Traveling from Upper Darby to Grove City spans 348.8 miles and requires approximately 6 hours and 33 minutes of time behind the wheel. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive rather than an interstate sprint, you should budget for a full day of travel. Plan on spending roughly $58 in fuel to complete the trip across Pennsylvania. While it is technically possible to complete this journey in a single day, the technical nature of the roads makes it a demanding drive. Weigh whether you prefer the engagement of local roads over the speed of major highways before you head out.
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
174.4 miles from Upper Darby, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
252.1 mi
4h 33m
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
75 mi
1h 21m
Mid-County Expressway
10.8 mi
14m
South Lansdowne Avenue
3 mi
8m
North Broad Street
2.6 mi
4m
West Chester Pike
2.2 mi
4m
Sandy Lake Road
0.4 mi
<1m
South Center Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 252.1 mi, about 4h 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Upper Darby, PA and Grove City, 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 MeetingUse the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 95Toward PA 940, I 80: Hazleton, Mount Pocono
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·23 sec
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I 80 West: Hazleton
12
Merge onto I 80
252 mi·4 hr 33 min·Keystone Shortway
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·55 sec
Toward PA 173: Grove City, Sandy Lake
14
Turn left onto PA 173
0.4 mi·36 sec·Sandy Lake Road
15
Continue on PA 173
2.6 mi·4 min·North Broad Street
16
Turn right onto PA 173; PA 208
303 ft·11 sec·Erie Street
17
Turn left onto PA 173; PA 208
0.3 mi·33 sec·South Center Street
18
Arrive at destination
PA 208
Trip Plan
Since you are relying on local roads for the entire 6-hour and 33-minute duration, it is wise to depart as early as possible to avoid the unpredictability of local traffic patterns. Plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the monotony of the turn-heavy segments. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the $58 estimate may fluctuate depending on idling time in local traffic. Given that this route lacks the convenience of high-speed stretches, treat your departure time with flexibility to ensure you arrive in Grove City before dark. Your best strategy is to map out your primary turn points on South Lansdowne Avenue and Darby Road in advance to avoid last-minute navigation stress.
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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 174.4 miles from Upper Darby, PA, or about 3h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 252.1 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 77 miles or 1h 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 174.4 miles or 3h 21m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Grove City, 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 348.8 miles and 6h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 77 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 Keystone Shortway for about 252.1 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 345.1 — 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
91.8 mi into trip|~1h 50m in
Take the exit toward PA 940, I 80: Hazleton, Mount Pocono
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 95
Toward PA 940, I 80: Hazleton, Mount Pocono
5
92.6 mi into trip|~1h 52m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 80 West: Hazleton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 80 West: Hazleton
5
345.1 mi into trip|~6h 26m in
Take the exit toward PA 173: Grove City, Sandy Lake
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward PA 173: Grove City, Sandy Lake
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$57.83 one way
$115.65 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg122 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$63.33
$126.67
premium
$4.93
$67.65
$135.29
diesel
$5.61
$77.01
$154.02
Estimated Tolls: $9.75
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(75 mi)$9.75
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
$58
Tolls
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$93–$118
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 122 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
104.6
1
$36.62
$16.74
Efficient EV
87.2
0
$30.52
$13.95
EV Truck/SUV
139.5
1
$48.83
$22.32
Gas CO2
122 kg
EV CO2
41 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 Apr 13, 2026
Origin
Upper Darby, PA
Late night
in Upper Darby on Sunday
Local time
12:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Mostly Cloudy
S 10 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 5:13AM EDT by NWS State College PA
Destination
Grove City, PA
Late night
in Grove City on Sunday
Local time
12:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live 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
16 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
6h 33m 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...
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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a very different experience than a typical highway commute, as this route features zero percent highway travel. You will navigate via South Lansdowne Avenue, Darby Road, and West Chester Pike, keeping your focus sharp through constant turns and local intersections. The personality of this drive is decidedly technical, requiring you to stay alert through every mile of the 348.8-mile journey. Because you are avoiding major interstates entirely, the road remains consistent in its local character from start to finish. Prepare for a hands-on driving experience that prioritizes navigation over mindless cruising.
Only 25% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 252.1 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 0.3 miles in near South Lansdowne Avenue.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 348.8 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 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 91.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
1,733 ft56 ft
Total Climb
3,234 ft
Total Descent
2,020 ft
Highest Point
1,733 ft
~224.2 mi in
Elevation Range
1,677 ft
Notable High Points
1,477 ft at ~174.4 miles+521 ft prominence
1,733 ft at ~224.2 miles+558 ft prominence
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 Grove City, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Mount Pocono along the way.
Mount Pocono
91.8 mi in|~1h 50m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 33m. Total distance: 348.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 33m 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 252.1 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $9.75 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 Grove City, 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 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 91.8 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.6 hours each way, a round trip means 13.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Grove City, PA before the return drive.
