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Trip from Mount Pleasant, PA to Allentown, PA

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 48m

Distance

129.3 mi

208 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$21

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min
4 AM
2h 37m ★
6 AM
2h 48m
8 AM
3h 10m
10 AM
2h 56m
12 PM
2h 54m
3 PM
2h 57m
5 PM
3h 9m
8 PM
2h 42m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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borough in Pennsylvania, United States

Mount Pleasant, PA

Wikimedia Commons

county seat city in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, United States

Allentown, PA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Mount Pleasant, PA to Allentown, PA covers 129.3 miles and takes about 2h 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on William Penn Highway, US 15, American Legion Memorial Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 42.8 miles on William Penn Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.44 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

64.7 miles from Mount Pleasant, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 28m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
William Penn Highway 42.8 mi 50m
US 15 34 mi 44m
American Legion Memorial Highway 18.3 mi 21m
I 83 8.6 mi 11m
78th Division Highway 7.6 mi 8m
Baltimore Pike 7 mi 11m
Tilghman Street 4.9 mi 8m
American Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial Highway 1.8 mi 2m
Longest stretch: William Penn Highway — 42.8 mi, about 50m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Mount Pleasant, PA and Allentown, PA.

1

Start on PA 97

0.4 mi · 41 sec · Baltimore Pike
2

Continue on PA 97

1.2 mi · 3 min · South Queen Street
3

Continue on PA 97

6.6 mi · 10 min · Baltimore Pike
Use the straight lane.
4

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 37 sec
Use the right lane.
5

Merge onto US 15

29 mi · 36 min · US 15
Use the straight / right lanes.
6

Continue on US 15

5.1 mi · 7 min · US 15
7

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 57 sec
Toward PA 581 East: Harrisburg, York Use the slight right lane.
8

Merge onto PA 581

1.5 mi · 2 min · American Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial Highway
9

Continue on PA 581

0.3 mi · 21 sec · American Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial Highway
Exit 6A Toward I 83 North: Harrisburg, Hershey
10

Merge onto I 83

4.6 mi · 6 min · I 83
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit onto I 83

4.0 mi · 5 min · I 83
Toward I 83 North, US 322 West: Hazleton, State College Use the slight left lane.
12

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 47 sec
Exit 51B Toward I 81 North: Hazleton, Allentown
13

Merge onto I 81

18 mi · 21 min · American Legion Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 45 sec
Exit 89 Toward I 78 East: Allentown
15

Continue on I 78

7.6 mi · 8 min · 78th Division Highway
16

Continue on I 78; US 22

43 mi · 50 min · William Penn Highway
Use the straight lane.
17

Keep slight right at fork onto US 22

1.0 mi · 1 min · Lehigh Valley Thruway
Exit 51 Toward US 22 East: Pennsylvania Turnpike, LVI Airport Use the slight right lane.
18

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Toward Cetronia Use the slight right lane.
19

Turn straight onto Tilghman Street

4.9 mi · 8 min · Tilghman Street
Use the straight lane.
20

Arrive at destination

Tilghman Street

Trip Plan

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 64.7 miles from Mount Pleasant, PA, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 42.8 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 28 miles or 40m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 64.7 miles or 1h 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 2h 17m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Allentown, PA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Mount Pleasant, 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 Mount Pleasant, PA

This is one driving day of about 129.3 miles and 2h 48m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Mount Pleasant, 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 William Penn Highway for about 42.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Harrisburg, PA

65 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

Middlesex, PA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Hershey, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 64.7 miles from Mount Pleasant, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Spice Restaurant & Bar

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour Moderately mile 36.9

Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania

Hours: 2–11 pm

+17176913131

Visit website

Jennie Wade House Museum

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 9.2

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Hours: 9 am–5 pm

+17173344100

Visit website

David Wills House

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 9.2

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Hours: Closed

+17173342499

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 13

5 decision points cluster between mile 8.2 and 123.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
8.2 mi into trip | ~15m in

Take the exit

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
7
42.4 mi into trip | ~59m in

Take the exit toward PA 581 East: Harrisburg, York

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 PA 581 East: Harrisburg, York
7
49.3 mi into trip | ~1h 9m in | I 83

Take the exit onto I 83 toward I 83 North, US 322 West: Hazleton, State College

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 83 North, US 322 West: Hazleton, State...
6
53.3 mi into trip | ~1h 15m in

Take the exit toward I 81 North: Hazleton, Allentown

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 51B Toward I 81 North: Hazleton, Allentown
9
123.2 mi into trip | ~2h 38m in | US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway

Keep slight right at fork onto US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway toward US 22 East: Pennsylvania Turnpike, LVI Airport

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 51 Toward US 22 East: Pennsylvania Turnpike, LVI A...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$21.44 one way

$42.87 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 45 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $23.48 $46.96
premium $4.93 $25.08 $50.15
diesel $5.61 $28.55 $57.10

Estimated Tolls: $0.07

Lehigh Valley Thruway (1 mi) $0.07

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

$21

Tolls

$0

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$47–$72

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 45.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 38.8 0 $13.58 $6.21
Efficient EV 32.3 0 $11.31 $5.17
EV Truck/SUV 51.7 0 $18.10 $8.28

Gas CO2

45 kg

EV CO2

15 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.

Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026

Origin

Mount Pleasant, PA

Afternoon in Mount Pleasant on Saturday

Local time

2:48 PM

EDT

Current temp

77°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Allentown, PA

Afternoon in Allentown on Saturday

Local time

2:48 PM

EDT

Current temp

56°F

Mostly Cloudy

E 0 to 5 mph 0% chance Live forecast

60°F

Harrisburg, PA

65 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

21 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

2h 48m 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.

Appalachian National Scenic Trail

Appalachian National Scenic Trail

National Scenic Trail

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...

3 mi from route ~7 min detour Free near mile 76.2
View on nps.gov
Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument

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...

10 mi from route ~25 min detour Free near mile 35.8
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

129.3 mi in 2h 48m — 33% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: William Penn Highway.

33% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 42.8 mi on William Penn Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.2 miles in.

Driving Effort 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 129.3 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 8.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 42.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 49.3 miles (I 83): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. 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 Mount Pleasant, PA and Allentown, PA, road signs point toward York, Hershey and State College.

York

42.4 mi in | ~59m

Hershey

44.4 mi in | ~1h 2m | via PA 581

State College

49.3 mi in | ~1h 9m | via I 83

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 48m. Total distance: 129.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (33%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 42.8 miles on William Penn Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $0.07 in tolls one way, starting with Lehigh Valley Thruway. 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.

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 Allentown, 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 8.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 42.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 49.3 miles (I 83): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes — Appalachian National Scenic Trail and Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Allentown, PA before heading back.

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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