Trip from Bethlehem, PA to Richmond, PA

Drive Time

1h 26m

Distance

51.8 mi

83 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 20 min

4 AM

1h 20m ★

6 AM

1h 27m

8 AM

1h 40m

10 AM

1h 31m

12 PM

1h 30m

3 PM

1h 32m

5 PM

1h 39m

8 PM

1h 23m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Bethlehem, PA

Phuc Tran

Richmond, PA

Kelly

Trip Overview

The drive from Bethlehem, PA to Richmond, PA covers 51.8 miles and takes about 1h 26m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on PA 309, Fort Washington Expressway, Bethlehem Pike for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 9.1 miles on PA 309. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.57 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

25.9 miles from Bethlehem, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 43m into the drive .

Drive Character

The drive from Bethlehem, PA to Richmond, PA covers 51.8 miles and takes about 1h 26m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 32 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

PA 309 is the longest continuous segment at about 9.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near Center Street.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 51.8 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles (Center Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (West 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 16.8 miles (PA 309 / Sellersville Bypass): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0.8 mi into trip | ~1m in | Center Street

Turn left onto Center Street

Navigation decision point

1.5 mi into trip | ~3m in | West 4th Street

Turn right onto West 4th Street

Navigation decision point

16.8 mi into trip | ~30m in | PA 309 / Sellersville Bypass

Keep slight left at fork onto PA 309 / Sellersville Bypass

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

45.4 mi into trip | ~1h 14m in | Stenton Avenue

Turn left onto Stenton Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

48.5 mi into trip | ~1h 20m in | Whitaker Avenue

Keep slight left at fork onto Whitaker Avenue toward US 1 North, US 13 North

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight lane. Toward US 1 North, US 13 North

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
PA 309	9.1 mi	15m
Fort Washington Expressway	9 mi	12m
Bethlehem Pike	8.4 mi	14m
Sellersville Bypass	8.1 mi	11m
PA-378	5.1 mi	8m
Castor Avenue	2 mi	3m
Ogontz Avenue	2 mi	3m
West Godfrey Avenue	1.6 mi	2m

Longest stretch: PA 309 — 9.1 mi, about 15m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bethlehem, PA and Richmond, PA.

Start on Linden Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · Linden Street

Turn right onto East Church Street

0.3 mi · 44 sec · East Church Street

Turn left onto Center Street

0.2 mi · 33 sec · Center Street

Turn left onto Fahy Bridge

0.4 mi · 48 sec · Fahy Bridge

Continue on South New Street

0.1 mi · 19 sec · South New Street

Turn right onto West 4th Street

0.2 mi · 37 sec · West 4th Street

Turn slight left onto PA 412

0.2 mi · 22 sec · Broadway

Turn left onto PA 378

0.6 mi · 1 min · Wyandotte Street

Continue on PA 378

0.5 mi · 1 min · PA-378

Continue on PA 378

4.6 mi · 7 min · PA-378

Use the left lane.

Turn left onto PA 309

9.1 mi · 15 min · PA 309

Keep slight left at fork onto PA 309

8.1 mi · 11 min · Sellersville Bypass

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on PA 309

8.4 mi · 14 min · Bethlehem Pike

Use the straight lane.

Continue on PA 309

6.7 mi · 9 min · Fort Washington Expressway

Continue on PA 309

0.8 mi · 1 min · Fort Washington Fort Washington Expressway

Continue on PA 309

2.2 mi · 3 min · Fort Washington Expressway

Continue on PA 309

0.3 mi · 47 sec · Limekiln Pike

Use the straight / right lanes.

Continue on PA 309

2.0 mi · 3 min · Ogontz Avenue

Turn left onto Stenton Avenue

0.5 mi · 49 sec · Stenton Avenue

Use the left lane.

Continue on West Godfrey Avenue

1.6 mi · 2 min · West Godfrey Avenue

Use the straight lane.

Continue on Adams Avenue

1.0 mi · 2 min · Adams Avenue

Turn right onto Whitaker Avenue

136 ft · 1 sec · Whitaker Avenue

Use the left / right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto Whitaker Avenue

292 ft · 8 sec · Whitaker Avenue

Toward US 1 North, US 13 North Use the straight lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto US 1; US 13

0.4 mi · 50 sec · Roosevelt Boulevard

Turn slight right onto Adams Avenue

0.4 mi · 34 sec · Adams Avenue

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn slight right onto Castor Avenue

0.3 mi · 28 sec · Castor Avenue

Use the right lane.

Enter roundabout onto Castor Avenue

151 ft · 2 sec · Castor Avenue

Continue on Castor Avenue

1.7 mi · 2 min · Castor Avenue

Turn right onto Aramingo Avenue

0.3 mi · 51 sec · Aramingo Avenue

Turn right onto East Tioga Street

495 ft · 23 sec · East Tioga Street

Turn right onto Tulip Street

57 ft · 2 sec · Tulip Street

Arrive at destination

Tulip Street

Trip Plan

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 25.9 miles from Bethlehem, PA, or about 43m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 9.1 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 51.8 miles or 1h 26m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 25.9 miles or 43m 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 11m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Richmond, 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.

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Bethlehem, PA

This is one driving day of about 51.8 miles and 1h 26m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Bethlehem, PA.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.

The longest stretch is on PA 309 for about 9.1 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 25.9 mi from Bethlehem, PA · 43m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Staten Island, NY

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.

Pacing Suggestions

Staten Island, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 51.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Staten Island, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 25.9 miles from Bethlehem, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Richmond, PA

The final approach into Richmond, PA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Richmond, PA.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Independence National Historical Park

National Historical Park

The park represents the founding ideals of the nation, and preserves national and international symbols of freedom and democracy, including Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. The Declaration of I...

4 mi from route ~10 min detour $1 near mile 51.8

Park Closure: Congress Hall Temporary Closure

View on nps.gov

Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial

National Memorial

Visit the house where wounded Polish freedom fighter Thaddeus Kosciuszko lived and hear how this brilliant military engineer designed successful fortifications during the American Revolution. See the...

4 mi from route ~11 min detour Free near mile 51.8

View on nps.gov

Valley Forge National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Valley Forge is the place where George Washington and the Continental Army took refuge during the winter of 1777-1778. Today the park protects 3,500 acres of meadows, woodlands, historic landscapes, a...

13 mi from route ~32 min detour Free near mile 39.3

View on nps.gov

First State National Historical Park

National Historical Park

Famous as the First State to ratify the Constitution, Delaware was born out of a conflict among three world powers for dominance of the Delaware Valley. From this beginning, the region developed a dis...

27 mi from route ~68 min detour Free near mile 51.8

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$8.57 one way

$17.14 round trip

$4.20/gal 25.4 MPG avg 18 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.60	$9.38	$18.76
premium	$4.92	$10.04	$20.08
diesel	$5.64	$11.51	$23.02

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$34–$59

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 18.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	15.5	$5.44	$2.49
Efficient EV	13	$4.53	$2.07
EV Truck/SUV	20.7	$7.25	$3.32

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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 1 hour ago

Origin

Bethlehem, PA

Morning in Bethlehem on Monday

Local time

7:40 AM

EDT

Current temp

49°F

Mostly Cloudy

S 5 mph 3% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 5:13AM EDT by NWS State College PA

Destination

Richmond, PA

Morning in Richmond on Monday

Local time

7:40 AM

EDT

Current temp

83°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

34 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 26m on the road

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Bethlehem, PA to Richmond, PA covers 51.8 miles and takes about 1h 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are PA 309, Fort Washington Expressway, Bethlehem Pike. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 25.9 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 $8.57 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.

The route from Bethlehem, PA to Richmond, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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