Traveling from Upper Darby to Saxonburg covers 320.2 miles across Pennsylvania, representing a full day of driving that clocks in at approximately 6 hours and 14 minutes. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a highway cruise, you should plan for a single, long day on the road if you want to reach your destination in one push. Expect to spend roughly $53 on fuel for the journey, though your actual costs will fluctuate based on local prices. Since the entire route stays within the Northeast region, you will experience a consistent geographical feel as you navigate from the Philadelphia suburbs toward Western Pennsylvania. It is a straightforward trip if you prefer local roads over interstate traffic, but be prepared for a steady pace behind the wheel.
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
160.1 miles from Upper Darby, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
279.6 mi
5h 4m
Allegheny Valley Expressway
11.2 mi
14m
Mid-County Expressway
7 mi
9m
Ekastown Road
5.6 mi
12m
Schuylkill Expressway
4.2 mi
5m
South Lansdowne Avenue
3 mi
8m
West Chester Pike
2.2 mi
4m
Freeport Street
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 279.6 mi, about 5h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Upper Darby, PA and Saxonburg, 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.
6
Merge onto I 476
7.0 mi·9 min·Mid-County Expressway
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
Exit 16BToward I 76 West: Valley ForgeUse the right lane.
8
Merge onto I 76
3.7 mi·5 min·Schuylkill Expressway
9
Take the exit
0.1 mi·10 sec
Exit 328B-A/327Toward US 202, US 422 West: King of Prussia, West Chester, PottstownUse the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·22 sec
Toward US 202 South, US 422 West: Mall Boulevard, West Chester, Pottstown, Swedesford RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·20 sec
Toward Mall BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·8 sec
Toward I 76 West: New Jersey, Harrisburg
13
Merge onto I 76
0.4 mi·52 sec·Schuylkill Expressway
Toward I 76 West: New Jersey, Harrisburg
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 76
0.4 mi·1 min·I 76
Toward I 76 West: HarrisburgUse the slight left lane.
15
Merge onto I 76; PATP
280 mi·5 hr 4 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward PA 28: New Kensington, PittsburghUse the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward New Kensington, Pittsburgh
18
Continue on Freeport Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Freeport Road
19
Turn right onto PA 910; Yellow Belt
0.2 mi·29 sec·Indianola Road
20
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·41 sec
Toward PA 28 North: New Kensington, Tarentum
21
Merge onto PA 28
11 mi·14 min·Allegheny Valley Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 16Toward Freeport, MillerstownUse the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Turn left onto Bakerstown Road
0.9 mi·1 min·Bakerstown Road
24
Turn right onto Ekastown Road
5.6 mi·12 min·Ekastown Road
25
Turn right onto Freeport Street
1.3 mi·2 min·Freeport Street
26
Continue on South Rebecca Street
0.8 mi·1 min·South Rebecca Street
27
At end of road, turn left onto Water Street
27 ft·0 sec·Water Street
28
Arrive at destination
Water Street
Trip Plan
Given the turn-heavy nature of this 320.2-mile route, your best bet is to depart early in the morning to maximize daylight for your local navigation. You have one planned stop available, so use it wisely to stretch your legs and refuel, keeping your $53 budget in mind as you map out your transit. Since the drive is local-heavy and lacks highway stretches, allow for extra time beyond the estimated 6 hours and 14 minutes to account for traffic lights and local junctions. A great tip for this specific route is to keep a reliable GPS running at all times, as the frequency of turns on local roads can be easy to miscalculate without constant navigation assistance.
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 160.1 miles from Upper Darby, PA, or about 3h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 279.6 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 70 miles or 1h 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 160.1 miles or 3h 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saxonburg, 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 320.2 miles and 6h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 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 for about 279.6 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 13 and 311.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
13 mi into trip|~24m in
Take the exit toward I 76 West: Valley Forge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 16B
Toward I 76 West: Valley Forge
8
17.2 mi into trip|~30m in
Take the exit toward US 202, US 422 West: King of Prussia, West Chester, Pottstown
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 328B-A/327
Toward US 202, US 422 West: King of Prussia, We...
9
17.3 mi into trip|~30m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 202 South, US 422 West: Mall Boulevard, West Chester, Pottstown, Swedesford Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 202 South, US 422 West: Mall Boulevar...
8
17.6 mi into trip|~30m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Mall Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Mall Boulevard
8
311.3 mi into trip|~5h 55m in
Take the exit toward Freeport, Millerstown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 16
Toward Freeport, Millerstown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$53.09 one way
$106.17 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg112 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$58.14
$116.28
premium
$4.93
$62.10
$124.20
diesel
$5.61
$70.70
$141.39
Estimated Tolls: $36.34
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(279.6 mi)$36.34
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
$53
Tolls
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$114–$139
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 112 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
96.1
1
$33.62
$15.37
Efficient EV
80.1
0
$28.02
$12.81
EV Truck/SUV
128.1
1
$44.83
$20.49
Gas CO2
112 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (67% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Upper Darby, PA
Night
in Upper Darby on Saturday
Local time
10:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Saxonburg, PA
Night
in Saxonburg on Saturday
Local time
10:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
54°F
Hancock, MD
160 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
30 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
6h 14m 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.
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...
1 mi from route
~4 min detour
Free
near mile 121.4
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...
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...
On Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, the U.S. came under attack when four commercial airliners were hijacked and used to strike targets on the ground. Nearly 3,000 people tragically lost their live...
8 mi from route
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 220.8
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...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 77.3
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 interstate slog, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will navigate primarily via local roads like South Lansdowne Avenue, Darby Road, and West Chester Pike, which keeps you engaged with frequent turns and changing surroundings. This is a technical, local-focused drive that requires your full attention throughout the 320.2-mile distance. Without the monotony of high-speed lanes, the journey feels more hands-on and intimate. Because the road is consistently turn-heavy, you will find that your speed remains lower, making the 6-hour and 14-minute duration feel substantial as you navigate the regional transition.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 279.6 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and Allegheny Valley Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 320.2 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 13 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
2,358 ft56 ft
Total Climb
3,204 ft
Total Descent
1,974 ft
Highest Point
2,358 ft
~228.7 mi in
Elevation Range
2,301 ft
Notable High Points
2,358 ft at ~228.7 miles+602 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Upper Darby, PA and Saxonburg, PA, road signs point toward Chester, Pottstown, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, New Kensington and Tarentum.
Chester
17.2 mi in|~30m
Pottstown
17.2 mi in|~30m
Harrisburg
17.8 mi in|~31m
Pittsburgh
298.3 mi in|~5h 37m
New Kensington
298.8 mi in|~5h 38m
Tarentum
299.8 mi in|~5h 40m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 14m. Total distance: 320.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 14m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 279.6 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $36.34 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 Saxonburg, 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 13 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument, Valley Forge National Historical Park and Independence National Historical Park (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.2 hours each way, a round trip means 12.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Saxonburg, PA before the return drive.
