How far is Swarthmore, PA from Allentown, PA?

The driving distance from Swarthmore, PA to Allentown, PA is about 61.7 miles (99.3 km), with a travel time of about 01h 07m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 49.3 miles (79.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 15m 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
61.73 mi
01h 07m
Flight
49.36 mi
79.44 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Swarthmore.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
49.36 mi
Kilometers
79.44 km
Flight Time
00h 05m

Driving Distance

Road route
61.73 mi
Kilometers
99.34 km
Drive Time
01h 07m

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 01h 07m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Allentown
Sat, Apr 18, 11:18 PM EDT
Return by in Swarthmore
Sun, Apr 19, 12:25 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Swarthmore
2026-04-18T22:10
Arrive Allentown
Sat, Apr 18, 11:18 PM EDT
Route Timing
01h 07m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:08 AM to 11:08 AM EDT

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

Leave by
4:14 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Swarthmore
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
Harleysville
PA

Census designated place

From Swarthmore
30.8 mi
00h 33m
To Allentown
30.9 mi
00h 33m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
69°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph E
Destination
77°F
Saturday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Swarthmore and Allentown.

  1. 1

    Start on Park Avenue

    601 ft · 27 sec · Park Avenue

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North Chester Road

    26 m · 3 sec · North Chester Road

  3. 3

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 4 toward North Chester Road

    82 m · 12 sec · North Chester Road

  4. 4

    Exit the roundabout onto North Chester Road

    1.1 km · 2 min · North Chester Road

  5. 5

    Turn left onto North Swarthmore Avenue

    547 ft · 16 sec · North Swarthmore Avenue

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Cedar Lane

    652 ft · 21 sec · Cedar Lane

  7. 7

    Turn left onto East Baltimore Pike

    3221 ft · 1 min · East Baltimore Pike

  8. 8

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 476 North: Plymouth Meeting

    1752 ft · 45 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Mid-County Expressway

    16.2 mi · 22 min · Mid-County Expressway

  10. 10

    Continue on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension

    37.5 mi · 40 min · Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension

  11. 11

    Take the exit slight right toward I 78, US 22, PA 309: Allentown, Harrisburg

    1.1 km · 2 min

  12. 12

    Turn slight right onto US 22 East: Allentown

    975 ft · 28 sec

  13. 13

    Merge slight left onto Lehigh Valley Thruway

    1762 ft · 27 sec · Lehigh Valley Thruway

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward PA 309 South: Quakertown

    2245 ft · 55 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left

    2844 ft · 44 sec

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward Tilghman Street East

    886 ft · 22 sec

  17. 17

    Turn straight onto Tilghman Street

    3.6 mi · 6 min · Tilghman Street

  18. 18

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Tilghman Street

Car Route Details

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

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
18 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
3 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
29.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
37.5 mi · 61%
Mid-County Expressway
16.2 mi · 26%
Tilghman Street
3.63 mi · 6%
PA 309 South
0.96 mi · 2%
North Chester Road
0.73 mi · 1%
I 78
0.66 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension

Continue on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension

37.5 mi · 00h 40m

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
01h 07m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
02h 16m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+12.4 mi
49.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Harleysville
00h 33m from Swarthmore
Leave By
4:14 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Swarthmore and Mostly Sunny near Allentown.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Swarthmore to Allentown?

The road trip is about 61.7 miles (99.3 km) and usually takes 01h 07m 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?

Harleysville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 30.8 miles from Swarthmore and 30.9 miles from Allentown.

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

The direct path is about 49.3 miles (79.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 12.4 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 4:14 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $8.91 one way or $17.81 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 19.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Swarthmore and Mostly Sunny near Allentown.

Stop Ideas Near Harleysville

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

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

RAIL

Paoli

28 mi away
13 Lancaster Ave.
RAIL

Ardmore

31 mi away
Station Road and Lancaster Ave.
RAIL

Exton

35 mi away
425 Walkertown Road
RAIL

North Philadelphia station

37 mi away
2900 North Broad St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Swarthmore and Allentown. Straight-line distance: 49.36 mi (79.44 km).

Swarthmore

#1 Swarthmore

Borough of Pennsylvania

Population6,372
Coordinates39.9020600, -75.3499100
Altitude39
CountryUnited States
Allentown

#2 Allentown

The third most populous city in Pennsylvania.

Population121,470
Coordinates40.6084300, -75.4901800
Altitude103
CountryUnited States
Start: Park Avenue (-75.349926, 39.902044)
End: Tilghman Street (-75.490007, 40.608068)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 99 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 03m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)01h 32m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 14m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 01m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)00h 52m
80 mph (129 km/h)00h 46m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.18 gal
8.25 L · about $8.91
Round trip
$17.81
4.36 gal · 16.5 L
Estimated CO2
19.4 kg one way
Round trip: 38.7 kg / 85 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $8.91 $17.81
Mid-grade $4.60 $10.03 $20.05
Premium $4.95 $10.80 $21.60
Diesel $5.98 $13.04 $26.07

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 Swarthmore and Allentown. The current time is 22:10:25.

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.