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Trip from Bethlehem, PA to Cornwall, PA

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 36m

Distance

72.8 mi

117 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min
4 AM
1h 29m ★
6 AM
1h 36m
8 AM
1h 51m
10 AM
1h 41m
12 PM
1h 40m
3 PM
1h 42m
5 PM
1h 50m
8 PM
1h 32m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
Google Maps Waze Apple Maps
Download GPX
city in Lehigh and Northampton counties, Pennsylvania, USA

Bethlehem, PA

Wikimedia Commons

borough in southern Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, United States of America

Cornwall, PA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Bethlehem, PA to Cornwall, PA covers 72.8 miles and takes about 1h 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on William Penn Highway, Lehigh Valley Thruway, Schaeffer Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 38.5 miles on William Penn Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.07 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.

Midpoint

36.4 miles from Bethlehem, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 36m. Total distance: 72.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 36m drive with frequent turns across 72.8 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 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 38.5 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 3.4 miles in.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 72.8 miles you will encounter 15 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 4.3 miles (US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 14 miles (I 78; US 22 / William Penn Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 15 key points

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

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.
5
14 mi into trip | ~20m in | I 78; US 22 / William Penn Highway

Merge onto I 78; US 22 / William Penn Highway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
7
52.5 mi into trip | ~1h 7m in

Take the exit toward PA 501: Bethel

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 13 Toward PA 501: Bethel
7
52.7 mi into trip | ~1h 7m in | PA 501 / Lancaster Avenue

Turn left onto PA 501 / Lancaster Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
William Penn Highway 38.5 mi 46m
Lehigh Valley Thruway 9.8 mi 13m
Schaeffer Road 5.9 mi 10m
Lancaster Avenue 5.6 mi 6m
North College Street 5.5 mi 6m
Stiegel Pike 2.5 mi 2m
Bethlehem Spur Route 2.3 mi 3m
East Union Boulevard 0.8 mi 1m
Longest stretch: William Penn Highway — 38.5 mi, about 46m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bethlehem, PA and Cornwall, 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

38 mi · 46 min · William Penn Highway
Use the straight lane.
8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Exit 13 Toward PA 501: Bethel Use the slight right lane.
9

Turn left onto PA 501

0.3 mi · 42 sec · Lancaster Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
10

Continue on PA 501

1.2 mi · 1 min · Lancaster Avenue
Use the right lane.
11

At end of road, turn right onto PA 501

4.1 mi · 4 min · Lancaster Avenue
12

Continue on PA 501

5.5 mi · 6 min · North College Street
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
13

Continue on PA 501

2.5 mi · 2 min · Stiegel Pike
14

Turn right onto PA 419; PA 897

0.2 mi · 17 sec · Heidelberg Avenue
15

Turn left onto PA 419

5.9 mi · 10 min · Schaeffer Road
16

At end of road, turn left onto Boyd Street

0.1 mi · 26 sec · Boyd Street
17

Turn right onto Manor Road

470 ft · 25 sec · Manor Road
18

Turn left onto Hillcrest Road

0.1 mi · 33 sec · Hillcrest Road
19

Arrive at destination

Hillcrest Road

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 36.4 miles from Bethlehem, PA, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38.5 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 23m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 36.4 miles or 47m 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 18m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cornwall, 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 72.8 miles and 1h 36m.

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 William Penn Highway for about 38.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 36.4 mi from Bethlehem, PA · 47m into the drive

census designated place in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Newmanstown, PA

36 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

Alburtis, PA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Kutztown, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 36.4 miles from Bethlehem, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Cornwall, PA

The final approach into Cornwall, 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Appalachian National Scenic Trail

Appalachian National Scenic Trail

National Scenic Trail

The Appalachian Trail is a 2,190+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by p...

7 mi from route ~17 min detour Free near mile 60.2
Park Closure: List of trail closures post-Hurricane Helene
Caution: Black Bears Frequenting the McAfee Knob Area in Virginia
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.07 one way

$24.14 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 26 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $13.22 $26.44
premium $4.93 $14.12 $28.24
diesel $5.61 $16.07 $32.15

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

$12

Tolls

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$38–$63

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 25.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 21.8 0 $7.64 $3.49
Efficient EV 18.2 0 $6.37 $2.91
EV Truck/SUV 29.1 0 $10.19 $4.66

Gas CO2

25 kg

EV CO2

9 kg (64% 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 as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Bethlehem, PA

Evening in Bethlehem on Friday

Local time

8:43 PM

EDT

Current temp

55°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Cornwall, PA

Evening in Cornwall on Friday

Local time

8:43 PM

EDT

Current temp

46°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

9 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 36m 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 Cornwall, PA covers 72.8 miles and takes about 1h 36m 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, Schaeffer Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 36.4 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 $12.07 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 72.8 miles you will encounter 15 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 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; at 14 miles (I 78; US 22 / William Penn Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

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

Yes. Nearby national parks include Appalachian National Scenic Trail.

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.

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Return Trip

Cornwall, PA to Bethlehem, PA

Plan the drive back the other way.

72.5 mi 1h 35m

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