Origin
Philadelphia, PA
Late night in Philadelphia on Friday
Local time
12:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Philadelphia, PA to Forest Lake, PA
Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
3h 44m
Distance
177.3 mi
285 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 32m
★
6 AM
3h 44m
8 AM
4h 10m
10 AM
3h 53m
12 PM
3h 51m
3 PM
3h 54m
5 PM
4h 8m
8 PM
3h 37m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Philadelphia, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Forest Lake, PA
DMN Atölye
Trip Overview
The drive from Philadelphia, PA to Forest Lake, PA covers 177.3 miles and takes about 3h 44m 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 turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.39 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
88.6 miles from Philadelphia, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 52m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 44m. Total distance: 177.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 44m drive with frequent turns across 177.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 29 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Penn Square is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 Forest Lake, PA is easy. At 3h 44m 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 Forest Lake, PA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
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 Forest Lake, 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
111 mi
·
2 hr 3 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
12
Continue on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
13
Keep slight right to continue on I 81, US 6 East: Binghamton, Wilkes-Barre
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
I 81, US 6 East: Binghamton, Wilkes-Barre
14
Keep slight left to continue on Binghamton
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Binghamton
15
Merge slight left
29 mi
·
33 min
16
Take the exit slight right toward PA 492: New Milford, Lakeside
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
PA 492: New Milford, Lakeside
17
Turn left onto State Route 492
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
State Route 492
18
Continue on Jackson Street
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
Jackson Street
19
Turn left onto Main Street
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
20
Turn right
7.3 mi
·
11 min
21
Turn left onto State Route 29
144 ft
·
3 sec
·
State Route 29
22
Turn slight right onto Grow Avenue
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Grow Avenue
23
Continue on Church Street
0.6 mi
·
56 sec
·
Church Street
24
Turn right onto Owego Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Owego Street
25
Continue on State Route 167
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
State Route 167
26
Turn slight left onto North Road
3.9 mi
·
9 min
·
North Road
27
Turn left onto Lake Hill Road
0.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Lake Hill Road
28
Turn sharp right onto Road 6
0.2 mi
·
51 sec
·
Road 6
29
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 88.6 miles from Philadelphia, PA, or about 1h 52m 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 39 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 88.6 miles or 1h 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Forest Lake, 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 177.3 miles and 3h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 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.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 88.6 mi from Philadelphia, PA · 1h 52m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
89 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 88.6 miles from Philadelphia, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Forest Lake, PA
The final approach into Forest Lake, 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 Forest Lake, PA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.39 one way
$58.79 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
62 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $32.19 | $64.39 |
| premium | $4.93 | $34.39 | $68.77 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $39.15 | $78.29 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 53.2 | 0 | $18.62 | $8.51 |
| Efficient EV | 44.3 | 0 | $15.51 | $7.09 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 70.9 | 0 | $24.82 | $11.35 |
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (66% 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.
Destination
Forest Lake, PA
Late night in Forest Lake on Friday
Local time
12:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°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
10 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
3h 44m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Philadelphia, PA to Forest Lake, PA covers 177.3 miles and takes about 3h 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Penn Square, John F, North 16th Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 88.6 miles from Philadelphia, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $29.39 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Philadelphia, PA to Forest Lake, PA is easy. At 3h 44m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Philadelphia, PA to Forest Lake, PA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Philadelphia, PA to Forest Lake, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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