Penn Hills, PA to Ardmore, PA is 291 miles and takes about 5h 35m via Pennsylvania Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $48 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, entirely within Pennsylvania. It's a predominantly highway route, making it a straightforward drive. You'll spend most of your time on the Turnpike, so plan for a consistent pace. With a recommended one-day drive, it's a good option if you're looking for an efficient way to get across the state.
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
145.5 miles from Penn Hills, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
270.5 mi
4h 54m
West Montgomery Avenue
4.9 mi
11m
Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
4.9 mi
6m
I 76
3.9 mi
6m
Verona Road
2.1 mi
5m
Beulah Road
1.2 mi
1m
Coal Hollow Road
1 mi
1m
South Gulph Road
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 270.5 mi, about 4h 54m
Traffic on I-376
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~3,243 veh/hr typical
Quietest
3 AM
~204 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 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 Penn Hills, PA and Ardmore, PA.
1
Start on Sylvan Avenue
134 ft·11 sec·Sylvan Avenue
2
Turn left onto Mount Avenue
519 ft·25 sec·Mount Avenue
3
Turn right onto Verona Road
2.1 mi·5 min·Verona Road
Use the left lane.
4
Turn left onto PA 130
1.0 mi·1 min·Coal Hollow Road
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on PA 130
0.1 mi·14 sec·Old Coal Hollow Road
6
Continue on PA 130
1.2 mi·1 min·Beulah Road
Use the left lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
Use the left lane.
8
Merge onto I 376; US 22
4.9 mi·6 min·Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·1 min
Exit 85Toward I 76, PATP: Ohio, Harrisburg
10
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·30 sec·this road
Use the straight lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward I 76 East: HarrisburgUse the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto I 76; PATP
271 mi·4 hr 54 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit onto I 76
3.9 mi·6 min·I 76
Exit 326Toward I 76 East: Valley Forge, PhiladelphiaUse the slight right lane.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 330Toward PA 320: Gulph MillsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork
340 ft·9 sec
Toward PA 320 South: VillanovaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn straight onto PA 320
0.6 mi·1 min·South Gulph Road
17
Continue on PA 320
4.9 mi·11 min·West Montgomery Avenue
18
Turn right onto Llanfair Road
0.2 mi·49 sec·Llanfair Road
19
Turn right onto Church Road
327 ft·12 sec·Church Road
20
Turn right onto Sibley Avenue
414 ft·18 sec·Sibley Avenue
21
Arrive at destination
Sibley Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour and 35-minute drive, leaving in the morning is your best bet to have ample daylight. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 270.5 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, so plan a break before or after that segment. With a fuel cost estimated at $48, ensure you have enough gas before hitting the road, especially considering the long highway portions. Since this is a manageable one-day trip, you have flexibility in timing your departure and any brief stops you might need.
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 145.5 miles from Penn Hills, PA, or about 2h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 270.5 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 64 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 145.5 miles or 2h 46m 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 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ardmore, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Penn Hills, 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 Penn Hills, PA
This is one driving day of about 291 miles and 5h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Penn Hills, 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 270.5 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 0.1 and 285.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Verona Road
Turn right onto Verona Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
10.2 mi into trip|~18m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 76 East: Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 76 East: Harrisburg
8
280.9 mi into trip|~5h 13m 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
284.8 mi into trip|~5h 19m in
Take the exit toward PA 320: Gulph Mills
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 330
Toward PA 320: Gulph Mills
7
285.1 mi into trip|~5h 20m in
Keep slight right at fork toward PA 320 South: Villanova
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward PA 320 South: Villanova
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$51.21 one way
$102.42 round trip
$4.47/gal25.4 MPG avg102 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.89
$56.00
$112.00
premium
$5.23
$59.87
$119.75
diesel
$6.18
$70.79
$141.58
Estimated Tolls: $35.17
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(270.5 mi)$35.17
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
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$111–$136
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 101.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
87.3
1
$30.56
$13.97
Efficient EV
72.8
0
$25.46
$11.64
EV Truck/SUV
116.4
1
$40.74
$18.62
Gas CO2
102 kg
EV CO2
34 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Penn Hills, PA
Morning
in Penn Hills on Tuesday
Local time
6:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Areas Of Frost then Sunny
N 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 18 at 10:42PM EDT until October 19 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS State College PA
Destination
Ardmore, PA
Morning
in Ardmore on Tuesday
Local time
6:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Widespread Frost then Sunny
N 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 18 at 10:42PM EDT until October 19 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS State College PA
65°F
King, PA
146 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
2 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
5h 35m 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.
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...
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Free
near mile 180.6
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...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Free
near mile 280.9
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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 70.2
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...
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
~31 min detour
Free
near mile 220.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on highways for about 96% of this 291-mile trip. The vast majority of your time, a stretch of 270.5 miles, will be spent on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Expect a primarily highway experience until you begin exiting the Turnpike and transition to surface roads like West Montgomery Avenue. The extensive highway usage means you'll encounter frequent exits and merges as you navigate the state.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 270.5 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and West Montgomery Avenue. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Verona Road.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 291 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 0.1 miles (Verona Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 280.9 miles (I 76): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 35m. Total distance: 291 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 270.5 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $35.17 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 21 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 Ardmore, 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 21 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Verona Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 10.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 280.9 miles (I 76): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. 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 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Ardmore, PA before the return drive.
