Origin
Quakertown, PA
Morning in Quakertown on Sunday
Local time
7:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Quakertown, PA to Philadelphia, PA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 2m
Distance
47.5 mi
76 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 13m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 13m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Quakertown, PA
Michael Taccetta
Philadelphia, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 47.5-mile drive from Quakertown, PA, to Philadelphia, PA, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 2 minutes. It's a perfect candidate for a day trip, requiring no overnight stays. The route is primarily highway-focused, with 87% of the journey on major roads, making it efficient for getting from point A to point B. You can expect a fuel cost of around $8 for this stretch. Given its short duration and highway nature, this drive is ideal for those looking for a quick and uncomplicated journey between the Northeast region of Pennsylvania.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension | 24.3 mi | 26m |
| Schuylkill Expressway | 12.6 mi | 17m |
| Mid-County Expressway | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| John Fries Highway | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| West Broad Street | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Vine Street Expressway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| North 15th Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| South Penn Square | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
— 24.3 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Quakertown, PA and Philadelphia, PA.
1
Start on PA 313
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
West Broad Street
2
Continue on PA 663
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
John Fries Highway
3
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward PATP
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 476 South: Philadelphia
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
5
Merge onto I 476; PATP
24 mi
·
25 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 476; PATP
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Exit 20
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 476; PATP
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Use the slight left lane.
8
Continue on I 476
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Mid-County Expressway
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 16
Toward I 76 East, I 76 West: Philadelphia, Valley Forge
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
Exit 16A
Toward I 76 East: Philadelphia
Use the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto I 76
13 mi
·
17 min
·
Schuylkill Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 676; US 30
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Vine Street Expressway
Toward I 676 East, US 30 East: Central Philadelphia
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward Central Philadelphia
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork
313 ft
·
11 sec
Toward 15th Street, Central Philadelphia
Use the slight right lane.
15
Turn right onto North 15th Street
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
North 15th Street
Use the right lane.
16
Turn slight left onto PA 611
379 ft
·
8 sec
·
South Penn Square
17
Keep slight left at fork onto South Penn Square
167 ft
·
2 sec
·
South Penn Square
18
Arrive at destination
South Penn Square
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.8 miles from Quakertown, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 4.6 and 47 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
4.6 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 476 South: Philadelphia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 476 South: Philadelphia
8
32.7 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Take the exit toward I 76 East, I 76 West: Philadelphia, Valley Forge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 16
Toward I 76 East, I 76 West: Philadelphia, Vall...
8
33.1 mi into trip
|
~41m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 76 East: Philadelphia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 16A
Toward I 76 East: Philadelphia
8
46 mi into trip
|
~1h in
|
I 676; US 30 / Vine Street Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 676; US 30 / Vine Street Expressway toward I 676 East, US 30 East: Central Philadelphia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward I 676 East, US 30 East: Central Philadel...
9
47 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 15th Street, Central Philadelphia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward 15th Street, Central Philadelphia
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.87 one way
$15.75 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $8.62 | $17.25 |
| premium | $4.93 | $9.21 | $18.42 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.49 | $20.97 |
Estimated Tolls: $3.17
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(24.3 mi)
$3.17
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$3
Total
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.3 | 0 | $4.99 | $2.28 |
| Efficient EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.16 | $1.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19 | 0 | $6.65 | $3.04 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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.
Destination
Philadelphia, PA
Morning in Philadelphia on Sunday
Local time
7:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Partly Sunny then Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
NW 10 to 15 mph
29% chance
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
38 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
1h 2m 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?
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 47.5-mile trip, with 87% of the drive utilizing major roadways. The Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension forms the longest uninterrupted stretch at 24.3 miles, offering a consistent pace. As you transition onto the Schuylkill Expressway and then the Mid-County Expressway, the character remains largely that of a fast-paced highway. This route prioritizes direct travel over leisurely sightseeing, providing a functional drive with minimal deviation from high-speed corridors.
87% 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: 24.3 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and Schuylkill Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 47.5 miles you will encounter 12 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 4.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 32.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Quakertown, PA and Philadelphia, PA, road signs point toward Patp and Valley Forge.
Patp
4.2 mi in
|
~7m
Valley Forge
32.7 mi in
|
~41m
About the Cities
Arriving in Philadelphia, PA
Full guide →“City of Brotherly Love” · Founded 1682
Top landmarks
- • Independence Hall — historic building in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- • Liberty Bell — bell in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA that serves as a symbol of American inde...
- • Philadelphia Museum of Art — art museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 2m. Total distance: 47.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 24.3 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.17 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.
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 Philadelphia, 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 4.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 32.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Independence National Historical Park, Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial and Valley Forge 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 Philadelphia, 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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