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Trip from Philadelphia, PA to Rockdale, PA

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

40m

Distance

25.2 mi

41 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$4

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 10 min
4 AM
0h 37m ★
6 AM
0h 40m
8 AM
0h 47m
10 AM
0h 43m
12 PM
0h 42m
3 PM
0h 43m
5 PM
0h 47m
8 PM
0h 38m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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largest city in Pennsylvania, United States

Philadelphia, PA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Rockdale, PA, PA

Rockdale, PA

Chet Pichet

Trip Overview

Philadelphia, PA to Rockdale, PA is 25.2 miles and takes about 40m via Delaware Expressway and Pennell Road, with a fuel budget near $4 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short journey stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. It's a straightforward drive, primarily on highways, making it an easy option for a quick trip. Consider this route if you need to cover a small distance efficiently without venturing too far afield. The short duration means you can easily fit this into a busy schedule.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Delaware Expressway 18.3 mi 25m
Pennell Road 1.9 mi 3m
US 322 1.1 mi 1m
Vine Street Expressway 0.7 mi 1m
Market Street 0.4 mi <1m
Franciscan Way 0.4 mi 1m
Convent Road 0.3 mi 1m
North Broad Street 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Delaware Expressway — 18.3 mi, about 25m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Philadelphia, PA and Rockdale, 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

0.3 mi · 37 sec · North Broad Street
Use the right lane.
4

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 27 sec
Toward I 676 East, US 30 East
5

Merge onto I 676; US 30

0.3 mi · 25 sec · Vine Street Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Keep slight left at fork onto Vine Street Expressway

0.4 mi · 38 sec · Vine Street Expressway
7

Keep slight right at fork

0.7 mi · 1 min
Toward I 95 South: Chester, Philadelphia International Airport
8

Merge onto I 95

18 mi · 25 min · Delaware Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight right at fork onto US 322

1.1 mi · 1 min · US 322
Toward US 322 West: West Chester Use the slight right lane.
10

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 19 sec
Toward PA 452 North Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Turn right onto PA 452

0.4 mi · 47 sec · Market Street
12

Continue on PA 452

1.9 mi · 3 min · Pennell Road
Use the straight lane.
13

Turn slight left onto Old Pennell Road

0.1 mi · 40 sec · Old Pennell Road
14

Turn left onto Legion Road

0.3 mi · 1 min · Legion Road
15

Turn right onto Franciscan Way

0.4 mi · 1 min · Franciscan Way
16

At end of road, turn right onto Convent Road

0.3 mi · 1 min · Convent Road
17

Continue on Convent Road

23 ft · 1 sec · Convent Road
18

Arrive at destination

Convent Road

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 13

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 20.5 — 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.
6
0.5 mi into trip | ~1m in

Take the ramp toward I 676 East, US 30 East

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 676 East, US 30 East
6
0.7 mi into trip | ~1m 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
20.5 mi into trip | ~29m in | US 322

Keep slight right at fork onto US 322 toward US 322 West: West Chester

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward US 322 West: West Chester

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$4.18 one way

$8.36 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 9 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $4.58 $9.15
premium $4.93 $4.89 $9.77
diesel $5.61 $5.56 $11.13

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$4

Estimated CO2 emission: 8.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 7.6 0 $2.65 $1.21
Efficient EV 6.3 0 $2.20 $1.01
EV Truck/SUV 10.1 0 $3.53 $1.61

Gas CO2

9 kg

EV CO2

3 kg (67% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Philadelphia, PA

Morning in Philadelphia on Sunday

Local time

6:35 AM

EDT

Current temp

92°F

Mostly Sunny

SW 5 to 15 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 4:45AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 4:42AM EDT by NWS State College PA

Destination

Rockdale, PA

Morning in Rockdale on Sunday

Local time

6:35 AM

EDT

Current temp

74°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

18 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

40m on the road

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.

What kind of drive is this?

This drive is heavily highway-focused, with 80% of the journey on expressways and major roads. You'll experience a significant stretch of 18.3 miles on the Delaware Expressway, offering a consistent, faster-paced driving experience. As you transition to Pennell Road and US 322, the character might shift slightly, but the overall feel remains one of efficient travel. Expect a predominantly high-speed environment for most of your 40-minute trip.

80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18.3 mi on Delaware Expressway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Delaware Expressway and Pennell Road. 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 10/10

Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a short but busy drive. With 13 decision points packed into just 25.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 40m.

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 0.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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 Rockdale, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Philadelphia International Airport along the way.

Philadelphia International Airport

1.5 mi in | ~2m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 40m. Total distance: 25.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

40m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 18.3 miles on Delaware 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 Rockdale, 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 0.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes — Independence National Historical Park, Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial and First State 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 Rockdale, 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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