Traveling from Bethlehem to Collingdale covers 60.9 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 33 minutes to complete. This trip is well-suited for a single day, as it functions perfectly as a straightforward point-to-point journey without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $10 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Northeast Pennsylvania locations. Because this route involves no planned stops, you can expect a direct transit through the region. It is a practical choice if you are looking to move between these two areas efficiently while staying within a modest travel budget.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
30.4 miles from Bethlehem, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Exit 9Toward PA 3: Upper Darby, BroomallUse the slight right lane.
23
Turn left onto PA 3
0.3 mi·45 sec·West Chester Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Turn right onto Lawrence Road
1.5 mi·2 min·Lawrence Road
Use the right lane.
25
At end of road, turn left onto PA 320
1.2 mi·2 min·Sproul Road
Use the left lane.
26
Keep slight left at fork onto West Springfield Road
2.7 mi·6 min·West Springfield Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
27
Continue on North Springfield Road
1.1 mi·2 min·North Springfield Road
28
Turn right onto North Clifton Avenue
1.2 mi·3 min·North Clifton Avenue
29
Turn left onto Macdade Boulevard
116 ft·4 sec·Macdade Boulevard
30
Arrive at destination
Macdade Boulevard
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to plan your departure around local traffic patterns to ensure a smooth 1-hour and 33-minute transit. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, stay alert at intersections and follow your GPS closely to navigate the local streets effectively. You don't need to worry about complex refueling strategies, as the $10 fuel cost is minimal for a drive of this length. If you prefer a more relaxed pace, consider checking your navigation app before you leave to see if local road construction might impact your timing. Keep your focus on the road as you transition through the various local streets, and enjoy the direct nature of this local commute.
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 30.4 miles from Bethlehem, PA, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 24.3 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 13 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 30.4 miles or 47m 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 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Collingdale, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bethlehem, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bethlehem, PA
This is one driving day of about 60.9 miles and 1h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 13 miles from Bethlehem, 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 24.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 17 and 55.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
17 mi into trip|~31m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 476 South: Philadelphia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 476 South: Philadelphia
7
41.5 mi into trip|~59m in|I 476; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Keep slight left at fork onto I 476; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
8
52.6 mi into trip|~1h 14m in
Take the exit toward PA 3: Upper Darby, Broomall
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 9
Toward PA 3: Upper Darby, Broomall
6
53.2 mi into trip|~1h 15m in|Lawrence Road
Turn right onto Lawrence Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
55.8 mi into trip|~1h 20m in|West Springfield Road
Keep slight left at fork onto West Springfield Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.10 one way
$20.19 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg21 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$11.06
$22.12
premium
$4.93
$11.81
$23.62
diesel
$5.61
$13.45
$26.89
Estimated Tolls: $3.17
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(24.3 mi)$3.17
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
$10
Tolls
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
18.3
0
$6.39
$2.92
Efficient EV
15.2
0
$5.33
$2.44
EV Truck/SUV
24.4
0
$8.53
$3.90
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Bethlehem, PA
Night
in Bethlehem on Saturday
Local time
10:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Collingdale, PA
Night
in Collingdale on Saturday
Local time
10:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
75°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
20 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 33m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Valley Forge National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Valley Forge is the place where George Washington and the Continental Army took refuge during the winter of 1777-1778. Today the park protects 3,500 acres of meadows, woodlands, historic landscapes, a...
6 mi from route
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 48.3
The park represents the founding ideals of the nation, and preserves national and international symbols of freedom and democracy, including Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. The Declaration of I...
Visit the house where wounded Polish freedom fighter Thaddeus Kosciuszko lived and hear how this brilliant military engineer designed successful fortifications during the American Revolution. See the...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 60.9
Famous as the First State to ratify the Constitution, Delaware was born out of a conflict among three world powers for dominance of the Delaware Valley. From this beginning, the region developed a dis...
14 mi from route
~35 min detour
Free
near mile 56.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. You will navigate through local thoroughfares, including East Church Street, Center Street, and the Fahy Bridge, which characterize the first leg of your journey. Since the highway share for this route is 0%, you won't be dealing with high-speed, multi-lane traffic; instead, you will experience the pacing of local roads. The lack of highway segments means the character of the drive remains consistent throughout the 60.9-mile trip, requiring your full attention on navigation and local traffic flow.
75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 24.3 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 around 17 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 60.9 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 17 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.5 miles (I 476; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 52.6 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.
Between Bethlehem, PA and Collingdale, PA, road signs point toward Patp and Broomall.
Bethlehem is one of three cities, along with Allentown and Easton, that are the urban population centers of the Lehigh Valley in eastern Pennsylvania.
In the Lehigh Valley, Bethlehem borders Nazareth to its northwest, Allentown to its west, Hellertown to its southeast, and Easton to its east. The city is about 70 miles (110 km) north of Philadelphia, the sixth-largest city in the United States, and about 80 miles (130 km) west of New York City, the nation's largest city.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 33m. Total distance: 60.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 24.3 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.17 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.
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 Collingdale, 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 17 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 41.5 miles (I 476; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 52.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Valley Forge National Historical Park, Independence National Historical Park and Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial (4 total within detour distance). 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 Collingdale, PA before heading back.
