Origin
Tamaqua, PA
Afternoon in Tamaqua on Tuesday
Local time
4:41 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tamaqua, PA to Allentown, PA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
53m
Distance
35 mi
56 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 49m
★
6 AM
0h 54m
8 AM
1h 2m
10 AM
0h 57m
12 PM
0h 56m
3 PM
0h 57m
5 PM
1h 2m
8 PM
0h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tamaqua, PA
Haneul Trac
Allentown, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick excursion through Pennsylvania’s Northeast, the 35-mile trek from Tamaqua to Allentown is a straightforward choice. Expect to spend about 53 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal candidate for a one-day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via West Penn Pike, PA 100, and Tilghman Street to reach your destination. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $6, this commute is highly economical for those traveling between these two regional points. Whether you are heading into the city for business or leisure, this route provides a direct connection without the need for complex planning or multi-day pacing.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Penn Pike | 17.5 mi | 24m |
| PA 100 | 8.2 mi | 12m |
| Tilghman Street | 7.5 mi | 12m |
| Center Street | 1.5 mi | 3m |
| Mauch Chunk Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Pine Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| East Broad Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
West Penn Pike
— 17.5 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tamaqua, PA and Allentown, PA.
1
Start on PA 309
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
Mauch Chunk Street
2
Turn sharp right onto Pine Street
489 ft
·
20 sec
·
Pine Street
3
Turn right onto US 209
338 ft
·
20 sec
·
East Broad Street
4
Turn left onto PA 309
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Center Street
5
Continue on PA 309
17 mi
·
24 min
·
West Penn Pike
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn right onto PA 100
8.2 mi
·
12 min
·
PA 100
Use the left lane.
7
Turn left onto Tilghman Street
7.5 mi
·
12 min
·
Tilghman Street
Use the left lane.
8
Arrive at destination
Tilghman Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.5 miles from Tamaqua, 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 55 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 27.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Pine Street
Turn sharp right onto Pine Street
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 209 / East Broad Street
Turn right onto US 209 / East Broad Street
Navigation decision point
4
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
PA 309 / Center Street
Turn left onto PA 309 / Center Street
Navigation decision point
4
19.3 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
PA 100
Turn right onto PA 100
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
27.5 mi into trip
|
~41m in
|
Tilghman Street
Turn left onto Tilghman Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.71 one way
$11.42 round trip
$4.14/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.56 | $6.28 | $12.56 |
| premium | $4.86 | $6.70 | $13.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.73 | $15.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.5 | 0 | $3.68 | $1.68 |
| Efficient EV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.06 | $1.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14 | 0 | $4.90 | $2.24 |
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
Allentown, PA
Afternoon in Allentown on Tuesday
Local time
4:41 PM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 5 to 15 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 4:45AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 4:42AM EDT by NWS State College PA
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
29 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
53m 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 turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. While 23 miles of the trip take place on highways, the experience is defined by its winding, local nature. Your longest uninterrupted stretch covers 17.5 miles along West Penn Pike, providing the most consistent flow before you transition into more technical segments. Because the route relies heavily on local roads, you will find it shifts in pace as you move away from the smaller town atmosphere of Tamaqua toward the busier streets of Allentown. It is a drive that rewards a steady hand and a focus on the changing road conditions.
Only 23% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
8 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17.5 mi on West Penn Pike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Pine Street.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 53m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Pine Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.2 miles (US 209 / East Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (PA 309 / Center Street): Navigation decision point.
About the Cities
Arriving in Allentown, PA
Full guide →Allentown is the largest city in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania, the county seat and largest city in Lehigh County, and the third-largest city in Pennsylvania after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh with a population of 125,845 as of 2020.
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 53m. Total distance: 35 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (23%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 17.5 miles on West Penn Pike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.1 miles (Pine Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.2 miles (US 209 / East Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (PA 309 / Center Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Allentown, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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