Origin
Mercer, PA
Morning in Mercer on Monday
Local time
11:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mercer, PA to Philadelphia, PA
Drive Time
5h 43m
Distance
338.6 mi
545 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$56
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 30m
★
6 AM
5h 43m
8 AM
6h 10m
10 AM
5h 53m
12 PM
5h 50m
3 PM
5h 54m
5 PM
6h 9m
8 PM
5h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mercer, PA
Quyển Phạm Xuân
Philadelphia, PA
Samyantak Mohanty
Trip Overview
The drive from Mercer, PA to Philadelphia, PA covers 338.6 miles and takes about 5h 43m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Perry Highway, I 80 East, Keystone Shortway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $56.03 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
169.3 miles from Mercer, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 51m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 43m drive with frequent turns across 338.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
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.
Perry Highway is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 5h 43m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Mercer, PA to Philadelphia, PA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Perry Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 80 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Keystone Shortway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 476 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 476 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Mid-County Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 76 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Perry Highway
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mercer, PA and Philadelphia, PA.
1
Start on Erie Street
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Erie Street
2
Continue on Perry Highway
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Perry Highway
3
Take the ramp left toward I 80 East: Clarion
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
I 80 East: Clarion
4
Merge slight left onto Keystone Shortway
261 mi
·
4 hr 42 min
·
Keystone Shortway
5
Take the exit slight right toward PA 940, PATP, I 476: Wilkes-Barre, Allentown
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
PA 940, PATP, I 476: Wilkes-Barre, Allentown
6
Keep slight left
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
7
Keep slight right to continue on I 476 South: Allentown
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
I 476 South: Allentown
8
Merge slight left onto Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
75 mi
·
1 hr 20 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
9
Continue on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
10
Keep slight left to continue on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
11
Continue on Mid-County Expressway
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Mid-County Expressway
12
Take the exit slight right toward I 76 East, I 76 West: Philadelphia, Valley Forge
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
I 76 East, I 76 West: Philadelphia, Valley Forge
13
Keep slight left to continue on I 76 East: Philadelphia
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
I 76 East: Philadelphia
14
Merge slight right onto Schuylkill Expressway
13 mi
·
17 min
·
Schuylkill Expressway
15
Keep slight left to continue on Vine Street Expressway
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Vine Street Expressway
16
Take the exit slight right toward Central Philadelphia
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Central Philadelphia
17
Keep slight right to continue on 15th Street, Central Philadelphia
315 ft
·
11 sec
·
15th Street, Central Philadelphia
18
Turn right onto North 15th Street
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
North 15th Street
19
Turn slight left onto South Penn Square
377 ft
·
9 sec
·
South Penn Square
20
Keep slight left to continue on South Penn Square
167 ft
·
3 sec
·
South Penn Square
21
Arrive at your destination
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 169.3 miles from Mercer, PA, or about 2h 51m into the drive.
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 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 169.3 miles or 2h 51m 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 42m
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 Mercer, 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 Mercer, PA
This is one driving day of about 338.6 miles and 5h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Mercer, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 169.3 mi from Mercer, PA · 2h 51m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
169 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 169.3 miles from Mercer, 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
$56.03 one way
$112.06 round trip
$4.20/gal
25.4 MPG avg
119 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $61.31 | $122.62 |
| premium | $4.92 | $65.61 | $131.23 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $75.23 | $150.45 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$56
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$81–$106
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 118.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 101.6 | 1 | $35.55 | $16.25 |
| Efficient EV | 84.7 | 0 | $29.63 | $13.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 135.4 | 1 | $47.40 | $21.67 |
Gas CO2
118 kg
EV CO2
40 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.
Destination
Philadelphia, PA
Morning in Philadelphia on Monday
Local time
11:37 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
9 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
5h 43m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Mercer, PA to Philadelphia, PA covers 338.6 miles and takes about 5h 43m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Perry Highway, I 80 East, Keystone Shortway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 169.3 miles from Mercer, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $56.03 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 5h 43m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Mercer, PA to Philadelphia, PA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Mercer, PA to Philadelphia, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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