This 287.8-mile drive from Pittsburgh to Audubon, Pennsylvania, is a straightforward, highway-focused trip that can comfortably be completed in about 5 hours and 28 minutes. It's an ideal candidate for a single-day journey, especially with a fuel cost estimated around $48. The route primarily utilizes the Pennsylvania Turnpike, offering a direct path through the Northeast region. Given its highway nature and manageable duration, this trip is designed for efficient travel rather than extensive sightseeing along the way. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on high-speed roads, making it a practical choice for reaching your destination without needing to break up the drive.
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
143.9 miles from Pittsburgh, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
263.8 mi
4h 47m
Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
13.6 mi
18m
Whitehorse Road
3.7 mi
6m
Pawlings Road
3.4 mi
6m
Valley Forge Road
0.9 mi
1m
North Morehall Road
0.5 mi
1m
Grant Street
0.3 mi
1m
Egypt Road
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 263.8 mi, about 4h 47m
Traffic on I-376
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 6 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~3,320 veh/hr typical
Quietest
3 AM
~202 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pittsburgh, PA and Audubon, PA.
1
Start on Grant Street
45 ft·9 sec·Grant Street
2
Continue on Grant Street
0.3 mi·1 min·Grant Street
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·50 sec
Toward I 376 East: Monroeville
4
Merge onto I 376; US 22; US 30
14 mi·18 min·Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi·1 min
Exit 85Toward I 76, PATP: Ohio, Harrisburg
6
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·30 sec·this road
Use the straight lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward I 76 East: HarrisburgUse the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 76; PATP
264 mi·4 hr 47 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 320Toward PA 29: Phoenixville, MalvernUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Turn right
206 ft·5 sec
Toward PA 29 North: Phoenixville
11
Turn slight right onto PA 29
0.5 mi·1 min·North Morehall Road
Use the straight lane.
12
Turn right onto Whitehorse Road
3.7 mi·6 min·Whitehorse Road
13
Turn right onto PA 23
0.9 mi·1 min·Valley Forge Road
Use the straight lane.
14
Turn left onto Pawlings Road
3.4 mi·6 min·Pawlings Road
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto Egypt Road
108 ft·4 sec·Egypt Road
Use the right lane.
16
Turn right
108 ft·10 sec
17
Turn right
155 ft·11 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5-hour, 28-minute drive, consider an early morning departure to bypass potential rush hour congestion around Pittsburgh. With such a significant portion of the route on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, plan for your single designated stop strategically, perhaps around the halfway point or slightly beyond the longest stretch. Your fuel cost is estimated at $48, so ensure your tank is full before heading out. Given the highway-centric nature, the primary consideration is maintaining focus on the road and managing your energy levels for the nearly 288-mile journey.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 143.9 miles from Pittsburgh, PA, or about 2h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 263.8 miles.
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 63 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 143.9 miles or 2h 43m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Audubon, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Pittsburgh, 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 Pittsburgh, PA
This is one driving day of about 287.8 miles and 5h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Pittsburgh, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Pennsylvania Turnpike for about 263.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 283.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.7 mi into trip|~2m in|I 376; US 22; US 30 / Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
Merge onto I 376; US 22; US 30 / Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
14.3 mi into trip|~20m in
Take the exit toward I 76, PATP: Ohio, Harrisburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 85
Toward I 76, PATP: Ohio, Harrisburg
8
14.7 mi into trip|~22m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 76 East: Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 76 East: Harrisburg
8
278.6 mi into trip|~5h 10m in
Take the exit toward PA 29: Phoenixville, Malvern
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 320
Toward PA 29: Phoenixville, Malvern
5
283.5 mi into trip|~5h 19m in|PA 23 / Valley Forge Road
Turn right onto PA 23 / Valley Forge Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$50.90 one way
$101.80 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg101 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$55.75
$111.49
premium
$5.24
$59.42
$118.84
diesel
$5.35
$60.62
$121.24
Estimated Tolls: $34.29
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(263.8 mi)$34.29
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
$51
Tolls
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$110–$135
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 100.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
86.3
1
$30.22
$13.81
Efficient EV
72
0
$25.18
$11.51
EV Truck/SUV
115.1
1
$40.29
$18.42
Gas CO2
101 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 May 26, 2026
Origin
Pittsburgh, PA
Evening
in Pittsburgh on Wednesday
Local time
5:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 0 to 5 mph18% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Audubon, PA
Evening
in Audubon on Wednesday
Local time
5:53 PM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
6 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
5h 28m on the road
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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Valley Forge National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Valley Forge is the place where George Washington and the Continental Army took refuge during the winter of 1777-1778. Today the park protects 3,500 acres of meadows, woodlands, historic landscapes, a...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Free
near mile 287.8
Park Closure: Sun, Apr 19 - Park Entrance and Tour Roads Temporarily Closed for Rev Run
Park Closure: Admin Parking Lot Closed Fri 4/17 Until Sun 4/19 at Noon for Rev Run Setup
Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument
National Monument
More than 7,800 children from 140 Tribes went to the Carlisle School from 1879 to 1918. The National Park Service will collaborate with families, affiliated Tribal Nations, the US Army, historians, an...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 188.6
On Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, the U.S. came under attack when four commercial airliners were hijacked and used to strike targets on the ground. Nearly 3,000 people tragically lost their live...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
Free
near mile 79.4
The Appalachian Trail is a 2,190+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by p...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 228.3
Famous as the First State to ratify the Constitution, Delaware was born out of a conflict among three world powers for dominance of the Delaware Valley. From this beginning, the region developed a dis...
17 mi from route
~42 min detour
Free
near mile 277.9
The park represents the founding ideals of the nation, and preserves national and international symbols of freedom and democracy, including Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. The Declaration of I...
20 mi from route
~49 min detour
$1
near mile 287.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a decidedly highway-focused experience, with 96% of this route comprising high-speed roadways. The majority of your time will be spent on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 263.8 miles. This means consistent driving speeds and minimal need to navigate local traffic for extended periods. While the Penn-Lincoln Parkway East and Whitehorse Road are mentioned as part of the journey, the overall character remains one of swift, direct travel, largely free from the complexities of urban or winding rural roads.
96% 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: 263.8 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and Penn-Lincoln Parkway East. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near I 376; US 22; US 30 / Penn-Lincoln Parkway East.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 287.8 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (I 376; US 22; US 30 / Penn-Lincoln Parkway East): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The pleasure of Pittsburgh remains a well-kept secret. Though not built up by reputation, the city's unique combination of bridges, steep hills, and broad rivers make it one of the most naturally scenic cities in the country. Cheap food and beer abound in this true sports town and the locals are amazingly friendly. A city of about 303,000 (2021) in Allegheny County, at the center of a metro area of about 2.4 million in southwestern Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh is situated at the confluence of three rivers: the Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers, which meet to form the Ohio River. The city's unique terrain has resulted in an unusual city design and a hodge-podge of unique neighborhood "pockets" with diverse ethnic and architectural heritage.
Top landmarks
•Carnegie Museum of Natural History — natural history museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
•Allegheny Observatory — historic observatory of the University of Pittsburgh
•Carnegie Museum of Art — museum in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Audubon is a community in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. It was named for naturalist John James Audubon, who lived there as a young man. The population was 8,400 in 2010.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 28m. Total distance: 287.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 263.8 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $34.29 in tolls one way, starting with Pennsylvania Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 19 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Audubon, PA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 19 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (I 376; US 22; US 30 / Penn-Lincoln Parkway East): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Valley Forge National Historical Park, Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument and Flight 93 National Memorial (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 10.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Audubon, PA before the return drive.
