Origin
Bethlehem, PA
Late night in Bethlehem on Saturday
Local time
2:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bethlehem, PA to Preston, PA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 34m
Distance
70.5 mi
113 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
11 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 27m
★
6 AM
1h 34m
8 AM
1h 49m
10 AM
1h 39m
12 PM
1h 38m
3 PM
1h 40m
5 PM
1h 48m
8 PM
1h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bethlehem, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Preston, PA
Haneul Trac
Trip Overview
Bethlehem, PA to Preston, PA is 70.5 miles and takes about 1 hour 34 minutes via Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and local roads, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Pennsylvania, connecting the Northeast region of the state to itself. It's a primarily highway-focused drive, making it a straightforward and efficient trip for a single day. Given its relatively short duration and minimal stops, this journey is ideal for a quick travel day or to connect two points without a significant time commitment.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
35.3 miles from Bethlehem, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 46m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 34m. Total distance: 70.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This drive leans heavily towards highway travel, with 70% of the journey on faster roads. You'll experience a significant stretch of 47.7 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, which offers a consistent pace. As you transition off the turnpike and onto local roads like Tilghman Street and East Union Boulevard, expect a change in speed and road type. The overall profile is highway-focused, meaning you'll spend the bulk of your time covering ground efficiently rather than navigating winding backroads.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension is the longest continuous segment at about 47.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and Tilghman Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near East Union Boulevard.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 34m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Union Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 11.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
East Union Boulevard
Turn right onto East Union Boulevard
Navigation decision point
4
11.4 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Take the ramp toward I 476, PATP
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 476, PATP
7
11.8 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 476 North: Scranton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 476 North: Scranton
6
59.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
Take the exit toward PA 115: Wilkes-Barre, Bear Creek
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 105
Toward PA 115: Wilkes-Barre, Bear Creek
5
70 mi into trip
|
~1h 32m in
|
South Main Street
At end of road, turn left onto South Main Street
Navigation decision point
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 Preston, PA, road signs point toward Patp and Bear Creek.
Patp
11.4 mi in
|
~19m
Bear Creek
59.9 mi in
|
~1h 13m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension | 47.7 mi | 52m |
| Tilghman Street | 6.4 mi | 10m |
| East Union Boulevard | 4.9 mi | 8m |
| Laurel Run Road | 3.8 mi | 6m |
| Pine Run Road | 2.8 mi | 5m |
| PA 309 | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Bear Creek Boulevard | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Hazleton Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
— 47.7 mi, about 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bethlehem, PA and Preston, PA.
1
Start on Linden Street
367 ft
·
13 sec
·
Linden Street
2
Turn right onto East Union Boulevard
4.9 mi
·
8 min
·
East Union Boulevard
3
Continue on Tilghman Street
6.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Tilghman Street
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 476, PATP
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 476 North: Scranton
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto I 476; PATP
48 mi
·
52 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
7
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 105
Toward PA 115: Wilkes-Barre, Bear Creek
8
Turn right onto PA 115
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Bear Creek Boulevard
9
Turn right onto Oakridge Road
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Oakridge Road
10
Turn right onto Laurel Run Road
3.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Laurel Run Road
11
Turn slight left onto Pine Run Road
2.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Pine Run Road
12
Turn right onto PA 309
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
PA 309
13
Turn left onto Hazleton Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Hazleton Street
14
At end of road, turn left onto South Main Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
15
Turn left onto Chester Street
287 ft
·
12 sec
·
Chester Street
16
Arrive at destination
Chester Street
Trip Plan
For this 1 hour and 34-minute drive, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience. Since it's a relatively short trip with no planned stops, you can easily complete it within a single day. Consider filling up your fuel tank before you leave Bethlehem, PA, as the estimated fuel cost is around $12, and the longest uninterrupted stretch is 47.7 miles on the turnpike. Being a highway-focused route, be aware of potential toll costs associated with the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 35.3 miles from Bethlehem, PA, or about 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.7 miles.
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 16 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.3 miles or 46m 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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Preston, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 70.5 miles and 1h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Bethlehem, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension for about 47.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 35.3 mi from Bethlehem, PA · 46m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
35 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 35.3 miles from Bethlehem, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Preston, PA
The final approach into Preston, 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
$11.69 one way
$23.38 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $12.80 | $25.60 |
| premium | $4.93 | $13.67 | $27.35 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.57 | $31.13 |
Estimated Tolls: $6.20
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(47.7 mi)
$6.20
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
$12
Tolls
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 24.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
11 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Blink Charging Station
Lehighton, Pennsylvania
Blink
1 DCFC
Applegreen Electric Charging Station
Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania
Other
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania
Tesla
1 DCFC
EV Connect Charging Station
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
EV Connect
1 DCFC
EV Connect Charging Station
Kingston, Pennsylvania
EV Connect
1 DCFC
Applegreen Electric Charging Station
Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania
Other
1 DCFC
InCharge Charging Station
Wilkes-Barre Township, Pennsylvania
InCharge
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania
Tesla
1 DCFC
Other: 3
Tesla: 3
EV Connect: 2
Blink: 1
InCharge: 1
ChargePoint: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.2 | 0 | $7.40 | $3.38 |
| Efficient EV | 17.6 | 0 | $6.17 | $2.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.2 | 0 | $9.87 | $4.51 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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
Preston, PA
Late night in Preston on Saturday
Local time
2:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
5 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 34m 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 Preston, PA covers 70.5 miles and takes about 1h 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, Tilghman Street, East Union Boulevard. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 35.3 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 $11.69 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 is a straightforward 1h 34m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Union Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 11.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Bethlehem, PA and Preston, PA, road signs point toward Patp and Bear Creek.
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, NREL for EV charging, 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 Preston, PA
More trips to Preston, PA
Explore more options from Bethlehem, PA or browse trips ending in Preston, PA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse PA road trips.