Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 8m
Distance
143.4 mi
231 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
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
Hemlock Farms, PA
Jack Pace
This 143.4-mile drive from Philadelphia, PA to Hemlock Farms, PA is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 8 minutes. You'll primarily be on major highways, with the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and I-84 forming the backbone of this journey. With an estimated fuel cost of $24, this route is budget-friendly for a weekend excursion or a quick getaway. The drive is mostly highway-focused, making it a straightforward and efficient way to travel between these two points within Pennsylvania. Given its relatively short duration, you have flexibility in when you depart and how you structure your stops.
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
71.7 miles from Philadelphia, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 24m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension | 67.3 mi | 1h 13m |
| I 84 | 13.3 mi | 15m |
| Schuylkill Expressway | 12.1 mi | 17m |
| Keystone Shortway | 9 mi | 10m |
| PA 903 | 7.1 mi | 10m |
| I 380 | 6.7 mi | 7m |
| Church Street | 5.5 mi | 10m |
| Main Street | 4.1 mi | 9m |
Step-by-step road directions between Philadelphia, PA and Hemlock Farms, 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
Keep slight right at fork
Turn slight right onto PA 903
At end of road, turn left onto PA 115
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 80
Take the exit
Continue on I 380
Take the exit
Turn right onto PA 423
At end of road, turn left onto PA 423
Turn right onto PA 423
Continue on PA 423
Turn straight onto PA 191
Continue on PA 191; PA 507
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 84
Take the exit
Turn right onto PA 739
Turn right onto Forest Drive
Turn right onto Hickory Drive
Arrive at destination
For this 3-hour, 8-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Philadelphia to avoid potential traffic, especially on the Schuylkill Expressway. With only one recommended stop and a highway share of 80%, you can easily complete this trip in one day without feeling rushed. Your fuel cost is estimated at $24, so ensure your tank is full before you begin, or plan a quick stop at one of the service plazas along the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 67.3 miles, so take advantage of any opportunities before or after this segment to stretch your legs.
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.
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 32 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.7 miles or 1h 24m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hemlock Farms, 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 143.4 miles and 3h 8m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
72 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 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 71.7 miles from Philadelphia, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 67.3 miles.
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 85.8 — 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 ramp toward I 676 West, US 30 West: International Airport, Valley Forge
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
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 PA 903: Jim Thorpe, Lake Harmony
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward PA 903 North: Lake Harmony
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$23.77 one way
$47.55 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $26.04 | $52.08 |
| premium | $4.93 | $27.81 | $55.62 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $31.66 | $63.32 |
Estimated Tolls: $8.75
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
$24
Tolls
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 43 | 0 | $15.06 | $6.88 |
| Efficient EV | 35.9 | 0 | $12.55 | $5.74 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 57.4 | 0 | $20.08 | $9.18 |
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 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
Morning in Philadelphia on Sunday
Local time
6:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
92°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Morning in Hemlock Farms on Sunday
Local time
6:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°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 drive for about 80% of this 143.4-mile route. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, including a continuous stretch of 67.3 miles. This section is designed for efficient travel, allowing you to cover ground quickly. While mainly interstate, the transition to I-84 and the Schuylkill Expressway means you'll experience varying highway environments. The overall character is one of steady progress on well-maintained roadways, minimizing complexity for the driver.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and I 84. 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 23 significant decision points across 143.4 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 14.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Philadelphia, PA and Hemlock Farms, PA, road signs point toward Lake Harmony and 423: Tobyhanna.
Lake Harmony
423: Tobyhanna
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 8m. Total distance: 143.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). 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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