Origin
Oxford, PA
Afternoon in Oxford on Sunday
Local time
3:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Oxford, PA to Harrisburg, PA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 37m
Distance
68.3 mi
110 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 30m
★
6 AM
1h 37m
8 AM
1h 52m
10 AM
1h 42m
12 PM
1h 41m
3 PM
1h 43m
5 PM
1h 51m
8 PM
1h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Oxford, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Oxford, PA to Harrisburg, PA is 68.3 miles and takes about 1h 37m via PA 283, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the state of Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. Expect a mixed driving experience that balances highway speeds with local road navigation. With a short duration and minimal fuel cost, this route is ideal for a convenient day trip or a quick connection between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
34.1 miles from Oxford, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 53m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| PA 283 | 28.6 mi | 33m |
| Kirkwood Pike | 8.9 mi | 12m |
| Beaver Valley Pike | 6.9 mi | 9m |
| Lampeter Road | 4.6 mi | 8m |
| East Lancaster Avenue | 3.5 mi | 6m |
| US 30 | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| I 283 | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Pitney Road | 1.3 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
PA 283
— 28.6 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oxford, PA and Harrisburg, PA.
1
Start on PA 10
33 ft
·
9 sec
·
North 3rd Street
2
Turn sharp right onto PA 472
267 ft
·
9 sec
·
Pine Street
3
Turn left onto PA 472
3.5 mi
·
6 min
·
East Lancaster Avenue
4
Continue on PA 472
8.9 mi
·
12 min
·
Kirkwood Pike
5
Continue on PA 472
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Lime Street
6
Turn left onto PA 372
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
East State Street
7
Turn right onto US 222
0.6 mi
·
49 sec
·
West 4th Street
8
Continue on US 222
6.9 mi
·
9 min
·
Beaver Valley Pike
9
Turn right onto Penn Grant Road
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Penn Grant Road
10
Continue on Lampeter Road
4.6 mi
·
8 min
·
Lampeter Road
11
Continue on Pitney Road
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Pitney Road
12
Turn right onto Hempstead Road
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
Hempstead Road
13
Turn right onto Greenfield Road
396 ft
·
7 sec
·
Greenfield Road
14
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward US 30 West
15
Merge onto US 30
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
US 30
16
Keep slight left at fork onto PA 283
29 mi
·
33 min
·
PA 283
Toward PA 283 West: Harrisburg
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
47 sec
Toward I 283 North: Harrisburg
18
Merge onto I 283
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
I 283
19
Keep slight left at fork
2.7 mi
·
3 min
Exit 3A
Toward I 83 South: Harrisburg
20
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Exit 44B
Toward 17th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork
293 ft
·
7 sec
Use the left / right lanes.
22
Turn straight onto South 17th Street
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
South 17th Street
23
Turn left onto Derry Street
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Derry Street
24
Turn right onto South 13th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South 13th Street
25
Turn left onto State Street
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
State Street
26
Continue on Fisher Plaza
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Fisher Plaza
27
Keep slight right at fork onto North 7th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North 7th Street
28
Arrive at destination
North 7th Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of just under 2 hours, this route is perfectly suited for a same-day trip. You'll have plenty of flexibility on when to depart, but consider leaving mid-morning to avoid potential rush hour traffic in either Oxford or Harrisburg. With a fuel cost estimated at $11, you likely won't need to worry about extensive refueling stops, though it's always wise to start with a full tank. Keep an eye out for the transition between highway driving and the more local road sections, as speed limits and road conditions can change.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 34.1 miles from Oxford, PA, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 28.6 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 15 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 34.1 miles or 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Harrisburg, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Oxford, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Oxford, PA
This is one driving day of about 68.3 miles and 1h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Oxford, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on PA 283 for about 28.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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 34.1 miles from Oxford, 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 185 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 66 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
PA 472 / Pine Street
Turn sharp right onto PA 472 / Pine Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
7
32.1 mi into trip
|
~50m in
|
PA 283
Keep slight left at fork onto PA 283 toward PA 283 West: Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward PA 283 West: Harrisburg
6
63.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 27m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 83 South: Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 3A
Toward I 83 South: Harrisburg
7
65.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 31m in
Take the exit toward 17th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 44B
Toward 17th Street
7
66 mi into trip
|
~1h 32m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.32 one way
$22.65 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $12.40 | $24.80 |
| premium | $4.93 | $13.25 | $26.49 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.08 | $30.16 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.9 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 | 20.5 | 0 | $7.17 | $3.28 |
| Efficient EV | 17.1 | 0 | $5.98 | $2.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.3 | 0 | $9.56 | $4.37 |
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
Harrisburg, PA
Afternoon in Harrisburg on Sunday
Local time
3:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
46°F
Lancaster, PA
34 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
8 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 37m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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...
16 mi from route
~40 min detour
Free
near mile 68.3
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...
18 mi from route
~46 min detour
Free
near mile 49.5
View on nps.gov
First State National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Famous as the First State to ratify the Constitution, Delaware was born out of a conflict among three world powers for dominance of the Delaware Valley. From this beginning, the region developed a dis...
22 mi from route
~56 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive offers a mixed bag of road types, with about 50% of the journey on highways. You'll experience stretches of faster driving, particularly on PA 283, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted segment at 28.6 miles. The route also incorporates local roads like Kirkwood Pike and Beaver Valley Pike, which will likely involve varying speed limits and more frequent turns. This blend means you won't be stuck in a monotonous highway grind for the entire trip, offering a dynamic driving experience.
50% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 28.6 mi on PA 283.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 early in the drive near PA 472 / Pine Street.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 68.3 miles you will encounter 18 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: near the start (PA 472 / Pine Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 32.1 miles (PA 283): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 63.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
About the Cities
Starting in Oxford, PA
Full guide →Founded 1775
Oxford is a borough in Chester County, Pennsylvania, close to the border with Maryland.
Arriving in Harrisburg, PA
Full guide →Harrisburg is the capital and 4th-largest metropolitan area of Pennsylvania, with a metro population of 592,000 people in 2020. Harrisburg is known as the host city of the Pennsylvania Farm Show, the largest free indoor agriculture exposition in the United States, the largest annual outdoor sports show in North America, an auto show, which features a large static display of new and classic cars, and Motorama, a two-day event consisting of a car show, motocross racing, and remote control car racing.
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 37m. Total distance: 68.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (50%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 28.6 miles on PA 283. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Harrisburg, 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: near the start (PA 472 / Pine Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 32.1 miles (PA 283): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 63.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument, Appalachian National Scenic Trail and First State National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Harrisburg, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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