Origin
Pottsville, PA
Night in Pottsville on Wednesday
Local time
9:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pottsville, PA to Bristol, PA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 6m
Distance
104.6 mi
168 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 57m
★
6 AM
2h 6m
8 AM
2h 24m
10 AM
2h 12m
12 PM
2h 11m
3 PM
2h 13m
5 PM
2h 23m
8 PM
2h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pottsville, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Bristol, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 104.6-mile drive from Pottsville to Bristol, Pennsylvania, is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in about 2 hours and 6 minutes. Operating primarily on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and the Pennsylvania Turnpike, this route is ideal for a single-day trip with no need for an overnight stay. With an estimated fuel cost of $17, it's an economical option for getting from the Northeast region of Pennsylvania to another part of the same state. The majority of the drive utilizes major highways, making it a practical choice for efficient travel.
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
52.3 miles from Pottsville, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 4m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 104.6-mile trip, with 61% of the route on high-speed roads. You'll encounter a significant uninterrupted stretch of 36.9 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, offering a chance to maintain a consistent pace. The drive will largely consist of modern turnpike conditions, providing a smooth and predictable ride. While not explicitly scenic, the focus here is on efficient transit rather than winding backroads.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension is the longest continuous segment at about 36.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and Pennsylvania Turnpike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 39.1 miles in near US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 104.6 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 39.1 miles (US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
9
39.1 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway toward US 22 East: Pennsylvania Turnpike, LVI Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 51
Toward US 22 East: Pennsylvania Turnpike, LVI A...
7
40.5 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Take the exit toward PATP, I 476: Philadelphia, Scranton
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 PATP, I 476: Philadelphia, Scranton
7
40.9 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 476 South: Philadelphia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 476 South: Philadelphia
6
78.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 32m in
Take the exit toward I 276 East: New Jersey
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 276 East: New Jersey
8
103.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 2m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 13 South: Bristol
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward US 13 South: Bristol
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Pottsville, PA and Bristol, PA, road signs point toward Lvi Airport, Patp and Scranton.
Lvi Airport
39.1 mi in
|
~49m
|
via US 22
Patp
40.5 mi in
|
~50m
Scranton
40.5 mi in
|
~50m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension | 36.9 mi | 39m |
| Pennsylvania Turnpike | 23.6 mi | 26m |
| William Penn Highway | 21.6 mi | 26m |
| Center Avenue | 10.6 mi | 12m |
| Route 61 South | 3 mi | 3m |
| Centre Street | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| Lehigh Valley Thruway | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Bristol Pike | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
— 36.9 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pottsville, PA and Bristol, PA.
1
Start on US 209
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
North Centre Street
2
Turn left onto US 209
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Mauch Chunk Street
3
Turn right onto PA 61
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
South Claude A. Lord Boulevard
4
Continue on PA 61
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
Pottsville Boulevard
5
Continue on PA 61
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Route 61 South
6
Continue on PA 61
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Center Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Continue on PA 61
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Centre Street
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 78 East, US 22 East: Allentown
9
Merge onto I 78; US 22
22 mi
·
26 min
·
William Penn Highway
Use the straight lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 22
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Lehigh Valley Thruway
Exit 51
Toward US 22 East: Pennsylvania Turnpike, LVI Airport
Use the slight right lane.
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward PATP, I 476: Philadelphia, Scranton
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Toward I 476 South: Philadelphia
Use the right lane.
13
Merge onto I 476; PATP
37 mi
·
39 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 276 East: New Jersey
Use the right lane.
15
Merge onto I 276; PATP
24 mi
·
26 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Exit 42
Toward US 13: Levittown, Bristol
17
Continue on Pennsylvania Turnpike
360 ft
·
8 sec
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike
18
Keep slight right at fork
357 ft
·
8 sec
Toward US 13 South: Bristol
Use the right lane.
19
Merge onto US 13
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Bristol Pike
Use the left lane.
20
Turn slight left onto Beaver Street
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
Beaver Street
Use the left lane.
21
Turn left onto Jefferson Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Jefferson Avenue
22
Turn right onto Pond Street
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Pond Street
23
Turn left
91 ft
·
12 sec
24
Arrive at destination
1 ft
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of about 2 hours and 6 minutes, this trip is best tackled in one go. Leaving early in the morning can help you avoid potential midday traffic, especially as you approach the Philadelphia area. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without a clear exit is 36.9 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. You’ll want to ensure you have enough gas before embarking on that segment. While no specific stops are noted, the turnpike system offers service plazas for breaks and refueling.
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 52.3 miles from Pottsville, PA, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36.9 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 23 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.3 miles or 1h 4m 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 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bristol, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Pottsville, 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 Pottsville, PA
This is one driving day of about 104.6 miles and 2h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Pottsville, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension for about 36.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 52.3 mi from Pottsville, PA · 1h 4m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
52 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 52.3 miles from Pottsville, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Bristol, PA
The final approach into Bristol, 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 Bristol, PA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.34 one way
$34.68 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
37 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $18.99 | $37.99 |
| premium | $4.93 | $20.29 | $40.57 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.09 | $46.19 |
Estimated Tolls: $7.96
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(60.5 mi)
$7.87
Lehigh Valley Thruway
(1.3 mi)
$0.09
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
$17
Tolls
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.4 | 0 | $10.98 | $5.02 |
| Efficient EV | 26.2 | 0 | $9.15 | $4.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 41.8 | 0 | $14.64 | $6.69 |
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (68% 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.
Destination
Bristol, PA
Night in Bristol on Wednesday
Local time
9:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°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
4 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
2h 6m 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 Pottsville, PA to Bristol, PA covers 104.6 miles and takes about 2h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, Pennsylvania Turnpike, William Penn Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 52.3 miles from Pottsville, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.34 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 17 significant decision points across 104.6 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 39.1 miles (US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Pottsville, PA and Bristol, PA, road signs point toward Lvi Airport, Patp and Scranton.
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