h 29m
William Penn Highway
42.8 mi
50m
American Legion Memorial Highway
22.5 mi
27m
Quaker Valley Road
14.2 mi
20m
I 81
12.7 mi
15m
Clear Shade Drive
10.5 mi
14m
78th Division Highway
7.6 mi
8m
Tilghman Street
4.9 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 81 mi, about 1h 29m
Traffic on I-81
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 28 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,785 veh/hr typical
Quietest
1 AM
~380 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oakland, PA and Allentown, PA.
1
Start on Ferg Street
0.3 mi·1 min·Ferg Street
2
Turn left onto Bedford Street
1.1 mi·1 min·Bedford Street
3
Continue on Scalp Avenue
0.1 mi·11 sec·Scalp Avenue
4
Enter roundabout onto Scalp Avenue
145 ft·2 sec·Scalp Avenue
5
Continue on Scalp Avenue
3.7 mi·6 min·Scalp Avenue
6
Continue on PA 56
11 mi·14 min·Clear Shade Drive
7
Continue on PA 56
14 mi·20 min·Quaker Valley Road
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec
9
Merge onto I 99; US 220
2.2 mi·2 min·I 99; US 220
10
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward Pittsburgh, Harrisburg
11
Keep slight right at fork
284 ft·8 sec
Toward US 220 Business South: Bedford
12
Turn slight right onto US 220 BUS
0.2 mi·26 sec·Business 220
13
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward I 70, I 76, PATP: Pittsburgh, Harrisburg
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward I 76 East, I 70 East: Harrisburg
15
Merge onto I 70; I 76; PATP
81 mi·1 hr 29 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
16
Take the exit
0.9 mi·2 min
Toward I 81, US 11: Carlisle, HarrisburgUse the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·54 sec
Toward US 11 North: HarrisburgUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on US 11
1.1 mi·2 min·Harrisburg Pike
Use the straight lane.
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward I 81 North: Harrisburg
20
Merge onto I 81
13 mi·15 min·I 81
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·14 sec
Toward US 11, US 15: Enola, Marysville
22
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·28 sec
Toward US 11 North, US 15 North: Marysville
23
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·32 sec
24
Merge onto I 81
0.7 mi·1 min·George N. Wade Memorial Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on I 81
3.4 mi·4 min·American Legion Memorial Highway
26
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
19 mi·22 min·American Legion Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Take the exit
0.7 mi·45 sec
Exit 89Toward I 78 East: Allentown
28
Continue on I 78
7.6 mi·8 min·78th Division Highway
29
Continue on I 78; US 22
43 mi·50 min·William Penn Highway
Use the straight lane.
30
Keep slight right at fork onto US 22
1.0 mi·1 min·Lehigh Valley Thruway
Exit 51Toward US 22 East: Pennsylvania Turnpike, LVI AirportUse the slight right lane.
31
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward CetroniaUse the slight right lane.
32
Turn straight onto Tilghman Street
4.9 mi·8 min·Tilghman Street
Use the straight lane.
33
Arrive at destination
Tilghman Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 22m duration, leaving in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight and allow for a comfortable pace. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in timing your breaks. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is around $35, and plan to refuel before hitting the longest 81-mile stretch on the Pennsylvania Turnpike if needed. Since this is a single-day trip, you can adjust your departure time based on your schedule, but aim to avoid peak commuter traffic if possible.
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 105.8 miles from Oakland, PA, or about 2h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 81 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 47 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105.8 miles or 2h 10m 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 34m
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 Oakland, 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 Oakland, PA
This is one driving day of about 211.7 miles and 4h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from Oakland, 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 81 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 33.8 and 205.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
33.8 mi into trip|~50m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 76 East, I 70 East: Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 76 East, I 70 East: Harrisburg
7
115.2 mi into trip|~2h 20m 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
7
116 mi into trip|~2h 23m 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
6
130.5 mi into trip|~2h 42m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 11 North, US 15 North: Marysville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 11 North, US 15 North: Marysville
9
205.6 mi into trip|~4h 12m 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
$34.06 one way
$68.11 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$38.33
$76.66
premium
$4.95
$41.29
$82.58
diesel
$5.98
$49.84
$99.68
Estimated Tolls: $10.60
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(81 mi)$10.53
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
$34
Tolls
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.1 kg one way.
EV Charging Along Route
25 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Travelers' Oasis - Tesla Supercharger
BREEZEWOOD, PA
Tesla
12 DCFC
The Shoppes at Susquehanna Marketplace - Tesla Supercharger
Harrisburg, PA
Tesla
12 DCFC
Giant - Tesla Supercharger
Harrisburg, PA
Tesla
12 DCFC
Sheetz - Tesla Supercharger
Breezewood, PA
Tesla
8 DCFC
Sunoco - Tesla Supercharger
Fort Littleton, PA
Tesla
8 DCFC
McKinney Station Ice Cream and Farm Market - Tesla Supercharger
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.5
0
$22.23
$10.16
Efficient EV
52.9
0
$18.52
$8.47
EV Truck/SUV
84.7
1
$29.64
$13.55
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 26, 2026
Origin
Oakland, PA
Evening
in Oakland on Sunday
Local time
8:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Mostly Sunny
E 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Allentown, PA
Evening
in Allentown on Sunday
Local time
8:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Mostly Sunny
NE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
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
3 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
4h 22m 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...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 160.6
Park Closure: List of trail closures post-Hurricane Helene
Caution: Black Bears Frequenting the McAfee Knob Area in Virginia
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
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 116.8
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...
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...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
Free
near mile 7.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip features 45% highway driving, with the longest continuous stretch on the Pennsylvania Turnpike covering 81 miles. You'll experience highway speeds for a significant portion before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a mix of driving conditions as you move from the turnpike to roads like William Penn Highway and American Legion Memorial Highway. The density of exits on the turnpike can be notable, requiring attention as you navigate toward your destination.
45% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 81 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 33.8 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 22 significant decision points across 211.7 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 33.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 115.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 116 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Oakland, PA and Allentown, PA, road signs point toward Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Patp: Pittsburgh and Marysville.
Pittsburgh
32.4 mi in|~48m
Harrisburg
32.4 mi in|~48m
Patp: Pittsburgh
33.6 mi in|~50m
Marysville
130.4 mi in|~2h 41m
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Oakland is a port city in the Bay Area of California in the United States. Once an industrial area overshadowed by San Francisco, its larger neighbor to the west, this city of 440,000 people (2020) has begun to step out from under San Francisco's shadow with its notable natural and architectural features and its rise as the multicultural "hipster" city of the Bay Area.
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.
Top landmarks
•Albertus L. Meyers Bridge — bridge in United States of America
•Allentown Masonic Temple — masonic temple in Allentown, Pennsylvania
•Allentown National Bank — bank building in Allentown, Pennsylvania
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 22m. Total distance: 211.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 81 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $10.60 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 20 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 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. There are 20 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 33.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 115.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 116 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Appalachian National Scenic Trail, Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument and Johnstown Flood National Memorial (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Allentown, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
