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Trip from Vandergrift, PA to Allentown, PA

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 32m

Distance

279.8 mi

450 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$46

one way

EV Charging

Good

7 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
5h 19m ★
6 AM
5h 33m
8 AM
5h 59m
10 AM
5h 42m
12 PM
5h 39m
3 PM
5h 43m
5 PM
5h 58m
8 PM
5h 25m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Vandergrift, PA, PA

Vandergrift, PA

Michael Taccetta

county seat city in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, United States

Allentown, PA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 279.8-mile drive from Vandergrift, PA to Allentown, PA is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can comfortably be completed in a single day, taking approximately 5 hours and 32 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $46, it's an economical option for a quick trip within Pennsylvania. You'll primarily be on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, William Penn Highway, and American Legion Memorial Highway. Given the duration and distance, it's well-suited as a day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. This route keeps you within the Northeast region, making it a convenient option for many.

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

139.9 miles from Vandergrift, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 43m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike 152 mi 2h 47m
William Penn Highway 42.8 mi 50m
American Legion Memorial Highway 22.5 mi 27m
State Route 66 14.4 mi 23m
I 81 12.7 mi 15m
Amos K. Hutchinson Bypass 12.2 mi 13m
78th Division Highway 7.6 mi 8m
Tilghman Street 4.9 mi 8m
Longest stretch: Pennsylvania Turnpike — 152 mi, about 2h 47m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Vandergrift, PA and Allentown, PA.

1

Start on Washington Avenue

54 ft · 2 sec · Washington Avenue
2

Continue on PA 56; PA 66 ALT

0.2 mi · 20 sec · Washington Avenue
3

Continue on PA 56; PA 66 ALT

463 ft · 12 sec · 1st Street
4

Turn left onto PA 56; PA 66 ALT

171 ft · 2 sec · Farragut Avenue
5

Continue on PA 56; PA 66 ALT

0.1 mi · 16 sec · Dime Road
6

Turn right onto PA 56; PA 66

2.6 mi · 2 min · PA 56; PA 66
7

Turn right onto PA 66

0.3 mi · 21 sec · 1st Street
8

Continue on PA 66

2.3 mi · 3 min · State Route 66
9

At end of road, turn left onto PA 66

12 mi · 19 min · State Route 66
Use the straight lane.
10

Continue on PA Tpke 66

12 mi · 13 min · Amos K. Hutchinson Bypass
11

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 41 sec
Exit 0B Toward I 70, I 76, PATP: New Stanton
12

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 30 sec
Toward I 70 West: New Stanton
13

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 36 sec
Toward I 70 East, I 76, PATP: Harrisburg, Pittsburgh Use the slight right lane.
14

Continue on I 70

0.2 mi · 22 sec · I 70
15

Keep slight left at fork onto I 70

0.4 mi · 1 min · I 70
Toward I 70 East, I 76 East: Harrisburg
16

Merge onto I 70; I 76; PATP

152 mi · 2 hr 47 min · Pennsylvania Turnpike
17

Take the exit

0.9 mi · 2 min
Toward I 81, US 11: Carlisle, Harrisburg Use the slight right lane.
18

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 54 sec
Toward US 11 North: Harrisburg Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Continue on US 11

1.1 mi · 2 min · Harrisburg Pike
Use the straight lane.
20

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 34 sec
Toward I 81 North: Harrisburg
21

Merge onto I 81

13 mi · 15 min · I 81
Use the straight / right lanes.
22

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 14 sec
Toward US 11, US 15: Enola, Marysville
23

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 28 sec
Toward US 11 North, US 15 North: Marysville
24

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 32 sec
25

Merge onto I 81

0.7 mi · 1 min · George N. Wade Memorial Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26

Continue on I 81

3.4 mi · 4 min · American Legion Memorial Highway
27

Keep slight left at fork onto I 81

19 mi · 22 min · American Legion Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 45 sec
Exit 89 Toward I 78 East: Allentown
29

Continue on I 78

7.6 mi · 8 min · 78th Division Highway
30

Continue on I 78; US 22

43 mi · 50 min · William Penn Highway
Use the straight lane.
31

Keep slight right at fork onto US 22

1.0 mi · 1 min · Lehigh Valley Thruway
Exit 51 Toward US 22 East: Pennsylvania Turnpike, LVI Airport Use the slight right lane.
32

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Toward Cetronia Use the slight right lane.
33

Turn straight onto Tilghman Street

4.9 mi · 8 min · Tilghman Street
Use the straight lane.
34

Arrive at destination

Tilghman Street

Trip Plan

For this 5-hour, 32-minute drive, consider an early morning departure to maximize your daylight hours and avoid potential afternoon traffic. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing your journey. The longest stretch on the Pennsylvania Turnpike is over 150 miles, so plan your fuel and rest breaks accordingly before embarking on this segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach the turnpike portion, to ensure you have enough to reach a service area or your destination comfortably. The $46 fuel cost is an estimate, so checking current prices before you leave is always a good idea.

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 139.9 miles from Vandergrift, PA, or about 2h 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 152 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 62 miles or 1h 18m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 139.9 miles or 2h 43m 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 30m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Allentown, PA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Vandergrift, 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 Vandergrift, PA

This is one driving day of about 279.8 miles and 5h 32m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 miles from Vandergrift, 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 152 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Hancock, MD, MD

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Hancock, MD

140 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.

Pacing Suggestions

Johnstown, PA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 62 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Hancock, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 139.9 miles from Vandergrift, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Pennsylvania Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 152 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best meal stop · first break window

Nino's Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Mt Pleasant, Pennsylvania

Near the start, short detour

First break · 48min in 1 mi from route ~3 min detour $20 to $30

Hours: Closed

+17245472900

Visit website

Nino's Restaurant

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

First break 1 mi from route ~3 min detour $20 to $30

Mt Pleasant, Pennsylvania

Hours: Closed

+17245472900

Visit website

The Village

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

First break 3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20

Mt Pleasant, Pennsylvania

Hours: 4–8:30 pm

+17245473529

Visit website

Persichetti's Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

First break 3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour $10 to $20

Jeannette, Pennsylvania

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+17245275553

Visit website

The Nest Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

First break 3.6 mi from route ~9 min detour $40 to $50

Jeannette, Pennsylvania

Hours: 5–8 pm

+17245279880

Visit website

Primanti Bros. Restaurant and Bar

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~11 min detour

First break 4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour $10 to $20

Greensburg, Pennsylvania

Hours: 11 am–12 pm

+17246891300

Visit website

Parkwood Inn

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~12 min detour

First break 4.9 mi from route ~12 min detour $10 to $20

Greensburg, Pennsylvania

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+17248342332

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~12 min detour

First break 5 mi from route ~12 min detour

Greensburg, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~12 min detour

First break 4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour

Greensburg, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Tesla Destination Charger

Near the start, short detour

First break 3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour

Acme, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18778337829

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

Near the start, short detour

First break 3.4 mi from route ~8 min detour

Greensburg, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

Near the start, ~11 min detour

First break 4.3 mi from route ~11 min detour

Greensburg, Pennsylvania

Hours: 8 am–5 pm

+18889982546

Visit website

Nissan Charging Station

Near the start, ~12 min detour

First break 4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour

Greensburg, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+33172676914

ChargePoint Charging Station

Near the start, ~12 min detour

First break 4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour

Greensburg, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 22

5 decision points cluster between mile 5.6 and 273.7 — 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 | ~7m in | PA 66 / State Route 66

At end of road, turn left onto PA 66 / State Route 66

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
8
30.5 mi into trip | ~42m in

Take the exit toward I 70 East, I 76, PATP: Harrisburg, Pittsburgh

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 70 East, I 76, PATP: Harrisburg, Pitts...
7
183.3 mi into trip | ~3h 31m in

Take the exit toward I 81, US 11: Carlisle, Harrisburg

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 81, US 11: Carlisle, Harrisburg
7
184.2 mi into trip | ~3h 33m in

Keep slight left at fork toward US 11 North: Harrisburg

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward US 11 North: Harrisburg
9
273.7 mi into trip | ~5h 23m in | US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway toward US 22 East: Pennsylvania Turnpike, LVI Airport

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 51 Toward US 22 East: Pennsylvania Turnpike, LVI A...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$46.39 one way

$92.77 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 98 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $50.80 $101.61
premium $4.93 $54.26 $108.53
diesel $5.61 $61.78 $123.55

Estimated Tolls: $20.68

Pennsylvania Turnpike (152 mi) $19.76
Amos K. Hutchinson Bypass (12.2 mi) $0.85
Lehigh Valley Thruway (1 mi) $0.07

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

$46

Tolls

$21

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$92–$117

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 97.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 83.9 1 $29.38 $13.43
Efficient EV 70 0 $24.48 $11.19
EV Truck/SUV 111.9 1 $39.17 $17.91

Gas CO2

98 kg

EV CO2

33 kg (66% 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 20, 2026

Origin

Vandergrift, PA

Morning in Vandergrift on Tuesday

Local time

7:13 AM

EDT

Current temp

66°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Allentown, PA

Morning in Allentown on Tuesday

Local time

7:13 AM

EDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

67°F

Hancock, MD

140 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

5 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

5h 32m on the road

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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument

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 ~4 min detour Free near mile 183.3
View on nps.gov
Appalachian National Scenic Trail

Appalachian National Scenic Trail

National Scenic Trail

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...

5 mi from route ~12 min detour Free near mile 231.6
View on nps.gov
Flight 93 National Memorial

Flight 93 National Memorial

National Memorial

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 77.2
View on nps.gov
Fort Necessity National Battlefield

Fort Necessity National Battlefield

National Battlefield

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...

24 mi from route ~60 min detour Free near mile 48.2
View on nps.gov
Johnstown Flood National Memorial

Johnstown Flood National Memorial

National Memorial

The South Fork Dam failed on Friday, May 31, 1889, and unleashed 20,000,000 tons of water that devastated Johnstown, PA. The flood killed 2,209 people but it brought the nation and the world together...

25 mi from route ~62 min detour Free near mile 96.5
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a drive that is largely highway-focused, with 65% of the journey taking place on major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 152 miles along the Pennsylvania Turnpike, offering a consistent pace. While primarily a highway experience, you will also navigate segments of the William Penn Highway and American Legion Memorial Highway, which may offer a slightly different feel as you progress. This route prioritizes efficient travel over winding scenic byways, making it a practical choice for getting from point A to point B.

65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 152 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and William Penn Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.6 miles in near PA 66 / State Route 66.

Driving Effort 10/10

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 22 significant decision points across 279.8 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 5.6 miles (PA 66 / State Route 66): Lane positioning matters here; at 30.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 183.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Vandergrift, PA and Allentown, PA, road signs point toward Patp: New Stanton, Patp: Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Marysville.

Patp: New Stanton

30 mi in | ~40m

Patp: Harrisburg

30.5 mi in | ~42m

Pittsburgh

30.5 mi in | ~42m

Harrisburg

183.3 mi in | ~3h 31m

Marysville

198.5 mi in | ~3h 52m

About the Cities

Arriving in Allentown, PA

Full guide →

Allentown is the largest city in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania, the county seat and largest city in Lehigh County, and the third-largest city in Pennsylvania after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh with a population of 125,845 as of 2020.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 32m. Total distance: 279.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 152 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $20.68 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 Allentown, 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 5.6 miles (PA 66 / State Route 66): Lane positioning matters here; at 30.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 183.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes — Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument, Appalachian National Scenic Trail and Flight 93 National Memorial (5 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 11.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Allentown, PA before the return drive.

How this page is built

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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