Skip to main content

Trip from Bristol, PA to Lima, PA

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 4m

Distance

46.8 mi

75 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 15 min
4 AM
1h 0m ★
6 AM
1h 5m
8 AM
1h 15m
10 AM
1h 9m
12 PM
1h 8m
3 PM
1h 9m
5 PM
1h 15m
8 PM
1h 2m

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

borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States

Bristol, PA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Lima, PA, PA

Lima, PA

Enzo Sebastian

Trip Overview

The drive from Bristol, PA to Lima, PA covers 46.8 miles and takes about 1h 4m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Pennsylvania Turnpike, Mid-County Expressway, Media Bypass for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 24 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $7.76 one way before food or hotel costs.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 4m. Total distance: 46.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 1h 4m highway drive covering 46.8 miles, with most of the trip on Pennsylvania Turnpike and Mid-County Expressway. The longest continuous stretch is about 24 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Pennsylvania Turnpike is the longest continuous segment at about 24 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and Mid-County Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in near Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Driving Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 46.8 miles you will encounter 19 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 1.7 miles (Pennsylvania Turnpike): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.9 miles (I 276; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 19 key points

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

8
1.7 mi into trip | ~4m in | Pennsylvania Turnpike

Turn left onto Pennsylvania Turnpike toward I 95: Philadelphia, New York

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the left lane. Toward I 95: Philadelphia, New York
8
2.3 mi into trip | ~6m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 South: Philadelphia, Harrisburg

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 95 South: Philadelphia, Harrisburg
9
3.9 mi into trip | ~9m in | I 276; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike

Keep slight left at fork onto I 276; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike toward I 276 Toll West, PATP West: Harrisburg

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 40 Toward I 276 Toll West, PATP West: Harrisburg
7
26.1 mi into trip | ~34m in

Take the exit toward I 476: Chester, 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 I 476: Chester, Allentown
8
41.6 mi into trip | ~55m in

Take the exit toward US 1: Lima, Springfield

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 5 Toward US 1: Lima, Springfield

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Bristol, PA and Lima, PA, road signs point toward Patp West: Harrisburg, Allentown, Chester and Springfield.

Patp West: Harrisburg

3.9 mi in | ~9m | via I 276; PATP

Allentown

26.1 mi in | ~34m

Chester

26.3 mi in | ~34m

Springfield

41.6 mi in | ~55m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike 24 mi 28m
Mid-County Expressway 14.5 mi 19m
Media Bypass 3.3 mi 4m
North Middletown Road 1 mi 1m
Bristol Pike 0.7 mi 1m
Jefferson Avenue 0.6 mi 1m
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension 0.5 mi <1m
Beaver Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Pennsylvania Turnpike — 24 mi, about 28m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bristol, PA and Lima, PA.

1

Start on this road

158 ft · 13 sec · this road
2

Turn right onto Washington Street

506 ft · 27 sec · Washington Street
3

Turn left onto Wood Street

0.1 mi · 37 sec · Wood Street
4

Turn left onto Jefferson Avenue

0.6 mi · 1 min · Jefferson Avenue
5

At end of road, turn right onto Beaver Street

0.2 mi · 31 sec · Beaver Street
6

Turn slight right onto US 13

0.7 mi · 1 min · Bristol Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
7

Turn left onto Pennsylvania Turnpike

0.6 mi · 1 min · Pennsylvania Turnpike
Toward I 95: Philadelphia, New York Use the left lane.
8

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 1 min
Toward I 95 South: Philadelphia, Harrisburg Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Merge onto I 95

1.2 mi · 1 min · Pennsylvania Turnpike
10

Keep slight left at fork onto I 276; PATP

22 mi · 25 min · Pennsylvania Turnpike
Exit 40 Toward I 276 Toll West, PATP West: Harrisburg Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 19 sec
Toward I 476: Chester, Allentown Use the slight right lane.
12

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Exit 20 Toward I 476 South: Philadelphia, Chester
13

Continue on I 476; PATP

0.3 mi · 20 sec · Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
14

Keep slight left at fork onto I 476; PATP

0.2 mi · 18 sec · Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Use the slight left lane.
15

Continue on I 476

15 mi · 19 min · Mid-County Expressway
16

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 57 sec
Exit 5 Toward US 1: Lima, Springfield Use the slight right lane.
17

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 44 sec
Toward US 1 South: Lima
18

Merge onto US 1

3.3 mi · 4 min · Media Bypass
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Continue on US 1

0.1 mi · 13 sec · Baltimore Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
20

Take the exit

313 ft · 10 sec
Use the right lane.
21

Turn right onto PA 352

1.0 mi · 1 min · North Middletown Road
22

Turn left onto Bonsai Drive

246 ft · 43 sec · Bonsai Drive
23

Continue on Bonsai Drive

208 ft · 11 sec · Bonsai Drive
24

Turn right onto PA 352

161 ft · 2 sec · North Middletown Road
25

Turn slight right

142 ft · 5 sec
26

Arrive at destination

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 23.4 mi from Bristol, PA · 31m into the drive

county seat of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Norristown, PA

23 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

Cheltenham, PA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Abington, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 23.4 miles from Bristol, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Lima, PA

The final approach into Lima, 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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$7.76 one way

$15.52 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 16 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $8.50 $17.00
premium $4.93 $9.08 $18.15
diesel $5.61 $10.33 $20.67

Estimated Tolls: $3.18

Pennsylvania Turnpike (24.5 mi) $3.18

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$8

Tolls

$3

Total

$11

Estimated CO2 emission: 16.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 14 0 $4.91 $2.25
Efficient EV 11.7 0 $4.10 $1.87
EV Truck/SUV 18.7 0 $6.55 $3.00

Gas CO2

16 kg

EV CO2

5 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Bristol, PA

Afternoon in Bristol on Friday

Local time

2:07 PM

EDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Lima, PA

Afternoon in Lima on Friday

Local time

2:07 PM

EDT

Current temp

46°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

1 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 4m 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 Bristol, PA to Lima, PA covers 46.8 miles and takes about 1h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Pennsylvania Turnpike, Mid-County Expressway, Media Bypass. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 23.4 miles from Bristol, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.76 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 46.8 miles you will encounter 19 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 1.7 miles (Pennsylvania Turnpike): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.9 miles (I 276; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Between Bristol, PA and Lima, PA, road signs point toward Patp West: Harrisburg, Allentown, Chester and Springfield.

Yes. Nearby national parks include Valley Forge National Historical Park, First State National Historical Park and Independence National Historical Park. There are 4 parks within detour distance of this route.

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.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Bristol, PA or browse trips ending in Lima, PA.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse PA road trips.