Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 20m
Distance
52 mi
84 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
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
Oakdale, PA
Jack Pace
This 52-mile drive from Bethlehem, PA to Oakdale, PA is a straightforward 1 hour and 20-minute journey that's perfectly suited for a single day trip. You'll primarily navigate local roads like Macarthur Road, Lehigh Drive, and Hudson Drive, with a highway share of about 100%, making it a continuous local road experience. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $9, making it an economical option for a quick excursion. Given its short duration and local road focus, this route is ideal for those looking for a brief, manageable drive within Pennsylvania.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 20m. Total distance: 52 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive for the entirety of this 52-mile route. With a 100% highway share, you'll be on local roads for the full 1 hour and 20 minutes. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 7.4 miles along Macarthur Road. This means you'll be actively steering and managing turns for most of the journey, rather than cruising on high-speed highways. Be prepared for frequent changes in speed limits and road conditions as you navigate through various local areas.
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 52 miles you will encounter 17 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 7.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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
Take the exit toward PA 145
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward PA 145 North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto PA 145 / MacArthur Road
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto US 209 / Bridge Street
Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Macarthur Road | 7.4 mi | 10m |
| Lehigh Drive | 7 mi | 9m |
| Hudson Drive | 5.8 mi | 8m |
| MacArthur Road | 4.5 mi | 7m |
| Stockton Mountain Road | 4.2 mi | 9m |
| Lehigh Valley Thruway | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| Hunter Street | 2.8 mi | 3m |
| East Catawissa Street | 2.5 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between Bethlehem, PA and Oakdale, 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
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto PA 145
Continue on PA 145
Continue on PA 145
Continue on PA 145
Continue on PA 145
At end of road, turn left onto PA 248
Turn left onto US 209
Continue on US 209
Continue on US 209
Continue on US 209
Continue on US 209
Continue on US 209
Turn right onto US 209
Continue on US 209
Continue on US 209
Continue on US 209
Turn right onto PA 93
Continue on State Route 93
Continue on PA 93
Continue on PA 93
Continue on PA 93
Continue on PA 93
Turn right onto Stockton Mountain Road
At end of road, turn right onto PA 940
Turn left onto Swaab Court
Turn right onto Pierce Court
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 26 mi from Bethlehem, PA · 39m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 26 miles from Bethlehem, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Oakdale, 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
$8.62 one way
$17.24 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $9.44 | $18.88 |
| premium | $4.93 | $10.08 | $20.17 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.48 | $22.96 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.23
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$0
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.6 | 0 | $5.46 | $2.50 |
| Efficient EV | 13 | 0 | $4.55 | $2.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.8 | 0 | $7.28 | $3.33 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (67% 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
Evening in Bethlehem on Thursday
Local time
5:31 PM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Evening in Oakdale on Thursday
Local time
5:31 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
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.
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