Origin
Red Lion, PA
Morning in Red Lion on Sunday
Local time
6:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Red Lion, PA to Harrisburg, PA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
49m
Distance
34.5 mi
55 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 46m
★
6 AM
0h 50m
8 AM
0h 58m
10 AM
0h 53m
12 PM
0h 52m
3 PM
0h 53m
5 PM
0h 57m
8 PM
0h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Red Lion, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick connection between Red Lion and Harrisburg, this 34.5-mile journey is a straightforward trek through Pennsylvania. You can easily complete the drive in about 49 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a one-day trip. With a fuel budget of approximately $6, it is an economical route that requires no overnight stays. The path primarily utilizes I-83, Cape Horn Road, and South 13th Street to bridge these two Northeast locations. Because the trip is short and efficient, it offers great flexibility for your schedule, whether you are heading to the state capital for business or a quick visit.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 83 | 25.2 mi | 31m |
| Cape Horn Road | 4.6 mi | 8m |
| South 13th Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Mount Rose Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| North Main Street | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| State Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| North 7th Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| East Prospect Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 83
— 25.2 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Red Lion, PA and Harrisburg, PA.
1
Start on PA 74
44 ft
·
4 sec
·
East Broadway
2
Turn right onto PA 24
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Continue on PA 24
4.6 mi
·
8 min
·
Cape Horn Road
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn left onto PA 124
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
East Prospect Road
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on PA 124
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Mount Rose Avenue
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 83 North: Harrisburg
7
Merge onto I 83
25 mi
·
31 min
·
I 83
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 44A
Toward PA 230: 13th Street
Use the right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
134 ft
·
3 sec
Toward 13th Street
Use the right lane.
10
Merge onto South 13th Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
South 13th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn left onto State Street
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
State Street
12
Continue on Fisher Plaza
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Fisher Plaza
13
Keep slight right at fork onto North 7th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North 7th Street
14
Arrive at destination
North 7th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 34.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.2 miles from Red Lion, 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 32.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
PA 24 / North Main Street
Turn right onto PA 24 / North Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
5.3 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
PA 124 / East Prospect Road
Turn left onto PA 124 / East Prospect Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
6.8 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
I 83
Merge onto I 83
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
32 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Take the exit toward PA 230: 13th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 44A
Toward PA 230: 13th Street
8
32.2 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 13th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward 13th Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.72 one way
$11.44 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $6.26 | $12.53 |
| premium | $4.93 | $6.69 | $13.38 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.62 | $15.23 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.62 | $1.66 |
| Efficient EV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.02 | $1.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.83 | $2.21 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (67% 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
Harrisburg, PA
Morning in Harrisburg on Sunday
Local time
6:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
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
11 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
49m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This 49-minute drive is heavily highway-focused, with 73% of your travel occurring on major thoroughfares. You will spend the bulk of your time on I-83, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 25.2 miles. While the route begins on local roads like Cape Horn Road and South 13th Street, the experience quickly shifts into a standard interstate commute once you merge onto the main highway. Expect a practical, no-nonsense drive that prioritizes speed and efficiency over winding backroads. The transition from local streets to the interstate happens early, setting a consistent pace for the remainder of your trip.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 25.2 mi on I 83.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 83 and Cape Horn Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near PA 24 / North Main Street.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 34.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 49m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (PA 24 / North Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.3 miles (PA 124 / East Prospect Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.8 miles (I 83): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
917 ft
332 ft
Total Climb
225 ft
Total Descent
810 ft
Highest Point
917 ft
Elevation Range
585 ft
About the Cities
Arriving in Harrisburg, PA
Full guide →Harrisburg is the capital and 4th-largest metropolitan area of Pennsylvania, with a metro population of 592,000 people in 2020. Harrisburg is known as the host city of the Pennsylvania Farm Show, the largest free indoor agriculture exposition in the United States, the largest annual outdoor sports show in North America, an auto show, which features a large static display of new and classic cars, and Motorama, a two-day event consisting of a car show, motocross racing, and remote control car racing.
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 49m. Total distance: 34.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 25.2 miles on I 83. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Harrisburg, 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: near the start (PA 24 / North Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.3 miles (PA 124 / East Prospect Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.8 miles (I 83): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Harrisburg, 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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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