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Trip from Birchwood Lakes, PA to Allentown, PA

Data updated 3 hours ago

Drive Time

1h 49m

Distance

69.4 mi

112 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

13 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
1h 41m ★
6 AM
1h 50m
8 AM
2h 6m
10 AM
1h 55m
12 PM
1h 54m
3 PM
1h 56m
5 PM
2h 5m
8 PM
1h 45m

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

county seat city in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, United States

Allentown, PA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Birchwood Lakes, PA to Allentown, PA covers 69.4 miles and takes about 1h 49m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 209, Lehigh Valley Thruway, Keystone Shortway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 45.2 miles on US 209. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.51 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

34.7 miles from Birchwood Lakes, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 2m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

This is a 1h 49m highway drive covering 69.4 miles, with most of the trip on US 209 and Lehigh Valley Thruway. The longest continuous stretch is about 45.2 miles on US 209.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 209 is the longest continuous segment at about 45.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 209 and Lehigh Valley Thruway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 27.3 miles in near I 80 / Keystone Shortway.

Route Complexity 9/10

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

This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 69.4 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 27.3 miles (I 80 / Keystone Shortway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.9 miles (US 209): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 56.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

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

5
27.3 mi into trip | ~52m in | I 80 / Keystone Shortway

Merge onto I 80 / Keystone Shortway

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
30.9 mi into trip | ~57m in | US 209

Keep slight right at fork onto US 209 toward US 209 south to PA 33 south: Snydersville

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward US 209 south to PA 33 south: Snydersvill...
7
56.1 mi into trip | ~1h 29m in

Take the exit toward US 22 West: Bethlehem, Allentown

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward US 22 West: Bethlehem, Allentown
6
67.2 mi into trip | ~1h 45m in

Take the exit toward PA 145

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

Use the slight right lane. Toward PA 145
8
67.4 mi into trip | ~1h 45m in

Keep slight left at fork toward PA 145 South

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward PA 145 South

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 209 45.2 mi 1h 9m
Lehigh Valley Thruway 10.5 mi 14m
Keystone Shortway 3.6 mi 5m
Seven Bridge Road 3.1 mi 6m
Silver Lake Road 2.2 mi 4m
PA-739 1.2 mi 2m
Doolan Road 0.8 mi 1m
Tilghman Street 0.8 mi 1m
Longest stretch: US 209 — 45.2 mi, about 1h 9m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Birchwood Lakes, PA and Allentown, PA.

1

Start on Doolan Road

0.8 mi · 1 min · Doolan Road
2

At end of road, turn left onto Silver Lake Road

2.2 mi · 4 min · Silver Lake Road
3

At end of road, turn right onto PA 739

1.2 mi · 2 min · PA-739
4

Turn right onto US 209

20 mi · 36 min · US 209
5

Enter roundabout onto US 209

176 ft · 6 sec · Seven Bridge Road
6

Continue on US 209

3.1 mi · 5 min · Seven Bridge Road
7

Keep slight right at fork onto US 209

0.3 mi · 36 sec · US 209
8

Merge onto I 80

3.6 mi · 5 min · Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight right at fork onto US 209

25 mi · 32 min · US 209
Toward US 209 south to PA 33 south: Snydersville Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Toward US 22 West: Bethlehem, Allentown Use the slight right lane.
11

Merge onto US 22

11 mi · 14 min · Lehigh Valley Thruway
12

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 34 sec
Toward PA 145 Use the slight right lane.
13

Keep slight left at fork

177 ft · 8 sec
Toward PA 145 South Use the left lane.
14

Turn left onto PA 145

0.1 mi · 17 sec · MacArthur Road
15

Continue on PA 145

0.7 mi · 1 min · MacArthur Road
Use the straight lane.
16

Continue on PA 145

0.4 mi · 42 sec · North 7th Street
17

Turn right onto Tilghman Street

0.8 mi · 1 min · Tilghman Street
18

Arrive at destination

Tilghman 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 34.7 miles from Birchwood Lakes, PA, or about 1h 2m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 45.2 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 69.4 miles or 1h 49m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 34.7 miles or 1h 2m 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 34m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Allentown, PA than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Birchwood Lakes, 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 Birchwood Lakes, PA

This is one driving day of about 69.4 miles and 1h 49m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Birchwood Lakes, 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 US 209 for about 45.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 34.7 mi from Birchwood Lakes, PA · 1h 2m into the drive

town in Rockland County, New York, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ramapo, NY

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

Staten Island, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 69.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ramapo, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 34.7 miles from Birchwood Lakes, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Allentown, PA

The final approach into Allentown, 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 Allentown, 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.

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area

Situated within the most densely populated region of the United States, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area provides a unique opportunity to experience tranquil landscapes, rich human history,...

0 mi from route $10 near mile 12
Park Closure: Routine Winter Service Levels in Effect
Park Closure: Old Mine Road North Construction Closure Begins April 6, 2026
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$11.51 one way

$23.01 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 24 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $12.60 $25.20
premium $4.93 $13.46 $26.92
diesel $5.61 $15.32 $30.65

Estimated Tolls: $0.74

Lehigh Valley Thruway (10.5 mi) $0.74

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

$37–$62

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 24.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

13 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Wawa - Tesla Supercharger

Tannersville, PA

Tesla

16 DCFC

Bartonsville, PA - Tesla Supercharger

Bartonsville, PA

Tesla

8 DCFC

Sheetz - Tesla Supercharger

Easton, PA

Tesla

8 DCFC

Walmart 2368 (East Stroudsburg, PA)

East Stroudsburg, PA

Electrify America

4 DCFC

Nazareth Ford

Nazareth, PA

RED_E

4 DCFC

Easton Ford

Easton, PA

RED_E

4 DCFC

Bethlehem Ford

Bethlehem, PA

RED_E

4 DCFC

Star GMC

EASTON, PA

EV Connect

2 DCFC

Tesla: 3 RED_E: 3 ChargePoint Network: 3 EV Connect: 2 Electrify America: 1 SWTCH: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 20.8 0 $7.29 $3.33
Efficient EV 17.4 0 $6.07 $2.78
EV Truck/SUV 27.8 0 $9.72 $4.44

Gas CO2

24 kg

EV CO2

8 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 3 hours ago

Origin

Birchwood Lakes, PA

Evening in Birchwood Lakes on Tuesday

Local time

6:14 PM

EDT

Current temp

35°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Allentown, PA

Evening in Allentown on Tuesday

Local time

6:14 PM

EDT

Current temp

84°F

Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SW 0 to 15 mph 26% chance Live forecast

40°F

Ramapo, NY

35 mi in

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

49 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 49m 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 Birchwood Lakes, PA to Allentown, PA covers 69.4 miles and takes about 1h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 209, Lehigh Valley Thruway, Keystone Shortway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 34.7 miles from Birchwood Lakes, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.51 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 demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 69.4 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 27.3 miles (I 80 / Keystone Shortway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.9 miles (US 209): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 56.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Birchwood Lakes, PA to Allentown, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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