Origin
Bensalem, PA
Late night in Bensalem on Tuesday
Local time
5:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bensalem, PA to Bethlehem, PA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 21m
Distance
50.2 mi
81 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 15m
★
6 AM
1h 21m
8 AM
1h 34m
10 AM
1h 26m
12 PM
1h 25m
3 PM
1h 27m
5 PM
1h 34m
8 PM
1h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bensalem, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Bethlehem, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Bensalem, PA to Bethlehem, PA is 50.2 miles and takes about 1 hour 21 minutes via Sellersville Bypass and Pennsylvania Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, moving between towns in Pennsylvania. Expect a driving experience that involves frequent turns and navigating local roads. It's a straightforward, short journey perfect for a single day trip or as a segment of a larger regional exploration.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Sellersville Bypass | 8.2 mi | 11m |
| Pennsylvania Turnpike | 8 mi | 8m |
| Horsham Road | 7.6 mi | 13m |
| North West End Boulevard | 6.3 mi | 10m |
| PA 378 | 5.6 mi | 9m |
| Bethlehem Pike | 4.8 mi | 8m |
| South West End Boulevard | 2.9 mi | 5m |
| Street Road | 1.9 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Sellersville Bypass
— 8.2 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bensalem, PA and Bethlehem, PA.
1
Start on this road
135 ft
·
16 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto Knights Road
261 ft
·
7 sec
·
Knights Road
3
Turn left onto PA 132
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Street Road
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward US 1 North: Trenton
5
Merge onto US 1
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
Lincoln Highway
Toward US 1 North: Morrisville
6
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 276, PATP
Use the right lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward I 276 Toll West: Harrisburg, Allentown
Use the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 276; PATP
8.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike
9
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 343
Toward PA 611: Willow Grove, Doylestown, Jenkintown
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
313 ft
·
7 sec
Toward PA 611 North: Doylestown, Horsham
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Toward PA 611 North: Doylestown, Horsham, Biddle Air National Guard Base
Use the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto PA 611
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Easton Road
13
Turn slight left onto PA 463
7.6 mi
·
13 min
·
Horsham Road
Use the left lane.
14
Turn slight right onto PA 309
4.8 mi
·
8 min
·
Bethlehem Pike
Use the straight / left / slight right / right lanes.
15
Continue on PA 309
8.2 mi
·
11 min
·
Sellersville Bypass
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on PA 309
2.9 mi
·
5 min
·
South West End Boulevard
17
Continue on PA 309
6.3 mi
·
10 min
·
North West End Boulevard
18
Take the exit
420 ft
·
10 sec
19
Continue on PA 378
5.6 mi
·
9 min
·
PA 378
20
Turn right onto PA 412
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Broadway
21
Turn right onto PA 412
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
West 3rd Street
22
Turn left onto Fahy Bridge
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
Fahy Bridge
23
Turn right onto Center Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Center Street
24
Turn right onto East Goepp Street
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
East Goepp Street
25
Turn right onto Linden Street
57 ft
·
1 sec
·
Linden Street
26
Arrive at destination
Linden Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.1 miles from Bensalem, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 205 decision points cluster between mile 2.4 and 11.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
2.4 mi into trip
|
~4m in
Take the exit toward I 276, PATP
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 276, PATP
8
3 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 276 Toll West: Harrisburg, Allentown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 276 Toll West: Harrisburg, Allentown
8
11.3 mi into trip
|
~15m in
Take the exit toward PA 611: Willow Grove, Doylestown, Jenkintown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 343
Toward PA 611: Willow Grove, Doylestown, Jenkin...
8
11.7 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Keep slight right at fork toward PA 611 North: Doylestown, Horsham
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward PA 611 North: Doylestown, Horsham
9
11.8 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Keep slight right at fork toward PA 611 North: Doylestown, Horsham, Biddle Air National Guard Base
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward PA 611 North: Doylestown, Horsham, Biddl...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.32 one way
$16.65 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $9.12 | $18.23 |
| premium | $4.93 | $9.74 | $19.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.08 | $22.17 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.05
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(8 mi)
$1.05
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$1
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.27 | $2.41 |
| Efficient EV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.39 | $2.01 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.1 | 0 | $7.03 | $3.21 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (67% 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
Late night in Bethlehem on Tuesday
Local time
5:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°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
3 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 21m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This is primarily a turn-heavy local drive, with only 27% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter a mix of road types, transitioning from local streets to sections of the Sellersville Bypass and the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The longest continuous stretch you'll experience is 8.2 miles along the Sellersville Bypass. Be prepared for a dynamic drive that requires attention to navigation and frequent adjustments.
Only 27% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 8.2 mi on Sellersville Bypass.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.4 miles in.
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 50.2 miles you will encounter 20 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 2.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bensalem, PA and Bethlehem, PA, road signs point toward Allentown, Doylestown, Jenkintown, Horsham and Biddle Air National Guard Base.
Allentown
3 mi in
|
~5m
Doylestown
11.3 mi in
|
~15m
Jenkintown
11.3 mi in
|
~15m
Horsham
11.7 mi in
|
~16m
Biddle Air National Guard Base
11.8 mi in
|
~16m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 21m. Total distance: 50.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 8.2 miles on Sellersville Bypass. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.05 in tolls one way, starting with Pennsylvania Turnpike. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 2 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Bethlehem, PA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Independence National Historical Park, Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial and Valley Forge National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bethlehem, PA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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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