Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 51m
Distance
193.2 mi
311 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
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
Jersey Shore, PA
Maydonshoots
This 193.2-mile drive from Philadelphia to the Jersey Shore will take you approximately 3 hours and 51 minutes, making it a feasible one-day trip. You'll primarily travel on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and the Schuylkill Expressway before merging onto the Keystone Shortway. With a fuel cost estimated at $32, this route offers a straightforward journey through Pennsylvania's Northeast region. The mixed drive profile suggests a blend of highway speeds and potentially some more varied road conditions as you approach your destination. Given its manageable length and duration, this trip is well-suited for a single-day adventure without the need for an overnight stop.
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
96.6 miles from Philadelphia, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 53m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Keystone Shortway | 83.8 mi | 1h 32m |
| Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension | 75 mi | 1h 21m |
| Schuylkill Expressway | 12.1 mi | 17m |
| Rauchtown Road | 7.5 mi | 13m |
| PA 44 | 4.3 mi | 7m |
| Mid-County Expressway | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| PA 880 | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| East Valley Road | 1.3 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between Philadelphia, PA and Jersey Shore, 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 left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 80
Take the exit
Turn left onto East Valley Road
Turn right onto PA 880
Continue on PA 880
Turn left onto PA 44
Turn left onto Mount Pleasant Avenue
Arrive at destination
To make the most of this 3-hour and 51-minute drive, consider departing Philadelphia early in the morning to avoid potential traffic. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost of around $32, you have flexibility in pacing your journey. The 83.8-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway is a good point to plan a brief rest if needed. Since this is a single-day trip, you can easily adjust your schedule based on your travel preferences. Keep an eye on road conditions, especially as you transition between the different main roads that make up this route.
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 43 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 96.6 miles or 1h 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 3h 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jersey Shore, 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 193.2 miles and 3h 51m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
97 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 43 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 96.6 miles from Philadelphia, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Keystone Shortway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 83.8 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 178.1 — 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 940, I 80: Hazleton, Mount Pocono
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward PA 880: Loganton, Jersey Shore
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$32.03 one way
$64.06 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $35.08 | $70.16 |
| premium | $4.93 | $37.47 | $74.94 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $42.66 | $85.31 |
Estimated Tolls: $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
$32
Tolls
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 58 | 0 | $20.29 | $9.27 |
| Efficient EV | 48.3 | 0 | $16.90 | $7.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 77.3 | 0 | $27.05 | $12.36 |
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 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
Late night in Philadelphia on Sunday
Local time
4:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
92°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Late night in Jersey Shore on Sunday
Local time
4:06 AM
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.
The journey features a 50% highway share, offering substantial periods of consistent travel. You'll experience a mixed drive, transitioning between the faster pace of major highways and potentially other road types. The longest uninterrupted stretch spans 83.8 miles on the Keystone Shortway, providing a good opportunity to settle into a rhythm. Expect the road character to evolve as you make your way across Pennsylvania, moving from the urban expressways around Philadelphia to the more open stretches of the Keystone Shortway.
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 16 significant decision points across 193.2 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 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.
On the drive from Philadelphia, PA to Jersey Shore, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Mount Pocono along the way.
Mount Pocono
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 51m. Total distance: 193.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
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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