Origin
West Chester, PA
Late night in West Chester on Sunday
Local time
5:54 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from West Chester, PA to Bensalem, PA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h
Distance
46.3 mi
75 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 56m
★
6 AM
1h 1m
8 AM
1h 11m
10 AM
1h 4m
12 PM
1h 3m
3 PM
1h 5m
5 PM
1h 10m
8 PM
0h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
West Chester, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Bensalem, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Planning a quick trip from West Chester, PA, to Bensalem, PA? This 46.3-mile drive is easily manageable in about 1 hour, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily navigate via the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Street Road, with a significant portion on the turnpike. Expect a fuel cost of around $8 for this journey. The drive offers a mixed driving experience, connecting two points within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania. Given its short duration, you won't need to worry about overnight stays, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike | 25.2 mi | 26m |
| West Chester Bypass | 15.6 mi | 21m |
| Street Road | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| West Market Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Paoli Pike | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Schuylkill Expressway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North Church Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Knights Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 25.2 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between West Chester, PA and Bensalem, PA.
1
Start on Patton Alley
196 ft
·
16 sec
·
Patton Alley
2
Turn right onto North Church Street
0.2 mi
·
53 sec
·
North Church Street
3
Turn left onto US 322 BUS
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
West Market Street
4
Turn straight
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
Toward Paoli Pike
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
5
Turn straight onto Paoli Pike
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Paoli Pike
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward US 202 North, US 322 West
7
Merge onto US 202; US 322
16 mi
·
21 min
·
West Chester Bypass
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 76 West: New Jersey, Harrisburg
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
20 sec
Toward Mall Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
Toward I 76 West: New Jersey, Harrisburg
11
Merge onto I 76
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
Schuylkill Expressway
Toward I 76 West: New Jersey, Harrisburg
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
Toward I 276 East: Allentown, New York City
Use the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto I 276; PATP
25 mi
·
26 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Exit 352
Toward PA 132: Street Road
Use the slight right lane.
15
Turn left onto PA 132
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Street Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
16
Turn right onto Knights Road
261 ft
·
8 sec
·
Knights Road
17
Turn right
135 ft
·
9 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.2 miles from West Chester, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 155 decision points cluster between mile 1.8 and 44.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.8 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Take the ramp toward US 202 North, US 322 West
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 202 North, US 322 West
7
17.9 mi into trip
|
~27m 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
18.2 mi into trip
|
~28m 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
8
18.7 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 276 East: Allentown, New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 276 East: Allentown, New York City
7
44.1 mi into trip
|
~56m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.68 one way
$15.35 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $8.41 | $16.81 |
| premium | $4.93 | $8.98 | $17.96 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.22 | $20.44 |
Estimated Tolls: $3.27
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(25.2 mi)
$3.27
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$3
Total
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.9 | 0 | $4.86 | $2.22 |
| Efficient EV | 11.6 | 0 | $4.05 | $1.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.5 | 0 | $6.48 | $2.96 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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.
Destination
Bensalem, PA
Late night in Bensalem on Sunday
Local time
5:54 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
9 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route presents a mixed driving profile, with 55% of it being highway driving. You'll experience a significant stretch of 25.2 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, offering a chance for consistent speed. Following that, expect a transition to local roads like Street Road, which will likely involve more varied traffic and potentially lower speeds. The West Chester Bypass also contributes to the initial highway feel before merging onto longer stretches. This combination means you'll shift gears between quicker travel and more urban road conditions.
55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 25.2 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 46.3 miles you will encounter 15 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 1.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between West Chester, PA and Bensalem, PA, road signs point toward Harrisburg and New York City.
Harrisburg
17.6 mi in
|
~27m
New York City
18.7 mi in
|
~29m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h. Total distance: 46.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (55%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 25.2 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.27 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 2 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 Bensalem, PA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Valley Forge National Historical Park, First State National Historical Park and Independence 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 Bensalem, PA before heading back.
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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