Origin
Bethlehem, PA
Night in Bethlehem on Wednesday
Local time
11:00 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bethlehem, PA to West Hamburg, PA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
51m
Distance
36.9 mi
59 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 47m
★
6 AM
0h 51m
8 AM
0h 59m
10 AM
0h 54m
12 PM
0h 53m
3 PM
0h 54m
5 PM
0h 59m
8 PM
0h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bethlehem, PA
Wikimedia Commons
West Hamburg, PA
Frank Rietsch
Trip Overview
This 36.9-mile drive from Bethlehem, PA, to West Hamburg, PA, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 51 minutes. With a modest fuel cost estimate of $6, it's an economical option for a quick excursion. The route primarily utilizes local roads like the William Penn Highway and Lehigh Valley Thruway, suggesting a more connected-to-the-landscape experience rather than a high-speed interstate journey. Given its short duration and the absence of designated stops, this is an ideal one-day trip, allowing for plenty of flexibility in your schedule. Both your origin and destination are within Pennsylvania's Northeast region, keeping the travel experience geographically consistent.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
This drive is short enough that no stops are needed.
Midpoint
18.4 miles from Bethlehem, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 26m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with no highway segments to speak of. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 20.9 miles along the William Penn Highway. This suggests a journey that will take you through varied local environments, with frequent intersections and changes in speed. The absence of significant highway time means you'll likely experience a more intimate connection with the landscape and communities you pass through, making the 51-minute duration feel engaging rather than monotonous.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 12 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
William Penn Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 20.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 0.1 miles in near East Union Boulevard.
Route Complexity
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 36.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 51m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Union Boulevard): Navigation decision point; 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.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 9 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
7
3.4 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 22 West: Allentown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward US 22 West: Allentown
5
4.3 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway
Merge onto US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
35 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Take the exit toward Hamburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 30
Toward Hamburg
4
35.1 mi into trip
|
~47m in
|
North 4th Street
Turn left onto North 4th 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.
On the drive from Bethlehem, PA to West Hamburg, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Hamburg along the way.
Hamburg
35 mi in
|
~46m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| William Penn Highway | 20.9 mi | 25m |
| Lehigh Valley Thruway | 9.8 mi | 13m |
| Bethlehem Spur Route | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| State Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| East Union Boulevard | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| North 4th Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Hex Highway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Linden Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
William Penn Highway
— 20.9 mi, about 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bethlehem, PA and West Hamburg, PA.
1
Start on Linden Street
367 ft
·
13 sec
·
Linden Street
2
Turn right onto East Union Boulevard
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East Union Boulevard
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
4
Merge onto PA 378
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Bethlehem Spur Route
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 22 West: Allentown
Use the slight left lane.
6
Merge onto US 22
9.8 mi
·
13 min
·
Lehigh Valley Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 78; US 22
21 mi
·
25 min
·
William Penn Highway
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 30
Toward Hamburg
Use the slight right lane.
9
Turn left onto North 4th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
North 4th Street
10
Turn right onto State Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
State Street
11
Continue on Hex Highway
508 ft
·
10 sec
·
Hex Highway
12
Arrive at destination
Hex Highway
Trip Plan
Since this trip is under an hour and covers just 36.9 miles, you have the advantage of flexibility. Aim to depart when you feel most rested, as there are no mandatory stops to consider. The estimated fuel cost of $6 is minimal, so you shouldn't need to worry about extensive refueling. Keep an eye out for the various local roads, including the William Penn Highway, which accounts for the longest stretch. Your primary focus will be navigating the turns characteristic of this local drive, rather than covering vast distances at high speed.
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 18.4 miles from Bethlehem, PA, or about 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 20.9 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 36.9 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 18.4 miles or 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Hamburg, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Have your navigation ready before leaving Bethlehem, PA.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bethlehem, PA
This is one driving day of about 36.9 miles and 51m.
At 36.9 miles this is a quick drive — no planned stops needed.
The longest stretch is on William Penn Highway for about 20.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 18.4 mi from Bethlehem, PA · 26m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 36.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.4 miles from Bethlehem, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in West Hamburg, PA
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into West Hamburg, PA if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.12 one way
$12.24 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $6.70 | $13.40 |
| premium | $4.93 | $7.16 | $14.31 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.15 | $16.29 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.69
Lehigh Valley Thruway
(9.8 mi)
$0.69
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
$6
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.1 | 0 | $3.87 | $1.77 |
| Efficient EV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.23 | $1.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.8 | 0 | $5.17 | $2.36 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
West Hamburg, PA
Night in West Hamburg on Wednesday
Local time
11:00 PM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
22 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
51m 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 West Hamburg, PA covers 36.9 miles and takes about 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are William Penn Highway, Lehigh Valley Thruway, Bethlehem Spur Route. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 18.4 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 $6.12 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 short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 36.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 51m.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Union Boulevard): Navigation decision point; 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.
On the drive from Bethlehem, PA to West Hamburg, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Hamburg along the way.
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