Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 51m
Distance
88.1 mi
142 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Philadelphia, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Auburn, PA
Dominik Gryzbon
This 88.1-mile drive from Philadelphia to Auburn, Pennsylvania, is a straightforward 1-hour and 51-minute journey, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. You'll primarily be on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and the William Penn Highway, with a portion on the Schuylkill Expressway. With an estimated fuel cost of $15, this route offers an economical way to travel within the Northeast region. The drive is largely highway-focused, so you can expect efficient travel time. There are no designated stops in the data, so you'll have flexibility in planning your own breaks along the way.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44.1 miles from Philadelphia, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 54m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension | 37.5 mi | 40m |
| William Penn Highway | 21.7 mi | 26m |
| Schuylkill Expressway | 12.1 mi | 17m |
| Mid-County Expressway | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| Centre Turnpike | 3.1 mi | 3m |
| Market Street | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Pottsville Pike | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| Lehigh Valley Thruway | 1.1 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Philadelphia, PA and Auburn, PA.
Start on South Penn Square
Keep slight left at fork onto PA 611
Continue on John F. Kennedy Boulevard
Turn right onto North 16th Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 676; US 30
Merge onto I 76; US 30
Take the exit
Merge onto I 476
Turn slight left onto I 476
Continue on I 476; PATP
Take the exit
Merge onto US 22
Merge onto I 78; US 22
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto PA 61
Continue on PA 61
Take the exit onto PA 895
Continue on PA 895
Arrive at destination
Given the relatively short duration of 1 hour and 51 minutes, this trip is easily manageable in one day. Consider departing Philadelphia in the morning to avoid potential rush hour traffic on the Schuylkill Expressway. With no planned stops, you have the freedom to break up the 88.1-mile journey as you see fit. The longest stretch without a stop is 37.5 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, so plan your fuel and rest breaks accordingly. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $15 for the entire trip.
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.
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 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.1 miles or 54m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Auburn, PA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Philadelphia, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Philadelphia, PA
This is one driving day of about 88.1 miles and 1h 51m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
44 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 44.1 miles from Philadelphia, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 79.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight left at fork onto PA 611 / East Penn Square
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 476 North: Plymouth Meeting
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 78, US 22, PA 309: Allentown, Harrisburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward PA 61 North: Pottsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward PA 61 North: Pottsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Regular Gas
$14.61 one way
$29.21 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $16.00 | $31.99 |
| premium | $4.93 | $17.09 | $34.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $19.45 | $38.90 |
Estimated Tolls: $5.18
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
$15
Tolls
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.8 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 | 26.4 | 0 | $9.25 | $4.23 |
| Efficient EV | 22 | 0 | $7.71 | $3.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 35.2 | 0 | $12.33 | $5.64 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Philadelphia on Saturday
Local time
11:09 PM
EDT
Current temp
92°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Night in Auburn on Saturday
Local time
11:09 PM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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Expect a highway-focused experience for about 65% of this 88.1-mile route. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, including a substantial uninterrupted stretch of 37.5 miles. While the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension offers high-speed travel, the inclusion of the William Penn Highway and the Schuylkill Expressway might introduce some variations in road conditions and speed limits. This blend suggests a drive that's mostly about covering ground efficiently, rather than a winding, scenic exploration.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and William Penn Highway. 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 PA 611 / East Penn Square.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 88.1 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 0.1 miles (PA 611 / East Penn Square): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 55.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Philadelphia, PA to Auburn, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Harrisburg along the way.
Harrisburg
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 51m. Total distance: 88.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (65%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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