Skip to main content

Trip from Ephrata, PA to Philadelphia, PA

Data updated 47 minutes ago

Drive Time

1h 24m

Distance

67 mi

108 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$11

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 19 min
4 AM
1h 18m ★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 37m
10 AM
1h 29m
12 PM
1h 28m
3 PM
1h 30m
5 PM
1h 37m
8 PM
1h 20m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Ephrata, PA, PA

Ephrata, PA

Haneul Trac

largest city in Pennsylvania, United States

Philadelphia, PA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This straightforward 67-mile drive from Ephrata, PA, to Philadelphia, PA, will take you about 1 hour and 24 minutes. Primarily utilizing the Pennsylvania Turnpike and I-76, with an initial stretch on US 222, this route is a classic highway-focused journey within the same state and region. With a fuel cost estimated at $11, it's an economical option for a single-day trip. Given its short duration and efficient roads, this drive is perfectly suited for a day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. It’s a practical choice for connecting these two Pennsylvania locations.

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

33.5 miles from Ephrata, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 40m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

Expect a predominantly highway experience, with 94% of the 67 miles on high-speed roads. The majority of your travel will be on the Pennsylvania Turnpike and I-76, offering a consistent and fast-paced journey. You'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch of 39.4 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, allowing for a good period of steady driving. While the route is largely highway-focused, the initial part on US 222 provides a brief introduction to other major road types before merging onto the turnpike system.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 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 39.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and I 76. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.1 miles in near Colonel Howard Boulevard.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 67 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 7.1 miles (Colonel Howard Boulevard): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.3 miles (Colonel Howard Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 47.5 miles (I 76): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 12 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
7.1 mi into trip | ~11m 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
7.3 mi into trip | ~11m 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
8
47.5 mi into trip | ~55m in | I 76

Take the exit onto I 76 toward I 76 East: Valley Forge, Philadelphia

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 326 Toward I 76 East: Valley Forge, Philadelphia
8
65.6 mi into trip | ~1h 21m in | I 676; US 30 / Vine Street Expressway

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

Use the slight left / straight lanes. Toward I 676 East, US 30 East: Central Philadel...
9
66.5 mi into trip | ~1h 23m in

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

Use the slight right lane. Toward 15th Street, Central Philadelphia

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Ephrata, PA and Philadelphia, PA, road signs point toward Patp and Pa Turnpike.

Patp

6.9 mi in | ~10m

Pa Turnpike

6.9 mi in | ~10m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike 39.4 mi 42m
I 76 18 mi 26m
US 222 4.7 mi 5m
West Main Street 1.9 mi 4m
Vine Street Expressway 0.8 mi 1m
Colonel Howard Boulevard 0.8 mi 1m
North 15th Street 0.4 mi <1m
South Penn Square 0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Pennsylvania Turnpike — 39.4 mi, about 42m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ephrata, PA and Philadelphia, PA.

1

Start on US 322

1.9 mi · 4 min · West Main Street
2

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 32 sec
3

Merge onto US 222

4.7 mi · 5 min · US 222
4

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 30 sec
Toward I 76, PATP, PA 272: Denver, PA Turnpike
5

Turn right onto Colonel Howard Boulevard

0.2 mi · 25 sec · Colonel Howard Boulevard
Toward I 76, PATP
6

Keep slight left at fork onto Colonel Howard Boulevard

0.6 mi · 1 min · Colonel Howard Boulevard
Toward I 76, PATP
7

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Toward I 76 Toll East: Philadelphia
8

Merge onto I 76; PATP

39 mi · 42 min · Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit onto I 76

18 mi · 26 min · I 76
Exit 326 Toward I 76 East: Valley Forge, Philadelphia Use the slight right lane.
10

Keep slight left at fork onto I 676; US 30

0.8 mi · 1 min · Vine Street Expressway
Toward I 676 East, US 30 East: Central Philadelphia Use the slight left / straight lanes.
11

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 17 sec
Toward Central Philadelphia Use the slight right lane.
12

Keep slight right at fork

313 ft · 11 sec
Toward 15th Street, Central Philadelphia Use the slight right lane.
13

Turn right onto North 15th Street

0.4 mi · 48 sec · North 15th Street
Use the right lane.
14

Turn slight left onto PA 611

379 ft · 8 sec · South Penn Square
15

Keep slight left at fork onto South Penn Square

167 ft · 2 sec · South Penn Square
16

Arrive at destination

South Penn Square

Trip Plan

For this 1 hour and 24-minute drive, leaving Ephrata, PA, early in the morning can help you avoid potential traffic as you approach Philadelphia. Since the total distance is only 67 miles and designed for efficient travel, you likely won't need many, if any, planned stops for rest or fuel. The estimated fuel cost of $11 makes it an affordable trip. A practical tip for this route is to have your Pennsylvania Turnpike toll transponder or payment method ready, as this is a toll road for a significant portion of the journey.

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 33.5 miles from Ephrata, PA, or about 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 39.4 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 67 miles or 1h 24m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 33.5 miles or 40m 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 9m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Philadelphia, PA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Ephrata, 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 Ephrata, PA

This is one driving day of about 67 miles and 1h 24m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Ephrata, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Pennsylvania Turnpike for about 39.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 33.5 mi from Ephrata, PA · 40m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Staten Island, NY

34 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

Staten Island, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 67 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Staten Island, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 33.5 miles from Ephrata, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Philadelphia, PA

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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$11.11 one way

$22.22 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 23 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $12.17 $24.33
premium $4.93 $12.99 $25.99
diesel $5.61 $14.79 $29.59

Estimated Tolls: $5.12

Pennsylvania Turnpike (39.4 mi) $5.12

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

$11

Tolls

$5

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$41–$66

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 23.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 20.1 0 $7.03 $3.22
Efficient EV 16.8 0 $5.86 $2.68
EV Truck/SUV 26.8 0 $9.38 $4.29

Gas CO2

23 kg

EV CO2

8 kg (65% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 20 hours ago

Origin

Ephrata, PA

Afternoon in Ephrata on Wednesday

Local time

1:44 PM

EDT

Current temp

62°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Philadelphia, PA

Afternoon in Philadelphia on Wednesday

Local time

1:44 PM

EDT

Current temp

88°F

Mostly Sunny

SW 15 mph 11% chance Live forecast

Severe Thunderstorm Warning

Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 14 at 5:10PM EDT until April 14 at 5:30PM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA

Severe Thunderstorm Watch

Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued April 14 at 2:51PM EDT until April 14 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY

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

26 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 24m on the road

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Ephrata, PA to Philadelphia, PA covers 67 miles and takes about 1h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Pennsylvania Turnpike, I 76, US 222. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 33.5 miles from Ephrata, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.11 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 is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 67 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 7.1 miles (Colonel Howard Boulevard): Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.3 miles (Colonel Howard Boulevard): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 47.5 miles (I 76): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Ephrata, PA and Philadelphia, PA, road signs point toward Patp and Pa Turnpike.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Ephrata, PA or browse trips ending in Philadelphia, PA.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse PA road trips.

Explore maps for Ephrata, PA or Philadelphia, PA on MapSof.net.