Spanning 311.7 miles across Pennsylvania, this trip connects Upper Darby to Waynesburg in approximately 6 hours and 16 minutes. Because the route is highway-focused, it is feasible as a one-day drive for those comfortable with a long stint behind the wheel. You should budget roughly $52 for fuel to complete the journey. Navigating primarily via the Pennsylvania Turnpike, Roy E. Furman Highway, and University Drive, you will transition from the Northeast region toward the western side of the state. While a single day is sufficient, consider your stamina before deciding if you need an overnight break to keep the travel experience pleasant.
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
155.8 miles from Upper Darby, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 2m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
236.8 mi
4h 18m
Roy E. Furman Highway
14.1 mi
19m
University Drive
10.7 mi
12m
McClellandtown Road
10.5 mi
18m
PA 982
8 mi
13m
Mid-County Expressway
7 mi
9m
State Route 31
6 mi
9m
Schuylkill Expressway
4.2 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 236.8 mi, about 4h 18m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Upper Darby, PA and Waynesburg, 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
237 mi·4 hr 18 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·1 min
Toward PA 31, PA 711: Ligonier, UniontownUse the slight right lane.
17
Turn right onto PA 31
6.0 mi·9 min·State Route 31
18
Continue on PA 31
0.1 mi·15 sec·Three Mile Hill
19
Turn left onto PA 982
8.0 mi·13 min·PA 982
20
Turn left onto US 119
4.0 mi·4 min·Memorial Boulevard
21
Turn straight onto US 119
0.6 mi·39 sec·Blackstone Road
22
Merge onto US 119
0.5 mi·33 sec·Morrell Avenue
23
Turn slight right onto US 119
11 mi·12 min·University Drive
24
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward PA 21Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight left at fork
162 ft·7 sec
26
Turn left onto PA 21
10 mi·18 min·McClellandtown Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
27
Continue on PA 21
14 mi·19 min·Roy E. Furman Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
28
Turn right onto US 19; PA 21
0.9 mi·2 min·East High Street
Use the right lane.
29
Turn right onto North Porter Street
38 ft·1 sec·North Porter Street
30
Arrive at destination
North Porter Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a lengthy 6-hour-plus trip, aim to depart early in the morning to avoid fatigue and heavy traffic. You are limited to one recommended stop, so plan it strategically around the halfway point to maximize your efficiency. Given the high percentage of highway travel, stay alert for changing speed limits as you move from the Turnpike onto the Roy E. Furman Highway. Keep your $52 fuel budget in mind when planning your refueling stops to avoid paying premium prices at busy service plazas. Flexibility is key here; if you find the 311.7-mile trek too demanding, do not hesitate to build in an extra break to ensure you arrive in Waynesburg safely.
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 155.8 miles from Upper Darby, PA, or about 3h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 236.8 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 69 miles or 1h 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 155.8 miles or 3h 2m 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 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Waynesburg, 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 311.7 miles and 6h 16m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 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 236.8 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 17.8 — 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
7
17.8 mi into trip|~31m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 76 West: New Jersey, Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 76 West: New Jersey, Harrisburg
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.70 one way
$99.40 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg109 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$55.00
$110.00
premium
$4.81
$59.00
$118.00
diesel
$4.80
$58.85
$117.71
Estimated Tolls: $30.78
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(236.8 mi)$30.78
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
$50
Tolls
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$105–$130
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 109.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
93.5
1
$32.73
$14.96
Efficient EV
77.9
0
$27.27
$12.47
EV Truck/SUV
124.7
1
$43.64
$19.95
Gas CO2
109 kg
EV CO2
36 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Upper Darby, PA
Late night
in Upper Darby on Sunday
Local time
5:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
90°F
Smoke
NW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 1:40PM EDT until July 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Destination
Waynesburg, PA
Late night
in Waynesburg on Sunday
Local time
5:38 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Smoke
N 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 1:40PM EDT until July 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
82°F
Martinsburg, PA
156 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
3 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 16m 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...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Free
near mile 118.2
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...
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...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
Free
near mile 225.7
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...
The battle at Fort Necessity in the summer of 1754 was the opening action of the French and Indian War. This war was a clash of British, French and American Indian cultures. It ended with the removal...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
Free
near mile 279.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a high-speed, interstate-heavy journey as 84% of this route takes place on major highways. You will spend the bulk of your time on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, which accounts for a 236.8-mile stretch of the total distance. This creates a consistent, steady pace that allows you to cover significant ground quickly. As you exit the turnpike and transition onto the Roy E. Furman Highway and University Drive, the road character shifts from long, monotonous highway miles to more localized driving. Prepare yourself for a drive that prioritizes efficiency and speed over winding backroads.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 236.8 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and Roy E. Furman Highway. 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 311.7 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
2,705 ft56 ft
Total Climb
3,862 ft
Total Descent
2,951 ft
Highest Point
2,705 ft
~222.6 mi in
Elevation Range
2,649 ft
Notable High Points
1,849 ft at ~178.1 miles+740 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 Waynesburg, PA, road signs point toward Chester, Pottstown, Harrisburg and Uniontown.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 16m. Total distance: 311.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 16m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 236.8 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $30.78 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.
Yes — we found about 19 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Waynesburg, 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. There are 19 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 Flight 93 National Memorial (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.3 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 Waynesburg, PA before the return drive.
