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 Upper Darby, PA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 36m
Distance
87.5 mi
141 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 29m
★
6 AM
1h 36m
8 AM
1h 51m
10 AM
1h 42m
12 PM
1h 40m
3 PM
1h 42m
5 PM
1h 50m
8 PM
1h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Columbia, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Columbia, PA to Upper Darby, PA covers 87.5 miles and takes about 1h 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Chestnut Street, North 5th Street, Lancaster Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.51 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
43.7 miles from Columbia, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 36m drive with frequent turns across 87.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Chestnut Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Columbia, PA to Upper Darby, PA is easy. At 1h 36m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Columbia, PA to Upper Darby, PA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Chestnut Street | — | — |
| North 5th Street | — | — |
| Lancaster Avenue | — | — |
| Columbia Avenue | — | — |
| Prospect Road | — | — |
| US 30 East | — | — |
| US 222 North | — | — |
| I 76 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Chestnut Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Columbia, PA and Upper Darby, PA.
1
Start on North 3rd Street
105 ft
·
8 sec
·
North 3rd Street
2
Turn right onto Chestnut Street
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Chestnut Street
3
Turn right onto North 5th Street
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
North 5th Street
4
Continue on Lancaster Avenue
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Lancaster Avenue
5
Continue on Columbia Avenue
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Columbia Avenue
6
Turn left onto Prospect Road
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Prospect Road
7
Take the ramp right toward US 30 East: Lancaster
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
US 30 East: Lancaster
8
Merge slight left
8.7 mi
·
11 min
9
Take the exit slight right toward US 222 North: Reading
16 mi
·
19 min
·
US 222 North: Reading
10
Take the exit slight right toward I 76, PATP, PA 272: Denver, PA Turnpike
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
I 76, PATP, PA 272: Denver, PA Turnpike
11
Turn right onto Colonel Howard Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Colonel Howard Boulevard
12
Keep slight left to continue on Colonel Howard Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Colonel Howard Boulevard
13
Keep slight right to continue on I 76 Toll East: Philadelphia
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
I 76 Toll East: Philadelphia
14
Merge slight left onto Pennsylvania Turnpike
39 mi
·
42 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike
15
Take the exit slight right toward I 76 East: Valley Forge, Philadelphia
5.1 mi
·
7 min
·
I 76 East: Valley Forge, Philadelphia
16
Take the exit slight right toward I 476 South: Chester
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 476 South: Chester
17
Merge slight left onto Mid-County Expressway
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Mid-County Expressway
18
Take the exit slight right toward PA 3: Upper Darby, Broomall
0.3 mi
·
59 sec
·
PA 3: Upper Darby, Broomall
19
Turn left onto West Chester Pike
2.5 mi
·
5 min
·
West Chester Pike
20
Turn slight right onto Darby Road
472 ft
·
14 sec
·
Darby Road
21
Continue on Lansdowne Avenue
3.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Lansdowne Avenue
22
Turn right onto West Providence Road
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
West Providence Road
23
Arrive at your 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 43.7 miles from Columbia, PA, or about 48m into the drive.
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 19 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.7 miles or 48m 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 21m
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 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 87.5 miles and 1h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Columbia, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 43.7 mi from Columbia, PA · 48m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
44 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 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 43.7 miles from Columbia, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.51 one way
$29.01 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
31 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $15.89 | $31.78 |
| premium | $4.93 | $16.97 | $33.94 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $19.32 | $38.64 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 26.3 | 0 | $9.19 | $4.20 |
| Efficient EV | 21.9 | 0 | $7.66 | $3.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 35 | 0 | $12.25 | $5.60 |
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 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
Upper Darby, PA
Night in Upper Darby on Wednesday
Local time
10:46 PM
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
14 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 36m 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 Upper Darby, PA covers 87.5 miles and takes about 1h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Chestnut Street, North 5th Street, Lancaster Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 43.7 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 $14.51 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.
The drive from Columbia, PA to Upper Darby, PA is easy. At 1h 36m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Columbia, PA to Upper Darby, PA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Columbia, PA to Upper Darby, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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