How far is Central City, PA from Allentown, PA?

The driving distance from Central City, PA to Allentown, PA is about 153.2 miles (246.6 km), with a travel time of about 02h 51m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 123 miles (197.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 43m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
153.24 mi
02h 51m
Flight
122.96 mi
197.88 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Central City.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
122.96 mi
Kilometers
197.88 km
Flight Time
00h 14m

Driving Distance

Road route
153.24 mi
Kilometers
246.62 km
Drive Time
02h 51m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 02h 51m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Allentown
Sun, Apr 19, 4:04 AM EDT
Return by in Central City
Sun, Apr 19, 6:56 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Central City
2026-04-19T01:12
Arrive Allentown
Sun, Apr 19, 4:04 AM EDT
Route Timing
02h 51m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:52 AM to 12:52 PM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
12:46 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Central City
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Reed
PA

Township in western Dauphin County, Pennsylvania

From Central City
76.4 mi
01h 25m
To Allentown
76.8 mi
01h 25m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
52°F
Sunday

Rain Showers then Partly Sunny

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
9 to 13 mph NW
Destination
64°F
Sunday

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Central City and Allentown.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Central City and Allentown.

  1. 1

    Start on Moose Run Road

    2198 ft · 59 sec · Moose Run Road

  2. 2

    Turn left

    50 m · 6 sec

  3. 3

    Turn straight

    1.4 km · 2 min

  4. 4

    Turn left

    1688 ft · 41 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Keystone Shortway

    66.2 mi · 1 hr 11 min · Keystone Shortway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward PA 54: Danville, Washingtonville

    1080 ft · 27 sec

  7. 7

    Turn slight left

    24 m · 3 sec

  8. 8

    Turn right onto Continental Boulevard

    2.9 mi · 4 min · Continental Boulevard

  9. 9

    Continue on Factory Street

    716 ft · 20 sec · Factory Street

  10. 10

    Continue on Danville-Riverside Bridge Road

    1799 ft · 49 sec · Danville-Riverside Bridge Road

  11. 11

    Turn left onto Elysburg Road

    9.7 mi · 11 min · Elysburg Road

  12. 12

    Continue on State Route 54

    11.1 mi · 13 min · State Route 54

  13. 13

    Continue on Locust Gap Highway

    1897 ft · 42 sec · Locust Gap Highway

  14. 14

    Continue on Fairgrounds Road

    2.2 mi · 2 min · Fairgrounds Road

  15. 15

    Continue on Sunbury Road

    9.4 mi · 11 min · Sunbury Road

  16. 16

    Continue on Sunbury Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · Sunbury Street

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Pottsville Minersville Highway

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Pottsville Minersville Highway

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Gordon Nagle Trail

    4 mi · 7 min · Gordon Nagle Trail

  19. 19

    Continue on North Sillyman Street

    1281 ft · 33 sec · North Sillyman Street

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Pottsville Street

    1.1 km · 2 min · Pottsville Street

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Route 61 South

    150 m · 6 sec · Route 61 South

  22. 22

    Continue on Center Avenue

    10.6 mi · 13 min · Center Avenue

  23. 23

    Continue on Centre Street

    2.7 mi · 4 min · Centre Street

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight right toward I 78 East, US 22 East: Allentown

    1423 ft · 41 sec

  25. 25

    Merge slight left onto William Penn Highway

    21.6 mi · 27 min · William Penn Highway

  26. 26

    Keep slight right to continue on Lehigh Valley Thruway

    1.5 km · 1 min · Lehigh Valley Thruway

  27. 27

    Take the exit slight right toward Cetronia

    1053 ft · 27 sec

  28. 28

    Turn straight onto Tilghman Street

    4.9 mi · 8 min · Tilghman Street

  29. 29

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Tilghman Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Central City and Allentown.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
29 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
2 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
18.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Keystone Shortway
66.2 mi · 43%
William Penn Highway
21.6 mi · 14%
State Route 54
11.1 mi · 7%
Center Avenue
10.6 mi · 7%
Elysburg Road
9.74 mi · 6%
Sunbury Road
9.37 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

Keystone Shortway

Merge slight left onto Keystone Shortway

66.2 mi · 01h 11m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 51m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 44m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+30.2 mi
123 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Reed
01h 25m from Central City
Leave By
12:46 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Rain Showers then Partly Sunny leaving Central City and Rain Showers Likely near Allentown.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Central City to Allentown?

The road trip is about 153.2 miles (246.6 km) and usually takes 02h 51m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Reed is a useful midpoint, sitting about 76.4 miles from Central City and 76.8 miles from Allentown.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 123 miles (197.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 30.2 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 12:46 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.11 one way or $44.21 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 48.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Rain Showers then Partly Sunny around Central City and Rain Showers Likely near Allentown.

Stop Ideas Near Reed

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Reed, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Reed.

RAIL

Harrisburg Transportation Center

72 mi away
4th and Chestnut Streets
BUS

Wilkes-Barre, PA

73 mi away
47 South Washington Street
RAIL

Middletown

76 mi away
Union Street and Mill Street
BUS

White Haven, PA

78 mi away
I-476, Exit 95/I-80, Exit 277, at Hwy 940

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Central City and Allentown. Straight-line distance: 122.96 mi (197.88 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Central City

Borough of Pennsylvania

Population1,021
Coordinates40.9500600, -77.7966700
Altitude240
CountryUnited States
Allentown

#2 Allentown

The third most populous city in Pennsylvania.

Population121,470
Coordinates40.6084300, -75.4901800
Altitude103
CountryUnited States
Start: Moose Run Road (-77.796836, 40.949863)
End: Tilghman Street (-75.490007, 40.608068)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 247 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 06m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 49m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 03m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 33m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 11m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 54m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.41 gal
20.47 L · about $22.11
Round trip
$44.21
10.82 gal · 40.94 L
Estimated CO2
48.1 kg one way
Round trip: 96.2 kg / 212 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $22.11 $44.21
Mid-grade $4.60 $24.88 $49.76
Premium $4.95 $26.80 $53.60
Diesel $5.98 $32.35 $64.70

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Pennsylvania · Apr 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Central City and Allentown. The current time is 01:12:59.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.