Origin
Vandergrift, PA
Morning in Vandergrift on Tuesday
Local time
7:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 57m
Distance
314.9 mi
507 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$52
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Vandergrift, PA
Michael Taccetta
Vandergrift, PA to Croydon, PA is 314.9 miles and takes about 5h 57m via Pennsylvania Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $52 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, keeping you in Pennsylvania for the entire drive. Since it's mostly highway driving, you can expect a straightforward trip with minimal navigation challenges. With a recommended one-day duration, this route is well-suited for those looking for an efficient way to cover this distance.
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
157.5 miles from Vandergrift, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 1m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike | 277.7 mi | 5h 2m |
| State Route 66 | 14.4 mi | 23m |
| Amos K. Hutchinson Bypass | 12.2 mi | 13m |
| Street Road | 4 mi | 6m |
| PA 56 | 2.6 mi | 2m |
| State Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| I 70 | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| 1st Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Vandergrift, PA and Croydon, PA.
Start on Washington Avenue
Continue on PA 56; PA 66 ALT
Continue on PA 56; PA 66 ALT
Turn left onto PA 56; PA 66 ALT
Continue on PA 56; PA 66 ALT
Turn right onto PA 56; PA 66
Turn right onto PA 66
Continue on PA 66
At end of road, turn left onto PA 66
Continue on PA Tpke 66
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Take the exit
Continue on I 70
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
Merge onto I 70; I 76; PATP
Take the exit
Turn left onto PA 132
At end of road, turn left onto State Road
Arrive at destination
To maximize daylight and minimize traffic, aim for an early morning departure from Vandergrift. Given the 5h 57m estimated drive time, you should have no problem completing this trip in a single day. The majority of your drive will be on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, so keep an eye on fuel levels as services can be spread out. Consider stopping for a break around the halfway point, which will likely be somewhere along the Pennsylvania Turnpike, to stay refreshed for the final push to Croydon.
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 69 miles or 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 157.5 miles or 3h 1m 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 Croydon, PA than in the middle of the route.
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 314.9 miles and 5h 57m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
157 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 69 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 157.5 miles from Vandergrift, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Pennsylvania Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 277.7 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 5.6 and 313.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
At end of road, turn left onto PA 66 / State Route 66
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 70, I 76, PATP: New Stanton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
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
Take the exit toward PA 132: Street Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
At end of road, turn left onto State Road
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$52.21 one way
$104.41 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $57.18 | $114.36 |
| premium | $4.93 | $61.07 | $122.14 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $69.53 | $139.05 |
Estimated Tolls: $36.94
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
$52
Tolls
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$114–$139
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 110.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 94.5 | 1 | $33.06 | $15.12 |
| Efficient EV | 78.7 | 0 | $27.55 | $12.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 126 | 1 | $44.09 | $20.15 |
Gas CO2
110 kg
EV CO2
37 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Vandergrift on Tuesday
Local time
7:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Croydon on Tuesday
Local time
7:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
67°F
Hancock, MD
157 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
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.
You'll spend about 94% of this 314.9-mile trip on the highway. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 277.7 miles, all on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. After this extensive highway segment, you'll transition to State Route 66 and the Amos K. Hutchinson Bypass for the remaining miles, likely experiencing more local traffic and varied road conditions.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and State Route 66. 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.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 314.9 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 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Vandergrift, PA and Croydon, PA, road signs point toward Patp: New Stanton, Patp: Harrisburg and Pittsburgh.
Patp: New Stanton
Patp: Harrisburg
Pittsburgh
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 57m. Total distance: 314.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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