Origin
Columbia, PA
Night in Columbia on Wednesday
Local time
10:46 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Columbia, PA to Bensalem, PA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 53m
Distance
96.2 mi
155 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 45m
★
6 AM
1h 54m
8 AM
2h 10m
10 AM
1h 59m
12 PM
1h 58m
3 PM
2h 0m
5 PM
2h 9m
8 PM
1h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Columbia, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Bensalem, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Columbia, PA to Bensalem, PA covers 96.2 miles and takes about 1h 53m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Pennsylvania Turnpike, US 222, US 30 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 65 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.95 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.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
48.1 miles from Columbia, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 1h 53m highway drive covering 96.2 miles, with most of the trip on Pennsylvania Turnpike and US 222. The longest continuous stretch is about 65 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 19 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 65 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and US 222. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near PA 462 / Chestnut Street.
Route Complexity
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 96.2 miles you will encounter 15 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 (PA 462 / Chestnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (PA 462 / North 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 28 miles (Colonel Howard Boulevard): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
PA 462 / Chestnut Street
Turn right onto PA 462 / Chestnut Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
PA 462 / North 5th Street
Turn right onto PA 462 / North 5th Street
Navigation decision point
6
28 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
Colonel Howard Boulevard
Turn right onto Colonel Howard Boulevard toward I 76, PATP
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 76, PATP
6
28.2 mi into trip
|
~38m 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
7
94.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 49m in
Take the exit toward PA 132: Street Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 352
Toward PA 132: Street Road
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Columbia, PA and Bensalem, PA, road signs point toward Patp and Pa Turnpike.
Patp
27.8 mi in
|
~37m
Pa Turnpike
27.8 mi in
|
~37m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike | 65 mi | 1h 9m |
| US 222 | 15.8 mi | 19m |
| US 30 | 8.7 mi | 11m |
| Street Road | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Lancaster Avenue | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Columbia Avenue | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Colonel Howard Boulevard | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Chestnut Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 65 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, PA and Bensalem, PA.
1
Start on North 3rd Street
105 ft
·
7 sec
·
North 3rd Street
2
Turn right onto PA 462
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Chestnut Street
3
Turn right onto PA 462
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
North 5th Street
4
Continue on PA 462
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Lancaster Avenue
5
Continue on PA 462
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Columbia Avenue
6
Turn left onto Prospect Road
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Prospect Road
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward US 30 East: Lancaster
8
Merge onto US 30
8.7 mi
·
11 min
·
US 30
9
Take the exit onto US 222
16 mi
·
19 min
·
US 222
Toward US 222 North: Reading
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 76, PATP, PA 272: Denver, PA Turnpike
11
Turn right onto Colonel Howard Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Colonel Howard Boulevard
Toward I 76, PATP
12
Keep slight left at fork onto Colonel Howard Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Colonel Howard Boulevard
Toward I 76, PATP
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 76 Toll East: Philadelphia
14
Merge onto I 76; PATP
65 mi
·
1 hr 9 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Exit 352
Toward PA 132: Street Road
Use the slight right lane.
16
Turn left onto PA 132
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Street Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
17
Turn right onto Knights Road
261 ft
·
8 sec
·
Knights Road
18
Turn right
135 ft
·
9 sec
19
Arrive at destination
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 48.1 miles from Columbia, PA, or about 1h into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65 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 21 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.1 miles or 1h 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bensalem, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Columbia, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Columbia, PA
This is one driving day of about 96.2 miles and 1h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Columbia, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Pennsylvania Turnpike for about 65 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 48.1 mi from Columbia, PA · 1h into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
48 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 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 48.1 miles from Columbia, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Pennsylvania Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 65 miles.
Arriving in Bensalem, PA
The final approach into Bensalem, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.95 one way
$31.90 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
34 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $17.47 | $34.93 |
| premium | $4.93 | $18.66 | $37.31 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $21.24 | $42.48 |
Estimated Tolls: $8.45
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(65 mi)
$8.45
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
$16
Tolls
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 28.9 | 0 | $10.10 | $4.62 |
| Efficient EV | 24.1 | 0 | $8.42 | $3.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 38.5 | 0 | $13.47 | $6.16 |
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Bensalem, PA
Night in Bensalem on Wednesday
Local time
10:46 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°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
2 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 53m 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 Columbia, PA to Bensalem, PA covers 96.2 miles and takes about 1h 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Pennsylvania Turnpike, US 222, US 30. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 48.1 miles from Columbia, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.95 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 96.2 miles you will encounter 15 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: near the start (PA 462 / Chestnut Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (PA 462 / North 5th Street): Navigation decision point; at 28 miles (Colonel Howard Boulevard): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Columbia, PA and Bensalem, PA, road signs point toward Patp and Pa Turnpike.
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