Origin
Bethlehem, PA
Afternoon in Bethlehem on Friday
Local time
12:24 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bethlehem, PA to Lehigh, PA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 23m
Distance
58.2 mi
94 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 17m
★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 36m
10 AM
1h 28m
12 PM
1h 27m
3 PM
1h 29m
5 PM
1h 36m
8 PM
1h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bethlehem, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Lehigh, PA
Kai
Trip Overview
This 58.2-mile drive from Bethlehem, PA, to Lehigh, PA, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 23 minutes. Primarily utilizing highways like PA-33 and I-380, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion, eliminating the need for an overnight stay. With an estimated fuel cost of just $10, it's an economical option for getting between these two Northeast Pennsylvania locations. The journey offers a highway-focused experience, making it a practical choice for efficient travel within the state.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 23m. Total distance: 58.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (69%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this 58.2-mile route, with 69% of it being on major roadways. You'll spend a good portion of your time on PA-33 and I-380, which are designed for steady travel. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 22 miles on PA-33, offering a chance to settle into a rhythm. While the Keystone Shortway is mentioned, the overall character leans towards efficient highway cruising rather than winding scenic byways. The road primarily facilitates quick transit between points.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
PA-33 is the longest continuous segment at about 22 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on PA-33 and I 380. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Maple Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 58.2 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.2 miles (Maple Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (East Fairview Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Linden Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Maple Street
Turn left onto Maple Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
East Fairview Street
Turn left onto East Fairview Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Linden Street
Turn right onto Linden Street
Navigation decision point
8
28 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
PA 33
Keep slight left at fork onto PA 33 toward PA 33 North: Bartonsville, Hazleton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward PA 33 North: Bartonsville, Hazleton
6
31.2 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Take the exit toward I 80 West: Hazleton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 80 West: Hazleton
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bethlehem, PA and Lehigh, PA, road signs point toward Hazleton and 507: Gouldsboro.
Hazleton
28 mi in
|
~39m
|
via PA 33
507: Gouldsboro
52.9 mi in
|
~1h 9m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| PA-33 | 22 mi | 27m |
| I 380 | 12 mi | 13m |
| Keystone Shortway | 8.6 mi | 10m |
| Easton Avenue | 4.4 mi | 7m |
| PA 33 | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| PA 507 | 2.9 mi | 5m |
| Lehigh Road | 2.1 mi | 8m |
| William Penn Highway | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
PA-33
— 22 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bethlehem, PA and Lehigh, PA.
1
Start on Linden Street
367 ft
·
16 sec
·
Linden Street
2
Turn left onto East Union Boulevard
449 ft
·
20 sec
·
East Union Boulevard
3
Turn left onto Maple Street
0.2 mi
·
40 sec
·
Maple Street
4
Turn left onto East Fairview Street
452 ft
·
22 sec
·
East Fairview Street
5
Turn right onto Linden Street
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Linden Street
6
Turn right onto Easton Avenue
4.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Easton Avenue
7
Continue on William Penn Highway
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
William Penn Highway
8
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Toward PA 33 North: Stroudsburg
9
Merge onto PA 33
22 mi
·
27 min
·
PA-33
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto PA 33
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
PA 33
Toward PA 33 North: Bartonsville, Hazleton
Use the left lane.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Toward I 80 West: Hazleton
Use the left lane.
12
Merge onto I 80
8.6 mi
·
10 min
·
Keystone Shortway
13
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 293
Toward I 380 North: Scranton
14
Continue on I 380
12 mi
·
13 min
·
I 380
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Toward 435, 507: Gouldsboro
16
Turn right onto PA 507
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
PA 507
17
Turn left onto Lehigh Road
2.1 mi
·
8 min
·
Lehigh Road
18
Turn straight
60 ft
·
4 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 29.1 mi from Bethlehem, PA · 40m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.1 miles from Bethlehem, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Lehigh, PA
The final approach into Lehigh, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.65 one way
$19.30 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $10.57 | $21.14 |
| premium | $4.93 | $11.29 | $22.57 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.85 | $25.70 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.5 | 0 | $6.11 | $2.79 |
| Efficient EV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.09 | $2.33 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.3 | 0 | $8.15 | $3.72 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Lehigh, PA
Afternoon in Lehigh on Friday
Local time
12:24 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
42°F
Bangor, PA
29 mi in
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 23m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Bethlehem, PA to Lehigh, PA covers 58.2 miles and takes about 1h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are PA-33, I 380, Keystone Shortway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 29.1 miles from Bethlehem, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.65 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 58.2 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Maple Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (East Fairview Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Linden Street): Navigation decision point.
Between Bethlehem, PA and Lehigh, PA, road signs point toward Hazleton and 507: Gouldsboro.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Lehigh, PA
More trips to Lehigh, PA
Explore more options from Bethlehem, PA or browse trips ending in Lehigh, PA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse PA road trips.