Origin
Richland, PA
Night in Richland on Friday
Local time
10:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Richland, PA to Bethlehem, PA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 18m
Distance
54.4 mi
88 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 12m
★
6 AM
1h 18m
8 AM
1h 31m
10 AM
1h 23m
12 PM
1h 21m
3 PM
1h 23m
5 PM
1h 30m
8 PM
1h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Richland, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Bethlehem, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Richland, PA to Bethlehem, PA covers 54.4 miles and takes about 1h 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, Mid-County Expressway, PA 378 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 24.3 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.02 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 18m. Total distance: 54.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 18m highway drive covering 54.4 miles, with most of the trip on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and Mid-County Expressway. The longest continuous stretch is about 24.3 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension.
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 24.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and Mid-County Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North Drexel Avenue.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 54.4 miles you will encounter 18 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: near the start (North Drexel Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North Drexel Avenue
Turn right onto North Drexel Avenue
Navigation decision point
6
1.8 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the exit toward I 476 North: Plymouth Meeting
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 476 North: Plymouth Meeting
8
37.3 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Take the exit toward PA 663: Pottstown, Quakertown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 44
Toward PA 663: Pottstown, Quakertown
7
37.7 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Keep slight left at fork toward PA 663 North: Quakertown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward PA 663 North: Quakertown
5
40.5 mi into trip
|
~51m in
|
Portzer Road
Turn left onto Portzer Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Richland, PA to Bethlehem, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Quakertown along the way.
Quakertown
37.3 mi in
|
~45m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension | 24.3 mi | 26m |
| Mid-County Expressway | 10.8 mi | 14m |
| PA 378 | 5.6 mi | 9m |
| PA 309 | 5.1 mi | 8m |
| John Fries Highway | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| West Chester Pike | 1 mi | 2m |
| Portzer Road | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Center Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
— 24.3 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Richland, PA and Bethlehem, PA.
1
Start on Dill Road
243 ft
·
14 sec
·
Dill Road
2
Turn right onto North Drexel Avenue
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
North Drexel Avenue
3
Continue on South Eagle Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
South Eagle Road
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn left onto PA 3
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West Chester Pike
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
Toward I 476 North: Plymouth Meeting
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Merge onto I 476
11 mi
·
14 min
·
Mid-County Expressway
7
Turn slight left onto I 476
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
·
Mid-County Expressway
8
Continue on I 476; PATP
24 mi
·
26 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 44
Toward PA 663: Pottstown, Quakertown
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
227 ft
·
7 sec
Toward PA 663 North: Quakertown
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Turn left onto PA 663
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
John Fries Highway
Use the left lane.
12
Turn left onto Portzer Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Portzer Road
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on Portzer Road
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
·
Portzer Road
14
At end of road, turn right onto West Pumping Station Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
West Pumping Station Road
15
Turn left onto PA 309
5.1 mi
·
8 min
·
PA 309
16
Take the exit
420 ft
·
10 sec
17
Continue on PA 378
5.6 mi
·
9 min
·
PA 378
18
Turn right onto PA 412
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Broadway
19
Turn right onto PA 412
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
West 3rd Street
20
Turn left onto Fahy Bridge
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
Fahy Bridge
21
Turn right onto Center Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Center Street
22
Turn right onto East Goepp Street
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
East Goepp Street
23
Turn right onto Linden Street
57 ft
·
1 sec
·
Linden Street
24
Arrive at destination
Linden Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 27.2 mi from Richland, PA · 35m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.2 miles from Richland, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Bethlehem, PA
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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.02 one way
$18.04 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $9.88 | $19.76 |
| premium | $4.93 | $10.55 | $21.10 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.01 | $24.02 |
Estimated Tolls: $3.16
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(24.3 mi)
$3.16
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$3
Total
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 19 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.71 | $2.61 |
| Efficient EV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.76 | $2.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.8 | 0 | $7.62 | $3.48 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 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
Bethlehem, PA
Night in Bethlehem on Friday
Local time
10:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°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
20 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 18m 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 Richland, PA to Bethlehem, PA covers 54.4 miles and takes about 1h 18m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, Mid-County Expressway, PA 378. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 27.2 miles from Richland, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $9.02 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 54.4 miles you will encounter 18 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: near the start (North Drexel Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Richland, PA to Bethlehem, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Quakertown along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Valley Forge National Historical Park, Independence National Historical Park and Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial. 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.
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