Trip from Palmer, PA to Upper Darby, PA

Drive Time

6h 3m

Distance

297.8 mi

479 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$49

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
5h 51m ★
6 AM
6h 4m
8 AM
6h 29m
10 AM
6h 13m
12 PM
6h 10m
3 PM
6h 14m
5 PM
6h 28m
8 PM
5h 56m

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

Downtown Palmer, PA, PA

Palmer, PA

Nothing Ahead

Trip Overview

Traveling from Palmer to Upper Darby covers 297.8 miles and typically takes about 6 hours and 3 minutes of driving time. Because this journey is manageable in a single day, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. Budgeting approximately $49 for fuel will keep your tank full as you traverse the Northeast region of Pennsylvania. The trip relies heavily on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, US 119, and Pleasant Valley Road to get you to your destination efficiently. It is a straightforward, highway-focused route that prioritizes speed and reliability, making it a practical choice for those looking to reach the Philadelphia area without unnecessary 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

148.9 miles from Palmer, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 7m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a high-speed experience, as 90% of this 297.8-mile trek takes place on major highways. You will spend the bulk of your time on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, which accounts for a significant 236.3-mile stretch of the journey. This highway-focused profile means you can settle into a steady rhythm, though the driving environment will shift once you transition from the turnpike onto US 119 and Pleasant Valley Road. While the interstate segments provide a consistent, fast-paced atmosphere, the final portions of the route offer a change of pace as you navigate toward Upper Darby. Prepare for a drive that prioritizes miles covered over winding, technical backroads.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 32 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Pennsylvania Turnpike is the longest continuous segment at about 236.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and US 119. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13 miles in near US 40 / National Pike.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 297.8 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 13 miles (US 40 / National Pike): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 279.6 miles (I 76): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 19 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
13 mi into trip | ~28m in | US 40 / National Pike

Turn right onto US 40 / National Pike

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
7
13.6 mi into trip | ~30m in

Take the exit

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

Use the left lane.
8
279.6 mi into trip | ~5h 30m in | I 76

Take the exit onto I 76 toward I 76 East: Valley Forge, Philadelphia

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 326 Toward I 76 East: Valley Forge, Philadelphia
7
284.7 mi into trip | ~5h 38m in

Take the exit toward I 476 South: Chester

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 331A Toward I 476 South: Chester
8
291.6 mi into trip | ~5h 48m in

Take the exit toward PA 3: Upper Darby, Broomall

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 9 Toward PA 3: Upper Darby, Broomall

Towns Along This Route

Between Palmer, PA and Upper Darby, PA, road signs point toward Patp and Philadelphia.

Patp

42.9 mi in | ~1h 11m

Philadelphia

279.6 mi in | ~5h 30m | via I 76

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike 236.3 mi 4h 17m
US 119 15 mi 17m
Pleasant Valley Road 7.9 mi 13m
New Salem Road 7.7 mi 13m
Mid-County Expressway 6.4 mi 8m
PA 31 6 mi 9m
I 76 5.1 mi 7m
Lansdowne Avenue 3 mi 8m
Longest stretch: Pennsylvania Turnpike — 236.3 mi, about 4h 17m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Palmer, PA and Upper Darby, PA.

1

Start on Tank Hill Road

157 ft · 9 sec · Tank Hill Road
2

Turn right onto Palmer Road

0.5 mi · 2 min · Palmer Road
3

Continue on Sr3013

523 ft · 23 sec · Sr3013
4

Continue on Palmer Adah Road

1.2 mi · 4 min · Palmer Adah Road
5

Turn right onto Ralph Road

0.9 mi · 3 min · Ralph Road
6

Turn left onto PA 166

0.2 mi · 26 sec · Hartley Hill Road
7

Continue on PA 166

1.4 mi · 2 min · Thompson 1 Road
8

Continue on PA 166

0.3 mi · 30 sec · Tower Hill Road
9

Turn slight right onto New Salem Road

2.7 mi · 4 min · New Salem Road
10

Continue on Front Street

0.2 mi · 16 sec · Front Street
11

Continue on West Main Street

0.4 mi · 43 sec · West Main Street
12

Continue on New Salem Road

4.9 mi · 8 min · New Salem Road
13

Turn right onto US 40

0.6 mi · 1 min · National Pike
Use the straight lane.
14

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 34 sec
Use the left lane.
15

Merge onto US 119

15 mi · 17 min · US 119
16

Take the exit

244 ft · 6 sec
17

Turn straight onto PA 982

7.9 mi · 13 min · Pleasant Valley Road
18

Turn right onto PA 31

6.0 mi · 9 min · PA 31
19

Turn slight left

0.2 mi · 33 sec
20

Turn left

28 ft · 3 sec
21

Take the ramp

493 ft · 12 sec
Toward PATP, I 70, I 76
22

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 35 sec
23

Merge onto I 70; I 76; PATP

236 mi · 4 hr 17 min · Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the none lane.
24

Take the exit onto I 76

5.1 mi · 7 min · I 76
Exit 326 Toward I 76 East: Valley Forge, Philadelphia Use the slight right lane.
25

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 331A Toward I 476 South: Chester Use the slight right lane.
26

Merge onto I 476

6.4 mi · 8 min · Mid-County Expressway
Use the none lane.
27

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 59 sec
Exit 9 Toward PA 3: Upper Darby, Broomall Use the slight right lane.
28

Turn left onto PA 3

2.5 mi · 5 min · West Chester Pike
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
29

Turn slight right onto Darby Road

471 ft · 13 sec · Darby Road
Use the right lane.
30

Continue on Lansdowne Avenue

3.0 mi · 8 min · Lansdowne Avenue
Use the none lane.
31

Turn right onto West Providence Road

0.3 mi · 39 sec · West Providence Road
32

Arrive at destination

West Providence Road

Trip Plan

Planning for this 6-hour journey is simple, as you only need to account for one planned stop to keep your energy levels high. Since the route is concentrated on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, keep an eye on traffic patterns and toll considerations before you depart. Leaving early in the day is your best strategy to bypass potential congestion as you approach the more populated regions near your destination. Use your single stop to refuel or stretch your legs during the longest 236.3-mile stretch of the turnpike. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, so monitor your fuel consumption closely to ensure your $49 budget covers the entire distance effectively.

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 148.9 miles from Palmer, PA, or about 3h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 236.3 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 80 miles or 1h 52m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 148.9 miles or 3h 7m 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 51m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Palmer, 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 Palmer, PA

This is one driving day of about 297.8 miles and 6h 3m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Palmer, 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 236.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 148.9 mi from Palmer, PA · 3h 7m into the drive

Downtown Cuba, NY, NY

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Cuba, NY

149 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

Washington, DC

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Cuba, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 148.9 miles from Palmer, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Pennsylvania Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 236.3 miles.

Arriving in Upper Darby, PA

The final approach into Upper Darby, 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 Upper Darby, PA.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$49.28 one way

$98.56 round trip

$4.20/gal 25.4 MPG avg 104 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.60 $53.92 $107.84
premium $4.92 $57.71 $115.42
diesel $5.64 $66.16 $132.32

Estimated Tolls: $30.72

Pennsylvania Turnpike (236.3 mi) $30.72

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

$49

Tolls

$31

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$105–$130

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 104.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 89.3 1 $31.27 $14.29
Efficient EV 74.5 0 $26.06 $11.91
EV Truck/SUV 119.1 1 $41.69 $19.06

Gas CO2

104 kg

EV CO2

35 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 data refreshed 32 minutes ago

Origin

Palmer, PA

Night in Palmer on Sunday

Local time

9:50 PM

EDT

Current temp

75°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Upper Darby, PA

Night in Upper Darby on Sunday

Local time

9:50 PM

EDT

Current temp

82°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

51°F

Cuba, NY

149 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

7 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

6h 3m on the road

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Palmer, PA to Upper Darby, PA covers 297.8 miles and takes about 6h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Pennsylvania Turnpike, US 119, Pleasant Valley Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 148.9 miles from Palmer, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $49.28 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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 demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 297.8 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 13 miles (US 40 / National Pike): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 279.6 miles (I 76): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Palmer, PA and Upper Darby, PA, road signs point toward Patp and Philadelphia.

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Return Trip

Upper Darby, PA to Palmer, PA

Plan the drive back the other way.

298 mi 6h 4m

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