Susquehanna Trails, PA to Philadelphia, PA is 88.8 miles and takes about 2h 9m via John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. Expect a mixed drive that balances highway speeds with potential for some local road transitions. Given its manageable distance and duration, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion, making it a straightforward option for getting from point A to point B without requiring an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44.4 miles from Susquehanna Trails, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
19.9 mi
23m
Delaware Expressway
12.1 mi
16m
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
11.7 mi
13m
Delaware Turnpike
10.5 mi
12m
Whiteford Road
6.3 mi
11m
Darlington Road
4.4 mi
7m
Level Road
3 mi
4m
Schuylkill Expressway
2.3 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
— 19.9 mi, about 23m
Traffic on I-95
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 73 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~4,813 veh/hr typical
· worst 5,739
Quietest
1 AM
~512 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 49 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 Susquehanna Trails, PA and Philadelphia, PA.
1
Start on Juniper Road
251 ft·16 sec·Juniper Road
2
Turn left onto Jonquil Road
0.1 mi·28 sec·Jonquil Road
3
Turn left onto Aubel Road
0.2 mi·1 min·Aubel Road
4
Turn left onto Bair Road
1.2 mi·4 min·Bair Road
5
Turn left onto PA 851
1.8 mi·3 min·Bryansville Road
6
Enter roundabout onto PA 74
53 ft·0 sec·Delta Road
7
Continue on PA 74
2.0 mi·2 min·Delta Road
8
Continue on MD 165
0.7 mi·1 min·Pylesville Road
9
Turn left onto MD 136
6.3 mi·11 min·Whiteford Road
10
Turn left onto MD 440
1.8 mi·3 min·Dublin Road
Use the left lane.
11
Turn left onto US 1
1.6 mi·2 min·Conowingo Road
12
Turn right onto MD 161
1.0 mi·1 min·Main Street
13
Continue on MD 161
4.4 mi·7 min·Darlington Road
14
At end of road, turn left onto MD 155
3.0 mi·4 min·Level Road
Use the left lane.
15
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward I 95 North: New York
16
Merge onto I 95
20 mi·23 min·John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on I 95
0.6 mi·39 sec·Delaware Turnpike
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
10.0 mi·11 min·Delaware Turnpike
Toward EZ-Pass OnlyUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
1.4 mi·1 min·Wilmington Expressway
Toward I 95, I 495: Wilmington, Philadelphia
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 495
12 mi·13 min·Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Merge onto I 95
0.2 mi·14 sec·Wilmington Expressway
22
Continue on I 95
3.5 mi·4 min·Delaware Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95
8.5 mi·11 min·Delaware Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 13Toward Valley Forge, Island AvenueUse the slight right lane.
25
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 13Toward Valley Forge, Island AvenueUse the slight right lane.
26
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward Valley ForgeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Continue on PA 291
2.0 mi·3 min·Penrose Avenue
28
Turn left onto South 26th Street
1.4 mi·2 min·South 26th Street
Use the left lane.
29
Merge onto I 76
2.3 mi·3 min·Schuylkill Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 345Toward 30th StreetUse the slight right lane.
31
Turn straight onto PA 3
276 ft·8 sec·Schuylkill Avenue
32
Turn right onto PA 3
0.9 mi·2 min·Market Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
33
At end of road, turn right onto PA 611
85 ft·1 sec·South 15th Street
Use the right lane.
34
Turn slight left onto PA 611
379 ft·8 sec·South Penn Square
35
Keep slight left at fork onto South Penn Square
167 ft·2 sec·South Penn Square
36
Arrive at destination
South Penn Square
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short, single-day trip of just over 2 hours, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning should comfortably get you to Philadelphia with plenty of daylight remaining. The fuel cost is estimated at $15, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before you depart, as there are no specific stops recommended along the way. Keep an eye on traffic, especially as you approach the Philadelphia area, as congestion can significantly impact your travel time on these main roads.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 44.4 miles from Susquehanna Trails, PA, or about 1h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 19.9 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 20 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.4 miles or 1h 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Philadelphia, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Susquehanna Trails, 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 Susquehanna Trails, PA
This is one driving day of about 88.8 miles and 2h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Susquehanna Trails, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway for about 19.9 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 26
5 decision points cluster between mile 45.1 and 87.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
45.1 mi into trip|~1h 9m in|I 95 / Delaware Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 / Delaware Turnpike toward EZ-Pass Only
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward EZ-Pass Only
8
80.4 mi into trip|~1h 52m in
Take the exit toward Valley Forge, Island Avenue
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 13
Toward Valley Forge, Island Avenue
9
81.3 mi into trip|~1h 54m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Valley Forge, Island Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 13
Toward Valley Forge, Island Avenue
8
81.6 mi into trip|~1h 55m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Valley Forge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Valley Forge
7
87.6 mi into trip|~2h 5m in
Take the exit toward 30th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 345
Toward 30th Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.28 one way
$28.57 round trip
$4.09/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$16.08
$32.16
premium
$4.95
$17.32
$34.64
diesel
$5.98
$20.91
$41.81
Estimated Tolls: $0.74
Delaware Turnpike
(10.5 mi)$0.74
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
$14
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.1 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.6
0
$9.32
$4.26
Efficient EV
22.2
0
$7.77
$3.55
EV Truck/SUV
35.5
0
$12.43
$5.68
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (68% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 26, 2026
Origin
Susquehanna Trails, PA
Afternoon
in Susquehanna Trails on Sunday
Local time
3:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Philadelphia, PA
Afternoon
in Philadelphia on Sunday
Local time
3:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Mostly Cloudy
NE 10 mph5% 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
9 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
2h 9m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Independence National Historical Park
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...
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...
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...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
Free
near mile 64.3
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...
17 mi from route
~44 min detour
Free
near mile 76.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a mixed drive experience, with about 30% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter stretches like the 19.9-mile segment on the John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway, which provides a more direct and faster pace. However, the overall character suggests you'll also navigate sections that are less direct, possibly involving Delaware Expressway and Vietnam Veterans Memorial Highway, which could mean more varied traffic patterns and speed changes. Prepare for a drive that isn't a constant interstate cruise but rather a blend of efficient travel and more localized road conditions.
30% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19.9 mi on John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 45.1 miles in near I 95 / Delaware Turnpike.
Driving Effort10/10
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 26 significant decision points across 88.8 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 45.1 miles (I 95 / Delaware Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 80.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 81.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Susquehanna Trails, PA and Philadelphia, PA, road signs point toward Ez-Pass Only and Valley Forge.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 9m. Total distance: 88.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (30%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 19.9 miles on John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.74 in tolls one way, starting with Delaware 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 45.1 miles (I 95 / Delaware Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 80.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 81.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Independence National Historical Park, Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial and First State 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.
