Origin
Harrisburg, PA
Evening in Harrisburg on Wednesday
Local time
8:42 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Harrisburg, PA to East Franklin, PA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
54m
Distance
42.6 mi
69 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 50m
★
6 AM
0h 54m
8 AM
1h 3m
10 AM
0h 57m
12 PM
0h 56m
3 PM
0h 58m
5 PM
1h 2m
8 PM
0h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
East Franklin, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 42.6-mile journey from Harrisburg to East Franklin, Pennsylvania, is a quick trip that can easily be completed in about 54 minutes. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $7, it's an economical choice for a day trip. The route primarily utilizes local roads, including American Legion Memorial Highway, North Cameron Street, and North 7th Street, with a significant portion on the American Legion Memorial Highway. Since it's a short drive with no recommended stops, you'll have plenty of flexibility in your timing. Both your origin and destination are within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania, so you won't be crossing major regional boundaries.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
21.3 miles from Harrisburg, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 28m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for this 54-minute trip. While 100% of the route is on local roads, you'll experience a longest uninterrupted stretch of 39.3 miles on the American Legion Memorial Highway. This suggests a drive that involves frequent navigation and potentially slower speeds compared to interstate travel. The character of the drive will likely shift as you move from more urban Harrisburg streets onto the longer stretch of the memorial highway, offering a varied driving experience without the monotony of a pure highway cruise.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
American Legion Memorial Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 39.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North 7th Street.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 42.6 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North 7th Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North 7th Street
Enter roundabout onto North 7th Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
1.9 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the exit toward I 81 South, I 81 North, US 322 East: Carlisle, Hazleton, Allentown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 81 South, I 81 North, US 322 East: Car...
8
2.1 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 81 North, US 322 East: Hazleton, Allentown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 81 North, US 322 East: Hazleton, Allen...
6
4.4 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
I 81 / American Legion Memorial Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81 / American Legion Memorial Highway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
41.9 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Take the exit toward US 209: Tremont, Tower City
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 209: Tremont, Tower City
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| American Legion Memorial Highway | 39.3 mi | 46m |
| North Cameron Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| North 7th Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Maclay Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| US 209 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
American Legion Memorial Highway
— 39.3 mi, about 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Harrisburg, PA and East Franklin, PA.
1
Start on North 7th Street
89 ft
·
3 sec
·
North 7th Street
2
Enter roundabout onto North 7th Street
81 ft
·
2 sec
·
North 7th Street
3
Continue on North 7th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North 7th Street
4
Turn right onto Maclay Street
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
Maclay Street
5
Turn left onto US 22
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Cameron Street
Use the left lane.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Toward I 81 South, I 81 North, US 322 East: Carlisle, Hazleton, Allentown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 81 North, US 322 East: Hazleton, Allentown
Use the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 81; US 322
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
American Legion Memorial Highway
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
38 mi
·
44 min
·
American Legion Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Toward US 209: Tremont, Tower City
11
At end of road, turn left onto US 209
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
US 209
12
Arrive at destination
US 209
Trip Plan
Given the short 54-minute duration and 42.6-mile distance, this trip offers considerable flexibility. You can depart Harrisburg at your leisure, as there are no mandated stops and the fuel cost is only around $7. The 'turn-heavy local drive' profile means staying alert to road signs and potential turns is key. The longest stretch on American Legion Memorial Highway is quite substantial at 39.3 miles, so ensure you're comfortable with that segment before setting out. With no overnight stay recommended, you can easily incorporate this drive into a larger travel plan or complete it as a standalone errand.
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 21.3 miles from Harrisburg, PA, or about 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 39.3 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 42.6 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 21.3 miles or 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near East Franklin, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving Harrisburg, PA.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Harrisburg, PA
This is one driving day of about 42.6 miles and 54m.
At 42.6 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on American Legion Memorial Highway for about 39.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 21.3 mi from Harrisburg, PA · 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 42.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 21.3 miles from Harrisburg, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in East Franklin, PA
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into East Franklin, PA if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.06 one way
$14.13 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
15 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $7.74 | $15.47 |
| premium | $4.93 | $8.26 | $16.52 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.41 | $18.81 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.47 | $2.04 |
| Efficient EV | 10.7 | 0 | $3.73 | $1.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17 | 0 | $5.96 | $2.73 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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
East Franklin, PA
Evening in East Franklin on Wednesday
Local time
8:42 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
63°F
East Hanover, PA
21 mi in
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
22 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
54m 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 Harrisburg, PA to East Franklin, PA covers 42.6 miles and takes about 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are American Legion Memorial Highway, North Cameron Street, North 7th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 21.3 miles from Harrisburg, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.06 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 42.6 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North 7th Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Harrisburg, PA to East Franklin, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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