How far is Decatur, PA from Philadelphia, PA?

The driving distance from Decatur, PA to Philadelphia, PA is about 172.7 miles (277.9 km), with a travel time of about 03h 00m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 131 miles (210.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 00m 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
172.65 mi
03h 00m
Flight
131.07 mi
210.94 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Decatur.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
131.07 mi
Kilometers
210.94 km
Flight Time
00h 15m

Driving Distance

Road route
172.65 mi
Kilometers
277.86 km
Drive Time
03h 00m

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 03h 00m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Philadelphia
Sun, May 31, 8:49 AM EDT
Return by in Decatur
Sun, May 31, 11:49 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Decatur
2026-05-31T05:49
Arrive Philadelphia
Sun, May 31, 8:49 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 00m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
11:00 AM to 1:00 PM EDT

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

Leave by
12:30 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Decatur
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
Colebrook
PA

Unincorporated community in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania

From Decatur
86.2 mi
01h 30m
To Philadelphia
86.4 mi
01h 30m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
44°F
Overnight

Clear

Starts
Sun, May 31 12:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 mph NW
Destination
76°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Decatur and Philadelphia.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Decatur and Philadelphia.

  1. 1

    Start on Old Stage Road

    1.3 km · 2 min · Old Stage Road

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Alfarata Road

    2.1 mi · 5 min · Alfarata Road

  3. 3

    Turn right

    7.1 mi · 9 min

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Shaw Avenue

    109 m · 11 sec · Shaw Avenue

  5. 5

    Take the ramp slight right toward US 322 East: Harrisburg, Mount Union

    57 m · 6 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    53.9 mi · 1 hr 7 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 81 North, US 322 East, I 81 South: Hershey, Hazleton, Carlisle

    968 ft · 21 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on I 81 North, US 322 East: Hershey, Hazleton

    1.4 km · 2 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto American Legion Memorial Highway

    1.8 mi · 2 min · American Legion Memorial Highway

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on I 83 South, US 322 East: Hershey, York

    4.3 mi · 6 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on I 283 South: Harrisburg International Airport

    910 ft · 22 sec

  12. 12

    Continue straight

    2.8 mi · 5 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on I 76 East: Philadelphia

    1.1 km · 2 min

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Pennsylvania Turnpike

    78.4 mi · 1 hr 24 min · Pennsylvania Turnpike

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward I 76 East: Valley Forge, Philadelphia

    18 mi · 26 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on Vine Street Expressway

    1.3 km · 1 min · Vine Street Expressway

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward Central Philadelphia

    731 ft · 18 sec

  18. 18

    Keep slight right to continue on 15th Street, Central Philadelphia

    96 m · 11 sec

  19. 19

    Turn right onto North 15th Street

    1987 ft · 49 sec · North 15th Street

  20. 20

    Turn slight left onto South Penn Square

    115 m · 9 sec · South Penn Square

  21. 21

    Keep slight left to continue on South Penn Square

    51 m · 3 sec · South Penn Square

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South Penn Square

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Decatur and Philadelphia.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
22 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
3 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Pennsylvania Turnpike
78.4 mi · 45%
US 322 East
53.9 mi · 31%
I 76 East
18.7 mi · 11%
I 83 South
4.27 mi · 2%
I 283 South
3.02 mi · 2%
Alfarata Road
2.1 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Pennsylvania Turnpike

Merge slight left onto Pennsylvania Turnpike

78.4 mi · 01h 24m

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
03h 00m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
06h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+41.7 mi
131 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Colebrook
01h 30m from Decatur
Leave By
12:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Clear leaving Decatur and Sunny near Philadelphia.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Decatur to Philadelphia?

The road trip is about 172.7 miles (277.9 km) and usually takes 03h 00m 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?

Colebrook is a useful midpoint, sitting about 86.2 miles from Decatur and 86.4 miles from Philadelphia.

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

The direct path is about 131 miles (210.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 41.7 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 12:30 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $24.88 one way or $49.77 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 54.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Clear around Decatur and Sunny near Philadelphia.

Stop Ideas Near Colebrook

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Colebrook, 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 Colebrook.

RAIL

Elizabethtown station

13 mi away
South Wilson Avenue at West High Street
RAIL

Mount Joy

14 mi away
East Henry St. and North Market St.
RAIL

Middletown

19 mi away
Union Street and Mill Street
RAIL

Lancaster station

27 mi away
53 McGovern Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Decatur and Philadelphia. Straight-line distance: 131.07 mi (210.94 km).

Decatur

#1 Decatur

Township in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania

Population3,070
Coordinates40.6942400, -77.4538800
Altitude207
CountryUnited States
Philadelphia

#2 Philadelphia

The sixth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Philadelphia metropolitan area.

Population1,578,487
Coordinates39.9523300, -75.1637900
Altitude12
CountryUnited States
Start: North Old Stage Road (-77.453804, 40.694184)
End: South Penn Square (-75.163922, 39.951648)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 278 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 45m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 18m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 27m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 52m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 27m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 09m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.09 gal
23.06 L · about $24.88
Round trip
$49.77
12.18 gal · 46.12 L
Estimated CO2
54.1 kg one way
Round trip: 108.2 kg / 239 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $24.88 $49.77
Mid-grade $4.60 $28.01 $56.02
Premium $4.95 $30.17 $60.34
Diesel $5.98 $36.42 $72.84

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 · May 31, 2026

There is no time difference between Decatur and Philadelphia. The current time is 05:49:30.

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.