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Trip from Philadelphia, PA to Carbondale, 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

140.5 mi

226 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$23

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min
4 AM
2h 38m ★
6 AM
2h 49m
8 AM
3h 11m
10 AM
2h 57m
12 PM
2h 54m
3 PM
2h 58m
5 PM
3h 10m
8 PM
2h 42m

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

largest city in Pennsylvania, United States

Philadelphia, PA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Carbondale, PA, PA

Carbondale, PA

Michael Taccetta

Trip Overview

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 .

Main Roads

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.

Longest stretch: East Penn Square — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Philadelphia, PA and Carbondale, PA.

1

Start on South Penn Square

397 ft · 9 sec · South Penn Square
2

Keep slight left to continue on East Penn Square

0.1 mi · 19 sec · East Penn Square
3

Continue on John F. Kennedy Boulevard

0.2 mi · 21 sec · John F. Kennedy Boulevard
4

Turn right onto North 16th Street

0.4 mi · 55 sec · North 16th Street
5

Take the ramp slight right toward I 676 West, US 30 West: International Airport, Valley Forge

0.2 mi · 27 sec · I 676 West, US 30 West: International Airport, Valley Forge
6

Merge slight left onto Vine Street Expressway

1.0 mi · 1 min · Vine Street Expressway
7

Merge slight right onto Schuylkill Expressway

12 mi · 17 min · Schuylkill Expressway
8

Take the exit slight right toward I 476 North: Plymouth Meeting

0.6 mi · 1 min · I 476 North: Plymouth Meeting
9

Merge slight left onto Mid-County Expressway

3.3 mi · 4 min · Mid-County Expressway
10

Turn slight left onto Mid-County Expressway

0.2 mi · 14 sec · Mid-County Expressway
11

Continue on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension

95 mi · 1 hr 44 min · Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
12

Take the exit slight right toward PA 315, I 81: Pittston, Scranton

0.7 mi · 1 min · PA 315, I 81: Pittston, Scranton
13

Keep slight right to continue on PA 315 North: Scranton

0.2 mi · 21 sec · PA 315 North: Scranton
14

Merge slight left onto Chestnut Street

522 ft · 9 sec · Chestnut Street
15

Take the exit straight toward I 81 North: Scranton

0.3 mi · 34 sec · I 81 North: Scranton
16

Merge slight left

11 mi · 11 min
17

Take the exit slight right toward I-84 east, US 6 east

0.4 mi · 51 sec · I-84 east, US 6 east
18

Keep slight left

0.3 mi · 35 sec
19

Keep slight left to continue on US 6 East: Carbondale

0.4 mi · 45 sec · US 6 East: Carbondale
20

Continue on Governor Robert P. Casey Highway

11 mi · 12 min · Governor Robert P. Casey Highway
21

Take the exit slight right toward Carbondale, Childs

0.3 mi · 49 sec · Carbondale, Childs
22

Turn left onto Meredith Street

0.9 mi · 1 min · Meredith Street
23

Turn right onto Main Street

0.5 mi · 58 sec · Main Street
24

Continue on Cottage Street

0.2 mi · 43 sec · Cottage Street
25

Continue on Cottage Street

0.2 mi · 35 sec · Cottage Street
26

Continue on Pike Street

0.9 mi · 2 min · Pike Street
27

Continue on South Main Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · South Main Street
28

Arrive at your destination

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 70.2 miles from Philadelphia, PA, or about 1h 24m 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 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.

Before You Leave

+

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.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Philadelphia, 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.

borough in Pennsylvania, United States of America

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Palmerton, PA

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.

Pacing Suggestions

Conshohocken, PA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Palmerton, PA

Meal break

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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$23.29 one way

$46.59 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 49 kg CO2
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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Philadelphia, PA

Afternoon in Philadelphia on Saturday

Local time

2:28 PM

EDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Carbondale, PA

Afternoon in Carbondale on Saturday

Local time

2:28 PM

EDT

Current temp

41°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

8 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

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.

What kind of drive is this?

140.5 mi in 2h 48m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.

Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: East Penn Square.

How Hard Is This Drive?

1/10

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.

Driving Effort 1/10

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.

Who Is This Route For?

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.

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.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Carbondale, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Carbondale, PA to Philadelphia, PA

Plan the drive back the other way.

140.8 mi 2h 50m

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