Origin
Forest City, PA
Morning in Forest City on Saturday
Local time
6:05 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Forest City, PA to Allentown, PA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 2m
Distance
98.1 mi
158 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$16
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 54m
★
6 AM
2h 2m
8 AM
2h 20m
10 AM
2h 8m
12 PM
2h 7m
3 PM
2h 9m
5 PM
2h 19m
8 PM
1h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Forest City, PA
Nino Souza
Allentown, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Forest City, PA to Allentown, PA covers 98.1 miles and takes about 2h 2m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, Governor Robert P. Casey Highway, American Legion Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 57 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.78 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.
Midpoint
49 miles from Forest City, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 3m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 2m. Total distance: 98.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (59%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
The drive from Forest City, PA to Allentown, PA covers 98.1 miles and takes about 2h 2m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension is the longest continuous segment at about 57 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 22.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 98.1 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 22.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 34.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
22.2 mi into trip
|
~30m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 81 South: Wilkes-Barre
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 81 South: Wilkes-Barre
8
34.5 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Take the exit toward I 476, I 81 North, PATP
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 476, I 81 North, PATP
6
34.6 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 476: Clarks Summit, Allentown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 476: Clarks Summit, Allentown
6
92.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 52m in
Take the exit toward I 78, US 22, PA 309: Allentown, Harrisburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 56
Toward I 78, US 22, PA 309: Allentown, Harrisbu...
6
93.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 54m in
Take the exit toward PA 309 South: Quakertown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward PA 309 South: Quakertown
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Forest City, PA and Allentown, PA, road signs point toward Patp and Harrisburg.
Patp
34.5 mi in
|
~46m
Harrisburg
92.4 mi in
|
~1h 52m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension | 57 mi | 1h 4m |
| Governor Robert P. Casey Highway | 15.4 mi | 18m |
| American Legion Memorial Highway | 10.7 mi | 11m |
| South Main Street | 5.1 mi | 8m |
| Tilghman Street | 3.6 mi | 5m |
| Roosevelt Highway | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| PA 309 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Reservoir Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
— 57 mi, about 1h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Forest City, PA and Allentown, PA.
1
Start on PA 247
126 ft
·
7 sec
·
Dundaff Street
2
Turn right onto PA 171; PA 247
5.1 mi
·
8 min
·
South Main Street
3
Turn left onto Reservoir Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Reservoir Street
4
Continue on Morse Avenue
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Morse Avenue
5
At end of road, turn right onto Canaan Street
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Canaan Street
6
At end of road, turn left onto US 6 BUS
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Roosevelt Highway
7
Turn right onto US 6
15 mi
·
18 min
·
Governor Robert P. Casey Highway
Use the straight lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
1.2 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 81 South: Wilkes-Barre
Use the slight left lane.
9
Merge onto I 81
11 mi
·
11 min
·
American Legion Memorial Highway
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward PA 315 South: Pittston
11
Continue on PA 315
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
PA 315
12
Take the exit
343 ft
·
8 sec
Toward I 476, I 81 North, PATP
Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
Toward I 476: Clarks Summit, Allentown
14
Continue on this road
499 ft
·
17 sec
·
this road
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 476 South: Allentown
16
Merge onto I 476; PATP
57 mi
·
1 hr 4 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 56
Toward I 78, US 22, PA 309: Allentown, Harrisburg
18
Turn slight right
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward US 22 East: Allentown
19
Merge onto US 22
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Lehigh Valley Thruway
20
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Toward PA 309 South: Quakertown
Use the slight right lane.
21
Merge onto PA 309
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
PA 309
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward Tilghman Street East
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Turn straight onto Tilghman Street
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Tilghman Street
24
Arrive at destination
Tilghman Street
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 49 miles from Forest City, PA, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 57 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 22 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49 miles or 1h 3m 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 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Allentown, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Forest City, 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 Forest City, PA
This is one driving day of about 98.1 miles and 2h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Forest City, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension for about 57 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 49 mi from Forest City, PA · 1h 3m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
49 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 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 49 miles from Forest City, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Allentown, PA
The final approach into Allentown, 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 Allentown, 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
$15.78 one way
$31.56 round trip
$4.09/gal
25.4 MPG avg
34 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $17.76 | $35.52 |
| premium | $4.95 | $19.13 | $38.27 |
| diesel | $5.98 | $23.10 | $46.19 |
Estimated Tolls: $7.41
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(57 mi)
$7.41
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
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.3 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29.4 | 0 | $10.30 | $4.71 |
| Efficient EV | 24.5 | 0 | $8.58 | $3.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 39.2 | 0 | $13.73 | $6.28 |
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
Allentown, PA
Morning in Allentown on Saturday
Local time
6:05 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 0 to 5 mph
36% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 14 at 12:23AM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 11:55PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
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
18 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
2h 2m 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 Forest City, PA to Allentown, PA covers 98.1 miles and takes about 2h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, Governor Robert P. Casey Highway, American Legion Memorial Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 49 miles from Forest City, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.78 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 17 significant decision points across 98.1 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 22.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 34.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Forest City, PA and Allentown, PA, road signs point toward Patp and Harrisburg.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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