Origin
Upper Darby, PA
Late night in Upper Darby on Sunday
Local time
3:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h
Distance
178.6 mi
288 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Rome, PA
C1 Superstar
Upper Darby, PA to Rome, PA is 178.6 miles and takes about 4h via Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, Grand Army of the Republic Highway, and Tunkhannock Highway, with a fuel budget near $30 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Pennsylvania, connecting the Northeast region to itself. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip that should be manageable for a single day. With most of the miles on major roads, expect a relatively efficient journey. Consider this route if you need a direct connection between these two areas without extensive detours.
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
89.3 miles from Upper Darby, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 47m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension | 85.6 mi | 1h 32m |
| Grand Army of the Republic Highway | 21 mi | 30m |
| Tunkhannock Highway | 15.8 mi | 25m |
| Roosevelt Highway | 14.6 mi | 21m |
| Mid-County Expressway | 10.8 mi | 14m |
| PA 309 | 9.9 mi | 16m |
| PA 187 | 6.8 mi | 9m |
| Bear Creek Boulevard | 4.3 mi | 7m |
Step-by-step road directions between Upper Darby, PA and Rome, PA.
Start on West Providence Road
Turn left onto South Lansdowne Avenue
Continue on Darby Road
Turn slight left onto PA 3
Take the exit
Merge onto I 476
Turn slight left onto I 476
Continue on I 476; PATP
Take the exit
Turn left onto PA 115
Continue on PA 309
Take the exit onto PA 309
Merge onto PA 309
Continue on PA 29
Continue on PA 29
Turn left onto US 6
Merge onto US 6
Continue on US 6
Continue on US 6
Continue on US 6
Continue on US 6
Continue on US 6
Continue on US 6
Turn sharp right onto PA 187
Arrive at destination
Given the 4-hour duration and single-day recommendation, an early morning departure from Upper Darby is ideal to maximize daylight. You'll have one primary recommended stop, but with the drive being relatively short, you can be flexible. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on the longest stretch on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, as services can be spaced out. The $30 fuel cost is an estimate, so checking current prices is wise. This route's highway focus means you can likely maintain a steady speed, making it a predictable trip.
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.
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 39 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 89.3 miles or 1h 47m 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 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rome, PA than in the middle of the route.
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 178.6 miles and 4h.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
89 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.
A short stop after about 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 89.3 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 171.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto South Lansdowne Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 476 North: Plymouth Meeting
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
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
Turn left onto US 6 / Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Turn sharp right onto PA 187
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$29.61 one way
$59.22 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $32.43 | $64.86 |
| premium | $4.93 | $34.64 | $69.27 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $39.43 | $78.87 |
Estimated Tolls: $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
$30
Tolls
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 53.6 | 0 | $18.75 | $8.57 |
| Efficient EV | 44.7 | 0 | $15.63 | $7.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 71.4 | 0 | $25.00 | $11.43 |
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Upper Darby on Sunday
Local time
3:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Rome on Sunday
Local time
3:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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This trip is predominantly highway driving, with 63% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll experience a significant stretch of 85.6 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, offering a consistent pace. The remaining portions will likely involve other significant highways like the Grand Army of the Republic Highway and Tunkhannock Highway, maintaining a generally fast-paced character. Expect a driving experience that prioritizes efficiency over winding backroads. The road profile suggests a mostly uninterrupted journey on well-maintained thoroughfares.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and Grand Army of the Republic Highway. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near South Lansdowne Avenue.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 178.6 miles you will encounter 11 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 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.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Upper Darby, PA to Rome, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Bear Creek along the way.
Bear Creek
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h. Total distance: 178.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h drive, comfortable solo distance.
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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