How far is Philadelphia, PA from Washington, PA?

The driving distance from Philadelphia, PA to Washington, PA is about 154.2 miles (248.2 km), with a travel time of about 03h 00m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 123.6 miles (198.9 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
154.2 mi
03h 00m
Flight
123.56 mi
198.85 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Philadelphia.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
123.56 mi
Kilometers
198.85 km
Flight Time
00h 14m

Driving Distance

Road route
154.2 mi
Kilometers
248.16 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 Washington
Sun, Apr 19, 3:30 AM EDT
Return by in Philadelphia
Sun, Apr 19, 6:31 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Philadelphia
2026-04-19T00:30
Arrive Washington
Sun, Apr 19, 3:30 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 Philadelphia
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
Cornwall
PA

Borough in southern Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, United States of America

From Philadelphia
77 mi
01h 30m
To Washington
77.2 mi
01h 30m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
69°F
Sunday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph SW
Destination
65°F
Sunday

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on South Penn Square

    121 m · 9 sec · South Penn Square

  2. 2

    Keep slight left to continue on East Penn Square

    737 ft · 19 sec · East Penn Square

  3. 3

    Continue on John F. Kennedy Boulevard

    803 ft · 21 sec · John F. Kennedy Boulevard

  4. 4

    Turn right onto North 16th Street

    2132 ft · 55 sec · North 16th Street

  5. 5

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 676 West, US 30 West: International Airport, Valley Forge

    1091 ft · 27 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Vine Street Expressway

    1 mi · 2 min · Vine Street Expressway

  7. 7

    Merge slight right onto Schuylkill Expressway

    16.4 mi · 23 min · Schuylkill Expressway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward US 202, US 422 West: King of Prussia, West Chester, Pottstown

    632 ft · 10 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on US 202 South, US 422 West: Mall Boulevard, West Chester, Pottstown, Swedesford Road

    1447 ft · 22 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on Mall Boulevard

    1331 ft · 21 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on I 76 West: New Jersey, Harrisburg

    533 ft · 8 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left onto Schuylkill Expressway

    2317 ft · 53 sec · Schuylkill Expressway

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on I 76 West: Harrisburg

    1919 ft · 1 min

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Pennsylvania Turnpike

    124.6 mi · 2 hr 13 min · Pennsylvania Turnpike

  15. 15

    Take the exit slight right toward PA 997: Shippensburg, Chambersburg

    1.3 km · 2 min

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Cumberland Highway

    1079 ft · 18 sec · Cumberland Highway

  17. 17

    Continue on Enola Road

    1.5 mi · 2 min · Enola Road

  18. 18

    Continue on Enola Road

    3.1 mi · 6 min · Enola Road

  19. 19

    Continue on Roxbury Road

    2.4 mi · 4 min · Roxbury Road

  20. 20

    Continue on Roxbury Road

    1.1 km · 1 min · Roxbury Road

  21. 21

    Continue on Roxbury Road

    1 mi · 2 min · Roxbury Road

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Whiskey Run Road

    4 m · 1 sec · Whiskey Run Road

  23. 23

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Whiskey Run Road

Car Route Details

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

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
23 steps
4 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
4 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
14.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Pennsylvania Turnpike
125 mi · 81%
Schuylkill Expressway
16.8 mi · 11%
Enola Road
4.59 mi · 3%
Roxbury Road
4.07 mi · 3%
Vine Street Expressway
1.05 mi · 1%
PA 997
0.79 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Pennsylvania Turnpike

Merge slight left onto Pennsylvania Turnpike

125 mi · 02h 13m

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
+30.6 mi
123.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Cornwall
01h 30m from Philadelphia
Leave By
12:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Philadelphia and Rain Showers Likely near Washington.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 154.2 miles (248.2 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?

Cornwall is a useful midpoint, sitting about 77 miles from Philadelphia and 77.2 miles from Washington.

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

The direct path is about 123.6 miles (198.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 30.6 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 12:30 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.23 one way or $44.46 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 48.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Philadelphia and Rain Showers Likely near Washington.

Stop Ideas Near Cornwall

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

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

RAIL

Mount Joy

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

Elizabethtown station

23 mi away
South Wilson Avenue at West High Street
RAIL

Lancaster station

26 mi away
53 McGovern Avenue
RAIL

Middletown

29 mi away
Union Street and Mill Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Philadelphia and Washington. Straight-line distance: 123.56 mi (198.85 km).

Philadelphia

#1 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
Washington

#2 Washington

City in Pennsylvania

Population2,703
Coordinates40.2023100, -77.4780400
Altitude188
CountryUnited States
Start: Philadelphia (-75.16379, 39.95233)
End: Washington (-77.47804, 40.20231)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 248 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 08m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 51m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 05m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 34m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 12m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 55m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.44 gal
20.6 L · about $22.23
Round trip
$44.46
10.88 gal · 41.2 L
Estimated CO2
48.3 kg one way
Round trip: 96.7 kg / 213 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $22.23 $44.46
Mid-grade $4.60 $25.02 $50.04
Premium $4.95 $26.95 $53.90
Diesel $5.98 $32.53 $65.06

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 Philadelphia and Washington. The current time is 00:30:22.

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.