Union City, PA to Upper Darby, PA is 372.1 miles and takes about 7h 28m via Keystone Shortway, Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, and Colonel Drake Highway, with a fuel budget near $59 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region towards the southeast. With 28% highway driving, you'll spend a good portion of your time on surface roads, making it a more scenic, town-to-town experience rather than a pure interstate haul. Plan for two stops along the way to break up the drive, which is generally manageable in a single day for most drivers.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
186 miles from Union City, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
205.8 mi
3h 43m
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
75.1 mi
1h 21m
Colonel Drake Highway
13.5 mi
19m
William Flinn Highway
12.4 mi
16m
Route 208
12.3 mi
18m
Mid-County Expressway
10.8 mi
14m
Titusville Road
5.7 mi
8m
Main Street
5.6 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 205.8 mi, about 3h 43m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 30 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,084 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,479
Quietest
2 AM
~185 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Union City, PA and Upper Darby, PA.
1
Start on US 6; PA 8
0.6 mi·1 min·North Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Continue on PA 8
3.1 mi·4 min·Titusville Road
3
Continue on PA 8
7.8 mi·10 min·William Flinn Highway
4
Continue on PA 8
1.6 mi·2 min·Erie Street
5
Continue on PA 8
4.6 mi·6 min·William Flinn Highway
6
Continue on PA 8
3.0 mi·4 min·Hydetown Road
7
Continue on PA 8
1.3 mi·3 min·West Spring Street
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on PA 27
0.1 mi·21 sec·Diamond Street
9
Turn straight onto PA 27
2.1 mi·4 min·East Central Avenue
10
Continue on PA 27
2.6 mi·3 min·Titusville Road
11
Continue on PA 27; PA 227
1.3 mi·1 min·West State Street
12
Continue on PA 36
4.4 mi·6 min·Tionesta Road
13
Continue on PA 36
4.5 mi·6 min·Colonel Drake Highway
14
Turn left onto US 62; PA 36
0.3 mi·27 sec·Route 36 and 62
15
At end of road, turn right onto PA 36
0.5 mi·48 sec·Elm Street
16
Continue on PA 36
9.0 mi·13 min·Colonel Drake Highway
17
Continue on PA 208
5.0 mi·7 min·Route 208
18
Continue on PA 208
7.2 mi·10 min·Route 208
19
Continue on PA 208
0.4 mi·40 sec·North School Street
20
Turn left onto US 322
4.6 mi·6 min·Main Street
21
Continue on US 322
1.7 mi·2 min·West Main Street
22
Continue on US 322
1.6 mi·2 min·Twenty-Eighth Division Highway
23
Continue on US 322
1.0 mi·1 min·Main Street
24
Continue on US 322
4.1 mi·5 min·Route 322
25
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
26
Merge onto I 80
206 mi·3 hr 43 min·Keystone Shortway
27
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward PA 940, PATP, I 476: Wilkes-Barre, Allentown
Exit 9Toward PA 3: Upper Darby, BroomallUse the slight right lane.
35
Turn left onto PA 3
2.5 mi·5 min·West Chester Pike
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
36
Turn slight right onto Darby Road
471 ft·13 sec·Darby Road
Use the right lane.
37
Continue on Lansdowne Avenue
3.0 mi·8 min·Lansdowne Avenue
Use the straight lane.
38
Turn right onto West Providence Road
0.3 mi·39 sec·West Providence Road
39
Arrive at destination
West Providence Road
Trip Plan
Given the 7h 28m estimated drive time, leaving Union City in the morning, ideally before 9 AM, will allow you ample time to reach Upper Darby before evening. You have two planned stops, so consider using them to refuel and stretch your legs, perhaps around the halfway point or after completing the 205.8-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway. The $59 fuel cost is an estimate, so monitor your fuel gauge, especially as you transition to surface roads where fuel stops might be less frequent than on major interstates. This drive is well within a single day, offering flexibility in your stop timing.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 186 miles from Union City, PA, or about 3h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 205.8 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 82 miles or 2h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 186 miles or 3h 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Upper Darby, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Union City, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Union City, PA
This is one driving day of about 372.1 miles and 7h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 82 miles from Union City, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Keystone Shortway for about 205.8 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 278.8 and 365.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
278.8 mi into trip|~5h 34m in
Take the exit toward PA 940, PATP, I 476: Wilkes-Barre, Allentown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward PA 940, PATP, I 476: Wilkes-Barre, Allen...
6
279.7 mi into trip|~5h 36m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 476 South: Allentown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 476 South: Allentown
5
280 mi into trip|~5h 36m in|I 476; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Merge onto I 476; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
354.8 mi into trip|~6h 57m in|I 476; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Keep slight left at fork onto I 476; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
8
365.9 mi into trip|~7h 12m in
Take the exit toward PA 3: Upper Darby, Broomall
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 9
Toward PA 3: Upper Darby, Broomall
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$59.33 one way
$118.66 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg130 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$65.66
$131.32
premium
$4.81
$70.44
$140.87
diesel
$4.80
$70.26
$140.52
Estimated Tolls: $9.76
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(75.1 mi)$9.76
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
$59
Tolls
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$94–$119
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 130.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
111.6
1
$39.07
$17.86
Efficient EV
93
1
$32.56
$14.88
EV Truck/SUV
148.8
1
$52.09
$23.81
Gas CO2
130 kg
EV CO2
44 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Union City, PA
Afternoon
in Union City on Sunday
Local time
1:19 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Smoke
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Upper Darby, PA
Afternoon
in Upper Darby on Sunday
Local time
1:19 PM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Areas Of Smoke
NW 5 mph0% 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
13 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
7h 28m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 372.1
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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 359.2
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...
17 mi from route
~42 min detour
Free
near mile 372.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route features 28% highway driving, meaning you'll spend a significant amount of time on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 205.8 miles on the Keystone Shortway. Expect to transition from highway cruising to navigating through towns and potentially encountering more frequent intersections as you move along. The predominantly surface road profile suggests you'll be passing through more developed areas and rural communities.
Only 28% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
39 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 205.8 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 278.8 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 372.1 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 278.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 279.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 280 miles (I 476; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,715 ft56 ft
Total Climb
1,363 ft
Total Descent
2,569 ft
Highest Point
1,715 ft
~106.3 mi in
Elevation Range
1,658 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Union City, PA and Upper Darby, PA, road signs point toward Patp and Allentown.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 28m. Total distance: 372.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 28m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 205.8 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $9.76 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 33 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 Upper Darby, 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 33 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 278.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 279.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 280 miles (I 476; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Independence National Historical Park, Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial and Valley Forge National Historical Park (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.5 hours each way, a round trip means 14.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Upper Darby, PA before the return drive.
