Upland, PA to Harrisburg, PA is 71 miles and takes about 1 hour 44 minutes via PA 283, Old Philadelphia Pike, and Newport Road, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. It offers a mixed driving experience, suitable for a single-day journey. You'll find the drive straightforward, with less than half of it on highways, making it a pleasant option for those who prefer a balance between speed and local scenery. Consider this route if you're looking for a relatively short and efficient trip between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
35.5 miles from Upland, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
PA 283
28.6 mi
33m
Old Philadelphia Pike
7.2 mi
12m
Newport Road
5.3 mi
8m
Doe Run Road
5.3 mi
9m
Lincoln Highway
5.2 mi
8m
US 30
4.5 mi
6m
Strasburg Road
2.5 mi
4m
I 283
1.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
PA 283
— 28.6 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Upland, PA and Harrisburg, PA.
1
Start on PA 842
21 ft·6 sec·Clonmell Upland Road
2
Turn left onto Newark Road
1.2 mi·2 min·Newark Road
3
Turn left onto PA 82
5.3 mi·9 min·Doe Run Road
4
Turn left onto Strasburg Road
2.5 mi·4 min·Strasburg Road
5
Continue on PA 372
1.0 mi·1 min·Valley Road
6
Continue on PA 372
0.3 mi·1 min·East 1st Avenue
7
Turn right onto PA 10
0.6 mi·1 min·South Church Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on PA 10
1.4 mi·2 min·Octorara Trail
9
Turn left onto US 30
4.7 mi·7 min·Lincoln Highway
Use the left lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 30
0.5 mi·1 min·Lincoln Highway
11
Turn right onto PA 772
5.3 mi·8 min·Newport Road
12
Continue on PA 340; PA 772
7.2 mi·12 min·Old Philadelphia Pike
13
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward US 30 West
14
Merge onto US 30
4.5 mi·6 min·US 30
15
Keep slight left at fork onto PA 283
29 mi·33 min·PA 283
Toward PA 283 West: HarrisburgUse the straight / right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.5 mi·47 sec
Toward I 283 North: Harrisburg
17
Merge onto I 283
1.9 mi·2 min·I 283
18
Keep slight left at fork
2.7 mi·3 min
Exit 3AToward I 83 South: Harrisburg
19
Take the exit
0.1 mi·18 sec
Exit 44BToward 17th StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight right at fork
293 ft·7 sec
Use the left / right lanes.
21
Turn straight onto South 17th Street
0.4 mi·47 sec·South 17th Street
22
Turn left onto Derry Street
0.3 mi·38 sec·Derry Street
23
Turn right onto South 13th Street
0.5 mi·1 min·South 13th Street
24
Turn left onto State Street
0.5 mi·55 sec·State Street
25
Continue on Fisher Plaza
0.1 mi·17 sec·Fisher Plaza
26
Keep slight right at fork onto North 7th Street
0.5 mi·1 min·North 7th Street
27
Arrive at destination
North 7th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour 44 minute duration, this is a straightforward, same-day trip. You can comfortably depart anytime in the morning or early afternoon and still reach Harrisburg with plenty of daylight. Since the total mileage is only 71 miles, you have a lot of flexibility with stops. The longest stretch without a major change is 28.6 miles, so plan your fuel needs accordingly, though the estimated $12 fuel cost suggests it won't be a major concern. A practical tip: be aware that the road type shifts around the halfway point, so adjust your driving style as you transition from PA 283 to the other named 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 35.5 miles from Upland, PA, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 28.6 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 16 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.5 miles or 59m 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Harrisburg, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Upland, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Upland, PA
This is one driving day of about 71 miles and 1h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Upland, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on PA 283 for about 28.6 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 10.3 and 68.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
10.3 mi into trip|~18m in|PA 10 / South Church Street
Turn right onto PA 10 / South Church Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
34.8 mi into trip|~58m in|PA 283
Keep slight left at fork onto PA 283 toward PA 283 West: Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward PA 283 West: Harrisburg
6
65.9 mi into trip|~1h 35m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 83 South: Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 3A
Toward I 83 South: Harrisburg
7
68.6 mi into trip|~1h 39m in
Take the exit toward 17th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 44B
Toward 17th Street
7
68.7 mi into trip|~1h 39m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.77 one way
$23.54 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg25 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$12.89
$25.78
premium
$4.93
$13.77
$27.54
diesel
$5.61
$15.68
$31.35
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
21.3
0
$7.46
$3.41
Efficient EV
17.8
0
$6.21
$2.84
EV Truck/SUV
28.4
0
$9.94
$4.54
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 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 19, 2026
Origin
Upland, PA
Afternoon
in Upland on Sunday
Local time
2:09 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Harrisburg, PA
Afternoon
in Harrisburg on Sunday
Local time
2:09 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Rain Showers Likely
N 6 to 10 mph67% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued April 19 at 3:52AM EDT until April 20 at 11:00AM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Freeze Watch
Freeze Watch issued April 19 at 1:11AM EDT until April 21 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.
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
15 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
1h 44m 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.
First State National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
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...
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...
18 mi from route
~46 min detour
Free
near mile 53.9
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive features a 49% highway share, meaning you'll experience a mix of faster-paced travel and more local road navigation. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 28.6 miles on PA 283, offering a period of consistent momentum. As you progress, the route transitions, blending highway segments with roads like Old Philadelphia Pike and Newport Road. Expect the driving feel to change, moving from potentially quicker highway sections to more varied, perhaps slower, local road conditions as you approach your destination.
49% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 28.6 mi on PA 283.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 10.3 miles in near PA 10 / South Church Street.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 71 miles you will encounter 18 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 10.3 miles (PA 10 / South Church Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 34.8 miles (PA 283): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 65.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Harrisburg is the capital and 4th-largest metropolitan area of Pennsylvania, with a metro population of 592,000 people in 2020. Harrisburg is known as the host city of the Pennsylvania Farm Show, the largest free indoor agriculture exposition in the United States, the largest annual outdoor sports show in North America, an auto show, which features a large static display of new and classic cars, and Motorama, a two-day event consisting of a car show, motocross racing, and remote control car racing.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 44m. Total distance: 71 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (49%). 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 28.6 miles on PA 283. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 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 Harrisburg, PA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 10.3 miles (PA 10 / South Church Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 34.8 miles (PA 283): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 65.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — First State National Historical Park, Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument and Appalachian National Scenic Trail (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 Harrisburg, PA before heading back.
