Origin
Philadelphia, PA
Afternoon in Philadelphia on Saturday
Local time
2:28 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
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
140.5 mi
226 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$23
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
Carbondale, PA
Michael Taccetta
The drive from Philadelphia, PA to Carbondale, PA covers 140.5 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 East Penn Square, John F, North 16th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.29 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
70.2 miles from Philadelphia, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 24m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Penn Square | — | — |
| John F | — | — |
| North 16th Street | — | — |
| I 676 West | — | — |
| Vine Street Expressway | — | — |
| Schuylkill Expressway | — | — |
| I 476 North | — | — |
| Mid-County Expressway | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Step-by-step road directions between Philadelphia, PA and Carbondale, PA.
Start on South Penn Square
Keep slight left to continue on East Penn Square
Continue on John F. Kennedy Boulevard
Turn right onto North 16th Street
Take the ramp slight right toward I 676 West, US 30 West: International Airport, Valley Forge
Merge slight left onto Vine Street Expressway
Merge slight right onto Schuylkill Expressway
Take the exit slight right toward I 476 North: Plymouth Meeting
Merge slight left onto Mid-County Expressway
Turn slight left onto Mid-County Expressway
Continue on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Take the exit slight right toward PA 315, I 81: Pittston, Scranton
Keep slight right to continue on PA 315 North: Scranton
Merge slight left onto Chestnut Street
Take the exit straight toward I 81 North: Scranton
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward I-84 east, US 6 east
Keep slight left
Keep slight left to continue on US 6 East: Carbondale
Continue on Governor Robert P. Casey Highway
Take the exit slight right toward Carbondale, Childs
Turn left onto Meredith Street
Turn right onto Main Street
Continue on Cottage Street
Continue on Cottage Street
Continue on Pike Street
Continue on South Main Street
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 31 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 70.2 miles or 1h 24m 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Carbondale, PA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Philadelphia, 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 Philadelphia, PA
This is one driving day of about 140.5 miles and 2h 48m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
70 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.
A short stop after about 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 70.2 miles from Philadelphia, 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.
Regular Gas
$23.29 one way
$46.59 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $25.51 | $51.02 |
| premium | $4.93 | $27.25 | $54.50 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $31.02 | $62.04 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 42.2 | 0 | $14.75 | $6.74 |
| Efficient EV | 35.1 | 0 | $12.29 | $5.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 56.2 | 0 | $19.67 | $8.99 |
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 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 Saturday
Local time
2:28 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Carbondale on Saturday
Local time
2:28 PM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
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
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
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
140.5 mi in 2h 48m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Philadelphia, PA to Carbondale, PA is easy. At 2h 48m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Philadelphia, PA to Carbondale, PA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 48m. Total distance: 140.5 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 (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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