Origin
Upper Darby, PA
Late night in Upper Darby on Sunday
Local time
4:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Upper Darby, PA to Athens, PA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 15m
Distance
193.3 mi
311 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 2m
★
6 AM
4h 15m
8 AM
4h 42m
10 AM
4h 25m
12 PM
4h 22m
3 PM
4h 26m
5 PM
4h 40m
8 PM
4h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Athens, PA
Efrem Efre
Trip Overview
Upper Darby, PA to Athens, PA is 193.3 miles and takes about 4h 15m via Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast. It's primarily a highway-focused trip, making it a straightforward option for a single-day journey. Expect a relatively quick travel time, with most of your miles covered on major roadways. This route is best suited for those prioritizing efficiency and a direct path between these two Pennsylvania locations.
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
96.6 miles from Upper Darby, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 55m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension | 85.6 mi | 1h 32m |
| PA 118 | 17.9 mi | 25m |
| Main Street | 17.4 mi | 21m |
| Route 220 | 14.9 mi | 16m |
| Route 487 | 13.8 mi | 22m |
| Mid-County Expressway | 10.8 mi | 14m |
| PA 309 | 10.4 mi | 17m |
| PA 487 | 7.3 mi | 12m |
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
— 85.6 mi, about 1h 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Upper Darby, PA and Athens, PA.
1
Start on West Providence Road
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
West Providence Road
2
Turn left onto South Lansdowne Avenue
3.0 mi
·
8 min
·
South Lansdowne Avenue
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
3
Continue on Darby Road
471 ft
·
13 sec
·
Darby Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
4
Turn slight left onto PA 3
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
West Chester Pike
Use the straight lane.
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
Toward I 476 North: Plymouth Meeting
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 476
11 mi
·
14 min
·
Mid-County Expressway
7
Turn slight left onto I 476
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
·
Mid-County Expressway
8
Continue on I 476; PATP
86 mi
·
1 hr 32 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 105
Toward PA 115: Wilkes-Barre, Bear Creek
10
Turn left onto PA 115
4.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Bear Creek Boulevard
11
Continue on PA 309
10 mi
·
17 min
·
PA 309
12
Enter roundabout onto PA 415
209 ft
·
4 sec
·
Memorial Highway
13
Continue on PA 415
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Memorial Highway
14
Turn left onto PA 118
18 mi
·
25 min
·
PA 118
15
Turn right onto PA 487
14 mi
·
22 min
·
Route 487
16
Turn right onto PA 487
7.3 mi
·
12 min
·
PA 487
17
Continue on PA 87
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
Mill Street
18
Turn right onto US 220
0.6 mi
·
39 sec
·
North German Street
19
Continue on US 220
15 mi
·
16 min
·
Route 220
20
Continue on US 220
17 mi
·
21 min
·
Main Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Turn right onto PA 199
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
PA 199
22
Arrive at destination
PA 199
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 15m duration, you can comfortably complete this trip in one day. Consider departing mid-morning to avoid peak commute times out of Upper Darby. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short drive, flexibility is key. The longest stretch on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension is substantial, so plan your fuel and rest breaks accordingly before entering this segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as services can be spaced out on turnpikes. A practical tip: ensure your E-ZPass or payment method is ready for the turnpike tolls, as this will be a recurring expense on your journey.
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 96.6 miles from Upper Darby, PA, or about 1h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 85.6 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 43 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 96.6 miles or 1h 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Athens, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Upper Darby, 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 Upper Darby, PA
This is one driving day of about 193.3 miles and 4h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 miles from Upper Darby, 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 Northeast Extension for about 85.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
97 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 43 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 96.6 miles from Upper Darby, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 85.6 miles.
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 125 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 117.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South Lansdowne Avenue
Turn left onto South Lansdowne Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
6
5.6 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the exit toward I 476 North: Plymouth Meeting
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 476 North: Plymouth Meeting
6
102.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 2m in
Take the exit toward PA 115: Wilkes-Barre, Bear Creek
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 105
Toward PA 115: Wilkes-Barre, Bear Creek
4
103.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 3m in
|
PA 115 / Bear Creek Boulevard
Turn left onto PA 115 / Bear Creek Boulevard
Navigation decision point
4
117.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 28m in
|
PA 415 / Memorial Highway
Enter roundabout onto PA 415 / Memorial Highway
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.05 one way
$64.09 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
68 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $35.10 | $70.20 |
| premium | $4.93 | $37.49 | $74.98 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $42.68 | $85.36 |
Estimated Tolls: $11.13
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(85.6 mi)
$11.13
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
$32
Tolls
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 67.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 58 | 0 | $20.30 | $9.28 |
| Efficient EV | 48.3 | 0 | $16.91 | $7.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 77.3 | 0 | $27.06 | $12.37 |
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (66% 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
Athens, PA
Late night in Athens on Sunday
Local time
4:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
55°F
Kingston, PA
97 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
27 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
4h 15m 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.
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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
$1
View on nps.gov
Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial
National Memorial
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
View on nps.gov
Valley Forge National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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 13.3
View on nps.gov
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...
16 mi from route
~40 min detour
Free
near mile 6.7
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is heavily highway-focused, with 84% of the drive on major roadways. You'll experience a significant stretch of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, covering 85.6 miles uninterrupted. This means long stretches of consistent speed and limited access. As you move onto PA 118 and eventually Main Street, the character shifts to more local road driving, likely with lower speed limits and more intersections. Be prepared for the transition from high-speed highway cruising to a more suburban or town-like feel as you approach your destination.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 85.6 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and PA 118. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near South Lansdowne Avenue.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 15m drive. You will face about 12 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (South Lansdowne Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 102.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Upper Darby, PA to Athens, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Bear Creek along the way.
Bear Creek
102.4 mi in
|
~2h 2m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 15m. Total distance: 193.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 85.6 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $11.13 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (South Lansdowne Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 102.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Athens, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
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.
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