Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
36m
Distance
17.9 mi
29 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Philadelphia, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Lima, PA
Enzo Sebastian
Philadelphia, PA to Lima, PA is 17.9 miles and takes about 36m via State Road, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, same-day trip entirely within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to itself. Expect a local drive with a significant number of turns, making it feel more like navigating through neighborhoods and smaller towns than a continuous highway journey. With a short duration and minimal mileage, it's ideal for a quick errand or a brief scenic detour if you're in the area. You won't need much fuel, and the drive is easily manageable in a single afternoon.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 36m. Total distance: 17.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
This route is characterized as a 'Turn-heavy local drive,' meaning you'll be making frequent adjustments to your steering and navigation. With only a 12% highway share, the majority of your journey will be on local roads. The longest stretch without a significant turn or change in road name is 4.1 miles on State Road. You can anticipate a driving experience that involves more stop-and-go traffic and varied speed limits, rather than a consistent cruising speed. Be prepared for a dynamic drive that requires your attention to road signs and turns.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near PA 611 / East Penn Square.
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 17.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 36m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (PA 611 / East Penn Square): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 0.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.8 miles (US 30): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Keep slight left at fork onto PA 611 / East Penn Square
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the ramp toward I 676 West, US 30 West: International Airport, Valley Forge
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit onto US 30 toward US 13 West, US 30 West: Philadelphia Zoo, East Fairmount Park, Girard Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto US 30 / West Girard Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Philadelphia, PA to Lima, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Fairmount Park along the way.
Fairmount Park
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Road | 4.1 mi | 8m |
| Media Bypass | 4 mi | 5m |
| Lansdowne Avenue | 2.4 mi | 5m |
| West Girard Avenue | 1.2 mi | 3m |
| Vine Street Expressway | 1 mi | 1m |
| South State Road | 1 mi | 2m |
| North Middletown Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| Schuylkill Expressway | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Philadelphia, PA and Lima, PA.
Start on South Penn Square
Keep slight left at fork onto PA 611
Continue on John F. Kennedy Boulevard
Turn right onto North 16th Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 676; US 30
Merge onto I 76; US 30
Take the exit onto US 30
Turn left onto US 30
Keep slight left at fork onto US 30
Continue on US 30; US 1 Alternate Truck
Turn left onto Lansdowne Avenue
Continue on North State Road
Continue on South State Road
Continue on State Road
Continue on US 1
Continue on US 1
Continue on US 1
Take the exit
Turn right onto PA 352
Turn left onto Bonsai Drive
Continue on Bonsai Drive
Turn right onto PA 352
Turn slight right
Arrive at destination
Regular Gas
$2.97 one way
$5.94 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $3.25 | $6.50 |
| premium | $4.93 | $3.47 | $6.94 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.95 | $7.90 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.4 | 0 | $1.88 | $0.86 |
| Efficient EV | 4.5 | 0 | $1.57 | $0.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.2 | 0 | $2.51 | $1.15 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Philadelphia on Friday
Local time
4:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
92°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Afternoon in Lima on Friday
Local time
4:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
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
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.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Philadelphia, PA or browse trips ending in Lima, PA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse PA road trips.
