Traveling from Palmer to Upper Darby covers 297.8 miles and typically takes about 6 hours and 3 minutes of driving time. Because this journey is manageable in a single day, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. Budgeting approximately $49 for fuel will keep your tank full as you traverse the Northeast region of Pennsylvania. The trip relies heavily on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, US 119, and Pleasant Valley Road to get you to your destination efficiently. It is a straightforward, highway-focused route that prioritizes speed and reliability, making it a practical choice for those looking to reach the Philadelphia area without unnecessary detours.
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
148.9 miles from Palmer, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
236.3 mi
4h 17m
US 119
15 mi
17m
Pleasant Valley Road
7.9 mi
13m
New Salem Road
7.7 mi
13m
Mid-County Expressway
6.4 mi
8m
PA 31
6 mi
9m
I 76
5.1 mi
7m
Lansdowne Avenue
3 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 236.3 mi, about 4h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Palmer, PA and Upper Darby, 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
236 mi·4 hr 17 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit onto I 76
5.1 mi·7 min·I 76
Exit 326Toward I 76 East: Valley Forge, PhiladelphiaUse the slight right lane.
25
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 331AToward I 476 South: ChesterUse the slight right lane.
26
Merge onto I 476
6.4 mi·8 min·Mid-County Expressway
27
Take the exit
0.3 mi·59 sec
Exit 9Toward PA 3: Upper Darby, BroomallUse the slight right lane.
28
Turn left onto PA 3
2.5 mi·5 min·West Chester Pike
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
29
Turn slight right onto Darby Road
471 ft·13 sec·Darby Road
Use the right lane.
30
Continue on Lansdowne Avenue
3.0 mi·8 min·Lansdowne Avenue
Use the straight lane.
31
Turn right onto West Providence Road
0.3 mi·39 sec·West Providence Road
32
Arrive at destination
West Providence Road
Trip Plan
Planning for this 6-hour journey is simple, as you only need to account for one planned stop to keep your energy levels high. Since the route is concentrated on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, keep an eye on traffic patterns and toll considerations before you depart. Leaving early in the day is your best strategy to bypass potential congestion as you approach the more populated regions near your destination. Use your single stop to refuel or stretch your legs during the longest 236.3-mile stretch of the turnpike. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, so monitor your fuel consumption closely to ensure your $49 budget covers the entire distance effectively.
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 148.9 miles from Palmer, PA, or about 3h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 236.3 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 66 miles or 1h 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 148.9 miles or 3h 7m 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 51m
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 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 297.8 miles and 6h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 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 236.3 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 13 and 291.6 — 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.
8
279.6 mi into trip|~5h 30m 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
284.7 mi into trip|~5h 38m 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
291.6 mi into trip|~5h 48m 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
$47.48 one way
$94.97 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg104 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$52.55
$105.10
premium
$4.81
$56.37
$112.74
diesel
$4.80
$56.23
$112.46
Estimated Tolls: $30.72
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(236.3 mi)$30.72
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
$47
Tolls
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$103–$128
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 104.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
89.3
1
$31.27
$14.29
Efficient EV
74.5
0
$26.06
$11.91
EV Truck/SUV
119.1
1
$41.69
$19.06
Gas CO2
104 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (66% 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Palmer, PA
Late night
in Palmer on Monday
Local time
5:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Smoke
N 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 3:59PM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 1:40PM EDT until July 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Destination
Upper Darby, PA
Late night
in Upper Darby on Monday
Local time
5:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Smoke
W 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 3:59PM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 1:40PM EDT until July 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
85°F
State Line, PA
149 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
1 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
6h 3m 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.
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
~4 min detour
Free
near mile 277.3
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...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 174.6
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
~15 min detour
Free
near mile 71.9
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...
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 297.8
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
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 20.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a high-speed experience, as 90% of this 297.8-mile trek takes place on major highways. You will spend the bulk of your time on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, which accounts for a significant 236.3-mile stretch of the journey. This highway-focused profile means you can settle into a steady rhythm, though the driving environment will shift once you transition from the turnpike onto US 119 and Pleasant Valley Road. While the interstate segments provide a consistent, fast-paced atmosphere, the final portions of the route offer a change of pace as you navigate toward Upper Darby. Prepare for a drive that prioritizes miles covered over winding, technical backroads.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 236.3 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and US 119. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13 miles in near US 40 / National Pike.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 297.8 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 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 279.6 miles (I 76): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,125 ft56 ft
Total Climb
1,305 ft
Total Descent
2,211 ft
Highest Point
2,125 ft
~63.8 mi in
Elevation Range
2,069 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Palmer, PA and Upper Darby, PA, road signs point toward Patp and Philadelphia.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 3m. Total distance: 297.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 3m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 236.3 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $30.72 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 19 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 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. There are 19 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 279.6 miles (I 76): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Valley Forge National Historical Park, Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument 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 6.1 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 Upper Darby, PA before the return drive.
