Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 3m
Distance
193.8 mi
312 km
Drive Score
8/10
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
Zion, PA
Haneul Trac
Philadelphia, PA to Zion, PA is 193.8 miles and takes about 4h 3m via Pennsylvania Turnpike and US 322, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. It's primarily a highway-focused journey, making it a straightforward trip for a single day. Expect a consistent driving experience for most of the route, with most of your travel occurring on major roads. This makes it a convenient option for a quick getaway or a necessary transit between these two points.
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
96.9 miles from Philadelphia, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 52m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike | 78.8 mi | 1h 24m |
| US 322 | 54.4 mi | 1h 7m |
| US 22 | 19.1 mi | 25m |
| Schuylkill Expressway | 16.8 mi | 23m |
| East College Avenue | 4.4 mi | 6m |
| Old Fort Road | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| I 83 | 3.7 mi | 5m |
| South Pennsylvania Avenue | 3.6 mi | 7m |
Step-by-step road directions between Philadelphia, PA and Zion, 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
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 76
Keep slight left at fork onto I 76
Merge onto I 76; PATP
Take the exit
Continue on I 283
Keep slight right at fork onto I 283
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on I 83
Continue on US 322
Take the exit onto US 322
Keep slight right at fork onto US 322
Keep slight left at fork onto US 22; US 322
Take the exit
Enter roundabout onto Old Route 322
Continue on Old Route 322
Turn left onto PA 144
At end of road, turn left onto PA 144
Continue on PA 144
Continue on PA 144
Turn right onto TR 941
Turn right onto PA 26
Turn left onto PA 550
Arrive at destination
Given the 4h 3m duration, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Aiming for an early morning departure from Philadelphia will allow you to maximize your daylight and avoid potential rush hour traffic. With only one recommended stop, you have plenty of flexibility to pace yourself. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on the longest stretch of 78.8 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, as services can be spaced out on longer highway segments. The route's highway-heavy nature means most of your fueling and rest stops will be at standard service plazas.
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 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 96.9 miles or 1h 52m 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 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Zion, 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 193.8 miles and 4h 3m.
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 96.9 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 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 78.8 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 18.4 and 108.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward US 202, US 422 West: King of Prussia, West Chester, Pottstown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward US 202 South, US 422 West: Mall Boulevard, West Chester, Pottstown, Swedesford Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward Mall Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 283, PA 283: Harrisburg, Hershey
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto US 322 toward US 22 West, US 322 West: Lewistown, State College
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$32.13 one way
$64.26 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $35.19 | $70.38 |
| premium | $4.93 | $37.58 | $75.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $42.79 | $85.58 |
Estimated Tolls: $10.24
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: 67.8 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 | 58.1 | 0 | $20.35 | $9.30 |
| Efficient EV | 48.5 | 0 | $16.96 | $7.75 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 77.5 | 0 | $27.13 | $12.40 |
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
Evening in Philadelphia on Sunday
Local time
5:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
92°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Evening in Zion on Sunday
Local time
5:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°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
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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This route is heavily highway-focused, with 92% of the drive taking place on major roadways. You'll experience long stretches of consistent speed, including a longest uninterrupted segment of 78.8 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The primary roads guiding you are the Pennsylvania Turnpike, US 322, and US 22. Expect a driving profile that prioritizes efficiency over winding local roads. This means a fairly predictable and fast-paced journey for the majority of your travel time.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and US 322. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 18.4 miles in.
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 27 significant decision points across 193.8 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 18.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Philadelphia, PA and Zion, PA, road signs point toward Chester, Pottstown, Harrisburg, Hershey, State College and Lewistown - among others.
Chester
Pottstown
Harrisburg
Hershey
State College
Lewistown
Potters Mills
“City of Brotherly Love” · Founded 1682
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 3m. Total distance: 193.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). 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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