Embarking from Etna, PA, to Upper Darby, PA, this 307.2-mile journey is primarily a highway-focused drive that can comfortably be completed in about 5 hours and 52 minutes. With a recommended one-day trip, you'll be spending most of your time on major arteries like the Pennsylvania Turnpike, Allegheny Valley Expressway, and Mid-County Expressway. The estimated fuel cost for this trek is around $51. Given its direct nature and minimal recommended stops, it's a straightforward option for a single-day excursion across Pennsylvania.
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
153.6 miles from Etna, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 51m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 52m. Total distance: 307.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This route is predominantly a highway experience, with 97% of the drive utilizing high-speed roads. You'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch of 279.5 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of your travel. Expect a profile that keeps you moving efficiently, characterized by its highway-focused nature. The roads are designed for sustained travel, minimizing diversions and maximizing forward momentum.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 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 279.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and Allegheny Valley Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 307.2 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 8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 289 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 15 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
8 mi into trip|~11m in
Take the exit toward PA 910: Harmar
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 11
Toward PA 910: Harmar
7
9.3 mi into trip|~14m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 76 East: Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 76 East: Harrisburg
8
289 mi into trip|~5h 18m 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
7
294 mi into trip|~5h 26m in
Take the exit toward I 476 South: Chester
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 331A
Toward I 476 South: Chester
8
301 mi into trip|~5h 37m in
Take the exit toward PA 3: Upper Darby, Broomall
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 9
Toward PA 3: Upper Darby, Broomall
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Etna, PA to Upper Darby, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Philadelphia along the way.
Philadelphia
289 mi in|~5h 18m|via I 76
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
279.5 mi
5h 4m
Allegheny Valley Expressway
7 mi
9m
Mid-County Expressway
6.4 mi
8m
I 76
5.1 mi
7m
Lansdowne Avenue
3 mi
8m
West Chester Pike
2.5 mi
5m
Freeport Road
0.6 mi
1m
William Flinn Highway
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 279.5 mi, about 5h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Etna, PA and Upper Darby, PA.
1
Start on Grant Avenue
0.1 mi·18 sec·Grant Avenue
2
Turn right onto PA 8
0.1 mi·22 sec·Butler Street
Use the right lane.
3
Continue on PA 8
0.5 mi·46 sec·William Flinn Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward PA 28 North: KittanningUse the straight / slight left lanes.
5
Merge onto PA 28; Blue Belt
7.0 mi·9 min·Allegheny Valley Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·19 sec
Exit 11Toward PA 910: HarmarUse the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork
227 ft·7 sec
Toward Yellow Belt
8
Turn straight onto PA 910; Yellow Belt
0.1 mi·13 sec·Indianola Road
9
Turn left onto Freeport Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Freeport Road
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward PATP
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward I 76 East: HarrisburgUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 76; PATP
280 mi·5 hr 4 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit onto I 76
5.1 mi·7 min·I 76
Exit 326Toward I 76 East: Valley Forge, PhiladelphiaUse the slight right lane.
14
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 331AToward I 476 South: ChesterUse the slight right lane.
15
Merge onto I 476
6.4 mi·8 min·Mid-County Expressway
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·59 sec
Exit 9Toward PA 3: Upper Darby, BroomallUse the slight right lane.
17
Turn left onto PA 3
2.5 mi·5 min·West Chester Pike
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
18
Turn slight right onto Darby Road
471 ft·13 sec·Darby Road
Use the right lane.
19
Continue on Lansdowne Avenue
3.0 mi·8 min·Lansdowne Avenue
Use the straight lane.
20
Turn right onto West Providence Road
0.3 mi·39 sec·West Providence Road
21
Arrive at destination
West Providence Road
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour and 52-minute drive, consider an early morning departure to maximize your day and potentially avoid some traffic. With only one recommended stop and a longest stretch of nearly 280 miles, plan your breaks strategically around fuel needs, as the $51 fuel cost suggests a straightforward refueling strategy. The highway-focused nature means you'll want to stay alert for changing speed limits and potential construction zones, especially as you approach the Philadelphia area. Given its efficiency, this trip is best tackled in a single day, allowing for flexibility upon arrival.
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 153.6 miles from Etna, PA, or about 2h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 279.5 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 68 miles or 1h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 153.6 miles or 2h 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 4h 38m
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 Etna, 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 Etna, PA
This is one driving day of about 307.2 miles and 5h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 68 miles from Etna, 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 Pennsylvania Turnpike for about 279.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 153.6 mi from Etna, PA
· 2h 51m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Valley Forge National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Valley Forge is the place where George Washington and the Continental Army took refuge during the winter of 1777-1778. Today the park protects 3,500 acres of meadows, woodlands, historic landscapes, a...
Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument
National Monument
More than 7,800 children from 140 Tribes went to the Carlisle School from 1879 to 1918. The National Park Service will collaborate with families, affiliated Tribal Nations, the US Army, historians, an...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 190.7
On Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, the U.S. came under attack when four commercial airliners were hijacked and used to strike targets on the ground. Nearly 3,000 people tragically lost their live...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 84.8
The park represents the founding ideals of the nation, and preserves national and international symbols of freedom and democracy, including Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. The Declaration of I...
Visit the house where wounded Polish freedom fighter Thaddeus Kosciuszko lived and hear how this brilliant military engineer designed successful fortifications during the American Revolution. See the...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 307.2
The Appalachian Trail is a 2,190+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by p...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 233.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$50.93 one way
$101.86 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg108 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$55.78
$111.56
premium
$4.93
$59.58
$119.15
diesel
$5.61
$67.83
$135.65
Estimated Tolls: $36.34
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(279.5 mi)$36.34
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
$51
Tolls
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$112–$137
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 107.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
7 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: good
ChargePoint Charging Station
Monroeville, Pennsylvania
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
EVgo Charging Station
Monroeville, Pennsylvania
EVgo
1 DCFC
Tesla Destination Charger
Acme, Pennsylvania
Tesla Destination
1 DCFC
Applegreen Electric Charging Station
Hunker, Pennsylvania
Other
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Monroeville, Pennsylvania
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Monroeville, Pennsylvania
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Monroeville, Pennsylvania
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
ChargePoint: 4
EVgo: 1
Tesla Destination: 1
Other: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
92.2
1
$32.26
$14.75
Efficient EV
76.8
0
$26.88
$12.29
EV Truck/SUV
122.9
1
$43.01
$19.66
Gas CO2
107 kg
EV CO2
36 kg (66% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Etna, PA
Morning
in Etna on Friday
Local time
8:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Upper Darby, PA
Morning
in Upper Darby on Friday
Local time
8:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Hancock, MD
154 mi in
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
7 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 52m 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 Etna, PA to Upper Darby, PA covers 307.2 miles and takes about 5h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Pennsylvania Turnpike, Allegheny Valley Expressway, Mid-County Expressway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 153.6 miles from Etna, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $50.93 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 15 significant decision points across 307.2 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 289 miles (I 76): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Etna, PA to Upper Darby, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Philadelphia along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
EV charging comes from the
NREL Alternative Fuels
dataset.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
