This 273.1-mile drive from Plum, PA to Allentown, PA is a solid day trip, estimated to take around 5 hours and 23 minutes. You'll primarily navigate the Pennsylvania Turnpike, with portions of William Penn Highway and American Legion Memorial Highway also part of the journey. With a fuel cost estimated at $45, it’s a budget-friendly trip for a single day. The route focuses heavily on highway travel, making it an efficient way to cover the distance within Pennsylvania. Consider this a straightforward journey through the Northeast region of the state, ideal for getting from point A to point B without extensive detours.
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
136.6 miles from Plum, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 38m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 23m. Total distance: 273.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for this trip, with 67% of your journey on major roadways. The Pennsylvania Turnpike will be your main artery for the longest continuous stretch of 170.5 miles, offering a consistent pace. While the profile is predominantly highway, you will encounter sections of William Penn Highway and American Legion Memorial Highway, which may offer a slight change in scenery and speed. This route prioritizes efficient travel over winding backroads, so be prepared for a fairly direct and consistent driving experience for much of the 5-hour trip.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 32 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 170.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and William Penn Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.9 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 273.1 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 5.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 176.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 177.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 24 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
5.9 mi into trip|~14m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 76 East: Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 76 East: Harrisburg
7
176.6 mi into trip|~3h 22m in
Take the exit toward I 81, US 11: Carlisle, Harrisburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 81, US 11: Carlisle, Harrisburg
7
177.5 mi into trip|~3h 24m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 11 North: Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 11 North: Harrisburg
6
192 mi into trip|~3h 43m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 11 North, US 15 North: Marysville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 11 North, US 15 North: Marysville
9
267 mi into trip|~5h 13m in|US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway toward US 22 East: Pennsylvania Turnpike, LVI Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 51
Toward US 22 East: Pennsylvania Turnpike, LVI A...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Plum, PA and Allentown, PA, road signs point toward Harrisburg and Marysville.
Harrisburg
176.6 mi in|~3h 22m
Marysville
191.8 mi in|~3h 43m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
170.5 mi
3h 7m
William Penn Highway
42.8 mi
50m
American Legion Memorial Highway
22.5 mi
27m
I 81
12.7 mi
15m
78th Division Highway
7.6 mi
8m
Tilghman Street
4.9 mi
8m
Center Road
2.1 mi
4m
Center New Texas Road
1.4 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 170.5 mi, about 3h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Plum, PA and Allentown, PA.
1
Start on Windsor Court
308 ft·15 sec·Windsor Court
2
Turn right onto Stirling Drive
0.1 mi·34 sec·Stirling Drive
3
Turn right onto Old Leechburg Road
0.4 mi·1 min·Old Leechburg Road
4
Turn left onto Orange Belt
0.1 mi·13 sec·New Texas Road
5
Turn right onto Center New Texas Road
1.4 mi·3 min·Center New Texas Road
6
At end of road, turn right onto PA 380; Orange Belt
0.2 mi·25 sec·Saltsburg Road
7
At end of road, turn left onto Orange Belt
2.1 mi·4 min·Center Road
8
Turn slight left onto Orange Belt
0.8 mi·1 min·Orange Belt
9
Continue on PA 48; Orange Belt
0.4 mi·51 sec·Mosside Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn sharp left onto Daugherty Drive
183 ft·12 sec·Daugherty Drive
11
Turn right
421 ft·36 sec
12
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward I 76 East: HarrisburgUse the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto I 76; PATP
170 mi·3 hr 7 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
15
Take the exit
0.9 mi·2 min
Toward I 81, US 11: Carlisle, HarrisburgUse the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·54 sec
Toward US 11 North: HarrisburgUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Continue on US 11
1.1 mi·2 min·Harrisburg Pike
Use the straight lane.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward I 81 North: Harrisburg
19
Merge onto I 81
13 mi·15 min·I 81
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi·14 sec
Toward US 11, US 15: Enola, Marysville
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·28 sec
Toward US 11 North, US 15 North: Marysville
22
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·32 sec
23
Merge onto I 81
0.7 mi·1 min·George N. Wade Memorial Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Continue on I 81
3.4 mi·4 min·American Legion Memorial Highway
25
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
19 mi·22 min·American Legion Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Take the exit
0.7 mi·45 sec
Exit 89Toward I 78 East: Allentown
27
Continue on I 78
7.6 mi·8 min·78th Division Highway
28
Continue on I 78; US 22
43 mi·50 min·William Penn Highway
Use the straight lane.
29
Keep slight right at fork onto US 22
1.0 mi·1 min·Lehigh Valley Thruway
Exit 51Toward US 22 East: Pennsylvania Turnpike, LVI AirportUse the slight right lane.
30
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward CetroniaUse the slight right lane.
31
Turn straight onto Tilghman Street
4.9 mi·8 min·Tilghman Street
Use the straight lane.
32
Arrive at destination
Tilghman Street
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour, 273.1-mile drive, consider an early morning departure to maximize your daylight and avoid potential afternoon traffic. With only one recommended stop and a significant portion on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, you can easily complete this journey in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before embarking on the longest stretch of 170.5 miles. The estimated fuel cost is $45, so budgeting for this is straightforward. Being a highway-centric route, planning for rest stops at service plazas along the Turnpike is a practical approach.
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 136.6 miles from Plum, PA, or about 2h 38m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 170.5 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 60 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 136.6 miles or 2h 38m 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 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Allentown, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Plum, 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 Plum, PA
This is one driving day of about 273.1 miles and 5h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 60 miles from Plum, 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 170.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 136.6 mi from Plum, PA
· 2h 38m 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...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 178.9
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...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 216.6
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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 65.9
The battle at Fort Necessity in the summer of 1754 was the opening action of the French and Indian War. This war was a clash of British, French and American Indian cultures. It ended with the removal...
24 mi from route
~60 min detour
Free
near mile 37.7
The South Fork Dam failed on Friday, May 31, 1889, and unleashed 20,000,000 tons of water that devastated Johnstown, PA. The flood killed 2,209 people but it brought the nation and the world together...
24 mi from route
~60 min detour
Free
near mile 84.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$45.28 one way
$90.55 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg96 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$49.59
$99.18
premium
$4.93
$52.96
$105.93
diesel
$5.61
$60.30
$120.59
Estimated Tolls: $22.23
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(170.5 mi)$22.16
Lehigh Valley Thruway
(1 mi)$0.07
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
$45
Tolls
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$93–$118
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 95.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
21 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Sheetz, Inc. Charging Station
New Stanton, Pennsylvania
Other
1 DCFC
ChargeSmart EV Charging Station
Adamsburg, Pennsylvania
Other
1 DCFC
ChargePoint Charging Station
Monroeville, Pennsylvania
ChargePoint
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania
Tesla
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania
Tesla
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Somerset, Pennsylvania
Tesla
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Somerset, Pennsylvania
Tesla
1 DCFC
Blink Charging Station
Monroeville, Pennsylvania
Blink
1 DCFC
Tesla: 6
Other: 4
ChargePoint: 4
Blink: 3
Tesla Destination: 2
EVgo: 1
EV Connect: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
81.9
1
$28.68
$13.11
Efficient EV
68.3
0
$23.90
$10.92
EV Truck/SUV
109.2
1
$38.23
$17.48
Gas CO2
96 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Plum, PA
Late night
in Plum on Saturday
Local time
1:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Allentown, PA
Late night
in Allentown on Saturday
Local time
1:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Hancock, MD
137 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
4 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 23m 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 Plum, PA to Allentown, PA covers 273.1 miles and takes about 5h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Pennsylvania Turnpike, William Penn Highway, American Legion Memorial Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 136.6 miles from Plum, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $45.28 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 24 significant decision points across 273.1 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 5.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 176.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 177.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Plum, PA and Allentown, PA, road signs point toward Harrisburg and Marysville.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument, Appalachian National Scenic Trail and Flight 93 National Memorial. There are 5 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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
