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Trip from Tamaqua, PA to Allentown, PA

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

53m

Distance

35 mi

56 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 13 min
4 AM
0h 49m ★
6 AM
0h 54m
8 AM
1h 2m
10 AM
0h 57m
12 PM
0h 56m
3 PM
0h 57m
5 PM
1h 2m
8 PM
0h 51m

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

Downtown Tamaqua, PA, PA

Tamaqua, PA

Haneul Trac

county seat city in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, United States

Allentown, PA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are looking for a quick excursion through Pennsylvania’s Northeast, the 35-mile trek from Tamaqua to Allentown is a straightforward choice. Expect to spend about 53 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal candidate for a one-day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via West Penn Pike, PA 100, and Tilghman Street to reach your destination. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $6, this commute is highly economical for those traveling between these two regional points. Whether you are heading into the city for business or leisure, this route provides a direct connection without the need for complex planning or multi-day pacing.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 53m. Total distance: 35 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

53m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (23%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. While 23 miles of the trip take place on highways, the experience is defined by its winding, local nature. Your longest uninterrupted stretch covers 17.5 miles along West Penn Pike, providing the most consistent flow before you transition into more technical segments. Because the route relies heavily on local roads, you will find it shifts in pace as you move away from the smaller town atmosphere of Tamaqua toward the busier streets of Allentown. It is a drive that rewards a steady hand and a focus on the changing road conditions.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 8 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Penn Pike is the longest continuous segment at about 17.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Pine Street.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 53m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Pine Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.2 miles (US 209 / East Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (PA 309 / Center Street): Navigation decision point.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 5 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | Pine Street

Turn sharp right onto Pine Street

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

5
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | US 209 / East Broad Street

Turn right onto US 209 / East Broad Street

Navigation decision point

4
0.3 mi into trip | ~1m in | PA 309 / Center Street

Turn left onto PA 309 / Center Street

Navigation decision point

4
19.3 mi into trip | ~28m in | PA 100

Turn right onto PA 100

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
27.5 mi into trip | ~41m in | Tilghman Street

Turn left onto Tilghman Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
West Penn Pike 17.5 mi 24m
PA 100 8.2 mi 12m
Tilghman Street 7.5 mi 12m
Center Street 1.5 mi 3m
Mauch Chunk Street 0.1 mi <1m
Pine Street <0.1 mi <1m
East Broad Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: West Penn Pike — 17.5 mi, about 24m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Tamaqua, PA and Allentown, PA.

1

Start on PA 309

0.1 mi · 28 sec · Mauch Chunk Street
2

Turn sharp right onto Pine Street

489 ft · 20 sec · Pine Street
3

Turn right onto US 209

338 ft · 20 sec · East Broad Street
4

Turn left onto PA 309

1.5 mi · 3 min · Center Street
5

Continue on PA 309

17 mi · 24 min · West Penn Pike
Use the straight lane.
6

Turn right onto PA 100

8.2 mi · 12 min · PA 100
Use the left lane.
7

Turn left onto Tilghman Street

7.5 mi · 12 min · Tilghman Street
Use the left lane.
8

Arrive at destination

Tilghman Street

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 17.5 mi from Tamaqua, PA · 26m into the drive

township in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Weisenberg, PA

18 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

North Catasauqua, PA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Weisenberg, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 17.5 miles from Tamaqua, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Allentown, PA

Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Allentown, PA if you are unfamiliar with the area.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$5.80 one way

$11.61 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 12 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $6.36 $12.71
premium $4.93 $6.79 $13.58
diesel $5.61 $7.73 $15.46

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$6

Estimated CO2 emission: 12.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 10.5 0 $3.68 $1.68
Efficient EV 8.8 0 $3.06 $1.40
EV Truck/SUV 14 0 $4.90 $2.24

Gas CO2

12 kg

EV CO2

4 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

Tamaqua, PA

Morning in Tamaqua on Thursday

Local time

11:53 AM

EDT

Current temp

41°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Allentown, PA

Morning in Allentown on Thursday

Local time

11:53 AM

EDT

Current temp

44°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

3 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

53m 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 Tamaqua, PA to Allentown, PA covers 35 miles and takes about 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Penn Pike, PA 100, Tilghman Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 17.5 miles from Tamaqua, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $5.80 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 53m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Pine Street): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 0.2 miles (US 209 / East Broad Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (PA 309 / Center Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Tamaqua, PA to Allentown, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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