Lowhill, PA to Croydon, PA is 312.3 miles and takes about 5h 53m via Pennsylvania Turnpike, Dwight D Eisenhower Highway, Mon/Fayette Expressway, with a fuel budget near $52 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This highway-focused drive stays within Pennsylvania, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Given its relatively short duration and high highway percentage, it's a straightforward trip for a single day. You can expect a consistent driving experience for most of the journey, making it an efficient way to cover the distance. Plan for a predictable travel time with minimal detours.
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
156.1 miles from Lowhill, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
277.7 mi
5h 2m
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
19.3 mi
26m
Mon/Fayette Expressway
6 mi
6m
Street Road
4 mi
6m
State Road
1.6 mi
2m
PA 88
0.9 mi
1m
I 70
0.9 mi
2m
Low Hill Road
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 277.7 mi, about 5h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lowhill, PA and Croydon, PA.
1
Start on Ridge Road
25 ft·7 sec·Ridge Road
2
Turn left onto PA 88
0.9 mi·1 min·Low Hill Road
3
Turn left onto PA 88
0.9 mi·1 min·PA 88
4
Merge onto PA Tpke 43; PA 88
6.0 mi·6 min·Mon/Fayette Expressway
5
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 70 East: New Stanton
6
Merge onto I 70
19 mi·26 min·Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto I 70
0.5 mi·1 min·I 70
Exit 58Toward I 70 Toll East, I 76 Toll, PATP: Harrisburg, PittsburghUse the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70
0.4 mi·1 min·I 70
Toward I 70 East, I 76 East: Harrisburg
9
Merge onto I 70; I 76; PATP
278 mi·5 hr 2 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Exit 352Toward PA 132: Street RoadUse the slight right lane.
11
Turn left onto PA 132
4.0 mi·6 min·Street Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
12
At end of road, turn left onto State Road
1.6 mi·2 min·State Road
Use the left lane.
13
Arrive at destination
State Road
Trip Plan
With a total duration of under 6 hours and a comfortable fuel budget of around $52, this is an ideal same-day trip. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for any unforeseen delays. You'll encounter the longest stretch on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, so consider planning your main fuel and rest stop before or after this significant segment. Given the efficiency of this highway-centric route, you have flexibility in your pacing; however, be mindful of potential congestion as you get closer to Croydon. Having your fuel tank topped off before heading out is always a good practice for any drive of this length.
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 156.1 miles from Lowhill, PA, or about 2h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 277.7 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 69 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 156.1 miles or 2h 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 48m
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 Lowhill, 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 Lowhill, PA
This is one driving day of about 312.3 miles and 5h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 miles from Lowhill, 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 for about 277.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 8.5 and 310.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
8.5 mi into trip|~11m in|I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
Merge onto I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
27.8 mi into trip|~38m in|I 70
Take the exit onto I 70 toward I 70 Toll East, I 76 Toll, PATP: Harrisburg, Pittsburgh
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 58
Toward I 70 Toll East, I 76 Toll, PATP: Harrisb...
6
28.3 mi into trip|~39m in|I 70
Keep slight left at fork onto I 70 toward I 70 East, I 76 East: Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 70 East, I 76 East: Harrisburg
7
306.3 mi into trip|~5h 42m 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
310.7 mi into trip|~5h 50m in|State Road
At end of road, turn left onto State Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$51.78 one way
$103.55 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg109 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$56.71
$113.41
premium
$4.93
$60.57
$121.13
diesel
$5.61
$68.95
$137.90
Estimated Tolls: $36.51
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(277.7 mi)$36.09
Mon/Fayette Expressway
(6 mi)$0.42
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
$52
Tolls
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$113–$138
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 109.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
93.7
1
$32.79
$14.99
Efficient EV
78.1
0
$27.33
$12.49
EV Truck/SUV
124.9
1
$43.72
$19.99
Gas CO2
109 kg
EV CO2
37 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Lowhill, PA
Afternoon
in Lowhill on Saturday
Local time
1:58 PM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Croydon, PA
Afternoon
in Croydon on Saturday
Local time
1:58 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Cloudy
E 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
54°F
Hancock, MD
156 mi in
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
14 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
5h 53m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument
National Monument
More than 7,800 children from 140 Tribes went to the Carlisle School from 1879 to 1918. The National Park Service will collaborate with families, affiliated Tribal Nations, the US Army, historians, an...
3 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 183.1
On Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, the U.S. came under attack when four commercial airliners were hijacked and used to strike targets on the ground. Nearly 3,000 people tragically lost their live...
6 mi from route
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 75.4
The Appalachian Trail is a 2,190+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by p...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 226.1
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
~32 min detour
$1
near mile 290.7
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...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 290.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is overwhelmingly highway-focused, with a 91% highway share, meaning you'll be on high-speed roads for the vast majority of your trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a significant 277.7 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Expect a consistent, fast-paced drive for the bulk of the journey, primarily utilizing major expressways. While the profile is mainly highway, be prepared for the potential for traffic as you approach your destination in Croydon. The character remains largely consistent, offering a direct path.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 277.7 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and Dwight D Eisenhower Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.5 miles in near I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 11 significant decision points across 312.3 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 8.5 miles (I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.8 miles (I 70): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.3 miles (I 70): 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.
Between Lowhill, PA and Croydon, PA, road signs point toward Patp: Harrisburg and Pittsburgh.
Patp: Harrisburg
27.8 mi in|~38m|via I 70
Pittsburgh
27.8 mi in|~38m|via I 70
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 53m. Total distance: 312.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 277.7 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $36.51 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 8.5 miles (I 70 / Dwight D Eisenhower Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.8 miles (I 70): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.3 miles (I 70): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Valley Forge National Historical Park, Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument and Flight 93 National Memorial (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Croydon, PA before the return drive.
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.
