If you are planning a quick getaway from Upper Darby to Lehighton, expect a straightforward 77-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 38 minutes to complete. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as it is short enough to handle in one go without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via the Mid-County Expressway and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension to reach your destination. Budgeting approximately $13 for fuel makes this a very cost-effective route for a weekend escape. Since both locations are situated within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania, the transition between them is seamless and familiar for local travelers. It is an efficient path that prioritizes speed and directness over scenic detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.5 miles from Upper Darby, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 53m into the drive
.
Exit 74Toward US 209: Mahoning Valley, Lehighton, StroudsburgUse the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward US 209 South: LehightonUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
420 ft·10 sec
Toward US 209 South: Lehighton
12
Merge onto US 209
1.6 mi·2 min·Interchange Road
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on US 209
0.5 mi·1 min·Bridge Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
14
Continue on US 209
0.1 mi·7 sec·Bankway Street
15
Continue on US 209
0.6 mi·51 sec·Sargent Stanley Hoffman Boulevard
Toward US 209 South
16
Turn sharp left onto US 209
0.2 mi·23 sec·North First Street
17
Turn right onto North Street
0.2 mi·31 sec·North Street
18
At end of road, turn left onto 3rd Street
83 ft·7 sec·3rd Street
19
Turn right onto Mahoning Street
467 ft·16 sec·Mahoning Street
20
Turn left onto South 4th Street
87 ft·3 sec·South 4th Street
21
Arrive at destination
South 4th Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip with no required stops, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure schedule. To make the most of your time, try to avoid peak commuting hours on the turnpike, as the highway-heavy nature of the route can lead to unexpected slowdowns. Keep your $13 fuel budget in mind when planning your departure, as there are no mandated stops along the way to break up the 1 hour and 38-minute duration. Since the entire route is a direct highway run, ensure your vehicle is ready for sustained speeds before you leave Upper Darby. Taking advantage of the lack of required stops allows you to arrive in Lehighton quickly, giving you more time to enjoy your destination once you pull off the turnpike.
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 38.5 miles from Upper Darby, PA, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56 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 17 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.5 miles or 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 1h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lehighton, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Upper Darby, PA
This is one driving day of about 77 miles and 1h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Upper Darby, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension for about 56 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.6 and 76.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
8
72.8 mi into trip|~1h 30m in
Take the exit toward US 209: Mahoning Valley, Lehighton, Stroudsburg
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 74
Toward US 209: Mahoning Valley, Lehighton, Stro...
7
73.4 mi into trip|~1h 31m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 209 South: Lehighton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward US 209 South: Lehighton
6
73.6 mi into trip|~1h 32m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 209 South: Lehighton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 209 South: Lehighton
6
76.9 mi into trip|~1h 38m in|3rd Street
At end of road, turn left onto 3rd Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.77 one way
$25.53 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$13.98
$27.96
premium
$4.93
$14.93
$29.87
diesel
$5.61
$17.00
$34.00
Estimated Tolls: $7.28
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(56 mi)$7.28
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
$13
Tolls
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.1
0
$8.08
$3.70
Efficient EV
19.3
0
$6.74
$3.08
EV Truck/SUV
30.8
0
$10.78
$4.93
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (67% 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 20, 2026
Origin
Upper Darby, PA
Morning
in Upper Darby on Tuesday
Local time
6:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lehighton, PA
Morning
in Lehighton on Tuesday
Local time
6:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°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
20 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 38m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 87% of your time behind the wheel will be spent on major roads. The drive begins with a brief transition through local streets like South Lansdowne Avenue before you quickly merge onto the fast-paced expressway system. You will settle into a steady rhythm during the longest stretch of the trip, which covers 56 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. Because the route is dominated by high-speed corridors, the personality of the drive remains consistent and functional rather than technical. You should prepare for a focused, interstate-heavy transit that gets you from the suburbs of Philadelphia to the Lehighton area with minimal interruption.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 56 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and Mid-County Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.6 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 77 miles you will encounter 13 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 5.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 72.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 73.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
691 ft56 ft
Total Climb
1,157 ft
Total Descent
638 ft
Highest Point
691 ft
~44 mi in
Elevation Range
635 ft
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 Lehighton, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Stroudsburg along the way.
Lehighton is a borough in the Coal Region, near Jim Thorpe, Allentown and the Lehigh Valley, in the state of Pennsylvania in the United States of America.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 38m. Total distance: 77 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 56 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $7.28 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.
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 Lehighton, 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 5.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 72.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 73.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Lehighton, PA before heading back.
