Drive Time
6h 4m
Distance
298 mi
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$48
one way
Photo: Nothing Ahead
The drive from Upper Darby, PA to Palmer, PA covers 298 miles and takes about 6h 4m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on South Lansdowne Avenue, Darby Road, West Chester Pike for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $47.94 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
149 miles from Upper Darby, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 2m into the drive .
Expect a 6h 4m drive with frequent turns across 298 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| South Lansdowne Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Darby Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Chester Pike | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 476 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Mid-County Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 76 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Schuylkill Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 202 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Upper Darby, PA and Palmer, PA.
Start on West Providence Road
Turn left onto South Lansdowne Avenue
Continue on Darby Road
Turn slight left onto West Chester Pike
Take the exit slight right toward I 476 North: Plymouth Meeting
Merge slight left onto Mid-County Expressway
Take the exit slight right toward I 76 West: Valley Forge
Merge slight left onto Schuylkill Expressway
Take the exit slight right toward US 202, US 422 West: King of Prussia, West Chester, Pottstown
Keep slight left to continue on US 202 South, US 422 West: Mall Boulevard, West Chester, Pottstown, Swedesford Road
Keep slight left to continue on Mall Boulevard
Keep slight left to continue on I 76 West: New Jersey, Harrisburg
Merge slight left onto Schuylkill Expressway
Keep slight left to continue on I 76 West: Harrisburg
Merge slight left onto Pennsylvania Turnpike
Take the exit slight right toward PA 31, PA 711: Ligonier, Uniontown
Turn right onto State Route 31
Continue on Three Mile Hill
Turn left
Turn left onto Memorial Boulevard
Turn straight onto Blackstone Road
Merge slight left onto Morrell Avenue
Turn slight right onto University Drive
Take the exit slight right toward PA 21
Keep slight left
Turn left onto McClellandtown Road
Turn right onto Main Street
Turn right onto High Street
Continue on Corob Street
Turn right onto Edenborn Road
Continue on Ball Hill Road
Turn left onto Sr3013
Continue on Palmer Road
Turn right onto Croushore Road
Turn right onto Tank Hill Road
Arrive at your destination
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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 80 miles or 1h 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 149 miles or 3h 2m 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 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Palmer, PA than in the middle of the route.
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 298 miles and 6h 4m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 149 mi from Upper Darby, PA · 3h 2m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
149 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 149 miles from Upper Darby, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Palmer, 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 Palmer, PA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$47.94 one way
$95.88 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $53.96 | $107.91 |
| premium | $4.95 | $58.12 | $116.24 |
| diesel | $5.98 | $70.16 | $140.32 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 104.3 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 89.4 | 1 | $31.29 | $14.30 |
| Efficient EV | 74.5 | 0 | $26.08 | $11.92 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 119.2 | 1 | $41.72 | $19.07 |
Gas CO2
104 kg
EV CO2
35 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Upper Darby on Saturday
Local time
8:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Palmer on Saturday
Local time
8:32 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
51°F
Cuba, NY
149 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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