Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 42m
Distance
125.8 mi
202 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
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
Burnside, PA
Michael Taccetta
This 125.8-mile journey from Philadelphia to Burnside, Pennsylvania, is a manageable one-day road trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 42 minutes to complete. You'll primarily be using the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, William Penn Highway, and the Schuylkill Expressway, with 54% of the drive on highways. Budget around $21 for fuel, and with only one recommended stop, this route offers a straightforward drive. The overall feel is a mixed drive, transitioning between urban access and more open stretches within Pennsylvania's Northeast region. It's a practical option for a quick getaway or an efficient transit between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
62.9 miles from Philadelphia, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 17m 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 |
| Centre Turnpike | 10.6 mi | 12m |
| Sunbury Road | 9.4 mi | 11m |
| Chestnut Street | 4.5 mi | 6m |
| Locust Gap Highway | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| Mid-County Expressway | 3.4 mi | 4m |
Step-by-step road directions between Philadelphia, PA and Burnside, 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
Continue on PA 61
Continue on PA 61
Continue on PA 61
Turn left onto US 209
At end of road, turn right onto US 209
Turn left onto US 209
Continue on US 209; PA 901
At end of road, turn left onto PA 901
Continue on PA 901
Continue on PA 901
Continue on PA 901
Continue on PA 54; PA 901
Turn left onto Brennans Farm Road
Continue on South 6th Street
Turn left onto PA 61
Continue on PA 61
Turn left onto PA 125
Turn right onto PA 125
Continue on PA 125
Arrive at destination
Given the relatively short duration of 2 hours and 42 minutes, this trip is well-suited for a single day. Consider departing mid-morning to avoid the peak rush hour in Philadelphia. With the longest stretch being 37.5 miles on the turnpike, you can comfortably plan for a single fuel or rest stop. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach Burnside, and remember to factor in the estimated $21 fuel cost. The flexibility of a shorter drive means you can adjust your timing as needed.
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 28 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.9 miles or 1h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Burnside, PA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Philadelphia, 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 Philadelphia, PA
This is one driving day of about 125.8 miles and 2h 42m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
63 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 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 62.9 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
$20.86 one way
$41.71 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $22.84 | $45.68 |
| premium | $4.93 | $24.40 | $48.79 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $27.78 | $55.55 |
Estimated Tolls: $5.70
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
$21
Tolls
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 37.7 | 0 | $13.21 | $6.04 |
| Efficient EV | 31.5 | 0 | $11.01 | $5.03 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 50.3 | 0 | $17.61 | $8.05 |
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (66% 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
Afternoon in Philadelphia on Sunday
Local time
12:42 PM
EDT
Current temp
92°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Afternoon in Burnside on Sunday
Local time
12:42 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
68°F
Kutztown, PA
63 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
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.
Expect a mixed drive on this route, blending efficient highway travel with sections on more traditional roadways. With 54% of the journey on highways, you'll experience periods of consistent speed. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 37.5 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, offering a good opportunity to settle in. As you progress, the character of the road will likely shift, moving from the busier arteries around Philadelphia to potentially more varied driving conditions as you head towards Burnside. This variation means you'll encounter different driving experiences along the way.
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 0.1 miles in near PA 611 / East Penn Square.
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 21 significant decision points across 125.8 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 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 Burnside, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Harrisburg along the way.
Harrisburg
“City of Brotherly Love” · Founded 1682
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 42m. Total distance: 125.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (54%). 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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