Skip to main content
US Trip Planner Logo
US Trip Planner

Trip from Trafford, PA to Allentown, PA

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 13m

Distance

264.6 mi

426 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$44

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
5h 0m ★
6 AM
5h 13m
8 AM
5h 40m
10 AM
5h 23m
12 PM
5h 20m
3 PM
5h 24m
5 PM
5h 39m
8 PM
5h 5m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
borough of Pennsylvania

Trafford, PA

Wikimedia Commons

county seat city in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, United States

Allentown, PA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Trafford, PA to Allentown, PA is 264.6 miles and takes about 5h 13m via Pennsylvania Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $44 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. It's a single-day drive that's primarily highway-focused, making it a straightforward journey. You'll cover a significant distance, so plan for a full day of driving. The main roads include the Pennsylvania Turnpike, William Penn Highway, and American Legion Memorial Highway, offering a consistent travel experience.

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

132.3 miles from Trafford, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 32m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike 159.5 mi 2h 55m
William Penn Highway 42.8 mi 50m
American Legion Memorial Highway 22.5 mi 27m
I 81 12.7 mi 15m
78th Division Highway 7.6 mi 8m
Tilghman Street 4.9 mi 8m
Brinton Avenue 3.7 mi 6m
Water Street 1.7 mi 2m
Longest stretch: Pennsylvania Turnpike — 159.5 mi, about 2h 55m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Trafford, PA and Allentown, PA.

1

Start on Duquesne Avenue

29 ft · 7 sec · Duquesne Avenue
2

Turn left onto PA 130

508 ft · 16 sec · 5th Street
3

Turn left onto PA 993

3.7 mi · 6 min · Brinton Avenue
4

Continue on PA 993

1.7 mi · 2 min · Water Street
5

Turn right onto PA 993

0.5 mi · 58 sec · Main Street
6

Turn left onto Pennsylvania Avenue

0.2 mi · 26 sec · Pennsylvania Avenue
7

Turn right onto Chestnut Street

0.1 mi · 17 sec · Chestnut Street
8

Continue on 10th Street

0.2 mi · 34 sec · 10th Street
9

Turn left onto US 30

1.3 mi · 2 min · Lincoln Highway
10

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 24 sec
Toward PATP, I 76
11

Continue on this road

0.2 mi · 21 sec · this road
Toward PATP, I 76
12

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 44 sec
Toward I 76 East: Harrisburg Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
13

Merge onto I 76; PATP

160 mi · 2 hr 55 min · Pennsylvania Turnpike
14

Take the exit

0.9 mi · 2 min
Toward I 81, US 11: Carlisle, Harrisburg Use the slight right lane.
15

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 54 sec
Toward US 11 North: Harrisburg Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Continue on US 11

1.1 mi · 2 min · Harrisburg Pike
Use the straight lane.
17

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 34 sec
Toward I 81 North: Harrisburg
18

Merge onto I 81

13 mi · 15 min · I 81
Use the straight / right lanes.
19

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 14 sec
Toward US 11, US 15: Enola, Marysville
20

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 28 sec
Toward US 11 North, US 15 North: Marysville
21

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 32 sec
22

Merge onto I 81

0.7 mi · 1 min · George N. Wade Memorial Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23

Continue on I 81

3.4 mi · 4 min · American Legion Memorial Highway
24

Keep slight left at fork onto I 81

19 mi · 22 min · American Legion Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 45 sec
Exit 89 Toward I 78 East: Allentown
26

Continue on I 78

7.6 mi · 8 min · 78th Division Highway
27

Continue on I 78; US 22

43 mi · 50 min · William Penn Highway
Use the straight lane.
28

Keep slight right at fork onto US 22

1.0 mi · 1 min · Lehigh Valley Thruway
Exit 51 Toward US 22 East: Pennsylvania Turnpike, LVI Airport Use the slight right lane.
29

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Toward Cetronia Use the slight right lane.
30

Turn straight onto Tilghman Street

4.9 mi · 8 min · Tilghman Street
Use the straight lane.
31

Arrive at destination

Tilghman Street

Trip Plan

Given the 5h 13m estimated duration, departing in the morning is your best bet to complete this 264.6-mile journey within daylight hours. With only one recommended stop, you can choose to make it a brief fuel and stretch break or a more substantial meal stop. The longest stretch of 159.5 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike means you'll want to ensure you have adequate fuel before entering that segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach that longer highway portion, to avoid any unexpected delays.

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 132.3 miles from Trafford, PA, or about 2h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 159.5 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 58 miles or 1h 11m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 132.3 miles or 2h 32m 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 14m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Allentown, PA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Trafford, 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 Trafford, PA

This is one driving day of about 264.6 miles and 5h 13m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from Trafford, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Pennsylvania Turnpike for about 159.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Hancock, MD, MD

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Hancock, MD

132 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

Cumberland, MD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 58 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Hancock, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 132.3 miles from Trafford, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Pennsylvania Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 159.5 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

China Garden Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour $10 to $20

Irwin, Pennsylvania

Hours: 11:30 am–9 pm

+17248634483

Visit website

Esta Esta Restaurant

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour $20 to $30

Monroeville, Pennsylvania

Hours: 4:30–9 pm

+14123724414

Visit website

The Village

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour $10 to $20 mile 18.9

Mt Pleasant, Pennsylvania

Hours: 4–8:30 pm

+17245473529

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 56.7

Somerset, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Sheetz, Inc. Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.7 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 18.9

New Stanton, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

3.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Early in the drive, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 56.7

Somerset, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

3.2 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour mile 18.9

New Stanton, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour

Monroeville, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Applegreen Electric Charging Station

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 18.9

Hunker, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18885577099

Visit website

EVgo Charging Station

3.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour

Monroeville, Pennsylvania

+18774943833

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~9 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~9 min detour

Monroeville, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 22

5 decision points cluster between mile 8.1 and 258.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
8.1 mi into trip | ~15m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 76 East: Harrisburg

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 76 East: Harrisburg
7
168 mi into trip | ~3h 12m in

Take the exit toward I 81, US 11: Carlisle, Harrisburg

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 81, US 11: Carlisle, Harrisburg
7
168.9 mi into trip | ~3h 14m in

Keep slight left at fork toward US 11 North: Harrisburg

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward US 11 North: Harrisburg
6
183.4 mi into trip | ~3h 33m in

Keep slight left at fork toward US 11 North, US 15 North: Marysville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 11 North, US 15 North: Marysville
9
258.5 mi into trip | ~5h 3m in | US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway toward US 22 East: Pennsylvania Turnpike, LVI Airport

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 51 Toward US 22 East: Pennsylvania Turnpike, LVI A...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$43.87 one way

$87.73 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 93 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $48.04 $96.09
premium $4.93 $51.32 $102.63
diesel $5.61 $58.42 $116.84

Estimated Tolls: $20.81

Pennsylvania Turnpike (159.5 mi) $20.74
Lehigh Valley Thruway (1 mi) $0.07

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

$44

Tolls

$21

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$90–$115

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 92.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 79.4 0 $27.78 $12.70
Efficient EV 66.2 0 $23.15 $10.58
EV Truck/SUV 105.8 1 $37.04 $16.93

Gas CO2

93 kg

EV CO2

31 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 18, 2026

Origin

Trafford, PA

Morning in Trafford on Sunday

Local time

10:24 AM

EDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Allentown, PA

Morning in Allentown on Sunday

Local time

10:24 AM

EDT

Current temp

44°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

54°F

Hancock, MD

132 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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

13 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

5h 13m on the road

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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Appalachian National Scenic Trail

Appalachian National Scenic Trail

National Scenic Trail

The Appalachian Trail is a 2,190+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by p...

3 mi from route ~8 min detour Free near mile 209.8
Park Closure: List of trail closures post-Hurricane Helene
Caution: Black Bears Frequenting the McAfee Knob Area in Virginia
View on nps.gov
Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument

Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument

National Monument

More than 7,800 children from 140 Tribes went to the Carlisle School from 1879 to 1918. The National Park Service will collaborate with families, affiliated Tribal Nations, the US Army, historians, an...

3 mi from route ~7 min detour Free near mile 164.2
View on nps.gov
Flight 93 National Memorial

Flight 93 National Memorial

National Memorial

On Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, the U.S. came under attack when four commercial airliners were hijacked and used to strike targets on the ground. Nearly 3,000 people tragically lost their live...

7 mi from route ~17 min detour Free near mile 63.9
View on nps.gov
Fort Necessity National Battlefield

Fort Necessity National Battlefield

National Battlefield

The battle at Fort Necessity in the summer of 1754 was the opening action of the French and Indian War. This war was a clash of British, French and American Indian cultures. It ended with the removal...

25 mi from route ~62 min detour Free near mile 27.4
View on nps.gov
Johnstown Flood National Memorial

Johnstown Flood National Memorial

National Memorial

The South Fork Dam failed on Friday, May 31, 1889, and unleashed 20,000,000 tons of water that devastated Johnstown, PA. The flood killed 2,209 people but it brought the nation and the world together...

25 mi from route ~62 min detour Free near mile 82.1
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a highway-focused drive for this 264.6-mile trip, with 65% of the route utilizing major highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a substantial 159.5 miles along the Pennsylvania Turnpike. This means you'll experience extended periods of consistent speed and relatively uninterrupted progress. While the majority is highway, you'll also encounter sections of the William Penn Highway and American Legion Memorial Highway, which may offer slight changes in pace or environment as you navigate through Pennsylvania. Overall, the drive is designed for efficient travel.

65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 159.5 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and William Penn Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.1 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

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 22 significant decision points across 264.6 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 8.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 168 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 168.9 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.

Between Trafford, PA and Allentown, PA, road signs point toward Harrisburg and Marysville.

Harrisburg

168 mi in | ~3h 12m

Marysville

183.2 mi in | ~3h 33m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 13m. Total distance: 264.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 159.5 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $20.81 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.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

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 Allentown, 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 8.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 168 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 168.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Appalachian National Scenic Trail, Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument and Flight 93 National Memorial (5 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Allentown, PA before the return drive.

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.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Continue From Allentown, PA

Waterford, PA 320.6 mi · 6h 36m Darlington, PA 318.3 mi · 6h 8m Big Beaver, PA 315 mi · 6h 2m Oakland, PA 314.8 mi · 6h 8m

More from Trafford, PA

Philadelphia, PA 287.6 mi · 5h 28m Scranton, PA 270.7 mi · 5h 31m City of Scranton, PA 270.2 mi · 5h 30m

More trips to Allentown, PA

North East, PA 335.1 mi Ellwood City, PA 316.2 mi West Mayfield, PA 314.3 mi North Sewickley, PA 313.5 mi Mechanicsburg, PA 312.4 mi Union City, PA 311.4 mi
Escape planner: Trafford, PA Scenic drives in PA

Explore more options from Trafford, PA or browse trips ending in Allentown, PA.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse PA road trips.