South Midway Service Plaza
0 mi from route
Trip from Bethlehem, PA to Loyalhanna, PA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 11m
Distance
242 mi
389 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$39
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 58m
★
6 AM
5h 11m
8 AM
5h 38m
10 AM
5h 21m
12 PM
5h 18m
3 PM
5h 22m
5 PM
5h 37m
8 PM
5h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bethlehem, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Loyalhanna, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Spanning 242 miles across the heart of Pennsylvania, this trip from Bethlehem to Loyalhanna typically takes about 5 hours and 11 minutes of pure drive time. Because the journey is manageable within a single day, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. You can expect to spend approximately $40 on fuel, making this a budget-friendly way to cross the state. Navigating through the Northeast region, the route utilizes a mix of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, the Lincoln Highway, and the William Penn Highway. It is an ideal trek for those who want to get from the Lehigh Valley to Westmoreland County without excessive travel fatigue.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
121 miles from Bethlehem, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 29m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike | 81.1 mi | 1h 29m |
| Lincoln Highway | 49.2 mi | 1h 13m |
| William Penn Highway | 43.1 mi | 51m |
| I 81 | 36.6 mi | 44m |
| Lehigh Valley Thruway | 9.8 mi | 13m |
| 78th Division Highway | 7.6 mi | 8m |
| Bethlehem Spur Route | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Pitt Street | 2 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 81.1 mi, about 1h 29m
Traffic on I-81
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 28 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,785 veh/hr typical
Quietest
1 AM
~380 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
7.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bethlehem, PA and Loyalhanna, PA.
1
Start on Linden Street
367 ft
·
13 sec
·
Linden Street
2
Turn right onto East Union Boulevard
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East Union Boulevard
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
4
Merge onto PA 378
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Bethlehem Spur Route
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Toward US 22 West: Allentown
Use the slight left lane.
6
Merge onto US 22
9.8 mi
·
13 min
·
Lehigh Valley Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 78; US 22
43 mi
·
51 min
·
William Penn Highway
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on I 78; US 22
7.6 mi
·
8 min
·
78th Division Highway
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 1B
Toward I 81 South: Harrisburg
10
Merge onto I 81
37 mi
·
44 min
·
I 81
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 52
Toward US 11: New Kingstown, Middlesex
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork
201 ft
·
7 sec
Toward US 11 South
Use the right lane.
13
Merge onto US 11
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Harrisburg Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 76, PATP
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 76 West: Pittsburgh
Use the slight right lane.
16
Merge onto I 76; PATP
81 mi
·
1 hr 29 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward Altoona, Johnstown
Use the slight right lane.
18
Turn slight right
166 ft
·
5 sec
Toward Bedford
19
Turn straight onto US 220 BUS
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Business 220
20
Turn right onto Weber Lane
1.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Weber Lane
21
Turn left onto Country Ridge Road
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
Country Ridge Road
22
Turn right onto US 30
6.0 mi
·
8 min
·
Lincoln Highway
23
Continue on US 30
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Pitt Street
24
Continue on US 30
25 mi
·
36 min
·
Lincoln Highway
25
Continue on US 30
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Pitt Street
26
Continue on US 30
18 mi
·
28 min
·
Lincoln Highway
27
Turn right onto PA 217
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
PA 217
28
Turn left onto State Route 1020
380 ft
·
8 sec
·
State Route 1020
29
Continue on New Latrobe - Derry Road
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
·
New Latrobe - Derry Road
30
Continue on Industrial Boulevard
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Industrial Boulevard
31
Turn left onto North Main Street
200 ft
·
8 sec
·
North Main Street
32
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 5-hour and 11-minute transit, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refresh. Since the route covers significant ground, leaving early in the morning is your best bet to avoid peak traffic congestion on the busier sections of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the $40 estimate can fluctuate depending on your vehicle's efficiency and speed during the 81.1-mile turnpike stretch. Flexibility is a major advantage here, as the single-day nature of the trip allows you to adjust your departure time based on real-time traffic reports. If you find yourself needing more downtime, use the Lincoln or William Penn Highway segments as natural opportunities to pause and transition between the faster highway portions.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 121 miles from Bethlehem, PA, or about 2h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 81.1 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 53 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 121 miles or 2h 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Loyalhanna, 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.
+
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 Bethlehem, PA
This is one driving day of about 242 miles and 5h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Bethlehem, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Pennsylvania Turnpike for about 81.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
121 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 53 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 121 miles from Bethlehem, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Pennsylvania Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 81.1 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
North Midway Service Plaza
0 mi from route
Blue Mountain Service Plaza
0 mi from route
Rest Area
0 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.1 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Sideling Hill Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
ONE9 Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Cumberland Valley Service Plaza
0.4 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.4 mi from route
TA
0.6 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.6 mi from route
Rest Area
0.7 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
1.5 mi from route
Allentown Service Plaza
1.6 mi from route
Lehigh Millennium Folk Arch and Art Enclave
4.0
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
Near the start, short detour
1.8 mi from route
~5 min detour
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 215 decision points cluster between mile 3.4 and 185.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
3.4 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 22 West: Allentown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward US 22 West: Allentown
8
102.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 6m in
Take the exit toward US 11: New Kingstown, Middlesex
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 52
Toward US 11: New Kingstown, Middlesex
8
102.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 7m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 11 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward US 11 South
7
103.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 10m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 76 West: Pittsburgh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 76 West: Pittsburgh
7
185.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 40m in
Take the exit toward Altoona, Johnstown
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 Altoona, Johnstown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.59 one way
$77.17 round trip
$4.05/gal
25.4 MPG avg
85 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $42.70 | $85.41 |
| premium | $4.81 | $45.81 | $91.62 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $45.69 | $91.39 |
Estimated Tolls: $11.23
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(81.1 mi)
$10.54
Lehigh Valley Thruway
(9.8 mi)
$0.69
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
$39
Tolls
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 84.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 72.6 | 0 | $25.41 | $11.62 |
| Efficient EV | 60.5 | 0 | $21.18 | $9.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 96.8 | 1 | $33.88 | $15.49 |
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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.
Origin
Bethlehem, PA
Afternoon in Bethlehem on Sunday
Local time
1:17 PM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Smoke
SW 0 to 15 mph
90% chance
Live forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 9:49AM EDT until July 18 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 18 at 9:42AM EDT until July 19 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA
Destination
Loyalhanna, PA
Afternoon in Loyalhanna on Sunday
Local time
1:17 PM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
SW 10 to 15 mph
74% chance
Live forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 9:49AM EDT until July 18 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 18 at 9:42AM EDT until July 19 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA
82°F
Martinsburg, PA
121 mi in
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
3 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
5h 11m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
Flight 93 National Memorial
National Memorial
On Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, the U.S. came under attack when four commercial airliners were hijacked and used to strike targets on the ground. Nearly 3,000 people tragically lost their live...
2 mi from route
~4 min detour
Free
near mile 208.6
View on nps.gov
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
The Appalachian Trail is a 2,190+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by p...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 58.4
View on nps.gov
Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument
National Monument
More than 7,800 children from 140 Tribes went to the Carlisle School from 1879 to 1918. The National Park Service will collaborate with families, affiliated Tribal Nations, the US Army, historians, an...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 108.5
View on nps.gov
Johnstown Flood National Memorial
National Memorial
The South Fork Dam failed on Friday, May 31, 1889, and unleashed 20,000,000 tons of water that devastated Johnstown, PA. The flood killed 2,209 people but it brought the nation and the world together...
19 mi from route
~48 min detour
Free
near mile 216.9
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a varied experience behind the wheel, as this route is a classic mixed drive. While 49% of your time will be spent on highways, the character of the road shifts as you transition between major arteries and local corridors. You will tackle your longest uninterrupted stretch during an 81.1-mile segment on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, which allows for consistent cruising. Beyond that primary highway portion, the remaining miles rely on the Lincoln and William Penn Highways, which offer a more grounded, road-level perspective of the landscape. The combination of high-speed transit and local highway segments keeps the drive engaging without feeling like a monotonous interstate grind.
49% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 81.1 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 242 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 3.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 102.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 102.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,546 ft
345 ft
Total Climb
2,414 ft
Total Descent
1,776 ft
Highest Point
2,546 ft
~207.4 mi in
Elevation Range
2,201 ft
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 Bethlehem, PA and Loyalhanna, PA, road signs point toward Middlesex, Patp, Altoona, Johnstown and Bedford.
Middlesex
102.1 mi in
|
~2h 6m
Patp
103.3 mi in
|
~2h 9m
Altoona
185.1 mi in
|
~3h 40m
Johnstown
185.1 mi in
|
~3h 40m
Bedford
185.4 mi in
|
~3h 40m
About the Cities
Starting in Bethlehem, PA
Full guide →Founded 1741
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.
Top landmarks
- • Bethlehem Waterworks — pump-powered public water supply
- • Historic Moravian Bethlehem Historic District — complex of the oldest surviving buildings in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
- • Cathedral Church of the Nativity — church in Pennsylvania, United States
Arriving in Loyalhanna, PA
Full guide →City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 11m. Total distance: 242 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 81.1 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $11.23 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 21 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 Loyalhanna, PA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 21 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 102.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 102.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Flight 93 National Memorial, Appalachian National Scenic Trail and Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Loyalhanna, PA before the return drive.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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