Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 47m
Distance
296.4 mi
477 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$49
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pittsburgh, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Upland, PA
Wikimedia Commons
This 296.4-mile drive from Pittsburgh to Upland, Pennsylvania, is designed for a single day, taking approximately 5 hours and 47 minutes. It’s a highway-focused journey, with 92% of the route utilizing major roadways, making it an efficient trip across the Northeast region. With an estimated fuel cost of $49, this route offers a straightforward way to get from point A to point B without significant detours. You'll spend a substantial amount of time on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, which forms the backbone of this nearly 300-mile excursion. Consider this a direct transit, ideal for when your priority is covering distance effectively.
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
148.2 miles from Pittsburgh, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 48m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike | 256.2 mi | 4h 39m |
| Penn-Lincoln Parkway East | 13.6 mi | 18m |
| Pottstown Pike | 7.1 mi | 11m |
| Middletown Road | 5.8 mi | 9m |
| West Chester Pike | 3.4 mi | 6m |
| South New Middletown Road | 2.9 mi | 5m |
| US 202 | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| South Chester Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Pittsburgh, PA and Upland, PA.
Start on Grant Street
Continue on Grant Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 376; US 22; US 30
Take the exit
Continue on this road
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 76; PATP
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto PA 100
Merge onto US 202
Take the exit
Turn right onto PA 3
Turn right onto PA 352
Continue on PA 352
Continue on PA 352
Continue on PA 352
Turn right onto Upland Road
Continue on Main Street
Arrive at destination
Given the 5-hour and 47-minute duration, starting your journey from Pittsburgh earlier in the day will allow you to arrive in Upland with ample time, avoiding late-night driving. While the route has only one recommended stop, you might want to plan brief breaks along the Pennsylvania Turnpike to stretch your legs, especially during the 256.2-mile stretch. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $49 estimated cost covers the entire distance, and topping up before embarking or at a midway point on the Turnpike is a good idea. This is a direct drive, so flexibility in your timing is a key advantage.
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 65 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 148.2 miles or 2h 48m 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 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Upland, PA than in the middle of the route.
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 296.4 miles and 5h 47m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
148 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 65 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 148.2 miles from Pittsburgh, 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 256.2 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 14.3 and 280.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I 76, PATP: Ohio, Harrisburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 76 East: Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward PA 100: Downingtown, Pottstown, West Chester
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 PA 100 South: Downingtown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward PA 3: Newtown Square
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$49.14 one way
$98.28 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $53.82 | $107.64 |
| premium | $4.93 | $57.48 | $114.97 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $65.44 | $130.88 |
Estimated Tolls: $33.30
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
$49
Tolls
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$107–$132
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 103.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 88.9 | 1 | $31.12 | $14.23 |
| Efficient EV | 74.1 | 0 | $25.93 | $11.86 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 118.6 | 1 | $41.50 | $18.97 |
Gas CO2
104 kg
EV CO2
35 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Pittsburgh on Sunday
Local time
12:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Late night in Upland on Sunday
Local time
12:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
54°F
Hancock, MD
148 mi in
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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National Historical Park
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Expect a predominantly highway experience for this 296.4-mile trip, as 92% of the drive is on major roads like the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Penn-Lincoln Parkway East. The character is largely that of a fast-paced, straightforward transit, with a significant uninterrupted stretch of 256.2 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. This means you'll be in highway mode for most of the journey, with limited exposure to slower, more local roads. The drive is structured to keep you moving efficiently, minimizing time spent navigating town centers or complex intersections.
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.
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 15 significant decision points across 296.4 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 271 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
2,259 ft
Total Descent
2,996 ft
Highest Point
2,081 ft
~63.5 mi in
Elevation Range
2,052 ft
Notable High Points
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Pittsburgh, PA and Upland, PA, road signs point toward Pottstown and Chester.
Pottstown
Chester
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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 47m. Total distance: 296.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 47m 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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