Origin
Philadelphia, PA
Morning in Philadelphia on Sunday
Local time
6:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Philadelphia, PA to North Wales, PA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
42m
Distance
22.3 mi
36 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 39m
★
6 AM
0h 42m
8 AM
0h 49m
10 AM
0h 45m
12 PM
0h 44m
3 PM
0h 45m
5 PM
0h 49m
8 PM
0h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Philadelphia, PA
Wikimedia Commons
North Wales, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick transition from the urban core of Philadelphia, PA, to the suburban setting of North Wales, PA, this 22.3-mile trip is an efficient option. Expect the drive to take approximately 41 minutes, making it a straightforward journey that easily fits into a single day. You will not need to worry about overnight stays for this short transit between these two Northeast locations. Budgeting roughly $4 for fuel should keep you covered for the entire distance. Since there are no planned stops required, you can manage the trip in one go without much logistical overhead.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Washington Expressway | 7.8 mi | 10m |
| Ogontz Avenue | 3.7 mi | 6m |
| Sumneytown Pike | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| North 11th Street | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| Old York Road | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| Norristown Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Belfield Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Germantown Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Fort Washington Expressway
— 7.8 mi, about 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Philadelphia, PA and North Wales, 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
Turn right onto PA 611
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
North Broad Street
Use the right lane.
4
Turn right onto Race Street
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Race Street
5
Turn left onto North 11th Street
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
North 11th Street
6
Turn right onto West Silver Street
394 ft
·
22 sec
·
West Silver Street
7
At end of road, turn left onto Germantown Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Germantown Avenue
8
Turn slight right onto Old York Road
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Old York Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
9
Turn slight left onto Belfield Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Belfield Avenue
10
Turn right onto Ogontz Avenue
3.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Ogontz Avenue
11
Continue on PA 309
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
Limekiln Pike
Use the left lane.
12
Continue on PA 309
7.8 mi
·
10 min
·
Fort Washington Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward Norristown Road, Spring House
Use the slight right lane.
14
Turn left onto Norristown Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Norristown Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
15
Continue on Sumneytown Pike
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Sumneytown Pike
Use the left / right lanes.
16
Continue on South Main Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
17
Turn right onto US 202 Alternate Truck
18 ft
·
0 sec
·
East Walnut Street
18
Arrive at destination
US 202 Alternate Truck
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 18.1 — 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
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
PA 611 / North Broad Street
Turn right onto PA 611 / North Broad Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Race Street
Turn right onto Race Street
Navigation decision point
7
18 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Take the exit toward Norristown Road, Spring House
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Norristown Road, Spring House
5
18.1 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
Norristown Road
Turn left onto Norristown Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.70 one way
$7.39 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $4.05 | $8.10 |
| premium | $4.93 | $4.32 | $8.65 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.92 | $9.85 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.7 | 0 | $2.34 | $1.07 |
| Efficient EV | 5.6 | 0 | $1.95 | $0.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.9 | 0 | $3.12 | $1.43 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
North Wales, PA
Morning in North Wales on Sunday
Local time
6:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
3 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
42m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention as you navigate away from the city. Because the highway share is 0 percent, you will be sticking to local roads for the duration of the 22.3-mile trip. This route lacks the monotonous rhythm of an interstate, instead requiring you to stay alert for frequent turns and changing road conditions. You will find that the personality of the drive remains consistent throughout the 41-minute duration. It is a technical, hands-on experience that keeps you engaged from start to finish.
35% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 7.8 mi on Fort Washington Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 22.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 42m.
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 0.2 miles (PA 611 / North Broad Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (Race Street): Navigation decision point.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 North Wales, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Spring House along the way.
Spring House
18 mi in
|
~32m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 42m. Total distance: 22.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (35%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 7.8 miles on Fort Washington Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 North Wales, PA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 0.2 miles (PA 611 / North Broad Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles (Race Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Independence National Historical Park, Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial and Valley Forge National Historical Park (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at North Wales, PA before heading back.
How this page is built
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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