If you are looking to travel from Palmerton to Harrisburg, expect a straightforward 85.5-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 35 minutes. This trek remains entirely within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. You should budget approximately $14 for fuel to cover the distance. Because the route avoids highways entirely, you won't encounter the typical interstate stress, but you will need to stay focused on local road navigation. Planning this as a quick turnaround is easy, as there is no need to split the drive into multiple days.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.7 miles from Palmerton, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 6m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
PA 895
26.3 mi
43m
William Penn Highway
21 mi
24m
I 81
20.8 mi
25m
78th Division Highway
7.6 mi
8m
Centre Street
2.5 mi
3m
PA 248
2.1 mi
2m
North Cameron Street
1.8 mi
3m
Centre Turnpike
1.7 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
PA 895
— 26.3 mi, about 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Palmerton, PA and Harrisburg, PA.
1
Start on this road
136 ft·12 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Delaware Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·Delaware Avenue
3
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·25 sec
4
Merge onto PA 248
2.1 mi·2 min·PA 248
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·42 sec
6
Turn left onto Bank Street
0.3 mi·31 sec·Bank Street
7
Turn left onto PA 895
26 mi·43 min·PA 895
8
Turn left onto PA 61
1.7 mi·2 min·Centre Turnpike
9
Continue on PA 61
2.5 mi·3 min·Centre Street
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
11
Merge onto I 78; US 22
21 mi·24 min·William Penn Highway
12
Continue on I 78; US 22
7.6 mi·8 min·78th Division Highway
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·49 sec
Exit 1BToward I 81 South: Harrisburg
14
Merge onto I 81
21 mi·25 min·I 81
15
Take the exit onto US 322
0.3 mi·27 sec·US 322
Exit 67A; 67BToward US 22 East, PA 230 East, US 22 West, US 322 West: Harrisburg, Lewistown, State College
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 67AToward US 22 East: Harrisburg, Cameron StreetUse the slight left lane.
17
Merge onto US 22
1.8 mi·3 min·North Cameron Street
Use the straight lane.
18
Turn right onto Herr Street
0.3 mi·44 sec·Herr Street
19
Turn right onto North 7th Street
0.3 mi·46 sec·North 7th Street
20
Arrive at destination
North 7th Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short 1-hour and 35-minute drive, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. Keep in mind that because the route consists of local roads, your travel time may be more sensitive to local traffic patterns than a typical highway route would be. You can easily complete the trip without any formal stops, but having your $14 fuel budget ready before you leave will keep your transit seamless. My best advice for this specific route is to double-check your turn-by-turn navigation before heading out, as the reliance on local streets like Centre Turnpike means you will be making more frequent adjustments than you would on a major expressway.
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 43.7 miles from Palmerton, PA, or about 1h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.3 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 19 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.7 miles or 1h 6m 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 42m
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 Palmerton, 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 Palmerton, PA
This is one driving day of about 87.4 miles and 2h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Palmerton, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on PA 895 for about 26.3 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 33.9 and 85.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
33.9 mi into trip|~54m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
6
62.7 mi into trip|~1h 28m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 81 South: Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 1B
Toward I 81 South: Harrisburg
6
84.2 mi into trip|~1h 54m in|US 322
Take the exit onto US 322 toward US 22 East, PA 230 East, US 22 West, US 322 West: Harrisburg, Lewistown, State College
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 67A; 67B
Toward US 22 East, PA 230 East, US 22 West, US...
9
84.5 mi into trip|~1h 54m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 22 East: Harrisburg, Cameron Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 67A
Toward US 22 East: Harrisburg, Cameron Street
5
85.1 mi into trip|~1h 55m in|US 22 / North Cameron Street
Merge onto US 22 / North Cameron Street
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.49 one way
$28.98 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$15.87
$31.74
premium
$4.93
$16.95
$33.90
diesel
$5.61
$19.30
$38.59
Estimated Tolls: $0.12
Centre Turnpike
(1.7 mi)$0.12
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
$14
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.2
0
$9.18
$4.20
Efficient EV
21.9
0
$7.65
$3.50
EV Truck/SUV
35
0
$12.24
$5.59
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Palmerton, PA
Morning
in Palmerton on Sunday
Local time
6:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Harrisburg, PA
Morning
in Harrisburg on Sunday
Local time
6:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
60°F
New Philadelphia, PA
44 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
15 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
2h 1m 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.
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
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 57.3
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...
16 mi from route
~40 min detour
Free
near mile 87.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is defined by its turn-heavy local character rather than a high-speed interstate grind. You will navigate via Delaware Avenue, Bank Street, and Centre Turnpike, with a highway share of 0%. Because the path relies exclusively on local roads, you should prepare for a more hands-on driving experience that requires your full attention. The road conditions shift as you transition through the local corridors connecting these two Pennsylvania cities. Expect a consistent, moderate pace throughout the entire 85.5-mile stretch.
59% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 26.3 mi on PA 895.
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 around 33.9 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
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 15 significant decision points across 87.4 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 33.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 62.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 84.2 miles (US 322): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 1m. Total distance: 87.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (59%). 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 26.3 miles on PA 895. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.12 in tolls one way, starting with Centre 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 Harrisburg, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 33.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 62.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 84.2 miles (US 322): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Appalachian National Scenic Trail and Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument. 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.
