The drive from Akron, PA to Upper Darby, PA covers 67.1 miles and takes about 1h 31m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Pennsylvania Turnpike, South Reading Road, Mid-County Expressway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 39.4 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.12 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
33.5 miles from Akron, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 41m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 31m. Total distance: 67.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 31m highway drive covering 67.1 miles, with most of the trip on Pennsylvania Turnpike and South Reading Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 39.4 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Pennsylvania Turnpike is the longest continuous segment at about 39.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and South Reading Road. 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 Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 67.1 miles you will encounter 11 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 9.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; 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.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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
5
9.1 mi into trip|~15m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 76 Toll East: Philadelphia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 76 Toll East: Philadelphia
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
7
53.9 mi into trip|~1h 5m in
Take the exit toward I 476 South: Chester
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 331A
Toward I 476 South: Chester
8
60.9 mi into trip|~1h 16m in
Take the exit toward PA 3: Upper Darby, Broomall
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 9
Toward PA 3: Upper Darby, Broomall
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Akron, PA and Upper Darby, PA, road signs point toward Patp, Philadelphia and Broomall.
Patp
8.6 mi in|~14m|via Colonel Howard Boulevard
Philadelphia
48.8 mi in|~58m|via I 76
Broomall
60.9 mi in|~1h 16m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
39.4 mi
42m
South Reading Road
6.7 mi
10m
Mid-County Expressway
6.4 mi
8m
I 76
5.1 mi
7m
Lansdowne Avenue
3 mi
8m
West Chester Pike
2.5 mi
5m
Colonel Howard Boulevard
1.3 mi
2m
South State Street
0.5 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 Upper Darby, 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
5.1 mi·7 min·I 76
Exit 326Toward I 76 East: Valley Forge, PhiladelphiaUse the slight right lane.
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 331AToward I 476 South: ChesterUse the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto I 476
6.4 mi·8 min·Mid-County Expressway
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·59 sec
Exit 9Toward PA 3: Upper Darby, BroomallUse the slight right lane.
14
Turn left onto PA 3
2.5 mi·5 min·West Chester Pike
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
15
Turn slight right onto Darby Road
471 ft·13 sec·Darby Road
Use the right lane.
16
Continue on Lansdowne Avenue
3.0 mi·8 min·Lansdowne Avenue
Use the straight lane.
17
Turn right onto West Providence Road
0.3 mi·39 sec·West Providence Road
18
Arrive at destination
West Providence Road
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 33.5 miles from Akron, PA, or about 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 39.4 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 15 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 33.5 miles or 41m 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 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Upper Darby, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Akron, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Akron, PA
This is one driving day of about 67.1 miles and 1h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Akron, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Pennsylvania Turnpike for about 39.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 33.5 miles from Akron, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Upper Darby, PA
The final approach into Upper Darby, PA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Valley Forge National Historical Park
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...
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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 67.1
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...
16 mi from route
~40 min detour
Free
near mile 60.1
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...
20 mi from route
~51 min detour
Free
near mile 2.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.12 one way
$22.25 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg24 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$12.18
$24.37
premium
$4.93
$13.01
$26.03
diesel
$5.61
$14.81
$29.63
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.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Tolls
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
20.1
0
$7.05
$3.22
Efficient EV
16.8
0
$5.87
$2.68
EV Truck/SUV
26.8
0
$9.39
$4.29
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Akron, PA
Late night
in Akron on Friday
Local time
3:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Upper Darby, PA
Late night
in Upper Darby on Friday
Local time
3:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°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
1 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 31m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Akron, PA to Upper Darby, PA covers 67.1 miles and takes about 1h 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Pennsylvania Turnpike, South Reading Road, Mid-County Expressway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 33.5 miles from Akron, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.12 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 67.1 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 9.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; 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.
Between Akron, PA and Upper Darby, PA, road signs point toward Patp, Philadelphia and Broomall.
Data sources
The figures on this page are computed from open government and mapping datasets, not crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Full methodology, refresh cadence, and limitations are documented on the
methodology page.
