The drive from Pitcairn, PA to Upper Darby, PA covers 287.9 miles and takes about 5h 35m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Pennsylvania Turnpike, Mid-County Expressway, I 76 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 259.6 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $47.73 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
144 miles from Pitcairn, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 45m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 35m. Total distance: 287.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 5h 35m highway drive covering 287.9 miles, with most of the trip on Pennsylvania Turnpike and Mid-County Expressway. The longest continuous stretch is about 259.6 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 24 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 259.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and Mid-County Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.4 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 287.9 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 9.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 269.7 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 16 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
9.4 mi into trip|~18m in
Take the exit toward PATP, I 76
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward PATP, I 76
7
9.7 mi into trip|~18m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 76 East: Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 76 East: Harrisburg
8
269.7 mi into trip|~5h 2m 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
274.7 mi into trip|~5h 10m 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
281.7 mi into trip|~5h 20m 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 Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Pitcairn, PA to Upper Darby, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Philadelphia along the way.
Philadelphia
269.7 mi in|~5h 2m|via I 76
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
259.6 mi
4h 42m
Mid-County Expressway
6.4 mi
8m
I 76
5.1 mi
7m
Brinton Avenue
3.7 mi
6m
Lansdowne Avenue
3 mi
8m
West Chester Pike
2.5 mi
5m
Water Street
1.7 mi
2m
Lincoln Highway
1.3 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 259.6 mi, about 4h 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pitcairn, PA and Upper Darby, PA.
1
Start on Center Avenue
485 ft·28 sec·Center Avenue
2
Turn left onto PA 130
1.2 mi·2 min·Broadway Boulevard
3
Continue on PA 130
0.2 mi·19 sec·Tri Boro Expressway
4
Continue on PA 130
0.3 mi·34 sec·5th Street
5
Turn right onto PA 993
3.7 mi·6 min·Brinton Avenue
6
Continue on PA 993
1.7 mi·2 min·Water Street
7
Turn right onto PA 993
0.5 mi·58 sec·Main Street
8
Turn left onto Pennsylvania Avenue
0.2 mi·26 sec·Pennsylvania Avenue
9
Turn right onto Chestnut Street
0.1 mi·17 sec·Chestnut Street
10
Continue on 10th Street
0.2 mi·34 sec·10th Street
11
Turn left onto US 30
1.3 mi·2 min·Lincoln Highway
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward PATP, I 76
13
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·21 sec·this road
Toward PATP, I 76
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward I 76 East: HarrisburgUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 76; PATP
260 mi·4 hr 42 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit onto I 76
5.1 mi·7 min·I 76
Exit 326Toward I 76 East: Valley Forge, PhiladelphiaUse the slight right lane.
17
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 331AToward I 476 South: ChesterUse the slight right lane.
18
Merge onto I 476
6.4 mi·8 min·Mid-County Expressway
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·59 sec
Exit 9Toward PA 3: Upper Darby, BroomallUse the slight right lane.
20
Turn left onto PA 3
2.5 mi·5 min·West Chester Pike
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
21
Turn slight right onto Darby Road
471 ft·13 sec·Darby Road
Use the right lane.
22
Continue on Lansdowne Avenue
3.0 mi·8 min·Lansdowne Avenue
Use the straight lane.
23
Turn right onto West Providence Road
0.3 mi·39 sec·West Providence Road
24
Arrive at destination
West Providence Road
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 144 miles from Pitcairn, PA, or about 2h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 259.6 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 63 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 144 miles or 2h 45m 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 25m
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 Pitcairn, 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 Pitcairn, PA
This is one driving day of about 287.9 miles and 5h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Pitcairn, 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 259.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 144 mi from Pitcairn, PA
· 2h 45m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument
National Monument
More than 7,800 children from 140 Tribes went to the Carlisle School from 1879 to 1918. The National Park Service will collaborate with families, affiliated Tribal Nations, the US Army, historians, an...
1 mi from route
~2 min detour
Free
near mile 168.8
Valley Forge is the place where George Washington and the Continental Army took refuge during the winter of 1777-1778. Today the park protects 3,500 acres of meadows, woodlands, historic landscapes, a...
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Free
near mile 268.1
On Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, the U.S. came under attack when four commercial airliners were hijacked and used to strike targets on the ground. Nearly 3,000 people tragically lost their live...
6 mi from route
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 59.6
The park represents the founding ideals of the nation, and preserves national and international symbols of freedom and democracy, including Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. The Declaration of I...
Visit the house where wounded Polish freedom fighter Thaddeus Kosciuszko lived and hear how this brilliant military engineer designed successful fortifications during the American Revolution. See the...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 287.9
The Appalachian Trail is a 2,190+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by p...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 208.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.73 one way
$95.46 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg101 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$52.28
$104.55
premium
$4.93
$55.83
$111.67
diesel
$5.61
$63.56
$127.13
Estimated Tolls: $33.75
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(259.6 mi)$33.75
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
$48
Tolls
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$106–$131
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 100.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
86.4
1
$30.23
$13.82
Efficient EV
72
0
$25.19
$11.52
EV Truck/SUV
115.2
1
$40.31
$18.43
Gas CO2
101 kg
EV CO2
34 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 as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Pitcairn, PA
Morning
in Pitcairn on Saturday
Local time
9:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Upper Darby, PA
Morning
in Upper Darby on Saturday
Local time
9:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Partly Cloudy
NE 5 mph12% chanceLive forecast
54°F
Hancock, MD
144 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
12 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
5h 35m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Pitcairn, PA to Upper Darby, PA covers 287.9 miles and takes about 5h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Pennsylvania Turnpike, Mid-County Expressway, I 76. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 144 miles from Pitcairn, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $47.73 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 287.9 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 9.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 269.7 miles (I 76): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Pitcairn, PA to Upper Darby, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Philadelphia along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument, Valley Forge National Historical Park and Flight 93 National Memorial. There are 6 parks within detour distance of this route.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
