If you are planning to travel from Penn Hills to Whitman, Pennsylvania, prepare for a 305.1-mile journey that takes approximately 5 hours and 5 minutes. Because this route relies entirely on local roads like Mount Avenue, Verona Road, and Coal Hollow Road, it is best suited for a single-day trip rather than a high-speed interstate sprint. You should budget around $50 for fuel to cover the distance across the Northeast region. While the drive is manageable in one go, be aware that the turn-heavy nature of the path requires constant attention. It is a practical choice if you prefer secondary roads over major highways, though you should be prepared for a steady pace throughout the trip.
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
152.2 miles from Penn Hills, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
270.5 mi
4h 54m
I 76
18 mi
26m
Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
4.9 mi
6m
Schuylkill Expressway
3 mi
4m
Verona Road
2.1 mi
5m
Oregon Avenue/Vare Avenue
1.8 mi
3m
Beulah Road
1.2 mi
1m
Coal Hollow Road
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 270.5 mi, about 4h 54m
Traffic on I-376
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 6 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~3,320 veh/hr typical
Quietest
3 AM
~202 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Whitman, 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
18 mi·26 min·I 76
Exit 326Toward I 76 East: Valley Forge, PhiladelphiaUse the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76
3.0 mi·4 min·Schuylkill Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 347BToward Passyunk Avenue, Oregon Avenue
16
Keep slight left at fork
151 ft·5 sec
Toward I 76 East: Walt Whitman Bridge
17
Continue on West Oregon Vare Avenue
0.1 mi·13 sec·West Oregon Vare Avenue
18
Continue on Oregon Avenue/Vare Avenue
1.8 mi·3 min·Oregon Avenue/Vare Avenue
Use the left lane.
19
Turn left onto South 5th Street
0.2 mi·30 sec·South 5th Street
Use the left lane.
20
Turn right onto Porter Street
465 ft·24 sec·Porter Street
21
Turn right onto South 4th Street
270 ft·13 sec·South 4th Street
22
Turn right onto Vollmer Street
238 ft·10 sec·Vollmer Street
23
Arrive at destination
Vollmer Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5-hour and 5-minute trek, plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the turns and keep your energy levels up. Given the local nature of the roads, departing early in the morning is a smart way to navigate traffic and reach your destination comfortably before dark. Keep your $50 fuel budget handy, as local roads may offer fewer refueling options compared to major interstates. Since you are navigating exclusively via local routes, prioritize checking your navigation system frequently for any unexpected road closures or construction on Mount Avenue or Coal Hollow Road. Maintaining flexibility is your biggest advantage on a route like this, so do not hesitate to pull over if you need a breather.
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 152.2 miles from Penn Hills, PA, or about 2h 53m 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 67 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 152.2 miles or 2h 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 4h 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Whitman, 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 304.5 miles and 5h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 67 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 298.9 — 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.
6
9.8 mi into trip|~16m in
Take the exit toward I 76, PATP: Ohio, Harrisburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 85
Toward I 76, PATP: Ohio, Harrisburg
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
6
298.9 mi into trip|~5h 39m in|I 76 / Schuylkill Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 76 / Schuylkill Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$48.55 one way
$97.10 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg107 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$53.73
$107.46
premium
$4.81
$57.64
$115.28
diesel
$4.80
$57.50
$114.99
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
$49
Tolls
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$109–$134
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 106.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
91.4
1
$31.97
$14.62
Efficient EV
76.1
0
$26.64
$12.18
EV Truck/SUV
121.8
1
$42.63
$19.49
Gas CO2
107 kg
EV CO2
36 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
Penn Hills, PA
Morning
in Penn Hills on Sunday
Local time
11:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°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
Whitman, PA
Morning
in Whitman on Sunday
Local time
11:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°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
83°F
State Line, PA
152 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
5h 49m 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 178.5
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...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Free
near mile 304.5
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...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 283.5
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 73.5
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 220.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a technical and engaging experience behind the wheel, as this route features zero highway miles. You will navigate a turn-heavy local drive that demands focus, moving away from the typical monotonous interstate grind. Since the entire 305.1-mile path consists of local roads, the drive feels consistent from start to finish rather than shifting between different types of infrastructure. You will spend your time navigating the specific nuances of Mount Avenue, Verona Road, and Coal Hollow Road. Because there are no long, uninterrupted stretches of highway, your speed will remain moderate throughout the duration of the trip.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 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?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and I 76. 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 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 17 significant decision points across 304.5 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 9.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,116 ft12 ft
Total Climb
1,415 ft
Total Descent
2,341 ft
Highest Point
2,116 ft
~65.2 mi in
Elevation Range
2,104 ft
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 Penn Hills, PA to Whitman, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Philadelphia along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 49m. Total distance: 304.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). 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 Whitman, 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 9.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument, Independence National Historical Park and Thaddeus Kosciuszko 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 5.8 hours each way, a round trip means 11.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Whitman, PA before the return drive.
