The drive from Upper Darby, PA to Wilson, PA covers 294.2 miles and takes about 5h 45m 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 70 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 251.9 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $48.77 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
147.1 miles from Upper Darby, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 53m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 45m. Total distance: 294.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 5h 45m highway drive covering 294.2 miles, with most of the trip on Pennsylvania Turnpike and Mid-County Expressway. The longest continuous stretch is about 251.9 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 26 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 251.9 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 13 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 21 significant decision points across 294.2 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 13 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 21 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
13 mi into trip|~24m in
Take the exit toward I 76 West: Valley Forge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 16B
Toward I 76 West: Valley Forge
8
17.2 mi into trip|~30m in
Take the exit toward US 202, US 422 West: King of Prussia, West Chester, Pottstown
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 328B-A/327
Toward US 202, US 422 West: King of Prussia, We...
9
17.3 mi into trip|~30m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 202 South, US 422 West: Mall Boulevard, West Chester, Pottstown, Swedesford Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 202 South, US 422 West: Mall Boulevar...
8
17.6 mi into trip|~30m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Mall Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Mall Boulevard
7
17.8 mi into trip|~31m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 76 West: New Jersey, Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 76 West: New Jersey, Harrisburg
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Upper Darby, PA and Wilson, PA, road signs point toward Chester, Pottstown, Harrisburg, Pa Turnpike 66 Toll: Greensburg, Wheeling and New Stanton - among others.
Chester
17.2 mi in|~30m
Pottstown
17.2 mi in|~30m
Harrisburg
17.8 mi in|~31m
Pa Turnpike 66 Toll: Greensburg
270.7 mi in|~5h 7m|via I 70
Wheeling
270.7 mi in|~5h 7m|via I 70
New Stanton
270.7 mi in|~5h 7m|via I 70
Washington
271.1 mi in|~5h 8m|via I 70
Columbus
271.1 mi in|~5h 8m|via I 70
Newton
277.3 mi in|~5h 17m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
251.9 mi
4h 34m
Mid-County Expressway
7 mi
9m
I 70
6.6 mi
9m
Hayden Boulevard
4.9 mi
7m
East Main Street
4.8 mi
7m
Schuylkill Expressway
4.2 mi
5m
Mount Pleasant Road
3.5 mi
5m
South Lansdowne Avenue
3 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 251.9 mi, about 4h 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Upper Darby, PA and Wilson, PA.
1
Start on West Providence Road
0.3 mi·46 sec·West Providence Road
2
Turn left onto South Lansdowne Avenue
3.0 mi·8 min·South Lansdowne Avenue
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
3
Continue on Darby Road
471 ft·13 sec·Darby Road
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
4
Turn slight left onto PA 3
2.2 mi·4 min·West Chester Pike
Use the straight lane.
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi·58 sec
Toward I 476 North: Plymouth MeetingUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 476
7.0 mi·9 min·Mid-County Expressway
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·53 sec
Exit 16BToward I 76 West: Valley ForgeUse the right lane.
8
Merge onto I 76
3.7 mi·5 min·Schuylkill Expressway
9
Take the exit
0.1 mi·10 sec
Exit 328B-A/327Toward US 202, US 422 West: King of Prussia, West Chester, PottstownUse the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·22 sec
Toward US 202 South, US 422 West: Mall Boulevard, West Chester, Pottstown, Swedesford RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·20 sec
Toward Mall BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·8 sec
Toward I 76 West: New Jersey, Harrisburg
13
Merge onto I 76
0.4 mi·52 sec·Schuylkill Expressway
Toward I 76 West: New Jersey, Harrisburg
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 76
0.4 mi·1 min·I 76
Toward I 76 West: HarrisburgUse the slight left lane.
15
Merge onto I 76; PATP
252 mi·4 hr 34 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit onto I 70
0.4 mi·54 sec·I 70
Toward I 70 West, US 119, PA Turnpike 66 Toll: Greensburg, Wheeling WV, New StantonUse the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 70
6.2 mi·8 min·I 70
Toward I 70 West: New Stanton, Washington PA, Wheeling WV, Columbus OH
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward PA 31: Mt. Pleasant, West Newton
19
Turn right onto PA 31
3.5 mi·5 min·Mount Pleasant Road
20
Continue on PA 136
4.8 mi·7 min·East Main Street
21
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·21 sec
22
Merge onto PA 51
4.9 mi·7 min·Hayden Boulevard
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward PA 837 North: Clairton
24
Turn straight onto PA 837
2.9 mi·4 min·State Street
Use the straight lane.
25
Continue on PA 837
495 ft·8 sec·North State Street
26
Arrive at destination
PA 837
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 147.1 miles from Upper Darby, PA, or about 2h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 251.9 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 65 miles or 1h 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 147.1 miles or 2h 53m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wilson, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Upper Darby, 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 Upper Darby, PA
This is one driving day of about 294.2 miles and 5h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 miles from Upper Darby, 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 251.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 147.1 mi from Upper Darby, PA
· 2h 53m 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.
Valley Forge National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
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...
2 mi from route
~4 min detour
Free
near mile 121.7
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 223.2
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...
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 81.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$48.77 one way
$97.55 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg103 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$53.42
$106.84
premium
$4.93
$57.06
$114.11
diesel
$5.61
$64.96
$129.91
Estimated Tolls: $32.75
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(251.9 mi)$32.75
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
$49
Tolls
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$107–$132
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 102.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
88.3
1
$30.89
$14.12
Efficient EV
73.6
0
$25.74
$11.77
EV Truck/SUV
117.7
1
$41.19
$18.83
Gas CO2
103 kg
EV CO2
34 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 18, 2026
Origin
Upper Darby, PA
Evening
in Upper Darby on Friday
Local time
7:27 PM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Wilson, PA
Evening
in Wilson on Friday
Local time
7:27 PM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
73°F
Hancock, MD
147 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
6 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 45m 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 Upper Darby, PA to Wilson, PA covers 294.2 miles and takes about 5h 45m 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 70. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 147.1 miles from Upper Darby, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $48.77 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 21 significant decision points across 294.2 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 13 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 17.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Upper Darby, PA and Wilson, PA, road signs point toward Chester, Pottstown, Harrisburg, Pa Turnpike 66 Toll: Greensburg, Wheeling and New Stanton - among others.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Valley Forge National Historical Park, Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument 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.
