Upper Darby, PA to Waverly, PA is 131.9 miles and takes about 2h 42m via the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This highway-focused drive stays within Pennsylvania, moving you from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. Expect a straightforward trip that's mostly on major roadways, making it a convenient option for a single-day journey. Given the relatively short duration, you can plan for a relaxed departure or arrive with ample time for activities at your destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
66 miles from Upper Darby, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 24m into the drive
.
Exit 131Toward I 81, US 6, US 11: Clarks Summit, Scranton
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward US 11, US 6 West: Scranton, Clarks Summit
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6
0.2 mi·30 sec·US 6
Toward US 6 West, US 11 North: Clarks Summit
12
Merge onto US 6; US 11
232 ft·5 sec·Northern Boulevard
13
Take the exit
296 ft·8 sec
14
Turn straight onto PA 407
3.4 mi·6 min·South Abington Road
15
Arrive at destination
PA 407
Trip Plan
With a drive time of under three hours, this route is easily manageable in a single day. Aim to depart after morning rush hour to maximize your time on the road. The Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension is the primary artery, so keep an eye on toll information and consider an EZ-Pass if you frequent turnpikes. You'll encounter one named stop on your route, South Abington Road, which is a good point to stretch your legs or refuel if needed. Given the $22 fuel cost estimate, a full tank before leaving Upper Darby should comfortably see you through to Waverly.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 66 miles from Upper Darby, PA, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111.4 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 29 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 66 miles or 1h 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waverly, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
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Open the route before leaving Upper Darby, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
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Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
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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 131.9 miles and 2h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 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 111.4 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 128.5 — 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
128.2 mi into trip|~2h 34m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 11, US 6 West: Scranton, Clarks Summit
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 11, US 6 West: Scranton, Clarks Summi...
7
128.3 mi into trip|~2h 35m in|US 6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6 toward US 6 West, US 11 North: Clarks Summit
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 6 West, US 11 North: Clarks Summit
4
128.5 mi into trip|~2h 35m in|US 6; US 11 / Northern Boulevard
Merge onto US 6; US 11 / Northern Boulevard
Merge point - match speed before joining
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.87 one way
$43.73 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg46 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$23.95
$47.90
premium
$4.93
$25.58
$51.16
diesel
$5.61
$29.12
$58.24
Estimated Tolls: $14.48
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(111.4 mi)$14.48
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
$22
Tolls
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 46.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
39.6
0
$13.85
$6.33
Efficient EV
33
0
$11.54
$5.28
EV Truck/SUV
52.8
0
$18.47
$8.44
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 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 18, 2026
Origin
Upper Darby, PA
Afternoon
in Upper Darby on Sunday
Local time
12:40 PM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Waverly, PA
Afternoon
in Waverly on Sunday
Local time
12:40 PM
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
33 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
2h 42m 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.
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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 13.6
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
~41 min detour
Free
near mile 4.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 93% of the route utilizing major expressways. You'll spend the bulk of your time on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, experiencing a longest uninterrupted stretch of 111.4 miles. The Mid-County Expressway also contributes to the high highway share. Expect a consistent driving experience with limited deviations from fast-paced travel. The route offers a predictable and efficient journey, primarily characterized by its high-speed, limited-access roads.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 111.4 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and Mid-County Expressway. You will hit about 9 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.
Driving Effort6/10
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 131.9 miles you will encounter 9 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 128.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 42m. Total distance: 131.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 111.4 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $14.48 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 Waverly, 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 128.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Waverly, PA before heading back.
