Origin
Lafayette, PA
Night in Lafayette on Tuesday
Local time
10:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
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Drive Time
6h 18m
Distance
321.9 mi
518 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$53
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lafayette, PA
Ann H
Philadelphia, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Spanning 302.8 miles across Pennsylvania, this journey from Lafayette to Philadelphia takes approximately 5 hours and 30 minutes of drive time. Because the route relies entirely on local roads rather than interstates, it is best suited for a single-day trip if you are prepared for a steady pace behind the wheel. You should budget roughly $49 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating via the Buffalo-Pittsburgh Highway, Burning Well Road, and Marvin Street, you will remain within the Northeast region throughout the entire transit. While the trip is manageable in one day, the turn-heavy nature of the local roads means you should plan for a focused driving experience rather than a high-speed cruise.
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
160.9 miles from Lafayette, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 9m into the drive .
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Expect a hands-on driving experience as this route features zero highway miles, prioritizing local roads over high-speed transit. You will navigate a turn-heavy path that keeps you constantly engaged with the local landscape. Because the longest stretch on the Buffalo-Pittsburgh Highway is 0 miles, you won't encounter long, monotonous interstate segments. Instead, the drive transitions through various local thoroughfares, requiring your full attention at intersections and turns. This personality makes the 5-hour and 30-minute travel time feel much more active than a typical highway-heavy commute.
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
1,822 ft
Total Descent
3,923 ft
Highest Point
2,145 ft
Elevation Range
2,101 ft
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 18m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Lafayette, PA to Philadelphia, PA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo-Pittsburgh Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Burning Well Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Marvin Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Wilcox Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Market Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Johnsonburg Bypass | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Center Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Powers Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Lafayette, PA and Philadelphia, PA.
Start on Mt Alton Road
Turn left onto Buffalo-Pittsburgh Highway
Continue on Burning Well Road
Continue on Marvin Street
Turn slight right onto Wilcox Road
Continue on Wilcox Road
Continue on Market Street
Continue on Johnsonburg Bypass
Continue on East Center Street
Take the exit slight left
Continue on Powers Avenue
Continue on Johnsonburg-Saint Marys Road
Continue on Johnsonburg Road
Continue on Maurus Street
At the end of the road, turn right onto North Michael Street
Continue on North Saint Marys Street
Continue on Million Dollar Highway
Continue on Bennetts Valley Highway
Turn left onto State Park Road
Turn left
Merge slight left onto Keystone Shortway
Take the exit slight right toward PA 940, PATP, I 476: Wilkes-Barre, Allentown
Keep slight left
Keep slight right to continue on I 476 South: Allentown
Merge slight left onto Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Continue on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Keep slight left to continue on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Continue on Mid-County Expressway
Take the exit slight right toward I 76 East, I 76 West: Philadelphia, Valley Forge
Keep slight left to continue on I 76 East: Philadelphia
Merge slight right onto Schuylkill Expressway
Keep slight left to continue on Vine Street Expressway
Take the exit slight right toward Central Philadelphia
Keep slight right to continue on 15th Street, Central Philadelphia
Turn right onto North 15th Street
Turn slight left onto South Penn Square
Keep slight left to continue on South Penn Square
Arrive at your destination
Given the technical nature of these local roads, aim to start your day early to ensure you reach Philadelphia before the evening traffic settles in. With one recommended stop along the way, you have enough flexibility to stretch your legs without significantly delaying your arrival. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the $49 budget assumes consistent driving; navigating constant turns can sometimes impact your vehicle's efficiency. Since you are relying on local streets like Marvin Street and Burning Well Road, utilize a reliable GPS to help manage the frequent turns throughout the 302.8-mile journey. Planning for a single, well-timed break will help you maintain your focus during this turn-heavy drive.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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 80 miles or 1h 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 160.9 miles or 3h 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Philadelphia, PA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Lafayette, 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 Lafayette, PA
This is one driving day of about 321.9 miles and 6h 18m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 160.9 mi from Lafayette, PA · 3h 9m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
161 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 160.9 miles from Lafayette, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$53.37 one way
$106.73 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $58.45 | $116.90 |
| premium | $4.93 | $62.43 | $124.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $71.07 | $142.14 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$53
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$78–$103
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 112.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 96.6 | 1 | $33.80 | $15.45 |
| Efficient EV | 80.5 | 0 | $28.17 | $12.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 128.8 | 1 | $45.07 | $20.60 |
Gas CO2
113 kg
EV CO2
38 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Lafayette on Tuesday
Local time
10:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Destination
Night in Philadelphia on Tuesday
Local time
10:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Partly Cloudy
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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