Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 21m
Distance
106.8 mi
172 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Whitman, PA
Haneul Trac
Red Lion, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Embarking on a journey from Whitman to Red Lion, Pennsylvania, covers 106.8 miles and is estimated to take about 2 hours and 21 minutes. This drive is perfectly suited for a single day trip, requiring no overnight stays. With a fuel cost estimated at $18, it's an economical option for exploring the Northeast region of Pennsylvania. The route is predominantly highway-focused, making it a straightforward drive. You'll spend most of your time on major roadways, which contributes to its efficiency as a day trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
53.4 miles from Whitman, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 8m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike | 39.6 mi | 42m |
| Schuylkill Expressway | 20.1 mi | 28m |
| US 222 | 16.8 mi | 20m |
| US 30 | 16.8 mi | 22m |
| Freysville Road | 5.1 mi | 9m |
| Oregon Avenue | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| Frysville Road | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Colonel Howard Boulevard | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Whitman, PA and Red Lion, PA.
Start on Vollmer Street
Turn right onto South 5th Street
Turn left onto Ritner Street
Turn left onto South 6th Street
At end of road, turn right onto Oregon Avenue
Continue on this road
Merge onto I 76
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 76
Keep slight left at fork onto I 76
Merge onto I 76; PATP
Take the exit
Continue on Colonel Howard Boulevard
Keep slight left at fork onto Colonel Howard Boulevard
Keep slight left at fork onto Colonel Howard Boulevard
Turn left
Merge onto US 222
Keep slight right at fork onto US 222
Keep slight right at fork onto US 30
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto Kreutz Creek Road
Continue on Frysville Road
Continue on Freysville Road
Continue on East Prospect Street
Turn left onto PA 24
Turn left onto PA 74
Arrive at destination
Given the 2 hour and 21 minute duration, starting your drive from Whitman, PA, in the morning will allow you ample time to reach Red Lion, PA, without feeling rushed. Since this is a single-day trip covering 106.8 miles, you won't need to plan for overnight stops. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 39.6 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before you begin this segment. With an estimated fuel cost of $18, keeping an eye on your gas gauge is advisable, especially as you approach the longer highway portions.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
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 23 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 53.4 miles or 1h 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Red Lion, PA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Whitman, 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 Whitman, PA
This is one driving day of about 106.8 miles and 2h 21m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
53 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 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 53.4 miles from Whitman, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 22.2 and 23.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
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
Keep slight left at fork toward Mall Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward I 76 West: New Jersey, Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto I 76 toward I 76 West: Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$17.71 one way
$35.41 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $19.39 | $38.78 |
| premium | $4.93 | $20.71 | $41.42 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.58 | $47.16 |
Estimated Tolls: $5.15
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
$18
Tolls
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 32 | 0 | $11.21 | $5.13 |
| Efficient EV | 26.7 | 0 | $9.34 | $4.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 42.7 | 0 | $14.95 | $6.84 |
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (68% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Whitman on Sunday
Local time
5:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
66°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
Destination
Late night in Red Lion on Sunday
Local time
5:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
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
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Historical Park
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...
National Historical Park
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...
National Memorial
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...
National Historical Park
Famous as the First State to ratify the Constitution, Delaware was born out of a conflict among three world powers for dominance of the Delaware Valley. From this beginning, the region developed a dis...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This drive is largely a highway-focused experience, with 88% of the journey utilizing major roadways. You'll be spending a significant portion of your time on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, including a longest stretch of 39.6 miles without needing to exit. The primary roads guiding you include the Pennsylvania Turnpike, Schuylkill Expressway, and US 222. Expect a consistent pace for much of the trip, characterized by the efficiency of interstate travel rather than winding country lanes.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and Schuylkill Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 22.2 miles in.
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 24 significant decision points across 106.8 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 22.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 22.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Whitman, PA and Red Lion, PA, road signs point toward Chester, Pottstown, Harrisburg, Lancaster and Hallam.
Chester
Pottstown
Harrisburg
Lancaster
Hallam
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 21m. Total distance: 106.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Whitman, PA or browse trips ending in Red Lion, PA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse PA road trips.
