Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026
Drive Time
1h 52m
Distance
82 mi
132 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bethlehem, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Burnside, PA
Michael Taccetta
This 82-mile journey from Bethlehem, PA, to Burnside, PA, will take you about 1 hour and 52 minutes to complete. It's a manageable drive, easily fitting into a single day, with an estimated fuel cost of $14. You'll be navigating a mix of roads, including the William Penn Highway, Centre Turnpike, and Lehigh Valley Thruway, giving you a feel for local Pennsylvania travel. This route stays within the Northeast region, so expect consistent scenery and character throughout your trip. It's a straightforward drive perfect for a quick getaway or a practical transit.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41 miles from Bethlehem, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 55m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 52m. Total distance: 82 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for this 82-mile trip. Only 17% of the route is on highways, meaning you'll spend most of your time on surface streets and state routes. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 21.7 miles on the William Penn Highway, so you'll have plenty of opportunities to observe your surroundings and adjust your pace. This isn't a high-speed interstate cruise; rather, it's a more engaging drive that keeps you connected to the landscape as you transition from Bethlehem to Burnside.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.4 miles in.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 82 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.3 miles (US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 35.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Keep slight left at fork toward US 22 West: Allentown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward PA 61 North: Pottsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward PA 61 North: Pottsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Merge onto PA 61 / Pottsville Pike
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| William Penn Highway | 21.7 mi | 26m |
| Centre Turnpike | 10.6 mi | 12m |
| Lehigh Valley Thruway | 9.8 mi | 13m |
| Sunbury Road | 9.4 mi | 11m |
| Chestnut Street | 4.5 mi | 6m |
| Locust Gap Highway | 3.6 mi | 4m |
| Route 61 South | 3 mi | 3m |
| Pottsville Pike | 2.4 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between Bethlehem, PA and Burnside, PA.
Start on Linden Street
Turn right onto East Union Boulevard
Take the ramp
Merge onto PA 378
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto US 22
Merge onto I 78; US 22
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto PA 61
Continue on PA 61
Continue on PA 61
Continue on PA 61
Continue on PA 61
Turn left onto US 209
At end of road, turn right onto US 209
Turn left onto US 209
Continue on US 209; PA 901
At end of road, turn left onto PA 901
Continue on PA 901
Continue on PA 901
Continue on PA 901
Continue on PA 54; PA 901
Turn left onto Brennans Farm Road
Continue on South 6th Street
Turn left onto PA 61
Continue on PA 61
Turn left onto PA 125
Turn right onto PA 125
Continue on PA 125
Arrive at destination
With a duration of just under two hours, this 82-mile route offers a lot of flexibility. You could easily start your drive in the morning and arrive by midday, or depart in the afternoon and still have plenty of daylight. There are no designated stops in the data, so plan to pull over when you feel the need, perhaps after covering the longest stretch of 21.7 miles on the William Penn Highway. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially since only 17% of the drive is on faster roads, and budget around $14 for gas.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 18 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41 miles or 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Burnside, PA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Bethlehem, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bethlehem, PA
This is one driving day of about 82 miles and 1h 52m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 41 mi from Bethlehem, PA · 55m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
41 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 41 miles from Bethlehem, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Burnside, PA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$13.59 one way
$27.19 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $14.89 | $29.78 |
| premium | $4.93 | $15.90 | $31.81 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.10 | $36.21 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.43
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.6 | 0 | $8.61 | $3.94 |
| Efficient EV | 20.5 | 0 | $7.18 | $3.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.8 | 0 | $11.48 | $5.25 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Bethlehem on Thursday
Local time
11:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Night in Burnside on Thursday
Local time
11:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Bethlehem, PA or browse trips ending in Burnside, PA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse PA road trips.
Explore maps for Bethlehem, PA or Burnside, PA on MapSof.net.
