Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 9m
Distance
257.5 mi
414 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$43
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
Gilpin, PA
James Wong
The drive from Bethlehem, PA to Gilpin, PA covers 257.5 miles and takes about 5h 9m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Keystone Shortway, Indiana Street, East Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 155 miles on Keystone Shortway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $42.69 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
128.8 miles from Bethlehem, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 43m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 9m. Total distance: 257.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Expect a 5h 9m drive with frequent turns across 257.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
Total Climb
3,038 ft
Total Descent
2,229 ft
Highest Point
2,050 ft
~202.3 mi in
Elevation Range
1,694 ft
Notable High Points
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 - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 26 significant decision points across 257.5 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 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
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Bethlehem, PA to Gilpin, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Penfield along the way.
Penfield
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Keystone Shortway | 155 mi | 2h 47m |
| Indiana Street | 19.9 mi | 22m |
| East Main Street | 13.4 mi | 16m |
| Macarthur Road | 7.4 mi | 10m |
| Lehigh Drive | 7 mi | 9m |
| Hudson Drive | 5.8 mi | 8m |
| MacArthur Road | 4.5 mi | 7m |
| East Broad Street | 3.8 mi | 4m |
Step-by-step road directions between Bethlehem, PA and Gilpin, 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
Continue on PA 93; PA 924
Turn straight onto PA 93
Continue on PA 93
Continue on PA 93
Continue on PA 93
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 80
Take the exit
Turn left onto PA 255
Turn left
Turn right
Turn right
Turn right onto PA 255
Continue on PA 255
Turn left onto US 219
Continue on US 219
Continue on US 219
Turn right onto US 119
Continue on US 119
Turn right onto US 119
Continue on US 119
Turn right onto US 119; PA 36
Turn left onto US 119
Turn right onto US 119
Arrive at destination
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 57 miles or 1h 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 128.8 miles or 2h 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 4h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gilpin, PA than in the middle of the route.
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 257.5 miles and 5h 9m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 128.8 mi from Bethlehem, PA · 2h 43m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
129 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 57 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 128.8 miles from Bethlehem, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Keystone Shortway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 155 miles.
The final approach into Gilpin, 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 Gilpin, PA.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$42.69 one way
$85.38 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $46.76 | $93.51 |
| premium | $4.93 | $49.94 | $99.88 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $56.85 | $113.71 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.23
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
$43
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 90.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 77.3 | 0 | $27.04 | $12.36 |
| Efficient EV | 64.4 | 0 | $22.53 | $10.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 103 | 1 | $36.05 | $16.48 |
Gas CO2
90 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Late night in Bethlehem on Saturday
Local time
5:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Mostly Cloudy
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 5:13AM EDT by NWS State College PA
Destination
Late night in Gilpin on Saturday
Local time
5:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
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
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
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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