PA309 to I-80

309 sucks.
If you need to scale you will have to go across to the loves anyway, so you may as well go to 322 and up that way. If you are headed west of there. It is not much longer. 309 will take you an extra 45 min at least. It is hilly and curvy.
Or you can go to 33 and go north that way.
My company tells me to use 309, so I say I have to scale the load. The nearest scale to Bethlehem is the loves, and it is out of the way to go back to 309 then.

 

My last 2 company's do not run that toll and I run that area all the time.
322 up to State College, then the I-99 to 80 works great. Or if you want more back road you can continue on 322 all the way to Woodland PA and it is slightly shorter, but probably will not save you any time.
Only the one large hill to go up on 322 going your way, and the backside is not bad, just watch your speed in the truck speed zone if you do not know the road.
Plus DOT will sit at the bottom sometimes.
Normally you will see them at the top on the other side though when they are around.

If your hours run down on 322, there are allot of truck stops along the route, most will have parking late into the night. All accept for the Pilot, and that is close to your end anyway. One Toms is a hole, the other is good, cannot remember which is which though lol.

 

Don't go that way in the winter or you will be SOL.

 

Which way? 322?
I go that way all the time in winter.
Also go that way to around the woodland area to get around accidents on 80 that occur allot in the winter.

 

I used to work out of our Woodland barn - any Pa two lane sucks in the winter with a set. The run I bid took me over 322 and 350 by choice and it sucked in the summer..lol.. Pa secondary roads suck..lol..

 

I still have a Sterling seat stuck to my butt from descending the hill on Pa 350 during the December, 18 snow storm. Not cool. Not cool trying to get back up the next morning either - I got stuck..lol.. Thought I had it made when I transferred south then the snowpacolypse happened.. I got stuck on I95 with another Sterling seat stuck to my butt..lol..

All kidding aside, Pa two lane absolutely sucks in the winter when you combine the terrain with the lack of maintenance. I ran 350 and 322 nightly with a set and can tell you it is not a great place to be in a truck. Ice, wind, and snow combined with grades and curves and minimal maintenance.. Ay yi yi.. At least they take care of Pa 31 the Hazmat route around the Somerst tunnel..lol..

 

Yup, we had 2 ways back to the yard from 80.
If we came from Ohio we would go up Rt. 8 in Barkysville to Oil City, then to 227, 27 and on to 6.
If we came from the East it would be 153 to 219 to 948.
Wonderfull ways to get back to the Warren area. Had to do it all winter long. Day and night, lots and lots of snow. With Tankers hauling fuel past you at 55 mph+ no matter the weather.
You would be blind for 100 yards after they passed.

 

You didn't say where you were at driver, comming out of Philly 309's a nightmare of suburban traffic. Once you hit Allentown you can run along I-78 west. Then just above Harrisburg you can take Rt. 15 north to I-80. Nice and flat follwing the Susquahanna river. Traffic can be a PITA at times but it moves pretty well. You can also hit a Loves, 3 Pilots, A T/A and I think there's a few mom & pop's still too.

Going at night you can run Rt. 30 west though Amish country to Lancaster and then I think it's hwy 286 (?) goes right into the back side of Harrisburg.

But don't everyone go that way! A lot of that's my local territory! And 30's mostly 2 lane.