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Trip from Glenolden, PA to Philadelphia, PA

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

22m

Distance

9.1 mi

15 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$2

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 6 min
4 AM
0h 20m ★
6 AM
0h 22m
8 AM
0h 26m
10 AM
0h 24m
12 PM
0h 23m
3 PM
0h 24m
5 PM
0h 26m
8 PM
0h 21m

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

borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States

Glenolden, PA

Wikimedia Commons

largest city in Pennsylvania, United States

Philadelphia, PA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are looking for a quick transition from the suburbs of Glenolden to the heart of Philadelphia, this 17.5-mile trip is an efficient way to make the connection. Expect to spend about 25 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day journey. With a fuel budget of just $3, it is an incredibly economical route that requires zero overnight stops. Navigating from one part of the Northeast to another, you will find the transition straightforward and uncomplicated. Since the entire trip is local, you have the flexibility to plan your arrival around your specific schedule without worrying about long-distance fatigue.

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

4.6 miles from Glenolden, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 11m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention as you navigate toward the city. Because the highway share is 0%, you won't be dealing with high-speed interstate monotony; instead, you will experience the stop-and-go nature of local roads. The route lacks any long, uninterrupted stretches, meaning you will be maneuvering through various intersections throughout the 25-minute duration. This path lacks the predictable rhythm of a highway cruise, so stay alert as the road environment shifts. It is a functional, hands-on driving experience that keeps you engaged with the local geography from start to finish.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Chester Pike is the longest continuous segment at about 1.8 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

93 ft 18 ft

Total Climb

92 ft

Total Descent

141 ft

Highest Point

93 ft

Elevation Range

75 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 13 / Chester Pike.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 9.1 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: near the start (US 13 / Chester Pike): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.3 miles (West Cobbs Creek Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 3.7 miles (South 65th Street): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

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

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 13 / Chester Pike

Turn right onto US 13 / Chester Pike

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
5
3.3 mi into trip | ~7m in | West Cobbs Creek Parkway

Keep slight left at fork onto West Cobbs Creek Parkway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

5
3.7 mi into trip | ~8m in | South 65th Street

Turn right onto South 65th Street

Navigation decision point

6
8.9 mi into trip | ~21m in | PA 3 / Market Street

Turn right onto PA 3 / Market Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
7
9 mi into trip | ~22m in | PA 611 / South 15th Street

Turn right onto PA 611 / South 15th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Chester Pike 1.8 mi 4m
South Macdade Boulevard 1.5 mi 3m
Grays Ferry Avenue 1.3 mi 3m
South 16th Street 1 mi 2m
Greenway Avenue 0.9 mi 2m
Washington Avenue 0.9 mi 1m
Kingsessing Avenue 0.7 mi 1m
South 65th Street 0.4 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Chester Pike — 1.8 mi, about 4m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on East Boon Avenue

65 ft · 6 sec · East Boon Avenue
2

Turn right onto US 13

1.8 mi · 4 min · Chester Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
3

Continue on US 13

1.5 mi · 3 min · South Macdade Boulevard
4

Turn right onto West Cobbs Creek Parkway

183 ft · 7 sec · West Cobbs Creek Parkway
5

Keep slight left at fork onto West Cobbs Creek Parkway

257 ft · 7 sec · West Cobbs Creek Parkway
6

Continue on South 65th Street

0.3 mi · 48 sec · South 65th Street
7

Turn left onto Chester Avenue

166 ft · 7 sec · Chester Avenue
8

Turn right onto South 65th Street

0.1 mi · 22 sec · South 65th Street
9

Turn left onto Kingsessing Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · Kingsessing Avenue
10

Turn right onto South 58th Street

0.1 mi · 23 sec · South 58th Street
11

Turn left onto Greenway Avenue

0.9 mi · 2 min · Greenway Avenue
12

Continue on South 48th Street

0.1 mi · 22 sec · South 48th Street
13

Turn left onto Grays Ferry Avenue

1.3 mi · 3 min · Grays Ferry Avenue
14

Turn right onto Washington Avenue

262 ft · 4 sec · Washington Avenue
15

Keep slight right at fork onto Washington Avenue

0.9 mi · 1 min · Washington Avenue
16

Turn left onto South 16th Street

1.0 mi · 2 min · South 16th Street
17

Turn right onto PA 3

463 ft · 19 sec · Market Street
Use the right lane.
18

Turn right onto PA 611

85 ft · 1 sec · South 15th Street
Use the right lane.
19

Turn slight left onto PA 611

379 ft · 8 sec · South Penn Square
20

Keep slight left at fork onto South Penn Square

167 ft · 2 sec · South Penn Square
21

Arrive at destination

South Penn Square

Trip Plan

Since this is a short, 17.5-mile drive, you have the advantage of being able to depart whenever it suits your plans best. Keep in mind that because this is a turn-heavy local route, traffic patterns can significantly impact your travel time, so checking local congestion before you head out is a smart move. You won't need to worry about planning rest breaks or complex refueling stops given the modest fuel cost of $3. Use your flexibility to avoid peak commuting hours if you prefer a smoother, less congested ride into Philadelphia. A helpful tip for this specific drive is to keep your navigation app active to help you manage the frequent turns along the local roads.

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 4.6 miles from Glenolden, PA, or about 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 1.8 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 9.1 miles or 22m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 4.6 miles or 11m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 19m

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 Glenolden, 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 Glenolden, PA

This is one driving day of about 9.1 miles and 22m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Glenolden, 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 Chester Pike for about 1.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 4.6 mi from Glenolden, PA · 11m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Staten Island, NY

5 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 9.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Staten Island, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 4.6 miles from Glenolden, 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

$1.51 one way

$3.02 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 3 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $1.65 $3.30
premium $4.93 $1.76 $3.53
diesel $5.61 $2.01 $4.02

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$2

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$27–$52

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 3.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 2.7 0 $0.96 $0.44
Efficient EV 2.3 0 $0.80 $0.36
EV Truck/SUV 3.6 0 $1.27 $0.58

Gas CO2

3 kg

EV CO2

1 kg (67% 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 1 minute from now

Origin

Glenolden, PA

Morning in Glenolden on Wednesday

Local time

7:06 AM

EDT

Current temp

63°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Philadelphia, PA

Morning in Philadelphia on Wednesday

Local time

7:06 AM

EDT

Current temp

64°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

1 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

22m 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 Glenolden, PA to Philadelphia, PA covers 9.1 miles and takes about 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Chester Pike, South Macdade Boulevard, Grays Ferry Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 4.6 miles from Glenolden, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $1.51 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 9.1 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: near the start (US 13 / Chester Pike): Lane positioning matters here; at 3.3 miles (West Cobbs Creek Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 3.7 miles (South 65th Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Glenolden, PA to Philadelphia, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 18 ft to 93 ft elevation with about 92 ft of total climbing.

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