Ukiah, CA to South Lebanon, PA is 2831.3 miles and takes about 50 hours 19 minutes via Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, Purple Heart Trail, and I 80, with a fuel budget near $681 and a recommended 4 days. This long-haul drive crosses the country from the Pacific Coast region to the Northeast, offering a substantial cross-section of American landscapes. It's a significant undertaking, best suited for those who don't mind spending considerable time behind the wheel. Plan for multiple overnight stops to make this trip manageable and enjoyable.
Trip Pace
Best split across 4 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
14 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
1415.6 miles from Ukiah, CA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 24h 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
964.1 mi
15h 49m
Purple Heart Trail
621 mi
10h 36m
I 80
336.8 mi
6h 17m
Pennsylvania Turnpike
267.4 mi
4h 51m
Ohio Turnpike
241.2 mi
4h 18m
Indiana Toll Road
135.9 mi
2h 27m
CA 20
121.7 mi
2h 51m
Alan S. Hart Freeway
42 mi
48m
Longest stretch:
Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
— 964.1 mi, about 15h 49m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 760 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,731 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,105
Quietest
2 AM
~198 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 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 Ukiah, CA and South Lebanon, PA.
1
Start on US 101 Business
0.2 mi·28 sec·North State Street
2
Continue on US 101 Business
1.3 mi·2 min·North State Street
3
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
4
Merge onto US 101
4.6 mi·5 min·Redwood Highway
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 555BToward CA 20 East: Upper Lake, Williams
6
Merge onto CA 20
19 mi·25 min·CA 20
7
Enter roundabout onto CA 20
115 ft·1 sec·CA 20
8
Continue on CA 20
3.8 mi·5 min·CA 20
9
Enter roundabout onto CA 20
143 ft·8 sec·CA 20
10
Continue on CA 20
19 mi·31 min·CA 20
11
Enter roundabout onto CA 20
166 ft·2 sec·CA 20
12
Continue on CA 20
45 mi·1 hr 1 min·CA 20
13
Turn right onto Fremont Street
0.8 mi·1 min·Fremont Street
14
Turn right onto CA 20; CA 45
1.8 mi·2 min·Bridge Street
15
Continue on CA 20; CA 45
22 mi·30 min·CA 20; CA 45
16
Continue on POW/MIA Bridge
0.5 mi·51 sec·POW/MIA Bridge
17
Continue on CA 20
0.5 mi·1 min·10th Street
18
Continue on CA 20
348 ft·16 sec·E Street
19
Turn left onto CA 20; CA 70
0.3 mi·56 sec·9th Street
20
Turn left onto CA 20; CA 70
0.2 mi·36 sec·B Street
21
Turn right onto CA 20
0.5 mi·1 min·12th Street
22
Continue on CA 20
20 mi·27 min·Levee Road
Use the left lane.
23
Continue on CA 20
12 mi·15 min·CA 20
24
Take the exit onto CA 20
0.2 mi·14 sec·CA 20
25
Merge onto CA 20; CA 49
4.8 mi·6 min·Golden Center Freeway
26
Continue on CA 20; CA 49
27 mi·36 min·Golden Center Expressway
27
Merge onto I 80
18 mi·21 min·Alan S. Hart Freeway
28
Take the exit
0.4 mi·29 sec
Toward Donner Lake
29
Merge onto I 80
24 mi·27 min·Alan S. Hart Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
30
Continue on I 80
530 mi·8 hr 38 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
0.3 mi·41 sec·I 80
Toward I 80 East, I 15 South: Cheyenne, Las Vegas
32
Merge onto I 15
2.3 mi·2 min·Veterans Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
434 mi·7 hr 10 min·Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Continue on I 80
621 mi·10 hr 36 min·Purple Heart Trail
Use the slight right lane.
35
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
14 mi·16 min·I 80
Exit 123BToward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
36
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
152 mi·2 hr 44 min·I 80
Use the slight left lane.
37
Take the exit onto US 6
13 mi·15 min·US 6
Toward I 280 East, US 6 East, US 61 South: Rock Island, Moline
38
Continue on I 280
14 mi·14 min·I 280
39
Keep slight left at fork onto I 280
0.4 mi·27 sec·I 280
40
Merge onto I 80
145 mi·2 hr 40 min·I 80
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
41
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
24 mi·32 min·I 80
Use the slight left lane.
42
Take the exit onto I 80
0.9 mi·2 min·I 80
Exit 16Toward I 80 East, I 90Use the slight right lane.
43
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
0.3 mi·49 sec·I 80
Toward I 80 East, I 90 East: Ohio, Indiana Toll Road EastUse the straight / slight right lanes.
44
Merge onto I 80; I 90
136 mi·2 hr 27 min·Indiana Toll Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
45
Continue on I 80; I 90
142 mi·2 hr 32 min·Ohio Turnpike
46
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
9.2 mi·9 min·Ohio Turnpike
47
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
90 mi·1 hr 36 min·Ohio Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
48
Continue on I 76; PATP
267 mi·4 hr 51 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
49
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward PA 72: Lebanon, ManheimUse the slight right lane.
50
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·17 sec·this road
51
Keep slight left at fork
147 ft·10 sec
Toward PA 72 North: Lebanon, Hershey
52
Turn left onto PA 72
2.5 mi·3 min·Lebanon Road
53
Turn straight onto PA 72
3.6 mi·5 min·Quentin Road
Toward PA 72 North: LebanonUse the left lane.
54
Turn right onto Tuck Street
0.3 mi·45 sec·Tuck Street
55
Turn left onto Cornwall Road
0.2 mi·22 sec·Cornwall Road
56
Turn right onto Wilhelm Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·Wilhelm Avenue
Use the right lane.
57
At end of road, turn left onto South Lincoln Avenue
0.3 mi·51 sec·South Lincoln Avenue
58
Turn right onto Aspen Avenue
324 ft·12 sec·Aspen Avenue
59
Turn right onto Smith Avenue
458 ft·26 sec·Smith Avenue
60
Turn left onto Horst Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·Horst Avenue
61
Arrive at destination
Horst Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 50-hour drive time, splitting this trip over 4 recommended days is a practical approach. Aim to leave in the morning to maximize daylight driving and allow for earlier arrival at your overnight stops. With 14 planned stops, you can pace yourself effectively, averaging about 200 miles per day. Keep an eye on fuel costs, estimated at $681, and utilize the numerous services along the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway and I 80 for refueling and rest. A key consideration for this route is the potential for varied weather across different regions, so check forecasts as you progress.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 4-day trip.
Plan roughly 14 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 1415.6 miles from Ukiah, CA, or about 24h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 964.1 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 220 miles or 5h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 1415.6 miles or 24h 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 707.8 miles or 12h 59m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 49h 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Lebanon, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ukiah, CA 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 4-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ukiah, CA
Aim for roughly 708 miles and 12.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 708 miles and 12.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 3
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 708 miles and 12.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 4
Finish the approach into South Lebanon, PA
Aim for roughly 708 miles and 12.6 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 220 miles from Ukiah, CA.
This route usually feels better as a 4-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 14 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway for about 964.1 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 41
5 decision points cluster between mile 1814.3 and 2823.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
1814.3 mi into trip|~31h 37m in|I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 123B
Toward I 35, I 80 East: Chicago, Minneapolis, K...
8
2177.2 mi into trip|~38h 22m in|I 80
Take the exit onto I 80 toward I 80 East, I 90
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 80 East, I 90
8
2178.1 mi into trip|~38h 24m in|I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 toward I 80 East, I 90 East: Ohio, Indiana Toll Road East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 80 East, I 90 East: Ohio, Indiana Toll...
7
2822.8 mi into trip|~50h 2m in
Take the exit toward PA 72: Lebanon, Manheim
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 PA 72: Lebanon, Manheim
7
2823.4 mi into trip|~50h 4m in
Keep slight left at fork toward PA 72 North: Lebanon, Hershey
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward PA 72 North: Lebanon, Hershey
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$692.89 one way
$1,385.78 round trip
$6.22/gal25.4 MPG avg991 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$6.40
$713.51
$1,427.02
premium
$6.57
$731.90
$1,463.80
diesel
$6.18
$688.76
$1,377.53
Estimated Tolls: $56.32
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(267.4 mi)$34.76
Ohio Turnpike
(241.2 mi)$12.05
Indiana Toll Road
(135.9 mi)$9.51
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
$693
Tolls
$56
Hotel (3n)
$240–$420
Meals
$100–$200
Total
$1,089–$1,369
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 990.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $297 in charging
· 10 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
849.4
10
$297.29
$135.90
Efficient EV
707.8
8
$247.74
$113.25
EV Truck/SUV
1132.5
14
$396.38
$181.20
Gas CO2
991 kg
EV CO2
331 kg (67% less)
This is a long EV road trip requiring 10 charging stops. Plan your route around charger locations and allow extra time for charging.
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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Ukiah, CA
Morning
in Ukiah on Saturday
Local time
8:02 AM
PDT
Current temp
48°F
Clear
NNE 1 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued October 16 at 8:41PM PDT until October 17 at 12:00PM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
High Wind Warning
High Wind Warning issued October 16 at 8:41PM PDT until October 18 at 12:00AM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
Destination
South Lebanon, PA
Morning
in South Lebanon on Saturday
Local time
11:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Cloudy
N 13 mph12% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:10AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:10AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
Time zone
3 hours later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
50h 19m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily highway driving, with 38% of the total distance covered on major interstates. You'll experience a longest stretch of 964.1 miles on the Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway, indicating long periods of consistent cruising. Expect to encounter varying terrain and traffic patterns as you transition between regions. The significant highway percentage means you'll see many exits and services, but also potentially dense urban merging points.
38% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
61 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 964.1 mi on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
At 50h 19m, this is a long-haul route where pacing matters more than any single turn. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1814.3 miles in near I 80.
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 41 significant decision points across 2831.3 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 1814.3 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2177.2 miles (I 80): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2178.1 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mountain driving with significant elevation changes
6,752 ft501 ft
Total Climb
8,863 ft
Total Descent
8,996 ft
Highest Point
6,752 ft
~1011.2 mi in
Elevation Range
6,251 ft
Notable High Points
6,479 ft at ~202.2 miles+2,198 ft prominence
5,816 ft at ~606.7 miles+116 ft prominence
6,752 ft at ~1011.2 miles+1,051 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Ukiah, CA and South Lebanon, PA, road signs point toward Donner Lake, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Moline and Indiana Toll Road East.
Ukiah is a city in the North Coast of California. Just as picturesque as its coastal brethren, Ukiah is in a valley surrounded by beautiful rolling hills or small mountains. It's a good base for exploring Mendocino County, and hosts a variety of small unusual shops and restaurants.
The longest stretch is about 964.1 miles on Dwight D. Eisenhower Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 4-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 708 miles on day one.
Expect about $56.32 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.
Yes — we found about 256 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 South Lebanon, 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 14 meaningful breaks. There are 256 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1814.3 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2177.2 miles (I 80): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2178.1 miles (I 80): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 50.3 hours each way, a round trip means 100.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at South Lebanon, PA before the return drive.
