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Trip from Vandergrift, PA to Croydon, 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 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

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
5h 44m ★
6 AM
5h 57m
8 AM
6h 23m
10 AM
6h 6m
12 PM
6h 4m
3 PM
6h 7m
5 PM
6h 22m
8 PM
5h 49m

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

Downtown Vandergrift, PA, PA

Vandergrift, PA

Michael Taccetta

Trip Overview

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 .

Main Roads

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
Longest stretch: Pennsylvania Turnpike — 277.7 mi, about 5h 2m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Vandergrift, PA and Croydon, 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

278 mi · 5 hr 2 min · Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 54 sec
Exit 352 Toward PA 132: Street Road Use the slight right lane.
18

Turn left onto PA 132

4.0 mi · 6 min · Street Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
19

At end of road, turn left onto State Road

1.6 mi · 2 min · State Road
Use the left lane.
20

Arrive at destination

State Road

Trip Plan

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 157.5 miles from Vandergrift, PA, or about 3h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 277.7 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 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.

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 314.9 miles and 5h 57m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 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 277.7 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

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.

Pacing Suggestions

Cumberland, MD

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 69 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Hancock, MD

Meal break

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 check

Top 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.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 12

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.

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.
6
30 mi into trip | ~40m in

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

Exit 0B Toward I 70, I 76, PATP: New Stanton
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
309 mi into trip | ~5h 46m in

Take the exit toward PA 132: Street Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 352 Toward PA 132: Street Road
7
313.4 mi into trip | ~5h 54m in | State Road

At end of road, turn left onto State Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$52.21 one way

$104.41 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 110 kg CO2
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

Pennsylvania Turnpike (277.7 mi) $36.09
Amos K. Hutchinson Bypass (12.2 mi) $0.85

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.

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

7:00 AM

EDT

Current temp

66°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Croydon, PA

Morning in Croydon on Tuesday

Local time

7:00 AM

EDT

Current temp

63°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

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

5h 57m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

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.

94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 277.7 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

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.

Driving Effort 7/10

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.

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 Croydon, PA, road signs point toward Patp: New Stanton, Patp: Harrisburg and Pittsburgh.

Patp: New Stanton

30 mi in | ~40m

Patp: Harrisburg

30.5 mi in | ~42m

Pittsburgh

30.5 mi in | ~42m

About the Cities

Arriving in Croydon, PA

Full guide →

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 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 277.7 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $36.94 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 Croydon, 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 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.

Not recommended in a single day. At 6.0 hours each way, a round trip means 11.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Croydon, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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