Origin
Great Bend, PA
Afternoon in Great Bend on Saturday
Local time
1:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Great Bend, PA to Croydon, PA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 20m
Distance
172.6 mi
278 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 8m
★
6 AM
3h 20m
8 AM
3h 44m
10 AM
3h 29m
12 PM
3h 26m
3 PM
3h 30m
5 PM
3h 43m
8 PM
3h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Great Bend, PA
Nico Becker
Trip Overview
The drive from Great Bend, PA to Croydon, PA covers 172.6 miles and takes about 3h 20m 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, I 81, Pennsylvania Turnpike for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 110.8 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.61 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
86.3 miles from Great Bend, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 40m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension | 110.8 mi | 2h 4m |
| I 81 | 36.6 mi | 42m |
| Pennsylvania Turnpike | 18 mi | 19m |
| Street Road | 4 mi | 6m |
| State Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Franklin Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Pine Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
— 110.8 mi, about 2h 4m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Great Bend, PA and Croydon, PA.
1
Start on Williams Street
217 ft
·
11 sec
·
Williams Street
2
Turn right onto Franklin Street
431 ft
·
21 sec
·
Franklin Street
3
Turn right onto Pine Street
292 ft
·
20 sec
·
Pine Street
4
Turn left onto US 11
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Main Street
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn left onto PA 171
210 ft
·
4 sec
·
State Route 171
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
7
Merge onto I 81
37 mi
·
42 min
·
I 81
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward US 6 West, US 11, PATP South, I 476 South: Clarks Summit
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
515 ft
·
12 sec
Toward PATP, I 476: Allentown
10
Continue on I 476; PATP
111 mi
·
2 hr 4 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 276 East: New Jersey
Use the right lane.
12
Merge onto I 276; PATP
18 mi
·
19 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
Exit 352
Toward PA 132: Street Road
Use the slight right lane.
14
Turn left onto PA 132
4.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Street Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
15
At end of road, turn left onto State Road
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
State Road
Use the left lane.
16
Arrive at destination
State Road
Trip Plan
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 86.3 miles from Great Bend, PA, or about 1h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 110.8 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 38 miles or 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.3 miles or 1h 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 2h 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Croydon, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Great Bend, 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 Great Bend, PA
This is one driving day of about 172.6 miles and 3h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Great Bend, 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 Northeast Extension for about 110.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
86 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 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 86.3 miles from Great Bend, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 110.8 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 171 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 11 / Main Street
Turn left onto US 11 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
37.2 mi into trip
|
~44m in
Take the exit toward US 6 West, US 11, PATP South, I 476 South: Clarks Summit
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 US 6 West, US 11, PATP South, I 476 Sout...
7
37.4 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Keep slight right at fork toward PATP, I 476: Allentown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward PATP, I 476: Allentown
7
166.6 mi into trip
|
~3h 9m in
Take the exit toward PA 132: Street Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 352
Toward PA 132: Street Road
7
171 mi into trip
|
~3h 17m in
|
State Road
At end of road, turn left onto State Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.61 one way
$57.23 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
60 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $31.34 | $62.68 |
| premium | $4.93 | $33.47 | $66.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $38.11 | $76.22 |
Estimated Tolls: $16.74
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(128.8 mi)
$16.74
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
$29
Tolls
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 51.8 | 0 | $18.12 | $8.28 |
| Efficient EV | 43.2 | 0 | $15.10 | $6.90 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 69 | 0 | $24.16 | $11.05 |
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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.
Destination
Croydon, PA
Afternoon in Croydon on Saturday
Local time
1:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Partly Cloudy
SW 5 to 10 mph
26% chance
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
25 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
3h 20m 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.
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...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
Free
near mile 148.8
View on nps.gov
Independence National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
$1
near mile 154.7
View on nps.gov
Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial
National Memorial
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...
14 mi from route
~34 min detour
Free
near mile 154.7
View on nps.gov
First State National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Famous as the First State to ratify the Constitution, Delaware was born out of a conflict among three world powers for dominance of the Delaware Valley. From this beginning, the region developed a dis...
25 mi from route
~62 min detour
Free
near mile 148.8
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
172.6 mi in 3h 20m, mostly highway — 110.8 mi of that is on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 110.8 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near US 11 / Main Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 172.6 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 0.2 miles (US 11 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 37.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Great Bend, PA and Croydon, PA, road signs point toward Patp South and Patp.
Patp South
37.2 mi in
|
~44m
Patp
37.4 mi in
|
~45m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 20m. Total distance: 172.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 110.8 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $16.74 in tolls one way, starting with Pennsylvania Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Croydon, PA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (US 11 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 37.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Valley Forge National Historical Park, Independence National Historical Park and Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Croydon, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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