Origin
Pittsburgh, PA
Night in Pittsburgh on Sunday
Local time
9:46 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
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Create accountDrive Time
4h 47m
Distance
289.9 mi
467 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$48
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pittsburgh, PA
LaMont L. Johnson
Bethlehem, PA
Phuc Tran
Connecting Pittsburgh to Bethlehem, this 289.9-mile journey across Pennsylvania typically takes about 4 hours and 47 minutes. Because the drive is manageable in a single day, it works perfectly as a straightforward day trip without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $47 for fuel to cover the distance. Navigating the route involves starting on Grant Street before connecting to I-376 East and the Penn-Lincoln Parkway East. Whether you are heading east for business or a change of scenery, the trip offers a direct path through the Northeast region of the state. Planning for one designated stop will help keep you refreshed for the duration of the drive.
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
144.9 miles from Pittsburgh, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 23m into the drive .
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous highway cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will navigate through varied road conditions, starting with the initial stretch on Grant Street, which serves as your longest uninterrupted segment. Because the path relies on local roads rather than high-speed interstates, you will need to remain attentive behind the wheel. The character of the drive shifts as you transition away from the city center, requiring consistent focus on maneuvers and navigation. By avoiding major highway corridors, the route provides a more hands-on driving experience that demands engagement throughout the nearly five-hour trek.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 47m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Pittsburgh, PA to Bethlehem, PA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Grant Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 376 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Penn-Lincoln Parkway East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 76 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 76 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Pennsylvania Turnpike | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 81 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 11 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Pittsburgh, PA and Bethlehem, PA.
Start on Grant Street
Continue on Grant Street
Take the ramp slight right toward I 376 East: Monroeville
Merge slight right onto Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
Take the exit slight right toward I 76, PATP: Ohio, Harrisburg
Continue straight
Keep slight right to continue on I 76 East: Harrisburg
Merge slight left onto Pennsylvania Turnpike
Take the exit slight right toward I 81, US 11: Carlisle, Harrisburg
Keep slight left to continue on US 11 North: Harrisburg
Continue on Harrisburg Pike
Take the exit straight toward I 81 North: Harrisburg
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward US 11, US 15: Enola, Marysville
Keep slight left to continue on US 11 North, US 15 North: Marysville
Keep slight left
Merge slight left onto George N. Wade Memorial Bridge
Continue on American Legion Memorial Highway
Keep slight left to continue on American Legion Memorial Highway
Take the exit slight right toward I 78 East: Allentown
Continue on 78th Division Highway
Continue on William Penn Highway
Keep slight right to continue on Lehigh Valley Thruway
Take the exit slight right toward PA 378 South: Bethlehem, Schoenersville Road
Keep slight right to continue on PA 378 South: Bethlehem
Continue on Bethlehem Spur Route
Take the exit slight right toward Eighth Avenue
Turn right onto 8th Avenue
Turn left onto West Union Boulevard
Turn left onto Center Street
Turn right onto East Goepp Street
Turn right onto Linden Street
Arrive at your destination
To make the most of your 289.9-mile journey, try to depart early in the day to account for the local, turn-heavy nature of the roads. Since you only have one planned stop, choose a location that allows for a meaningful break from the constant turning and steering required on these local routes. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the $47 estimate is a baseline that can fluctuate depending on your vehicle's efficiency on non-highway terrain. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, so don't feel pressured to rush the drive; taking your time will make the transition between Pittsburgh and Bethlehem much more comfortable. Prioritize staying alert during the early segments on Grant Street, as urban traffic patterns can set the pace for your entire trip.
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 80 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 144.9 miles or 2h 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bethlehem, PA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Pittsburgh, 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 Pittsburgh, PA
This is one driving day of about 289.9 miles and 4h 47m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 144.9 mi from Pittsburgh, PA · 2h 23m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
145 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 144.9 miles from Pittsburgh, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Bethlehem, 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 Bethlehem, PA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$47.97 one way
$95.94 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $52.49 | $104.98 |
| premium | $4.92 | $56.18 | $112.35 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $64.41 | $128.81 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 101.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 87 | 1 | $30.44 | $13.92 |
| Efficient EV | 72.5 | 0 | $25.37 | $11.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 116 | 1 | $40.59 | $18.55 |
Gas CO2
101 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Night in Pittsburgh on Sunday
Local time
9:46 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Destination
Night in Bethlehem on Sunday
Local time
9:46 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Along the Route
51°F
Cuba, NY
145 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
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.
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