How far is Harrisburg, PA from Clay, PA?

The driving distance from Harrisburg, PA to Clay, PA is about 40 miles (64.4 km), with a travel time of about 00h 56m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 33.4 miles (53.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 01h 52m 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
40.02 mi
00h 56m
Flight
33.39 mi
53.73 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Harrisburg.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
33.39 mi
Kilometers
53.73 km
Flight Time
00h 04m

Driving Distance

Road route
40.02 mi
Kilometers
64.41 km
Drive Time
00h 56m

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 00h 56m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Clay
Thu, Apr 23, 1:05 AM EDT
Return by in Harrisburg
Thu, Apr 23, 2:01 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Harrisburg
2026-04-23T00:09
Arrive Clay
Thu, Apr 23, 1:05 AM EDT
Route Timing
00h 56m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
8:56 AM to 10:56 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:38 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Harrisburg
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 Harrisburg
20 mi
00h 28m
To Clay
20.1 mi
00h 28m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
75°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 to 5 mph NW
Destination
72°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 7 mph NW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Harrisburg and Clay.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Harrisburg and Clay.

  1. 1

    Start on North 7th Street

    27 m · 3 sec · North 7th Street

  2. 2

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward North 7th Street

    64 m · 7 sec · North 7th Street

  3. 3

    Exit the roundabout onto North 7th Street

    2223 ft · 1 min · North 7th Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Fisher Plaza

    820 ft · 20 sec · Fisher Plaza

  5. 5

    Keep slight left to continue on State Street

    2769 ft · 1 min · State Street

  6. 6

    Turn right onto North 13th Street

    1.2 mi · 2 min · North 13th Street

  7. 7

    Turn left

    1346 ft · 33 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    2.4 mi · 3 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 283 South: Harrisburg International Airport, Lancaster

    2242 ft · 55 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    2.7 mi · 5 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on I 76 East: Philadelphia

    1.1 km · 2 min

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Pennsylvania Turnpike

    18.6 mi · 20 min · Pennsylvania Turnpike

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward PA 72: Lebanon, Manheim

    2421 ft · 2 min

  14. 14

    Continue straight

    708 ft · 17 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on PA 72 North: Lebanon, Hershey

    45 m · 10 sec

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Lebanon Road

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Lebanon Road

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward US 322 East: Ephrata

    723 ft · 22 sec

  18. 18

    Continue on Twenty-Eighth Division Highway

    3.9 mi · 5 min · Twenty-Eighth Division Highway

  19. 19

    Continue on 28th Division Highway

    6.6 mi · 10 min · 28th Division Highway

  20. 20

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Main Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Harrisburg and Clay.

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
20 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
50 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Pennsylvania Turnpike
18.6 mi · 46%
28th Division Highway
6.55 mi · 16%
Twenty-Eighth Division Highway
3.86 mi · 10%
North 13th Street
3.52 mi · 9%
I 283 South
3.13 mi · 8%
Lebanon Road
1.53 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

Pennsylvania Turnpike

Merge slight left onto Pennsylvania Turnpike

18.6 mi · 00h 20m

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
00h 56m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
01h 52m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+6.6 mi
33.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Colebrook
00h 28m from Harrisburg
Leave By
4:38 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Harrisburg and Mostly Sunny near Clay.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Harrisburg to Clay?

The road trip is about 40 miles (64.4 km) and usually takes 00h 56m 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 20 miles from Harrisburg and 20.1 miles from Clay.

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

The direct path is about 33.4 miles (53.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 6.6 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 4:38 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $5.76 one way or $11.52 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 12.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Harrisburg and Mostly Sunny near Clay.

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 Harrisburg and Clay. Straight-line distance: 33.39 mi (53.73 km).

Harrisburg

#1 Harrisburg

The capital of Pennsylvania.

Population49,322
Coordinates40.2737000, -76.8844200
Altitude101
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 Clay

Census-designated place in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

Population6,939
Coordinates40.2184300, -76.2555100
Altitude108
CountryUnited States
Start: Harrisburg (-76.88442, 40.2737)
End: Clay (-76.25551, 40.21843)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 64 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)01h 20m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 00m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)00h 48m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)00h 40m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 34m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 29m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
1.41 gal
5.35 L · about $5.76
Round trip
$11.52
2.82 gal · 10.7 L
Estimated CO2
12.5 kg one way
Round trip: 25.1 kg / 55 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $5.76 $11.52
Mid-grade $4.60 $6.48 $12.97
Premium $4.95 $6.99 $13.97
Diesel $5.98 $8.43 $16.86

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 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Harrisburg and Clay. The current time is 00:09:07.

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.