Origin
Allentown, PA
Night in Allentown on Tuesday
Local time
9:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Allentown, PA to Meridian, PA
Data updated 1 hour ago
Drive Time
5h 59m
Distance
300 mi
483 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$50
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 47m
★
6 AM
6h 0m
8 AM
6h 26m
10 AM
6h 9m
12 PM
6h 6m
3 PM
6h 10m
5 PM
6h 24m
8 PM
5h 52m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Allentown, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Meridian, PA
RDNE Stock project
Trip Overview
The drive from Allentown, PA to Meridian, PA covers 300 miles and takes about 5h 59m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Keystone Shortway, William Penn Highway, PA 38 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 181.3 miles on Keystone Shortway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $49.74 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
150 miles from Allentown, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 59m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 59m drive with frequent turns across 300 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 38 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Keystone Shortway is the longest continuous segment at about 181.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 around 27.5 miles in.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 300 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 27.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 28 miles (PA 61 / Pottsville Pike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 22 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
27.5 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Take the exit toward PA 61 North: Pottsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 29
Toward PA 61 North: Pottsville
7
27.7 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Keep slight right at fork toward PA 61 North: Pottsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 29
Toward PA 61 North: Pottsville
5
28 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
PA 61 / Pottsville Pike
Merge onto PA 61 / Pottsville Pike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
44.3 mi into trip
|
~57m in
|
US 209 / Mauch Chunk Street
Turn left onto US 209 / Mauch Chunk Street
Navigation decision point
5
82.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 45m in
|
PA 54 / Danville-Riverside Bridge Road
Turn right onto PA 54 / Danville-Riverside Bridge Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Keystone Shortway | 181.3 mi | 3h 14m |
| William Penn Highway | 21.7 mi | 26m |
| PA 38 | 11.9 mi | 19m |
| Locust Gap Highway | 11.5 mi | 13m |
| Centre Turnpike | 10.6 mi | 12m |
| South Market Street | 9.7 mi | 11m |
| Sunbury Road | 9.4 mi | 11m |
| North Washington Road | 5.3 mi | 8m |
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 181.3 mi, about 3h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Allentown, PA and Meridian, PA.
1
Start on Tilghman Street
5.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Tilghman Street
Use the straight lane.
2
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Toward US 22 West: Harrisburg
3
Merge onto US 22
0.7 mi
·
54 sec
·
Lehigh Valley Thruway
4
Merge onto I 78; US 22
22 mi
·
26 min
·
William Penn Highway
5
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 29
Toward PA 61 North: Pottsville
Use the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 29
Toward PA 61 North: Pottsville
7
Merge onto PA 61
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Pottsville Pike
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on PA 61
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Centre Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
9
Continue on PA 61
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Route 61 South
10
Continue on PA 61
0.3 mi
·
18 sec
·
Pottsville Boulevard
11
Continue on PA 61
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
South Claude A. Lord Boulevard
12
Turn left onto US 209
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
Mauch Chunk Street
13
At end of road, turn right onto US 209
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
South Centre Street
14
Turn left onto US 209
2.3 mi
·
4 min
·
West Market Street
15
Continue on US 209; PA 901
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Pottsville Minersville Highway
Use the straight lane.
16
At end of road, turn left onto PA 901
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East Sunbury Street
17
Continue on PA 901
9.4 mi
·
11 min
·
Sunbury Road
18
Continue on PA 901
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Fairgrounds Road
19
Continue on PA 901
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Locust Gap Highway
20
Continue on PA 54; PA 901
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Locust Gap Highway
21
Continue on PA 54
9.7 mi
·
11 min
·
South Market Street
22
Turn right onto PA 54
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
Danville-Riverside Bridge Road
Use the right lane.
23
Continue on PA 54
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Factory Street
Use the straight lane.
24
Continue on PA 54
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Continental Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
26
Merge onto I 80
181 mi
·
3 hr 14 min
·
Keystone Shortway
27
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
Toward PA 38: Emlenton
28
Turn left onto PA 38
12 mi
·
19 min
·
PA 38
29
Turn right onto PA 138
5.3 mi
·
8 min
·
North Washington Road
30
At end of road, turn left onto PA 308
170 ft
·
3 sec
·
West Sunbury Road
31
Continue on PA 138; PA 308
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
North Main Street
32
Continue on PA 138; PA 308
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
West Sunbury Road
33
Turn right onto PA 138
4.7 mi
·
7 min
·
Euclid Road
34
Turn left onto PA 8
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
William Flinn Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
35
Turn right onto South Benbrook Road
4.4 mi
·
7 min
·
South Benbrook Road
36
Continue on Meridian Road
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Meridian Road
37
Turn left onto Hopewell Avenue
0.3 mi
·
59 sec
·
Hopewell Avenue
38
Arrive at destination
Hopewell Avenue
Trip Plan
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 150 miles from Allentown, PA, or about 2h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 181.3 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 80 miles or 1h 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 150 miles or 2h 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Meridian, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Allentown, 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 Allentown, PA
This is one driving day of about 300 miles and 5h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Allentown, 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 Keystone Shortway for about 181.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 150 mi from Allentown, PA · 2h 59m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
150 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 150 miles from Allentown, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Keystone Shortway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 181.3 miles.
Arriving in Meridian, PA
The final approach into Meridian, PA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Meridian, PA.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.74 one way
$99.47 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
105 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $54.47 | $108.94 |
| premium | $4.93 | $58.18 | $116.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $66.24 | $132.47 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.79
Centre Turnpike
(10.6 mi)
$0.74
Lehigh Valley Thruway
(0.7 mi)
$0.05
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
$50
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 105 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 90 | 1 | $31.50 | $14.40 |
| Efficient EV | 75 | 0 | $26.25 | $12.00 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 120 | 1 | $42.00 | $19.20 |
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Meridian, PA
Night in Meridian on Tuesday
Local time
9:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°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
4 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
5h 59m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Allentown, PA to Meridian, PA covers 300 miles and takes about 5h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Keystone Shortway, William Penn Highway, PA 38. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 150 miles from Allentown, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $49.74 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 300 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.
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 28 miles (PA 61 / Pottsville Pike): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Allentown, PA to Meridian, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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