Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 20m
Distance
59.8 mi
96 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Allentown, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Ashland, PA
Michael Taccetta
Allentown to Ashland is 59.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 20 minutes via William Penn Highway, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Pennsylvania's Northeast region, offering a straightforward journey. Expect a local feel for most of the trip, with a significant portion of your drive on local roads rather than high-speed highways. It's a manageable distance, perfect for a half-day excursion or a quick connection between these two points.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 20m. Total distance: 59.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll encounter frequent changes in direction. With only 23% of the drive on highways, anticipate a more intimate connection with the landscape and local traffic. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 21.7 miles along the William Penn Highway. This suggests a driving experience that requires consistent attention to navigation and road conditions, rather than a long, monotonous highway cruise.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Tilghman Street.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 59.8 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: near the start (Tilghman Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 27.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Depart onto Tilghman Street
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward PA 61 North: Pottsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward PA 61 North: Pottsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Merge onto PA 61 / Pottsville Pike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto PA 61 / West Oak Street
Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| William Penn Highway | 21.7 mi | 26m |
| Centre Turnpike | 10.6 mi | 12m |
| Joseph H. Long Boulevard | 5.1 mi | 5m |
| Tilghman Street | 5 mi | 8m |
| Fountain Street | 4.2 mi | 6m |
| Route 61 South | 3 mi | 3m |
| Pottsville Pike | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| South Claude A. Lord Boulevard | 1.5 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Allentown, PA and Ashland, PA.
Start on Tilghman Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 22
Merge onto I 78; US 22
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto PA 61
Continue on PA 61
Continue on PA 61
Continue on PA 61
Continue on PA 61
Continue on PA 61
Continue on PA 61
Continue on PA 61
Continue on PA 61
Turn left onto PA 61
Continue on PA 61
Turn right onto PA 61
Turn slight right onto PA 61
Turn left onto PA 54; PA 61
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 29.9 mi from Allentown, PA · 40m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 29.9 miles from Allentown, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Ashland, 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.
Regular Gas
$9.91 one way
$19.83 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $10.86 | $21.72 |
| premium | $4.93 | $11.60 | $23.19 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.20 | $26.41 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.79
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Tolls
$1
Total
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.9 | 0 | $6.28 | $2.87 |
| Efficient EV | 15 | 0 | $5.23 | $2.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.9 | 0 | $8.37 | $3.83 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Allentown on Saturday
Local time
1:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Late night in Ashland on Saturday
Local time
1:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
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.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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