How far is Sterling, PA from Philadelphia, PA?
The driving distance from Sterling, PA to Philadelphia, PA is about 225.2 miles (362.4 km), with a travel time of about 03h 54m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 177.9 miles (286.3 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 49m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 54m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
Borough in western Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Chance Sleet then Partly Sunny
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Sterling and Philadelphia.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sterling and Philadelphia.
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1
Start on Sterling Avenue
1129 ft · 56 sec · Sterling Avenue
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2
At the end of the road, turn left onto Spring Street
3.1 mi · 4 min · Spring Street
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3
Continue on Sarah Street
1.1 mi · 2 min · Sarah Street
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4
Turn left onto Elizabeth Street
766 ft · 17 sec · Elizabeth Street
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5
Turn right onto Curtin Street
766 ft · 28 sec · Curtin Street
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6
Turn left onto Stone Street
2978 ft · 1 min · Stone Street
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7
Continue on Walton Street
3.4 mi · 6 min · Walton Street
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8
Continue on West Maple Street
146 m · 17 sec · West Maple Street
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9
Turn left onto South Front Street
665 ft · 18 sec · South Front Street
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10
Turn slight right onto East Presqueisle Street
1.1 km · 1 min · East Presqueisle Street
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11
Turn right onto Twenty-Eighth Division Highway
159 m · 11 sec · Twenty-Eighth Division Highway
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12
Continue on Port Matilda Highway
5.9 mi · 8 min · Port Matilda Highway
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13
Turn slight right onto Upper Flat Rock Road
2.2 mi · 3 min · Upper Flat Rock Road
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14
Continue on Flat Rock Road
1.8 mi · 2 min · Flat Rock Road
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15
Continue on 28th Division Highway
8.6 mi · 10 min · 28th Division Highway
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16
Keep slight left
4 mi · 5 min
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17
Keep slight right to continue on Mount Nittany Expressway
6.2 mi · 9 min · Mount Nittany Expressway
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18
Continue on Boal Avenue
2.6 mi · 4 min · Boal Avenue
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19
Continue on General Potter Highway
75.6 mi · 1 hr 35 min · General Potter Highway
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20
Take the exit slight right toward I 81 North, US 322 East, I 81 South: Hershey, Hazleton, Carlisle
968 ft · 21 sec
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21
Keep slight left to continue on I 81 North, US 322 East: Hershey, Hazleton
1.4 km · 2 min
-
22
Merge slight left onto American Legion Memorial Highway
1.8 mi · 2 min · American Legion Memorial Highway
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23
Keep slight right to continue on I 83 South, US 322 East: Hershey, York
4.3 mi · 6 min
-
24
Keep slight left to continue on I 283 South: Harrisburg International Airport
910 ft · 22 sec
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25
Continue straight
2.8 mi · 5 min
-
26
Keep slight left to continue on I 76 East: Philadelphia
1.1 km · 2 min
-
27
Merge slight left onto Pennsylvania Turnpike
78.4 mi · 1 hr 24 min · Pennsylvania Turnpike
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28
Take the exit slight right toward I 76 East: Valley Forge, Philadelphia
18 mi · 26 min
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29
Keep slight left to continue on Vine Street Expressway
1.3 km · 1 min · Vine Street Expressway
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30
Take the exit slight right toward Central Philadelphia
731 ft · 18 sec
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31
Keep slight right to continue on 15th Street, Central Philadelphia
96 m · 11 sec
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32
Turn right onto North 15th Street
1987 ft · 49 sec · North 15th Street
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33
Turn slight left onto South Penn Square
115 m · 9 sec · South Penn Square
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34
Keep slight left to continue on South Penn Square
51 m · 3 sec · South Penn Square
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35
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · South Penn Square
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Sterling and Philadelphia.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
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.
A longer out-and-back drive
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
Chance Sleet then Partly Sunny leaving Sterling and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Philadelphia.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Sterling to Philadelphia?
The road trip is about 225.2 miles (362.4 km) and usually takes 03h 54m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Dauphin is a useful midpoint, sitting about 112.5 miles from Sterling and 112.7 miles from Philadelphia.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 177.9 miles (286.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 47.3 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:10 AM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $32.48 one way or $64.97 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 70.7 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Chance Sleet then Partly Sunny around Sterling and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Philadelphia.
Stop Ideas Near Dauphin
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Dauphin.
Harrisburg Transportation Center
Middletown
Elizabethtown station
Mount Joy
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Sterling and Philadelphia. Straight-line distance: 177.9 mi (286.3 km).
#1 Sterling
Township in Wayne County, Pennsylvania
| Population | 1,420 |
| Coordinates | 40.8303400, -78.3419600 |
| Altitude | 466 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Philadelphia
The sixth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Philadelphia metropolitan area.
| Population | 1,578,487 |
| Coordinates | 39.9523300, -75.1637900 |
| Altitude | 12 |
| Country | United States |
End: South Penn Square (-75.163922, 39.951648)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 362 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 07h 30m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 05h 37m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 04h 30m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 03h 45m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 03h 13m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 48m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.09 | $32.48 | $64.97 |
| Mid-grade | $4.60 | $36.56 | $73.12 |
| Premium | $4.95 | $39.38 | $78.77 |
| Diesel | $5.98 | $47.54 | $95.08 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.