Pittsburgh to Souderton is 309.6 miles and takes about 5 hours 52 minutes via the Pennsylvania Turnpike and its Northeast Extension, with a fuel budget near $52 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Pennsylvania, traversing the Northeast region for its entirety. It's a straightforward, primarily highway-based trip that’s well-suited for a single-day drive. You'll be on major toll roads for most of the journey, making for efficient travel if you're looking to get from point A to point B without many detours.
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
154.8 miles from Pittsburgh, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
278.3 mi
5h 2m
Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
13.6 mi
18m
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
9.6 mi
10m
Wambold Road
3.1 mi
6m
Sumneytown Pike
0.9 mi
1m
East Township Line Road
0.8 mi
1m
Souderton Hatfield Pike
0.5 mi
1m
Washington Avenue
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 278.3 mi, about 5h 2m
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 Souderton, 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
278 mi·5 hr 2 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward I 476 North: Northeast Extension, AllentownUse the slight right lane.
Exit 31AToward PA 63 East: KulpsvilleUse the slight right lane.
12
Turn left onto PA 63
0.9 mi·1 min·Sumneytown Pike
Use the left lane.
13
Turn right onto Wambold Road
3.1 mi·6 min·Wambold Road
14
Continue on East Township Line Road
0.8 mi·1 min·East Township Line Road
15
Turn left onto Souderton Hatfield Pike
0.5 mi·1 min·Souderton Hatfield Pike
16
Continue on Washington Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·Washington Avenue
17
Turn right onto West Broad Street
266 ft·14 sec·West Broad Street
18
Turn left onto PA 113
0.3 mi·57 sec·North Main Street
19
Turn left
55 ft·4 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour 52-minute drive time, leaving Pittsburgh in the morning will allow you to reach Souderton well before evening. You'll have one recommended stop, which you can use for a break or fuel. The longest stretch without a major change in road type is 278.3 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, so plan your fuel stops accordingly, especially since much of this route is on toll roads. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the turnpike's service plazas, as they are spaced out.
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 154.8 miles from Pittsburgh, PA, or about 2h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 278.3 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 68 miles or 1h 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 154.8 miles or 2h 55m 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 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Souderton, 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 309.6 miles and 5h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 68 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 278.3 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 14.3 and 303.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
7
293.1 mi into trip|~5h 26m in
Take the exit toward I 476 North: Northeast Extension, Allentown
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 I 476 North: Northeast Extension, Allent...
7
303.2 mi into trip|~5h 37m in
Take the exit toward PA 63 East: Kulpsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 31A
Toward PA 63 East: Kulpsville
6
303.5 mi into trip|~5h 38m in|PA 63 / Sumneytown Pike
Turn left onto PA 63 / Sumneytown Pike
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$54.75 one way
$109.51 round trip
$4.49/gal25.4 MPG avg108 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.92
$59.97
$119.94
premium
$5.24
$63.92
$127.84
diesel
$5.35
$65.21
$130.42
Estimated Tolls: $37.43
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(287.9 mi)$37.43
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
$55
Tolls
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$117–$142
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 108.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
92.9
1
$32.51
$14.86
Efficient EV
77.4
0
$27.09
$12.38
EV Truck/SUV
123.8
1
$43.34
$19.81
Gas CO2
108 kg
EV CO2
36 kg (67% 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Pittsburgh, PA
Afternoon
in Pittsburgh on Wednesday
Local time
3:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Partly Cloudy
NW 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Souderton, PA
Afternoon
in Souderton on Wednesday
Local time
3:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Mostly Clear
N 5 mph0% chanceLive 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
3 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 52m 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.
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...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 181.5
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...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 288.2
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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 74.7
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 224.2
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...
15 mi from route
~37 min detour
$1
near mile 288.2
Visit the house where wounded Polish freedom fighter Thaddeus Kosciuszko lived and hear how this brilliant military engineer designed successful fortifications during the American Revolution. See the...
15 mi from route
~38 min detour
Free
near mile 288.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect to spend 97% of your time on major highways, covering a substantial 278.3 miles almost exclusively on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. This means you'll encounter a high volume of exits and interchanges for a significant portion of the drive. The transition from the main turnpike to the Northeast Extension is seamless, maintaining the highway feel. You'll likely notice the density of exits as you approach major junctions and cities before settling into longer stretches of cruising.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 278.3 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and Penn-Lincoln Parkway East. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 14.3 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 309.6 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 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; at 293.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,179 ft153 ft
Total Climb
1,985 ft
Total Descent
2,335 ft
Highest Point
2,179 ft
~66.3 mi in
Elevation Range
2,026 ft
Notable High Points
2,179 ft at ~66.3 miles+618 ft prominence
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 Pittsburgh, PA to Souderton, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Allentown along the way.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 52m. Total distance: 309.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 278.3 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $37.43 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 20 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 Souderton, 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 20 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 293.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument, Valley Forge National Historical Park 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 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Souderton, PA before the return drive.
