Whitman, PA to South Union, PA is 218.2 miles and takes about 4h 29m via Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and Keystone Shortway, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Pennsylvania, traversing the Northeast region for both your departure and arrival. It's a highway-focused trip, making it a straightforward option if you're looking to cover ground efficiently. With a recommended single day for completion, this route is ideal for a quick journey between these two points.
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
109.1 miles from Whitman, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 9m into the drive
.
Exit 95Toward PA 940, I 80: Hazleton, Mount Pocono
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·23 sec
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I 80 West: Hazleton
15
Merge onto I 80
66 mi·1 hr 12 min·Keystone Shortway
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 210A-BToward US 15: Lewisburg, WilliamsportUse the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·40 sec
Exit 210BToward US 15 North: Williamsport
18
Merge onto US 15
2.6 mi·3 min·Westbranch Highway
19
Continue on US 15
12 mi·16 min·US Highway 15
Use the straight lane.
20
Continue on US 15
1.1 mi·1 min·Montgomery Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Continue on US 15
0.6 mi·1 min·Hastings Street
22
Continue on US 15
0.4 mi·58 sec·Market Street
Use the left lane.
23
Take the exit onto US 15
0.2 mi·31 sec·US 15
Use the left lane.
24
Merge onto I 180; US 15; US 220
1.6 mi·2 min·Susquehanna Beltway
25
Keep slight right at fork onto US 15
27 mi·31 min·US 15
Exit 29Toward US 15 North: MansfieldUse the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 162Toward PA 414: Morris, LibertyUse the slight right lane.
27
Turn right onto PA 414
0.6 mi·1 min·Route 414
28
Turn left onto PA 414
0.4 mi·38 sec·Blockhouse Road
29
Turn right onto PA 414
4.3 mi·7 min·Water Street
30
Turn right onto Salt Spring Road
1.5 mi·5 min·Salt Spring Road
31
Turn left onto T329
0.9 mi·3 min·Beck Road
32
Turn left onto South Union Road
81 ft·3 sec·South Union Road
33
Arrive at destination
South Union Road
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 29m duration, starting your drive in the morning is recommended to allow ample daylight for the 218.2-mile journey. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing; however, consider breaking up the longest stretch of 75 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $35, and plan your refueling accordingly, especially before longer highway segments. This trip is easily manageable in a single day, so you can depart at your convenience and arrive with time to spare.
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 109.1 miles from Whitman, PA, or about 2h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 75 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 48 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 109.1 miles or 2h 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Union, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 218.2 miles and 4h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Whitman, 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 Northeast Extension for about 75 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 24
5 decision points cluster between mile 17.9 and 210.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
17.9 mi into trip|~27m in
Take the exit toward I 476 North: Plymouth Meeting
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 331B
Toward I 476 North: Plymouth Meeting
6
96.9 mi into trip|~1h 54m in
Take the exit toward PA 940, I 80: Hazleton, Mount Pocono
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 95
Toward PA 940, I 80: Hazleton, Mount Pocono
8
163.9 mi into trip|~3h 10m in
Take the exit toward US 15: Lewisburg, Williamsport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 210A-B
Toward US 15: Lewisburg, Williamsport
8
182.9 mi into trip|~3h 38m in|US 15
Keep slight right at fork onto US 15 toward US 15 North: Mansfield
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 29
Toward US 15 North: Mansfield
8
210.3 mi into trip|~4h 10m in
Take the exit toward PA 414: Morris, Liberty
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 162
Toward PA 414: Morris, Liberty
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$36.17 one way
$72.35 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg76 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$39.62
$79.24
premium
$4.93
$42.32
$84.63
diesel
$5.61
$48.18
$96.35
Estimated Tolls: $9.75
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(75 mi)$9.75
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
$36
Tolls
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
65.5
0
$22.91
$10.47
Efficient EV
54.6
0
$19.09
$8.73
EV Truck/SUV
87.3
1
$30.55
$13.96
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 18, 2026
Origin
Whitman, PA
Afternoon
in Whitman on Sunday
Local time
4:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Mostly Cloudy
E 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
South Union, PA
Afternoon
in South Union on Sunday
Local time
4:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 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
4h 29m 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.
Independence National Historical Park
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...
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...
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...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
Free
near mile 22.6
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...
22 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
near mile 7.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway-focused, with 61% of the drive on major roadways. You'll experience stretches of comfortable, faster driving, including one uninterrupted segment of 75 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. While primarily highway, expect some transitions as you move between the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, the Keystone Shortway, and US 15. This mix means you'll mostly be on well-maintained, high-speed roads but with some variation in the driving experience as you navigate between these primary routes.
61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 75 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and Keystone Shortway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 17.9 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 24 significant decision points across 218.2 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 17.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 96.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 163.9 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 Whitman, PA and South Union, PA, road signs point toward Mount Pocono and Williamsport.
Mount Pocono
96.9 mi in|~1h 54m
Williamsport
163.9 mi in|~3h 10m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 29m. Total distance: 218.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 75 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $9.75 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 South Union, 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 17.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 96.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 163.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Independence National Historical Park, Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial and Valley Forge National Historical Park (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.0 hours — manageable with a long break at South Union, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
