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Create accountDrive Time
1h 41m
Distance
80.2 mi
129 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Belfast, PA
Jonathan Borba
Philadelphia, PA
Samyantak Mohanty
Traveling from Belfast to Philadelphia covers 80.2 miles of Pennsylvania landscape, making for a manageable trip that typically takes about 1 hour and 28 minutes. Because this journey is relatively short, it functions perfectly as a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stays to reach your destination. You can expect to spend approximately $13 on fuel for the trip, keeping the cost quite reasonable for a quick getaway. Both the origin and destination sit within the Northeast region, providing a consistent feel as you move between the two points. If you are looking for a straightforward, local-focused trip without the need for complex planning, this route offers a reliable option.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
40.1 miles from Belfast, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 51m into the drive .
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straightforward interstate haul, as this route contains no major highway segments. With a highway share of 0%, your time behind the wheel will be spent navigating local roads, which demands more focus and active steering than a standard freeway cruise. The path avoids long, monotonous stretches, instead offering a more technical driving experience that keeps you engaged from start to finish. Because you are avoiding high-speed thoroughfares, the pace of the drive remains steady and localized throughout the entire 80.2-mile distance.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
522 ft
Total Descent
1,000 ft
Highest Point
734 ft
~33.4 mi in
Elevation Range
690 ft
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and Lehigh Valley Thruway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.2 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 80.2 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 7.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 65.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 65.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the exit toward US 22 West: Bethlehem, Allentown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward I 76 East, I 76 West: Philadelphia, Valley Forge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 76 East: Philadelphia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
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
Between Belfast, PA and Philadelphia, PA, road signs point toward Allentown, Patp, Scranton and Valley Forge.
Allentown
Patp
Scranton
Valley Forge
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension | 37.4 mi | 40m |
| Lehigh Valley Thruway | 15.7 mi | 21m |
| Schuylkill Expressway | 12.6 mi | 17m |
| PA-33 | 6.6 mi | 7m |
| Mid-County Expressway | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| Vine Street Expressway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| North 15th Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Henry Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Belfast, PA and Philadelphia, PA.
Start on Sullivan Trail
Turn sharp right onto Belfast Road
Turn slight left onto Henry Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto PA 33
Take the exit
Merge onto US 22
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 476; PATP
Continue on I 476; PATP
Keep slight left at fork onto I 476; PATP
Continue on I 476
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 76
Keep slight left at fork onto I 676; US 30
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn right onto North 15th Street
Turn slight left onto PA 611
Keep slight left at fork onto South Penn Square
Arrive at destination
Since this is a compact 1 hour and 28-minute trip, you have significant flexibility in your departure time to avoid the heaviest local traffic. Budgeting $13 for gas is straightforward, but it is always wise to fill up before you leave Belfast to ensure a stress-free departure. Because the route consists entirely of local roads without dedicated highway rest stops, plan any necessary breaks before you get underway. Given the turn-heavy nature of the drive, stay alert and check your navigation frequently, as the lack of highway signage means you will be relying on local road markers to stay on track.
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.
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 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.1 miles or 51m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Philadelphia, PA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Belfast, 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 Belfast, PA
This is one driving day of about 80.2 miles and 1h 41m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 40.1 mi from Belfast, PA · 51m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
40 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 40.1 miles from Belfast, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Philadelphia, 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 Philadelphia, PA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$13.27 one way
$26.54 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $14.52 | $29.04 |
| premium | $4.92 | $15.54 | $31.08 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $17.82 | $35.64 |
Estimated Tolls: $5.97
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
$13
Tolls
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.1 | 0 | $8.42 | $3.85 |
| Efficient EV | 20.1 | 0 | $7.02 | $3.21 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.1 | 0 | $11.23 | $5.13 |
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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
Evening in Belfast on Sunday
Local time
7:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
33°F
Clear
Destination
Evening in Philadelphia on Sunday
Local time
7:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
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
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.
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