Origin
Scranton, PA
Evening in Scranton on Thursday
Local time
5:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Scranton, PA to Bethlehem, PA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 32m
Distance
72 mi
116 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 26m
★
6 AM
1h 33m
8 AM
1h 47m
10 AM
1h 38m
12 PM
1h 37m
3 PM
1h 39m
5 PM
1h 46m
8 PM
1h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bethlehem, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 72-mile drive from Scranton to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, is a straightforward journey that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 32 minutes. With a highway share of 73%, it's a predominantly highway-focused route, making it ideal as a single-day trip. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $12, which is quite budget-friendly. Both Scranton and Bethlehem are located in Pennsylvania's Northeast region, so you'll remain within familiar territory for the entire trip. This route offers a practical and efficient way to travel between these two cities without requiring an overnight stop.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36 miles from Scranton, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 43m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 32m. Total distance: 72 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 72-mile trip. Approximately 73% of the drive will be on major roadways, including sections of PA 33 and I-380. You'll encounter an uninterrupted stretch of 24.8 miles on PA 33, offering a consistent pace. While not a winding, scenic byway, this route prioritizes directness and efficiency, allowing you to cover ground smoothly. The character of the drive is primarily about getting from point A to point B with minimal fuss, utilizing well-maintained highways.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
PA 33 is the longest continuous segment at about 24.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on PA 33 and I 380. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Lackawanna Avenue.
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 72 miles you will encounter 17 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 0.1 miles (Lackawanna Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 4.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.9 miles (I 380): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Lackawanna Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto Lackawanna Avenue
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
6
4.1 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 84 East, I 380 South: Mt Pocono, Milford
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South: Mt Pocono, Milfo...
6
7.9 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
I 380
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380 toward I 380 South: Mount Pocono
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 4
Toward I 380 South: Mount Pocono
6
31.6 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East: Stroudsburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 1B
Toward I 80 East: Stroudsburg
7
41.1 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Take the exit toward PA 33 South: Snydersville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 302A
Toward PA 33 South: Snydersville
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Scranton, PA and Bethlehem, PA, road signs point toward Milford and William Penn Highway.
Milford
4.1 mi in
|
~6m
William Penn Highway
66.3 mi in
|
~1h 22m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| PA 33 | 24.8 mi | 31m |
| I 380 | 23.6 mi | 25m |
| Keystone Shortway | 8.5 mi | 11m |
| Easton Avenue | 4.4 mi | 7m |
| I 84 | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| American Legion Memorial Highway | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| President Biden Expressway | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| William Penn Highway | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
PA 33
— 24.8 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Scranton, PA and Bethlehem, PA.
1
Start on Wyoming Avenue
0.1 mi
·
38 sec
·
Wyoming Avenue
2
At end of road, turn left onto Lackawanna Avenue
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Lackawanna Avenue
3
Turn right onto CR 3023
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Cedar Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
5
Merge onto President Biden Expressway
0.6 mi
·
52 sec
·
President Biden Expressway
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
Toward I 81 North: Binghamton
7
Merge onto I 81
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
American Legion Memorial Highway
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Toward I-84 east, US 6 east
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South: Mt Pocono, Milford
11
Merge onto I 84; I 380
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
I 84; I 380
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
24 mi
·
25 min
·
I 380
Exit 4
Toward I 380 South: Mount Pocono
13
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Exit 1B
Toward I 80 East: Stroudsburg
14
Merge onto I 80
8.5 mi
·
11 min
·
Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 302A
Toward PA 33 South: Snydersville
Use the slight right lane.
16
Merge onto PA 33
25 mi
·
31 min
·
PA 33
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward William Penn Highway
Use the slight right lane.
18
Turn right onto William Penn Highway
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
William Penn Highway
19
Continue on Easton Avenue
4.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Easton Avenue
20
Turn left onto Linden Street
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Linden Street
21
Arrive at destination
Linden Street
Trip Plan
Given the short 1 hour and 32-minute duration, this drive is perfect for a spontaneous day trip. Leaving Scranton in the morning allows you to arrive in Bethlehem with plenty of time for activities. There are no recommended stops built into this route, but with only 72 miles, you can easily pull over if needed without significantly impacting your schedule. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without services could be the 24.8 miles on PA 33. The total fuel cost is estimated at a low $12, so filling up before you leave Scranton is a sensible approach.
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 36 miles from Scranton, PA, or about 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 24.8 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 16 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36 miles or 43m 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 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bethlehem, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Scranton, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Scranton, PA
This is one driving day of about 72 miles and 1h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Scranton, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on PA 33 for about 24.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 36 mi from Scranton, PA · 43m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36 miles from Scranton, 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
$11.94 one way
$23.87 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $13.07 | $26.15 |
| premium | $4.93 | $13.96 | $27.93 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.90 | $31.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.6 | 0 | $7.56 | $3.46 |
| Efficient EV | 18 | 0 | $6.30 | $2.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.8 | 0 | $10.08 | $4.61 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 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
Evening in Bethlehem on Thursday
Local time
5:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
84°F
Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 0 to 15 mph
25% chance
Live forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 14 at 2:32PM EDT until April 14 at 3:15PM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA
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
41 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 32m 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 Scranton, PA to Bethlehem, PA covers 72 miles and takes about 1h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are PA 33, I 380, 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 36 miles from Scranton, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.94 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 72 miles you will encounter 17 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 0.1 miles (Lackawanna Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 4.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.9 miles (I 380): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Between Scranton, PA and Bethlehem, PA, road signs point toward Milford and William Penn Highway.
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