Origin
Akron, PA
Afternoon in Akron on Saturday
Local time
4:26 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Akron, PA to Philadelphia, PA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 26m
Distance
68.3 mi
110 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 20m
★
6 AM
1h 27m
8 AM
1h 40m
10 AM
1h 32m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 40m
8 PM
1h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Akron, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Philadelphia, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel the 68.2 miles from Akron to Philadelphia, expect a straightforward journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 19 minutes. Because this is a relatively short trip within Pennsylvania, it serves perfectly as a quick day trip rather than an overnight excursion. You should budget approximately $11 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating this route involves primarily local roads like North 7th Street, South State Street, and South Reading Road. Since the route relies entirely on local roads with zero highway driving, it provides a very different experience than a high-speed interstate commute. Staying within the Northeast region, you will find this drive manageable for a casual weekend outing or a direct trip between these two Pennsylvania points.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike | 39.4 mi | 42m |
| I 76 | 18 mi | 26m |
| South Reading Road | 6.7 mi | 10m |
| Colonel Howard Boulevard | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Vine Street Expressway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| South State Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| North 15th Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North 7th Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 39.4 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Akron, PA and Philadelphia, PA.
1
Start on South 9th Street
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
South 9th Street
2
Turn right onto PA 272
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
North 7th Street
3
Continue on PA 272
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
South State Street
4
Continue on PA 272
6.7 mi
·
10 min
·
South Reading Road
5
Turn right onto Colonel Howard Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
Colonel Howard Boulevard
6
Take the ramp onto Colonel Howard Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
Colonel Howard Boulevard
7
Keep slight left at fork onto Colonel Howard Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Colonel Howard Boulevard
Toward I 76, PATP
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 76 Toll East: Philadelphia
9
Merge onto I 76; PATP
39 mi
·
42 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit onto I 76
18 mi
·
26 min
·
I 76
Exit 326
Toward I 76 East: Valley Forge, Philadelphia
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 676; US 30
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Vine Street Expressway
Toward I 676 East, US 30 East: Central Philadelphia
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward Central Philadelphia
Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork
313 ft
·
11 sec
Toward 15th Street, Central Philadelphia
Use the slight right lane.
14
Turn right onto North 15th Street
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
North 15th Street
Use the right lane.
15
Turn slight left onto PA 611
379 ft
·
8 sec
·
South Penn Square
16
Keep slight left at fork onto South Penn Square
167 ft
·
2 sec
·
South Penn Square
17
Arrive at destination
South Penn Square
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
34 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 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 34.2 miles from Akron, 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 8.6 and 67.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
8.6 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
Colonel Howard Boulevard
Keep slight left at fork onto Colonel Howard Boulevard toward I 76, PATP
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 76, PATP
8
48.8 mi into trip
|
~58m in
|
I 76
Take the exit onto I 76 toward I 76 East: Valley Forge, Philadelphia
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 326
Toward I 76 East: Valley Forge, Philadelphia
8
66.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 24m in
|
I 676; US 30 / Vine Street Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 676; US 30 / Vine Street Expressway toward I 676 East, US 30 East: Central Philadelphia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward I 676 East, US 30 East: Central Philadel...
6
67.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
Take the exit toward Central Philadelphia
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Central Philadelphia
9
67.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 25m in
Keep slight right at fork toward 15th Street, Central Philadelphia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward 15th Street, Central Philadelphia
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.32 one way
$22.65 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
24 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $12.40 | $24.80 |
| premium | $4.93 | $13.25 | $26.49 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.08 | $30.16 |
Estimated Tolls: $5.12
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(39.4 mi)
$5.12
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Tolls
$5
Total
$16
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 20.5 | 0 | $7.17 | $3.28 |
| Efficient EV | 17.1 | 0 | $5.98 | $2.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 27.3 | 0 | $9.56 | $4.37 |
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (67% 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
Philadelphia, PA
Afternoon in Philadelphia on Saturday
Local time
4:26 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°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
13 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
1h 26m 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?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate grind, this 100% non-highway route keeps you moving through various local road environments. You will navigate segments like North 7th Street, where there is no significant long stretch of uninterrupted road. The character of the drive is defined by frequent turns and changing road conditions rather than high-speed cruising. Expect a hands-on driving experience as you transition through the local infrastructure connecting Akron to Philadelphia.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 39.4 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and I 76. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.6 miles in near Colonel Howard Boulevard.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 68.3 miles you will encounter 10 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 8.6 miles (Colonel Howard Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 48.8 miles (I 76): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 66.8 miles (I 676; US 30 / Vine Street Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Akron, PA to Philadelphia, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Patp along the way.
Patp
8.6 mi in
|
~14m
|
via Colonel Howard Boulevard
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 26m. Total distance: 68.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 39.4 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $5.12 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.
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 Philadelphia, 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 8.6 miles (Colonel Howard Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 48.8 miles (I 76): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 66.8 miles (I 676; US 30 / Vine Street Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 (5 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 Philadelphia, PA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh 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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