Traveling from Philadelphia to Clearfield covers 254.2 miles and typically takes about 4 hours and 47 minutes. Since this is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straight highway sprint, you should plan for a full day on the road. You can expect to spend approximately $41 on fuel for the journey. Because of the local nature of the roads, this trip is best tackled in a single day if you are comfortable with frequent navigation. Both cities are located within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania, keeping you firmly within the state's familiar terrain as you transition from the urban east to the interior.
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
127.1 miles from Philadelphia, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 26m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
156.6 mi
2h 50m
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
75 mi
1h 21m
Schuylkill Expressway
12.1 mi
17m
Mid-County Expressway
3.4 mi
4m
Clearfield Shawville Highway
1.4 mi
2m
Bigler Avenue
1.3 mi
1m
Vine Street Expressway
1 mi
1m
North 16th Street
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 156.6 mi, about 2h 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Philadelphia, PA and Clearfield, PA.
1
Start on South Penn Square
397 ft·8 sec·South Penn Square
2
Keep slight left at fork onto PA 611
0.1 mi·19 sec·East Penn Square
Use the straight lane.
3
Continue on John F. Kennedy Boulevard
0.2 mi·20 sec·John F. Kennedy Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn right onto North 16th Street
0.4 mi·54 sec·North 16th Street
Use the right lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 676 West, US 30 West: International Airport, Valley ForgeUse the right lane.
6
Merge onto I 676; US 30
1.0 mi·1 min·Vine Street Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 76; US 30
12 mi·17 min·Schuylkill Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 331BToward I 476 North: Plymouth MeetingUse the slight right lane.
Exit 95Toward PA 940, I 80: Hazleton, Mount Pocono
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·23 sec
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I 80 West: Hazleton
15
Merge onto I 80
157 mi·2 hr 50 min·Keystone Shortway
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·49 sec
Toward PA 879: Clearfield, Shawville
17
Turn left onto PA 879
1.4 mi·2 min·Clearfield Shawville Highway
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
19
Turn right onto US 322
1.3 mi·1 min·Bigler Avenue
20
Turn slight right onto US 322
487 ft·10 sec·Bridge Street
21
Continue on US 322; PA 153
413 ft·9 sec·Nichols Street
22
Turn right onto River Road
89 ft·2 sec·River Road
23
Arrive at destination
River Road
Trip Plan
Given the 4 hour and 47 minute duration, you should aim for an early morning departure to avoid traffic congestion while navigating the initial local street segments. You are limited to one stop along the way, so coordinate your fuel and rest breaks carefully to stay within your $41 budget. Keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of the route can be tiring, so ensure you are prepared for constant steering adjustments. Since the entire trip is local, use your GPS consistently to manage the frequent turns throughout the journey. Staying flexible with your timing will help you manage the lack of high-speed highway relief.
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 127.1 miles from Philadelphia, PA, or about 2h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 156.6 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 56 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 127.1 miles or 2h 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clearfield, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 254.2 miles and 4h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Philadelphia, 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 Keystone Shortway for about 156.6 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 93.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|PA 611 / East Penn Square
Keep slight left at fork onto PA 611 / East Penn Square
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
0.8 mi into trip|~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 676 West, US 30 West: International Airport, Valley Forge
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 676 West, US 30 West: International Ai...
5
1 mi into trip|~2m in|I 676; US 30 / Vine Street Expressway
Merge onto I 676; US 30 / Vine Street Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
14.1 mi into trip|~20m in
Take the exit toward I 476 North: Plymouth Meeting
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 331B
Toward I 476 North: Plymouth Meeting
6
93.1 mi into trip|~1h 48m in
Take the exit toward PA 940, I 80: Hazleton, Mount Pocono
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 95
Toward PA 940, I 80: Hazleton, Mount Pocono
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.14 one way
$84.29 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg89 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$46.16
$92.31
premium
$4.93
$49.30
$98.60
diesel
$5.61
$56.12
$112.25
Estimated Tolls: $9.75
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(75 mi)$9.75
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
$42
Tolls
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$77–$102
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
76.3
0
$26.69
$12.20
Efficient EV
63.6
0
$22.24
$10.17
EV Truck/SUV
101.7
1
$35.59
$16.27
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 14, 2026
Origin
Philadelphia, PA
Late night
in Philadelphia on Tuesday
Local time
5:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 0 to 15 mph7% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 14 at 3:26PM EDT until April 14 at 4:00PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued April 14 at 2:51PM EDT until April 14 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Destination
Clearfield, PA
Late night
in Clearfield on Tuesday
Local time
5:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
23 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
4h 47m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a very different experience than your typical interstate cruise, as this route features zero highway miles. You will navigate through Philadelphia using East Penn Square, John F, and North 16th Street before moving onto the local road network. The drive is defined by its technical, turn-heavy profile, which requires your full attention behind the wheel. Because there are no long highway stretches, your longest uninterrupted stretch on a single road is 0 miles on East Penn Square. This path is strictly for those who prefer the character of local roads over the monotony of high-speed travel.
36% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 156.6 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 0.1 miles in near PA 611 / East Penn Square.
Driving Effort10/10
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 254.2 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 0.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1 miles (I 676; US 30 / Vine Street Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Philadelphia, PA to Clearfield, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Mount Pocono along the way.
Clearfield is a borough in Clearfield County Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Clearfield County, a part of the Pennsylvania Wilds. The community is known for its abundance of wildlife and outdoor activities, such as hiking, bicycling, hunting, fishing and canoeing.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 47m. Total distance: 254.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 156.6 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $9.75 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Clearfield, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
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 0.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1 miles (I 676; US 30 / Vine Street Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Clearfield, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
