Traveling from Palmer to Bensalem covers 307.4 miles and typically takes about 6 hours and 1 minute. Since this journey is contained entirely within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania, you can easily complete it in a single day. Budgeting approximately $51 for fuel will keep you moving along the Pennsylvania Turnpike, US 119, and Pleasant Valley Road. While the trip is straightforward, the six-hour duration means you should prepare for a full day of driving. It is a practical route for those needing to cross the state efficiently without the complexity of a multi-day itinerary.
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
153.7 miles from Palmer, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 12m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
262 mi
4h 45m
US 119
15 mi
17m
Pleasant Valley Road
7.9 mi
13m
New Salem Road
7.7 mi
13m
PA 31
6 mi
9m
Street Road
1.7 mi
2m
Thompson 1 Road
1.4 mi
2m
Palmer Adah Road
1.2 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 262 mi, about 4h 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Palmer, PA and Bensalem, PA.
1
Start on Tank Hill Road
157 ft·9 sec·Tank Hill Road
2
Turn right onto Palmer Road
0.5 mi·2 min·Palmer Road
3
Continue on Sr3013
523 ft·23 sec·Sr3013
4
Continue on Palmer Adah Road
1.2 mi·4 min·Palmer Adah Road
5
Turn right onto Ralph Road
0.9 mi·3 min·Ralph Road
6
Turn left onto PA 166
0.2 mi·26 sec·Hartley Hill Road
7
Continue on PA 166
1.4 mi·2 min·Thompson 1 Road
8
Continue on PA 166
0.3 mi·30 sec·Tower Hill Road
9
Turn slight right onto New Salem Road
2.7 mi·4 min·New Salem Road
10
Continue on Front Street
0.2 mi·16 sec·Front Street
11
Continue on West Main Street
0.4 mi·43 sec·West Main Street
12
Continue on New Salem Road
4.9 mi·8 min·New Salem Road
13
Turn right onto US 40
0.6 mi·1 min·National Pike
Use the straight lane.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Use the left lane.
15
Merge onto US 119
15 mi·17 min·US 119
16
Take the exit
244 ft·6 sec
17
Turn straight onto PA 982
7.9 mi·13 min·Pleasant Valley Road
18
Turn right onto PA 31
6.0 mi·9 min·PA 31
19
Turn slight left
0.2 mi·33 sec
20
Turn left
28 ft·3 sec
21
Take the ramp
493 ft·12 sec
Toward PATP, I 70, I 76
22
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·35 sec
23
Merge onto I 70; I 76; PATP
262 mi·4 hr 45 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Exit 352Toward PA 132: Street RoadUse the slight right lane.
25
Turn left onto PA 132
1.7 mi·2 min·Street Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
26
Turn right onto Knights Road
261 ft·8 sec·Knights Road
27
Turn right
135 ft·9 sec
28
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a 6-hour drive ahead of you, planning a single, well-timed stop is essential to keep your energy up. Aim to depart early in the day to avoid potential traffic congestion on the busier sections of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Since you are covering over 300 miles, check your fuel levels before merging onto the turnpike, as services can be spaced out during the 262-mile longest stretch. Flexibility is your biggest advantage on a one-day trip, so feel free to adjust your departure time based on local traffic reports. Prioritize a single, substantial break midway through your journey to make the transition between the highway and local roads more comfortable.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 153.7 miles from Palmer, PA, or about 3h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 262 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 68 miles or 1h 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 153.7 miles or 3h 12m 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 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bensalem, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Palmer, 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 Palmer, PA
This is one driving day of about 307.4 miles and 6h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 68 miles from Palmer, 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 262 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 13 and 305.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
13 mi into trip|~28m in|US 40 / National Pike
Turn right onto US 40 / National Pike
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
13.6 mi into trip|~30m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
42.9 mi into trip|~1h 11m in
Take the ramp toward PATP, I 70, I 76
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward PATP, I 70, I 76
5
43 mi into trip|~1h 11m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
7
305.2 mi into trip|~5h 57m in
Take the exit toward PA 132: Street Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 352
Toward PA 132: Street Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$50.96 one way
$101.93 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg108 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$55.82
$111.63
premium
$4.93
$59.62
$119.23
diesel
$5.61
$67.87
$135.74
Estimated Tolls: $34.05
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(262 mi)$34.05
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
$51
Tolls
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$110–$135
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 107.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
92.2
1
$32.28
$14.76
Efficient EV
76.9
0
$26.90
$12.30
EV Truck/SUV
123
1
$43.04
$19.67
Gas CO2
108 kg
EV CO2
36 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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Palmer, PA
Morning
in Palmer on Sunday
Local time
6:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bensalem, PA
Morning
in Bensalem on Sunday
Local time
6:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
54°F
Hancock, MD
154 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
9 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
6h 1m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Free
near mile 180.2
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...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 275.6
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
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 74.2
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...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 21.2
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 222.6
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...
14 mi from route
~34 min detour
$1
near mile 286.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 92% of this route relies on major roads. You will settle into a long, steady rhythm during the 262-mile stretch on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, which serves as the backbone of your journey. Transitioning from the turnpike onto US 119 and Pleasant Valley Road provides a slight change of pace from the interstate grind. Because the majority of your time is spent on high-speed thoroughfares, the drive feels consistent and focused rather than technical. Anticipate a straightforward, direct path that prioritizes speed and efficiency over winding backroads.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 262 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and US 119. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 13 miles in near US 40 / National Pike.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 307.4 miles you will encounter 16 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 13 miles (US 40 / National Pike): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 42.9 miles: 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.
On the drive from Palmer, PA to Bensalem, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Patp along the way.
Patp
42.9 mi in|~1h 11m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 1m. Total distance: 307.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 1m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 262 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $34.05 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 Bensalem, 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 13 miles (US 40 / National Pike): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 42.9 miles: 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 6.0 hours each way, a round trip means 12.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Bensalem, PA before the return drive.
