Connecting the Lehigh Valley to the Steel City, this 95.1-mile journey across Pennsylvania is a manageable trip that takes roughly 2 hours and 9 minutes. Since the entire drive stays within the Northeast region, you will experience a consistent transition across the state's interior. You can easily complete this route in a single day, making it a convenient option for those looking to travel from Bethlehem to Pittsburgh without needing an overnight stop. Expect to budget around $16 for fuel, depending on your vehicle's efficiency. Because the route is relatively short, it offers great flexibility for your departure time, allowing you to reach your destination without the fatigue associated with cross-country treks.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.5 miles from Bethlehem, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
William Penn Highway
29.6 mi
45m
Dowler Highway
20.1 mi
23m
Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
13.5 mi
18m
Buffalo-Pittsburgh Highway
10.3 mi
12m
Route 286 Highway East
6.7 mi
7m
PA 286 Truck
5.2 mi
6m
Burnside McGee Highway
4.2 mi
4m
Colonel Drake Highway
1.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
William Penn Highway
— 29.6 mi, about 45m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bethlehem, PA and Pittsburgh, PA.
1
Start on Deer Run Road
39 ft·1 sec·Deer Run Road
2
Continue on Bethlehem Hill Road
0.8 mi·3 min·Bethlehem Hill Road
3
Turn left onto PA 36
0.8 mi·1 min·East Main Street
4
Continue on PA 36
0.3 mi·32 sec·Market Street
5
At end of road, turn left onto US 219; PA 36
0.4 mi·26 sec·West Main Street
6
Continue on US 219; PA 36
1.9 mi·2 min·Colonel Drake Highway
7
Continue on US 219
515 ft·6 sec·Burnside - McGees Highway
8
Continue on US 219
4.2 mi·4 min·Burnside McGee Highway
9
Keep slight right at fork onto PA 286
20 mi·23 min·Dowler Highway
10
Continue on PA 286
6.7 mi·7 min·Route 286 Highway East
11
Keep slight left at fork onto PA 286 Truck
1.0 mi·1 min·PA 286 Truck
Toward Punxsutawney, Blairsville
12
Keep slight right at fork onto PA 286 Truck
4.1 mi·4 min·PA 286 Truck
Toward US 119 South: Blairsville
13
Continue on US 119; PA 56; US 422 Business
10 mi·12 min·Buffalo-Pittsburgh Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Take the exit onto US 119
0.4 mi·40 sec·US 119
Toward US 22 West, US 119 South: Blairsville, Pittsburgh
15
Merge onto US 22; US 119
30 mi·45 min·William Penn Highway
Use the straight lane.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 376; US 22
13 mi·18 min·Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
Toward I 376 West, US 22 West: PittsburghUse the slight left lane.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·38 sec
Exit 71BToward Second AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn straight onto Second Avenue
0.3 mi·41 sec·Second Avenue
19
At end of road, turn right onto Ross Street
0.2 mi·32 sec·Ross Street
20
Turn left onto Fifth Avenue
352 ft·10 sec·Fifth Avenue
21
Turn right onto Grant Street
513 ft·21 sec·Grant Street
Use the right lane.
22
Arrive at destination
Grant Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a 95.1-mile trip, you have the advantage of being able to leave whenever fits your schedule best. Given the turn-heavy nature of the local sections, try to avoid peak traffic hours to ensure your 2-hour and 9-minute transit remains consistent. You likely won't need to plan for formal stops, but keeping the $16 fuel budget in mind will help you prepare for a quick refuel if necessary. Because the route relies heavily on local roads rather than major interstates, stay alert for changing speed limits and intersection turns. Take advantage of the trip's short duration by planning your arrival to coincide with your check-in or meeting time, as the lack of required rest stops gives you total control over your pace.
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 47.5 miles from Bethlehem, PA, or about 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 29.6 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 21 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.5 miles or 58m 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 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pittsburgh, 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 95.1 miles and 2h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Bethlehem, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on William Penn Highway for about 29.6 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 35.3 and 95 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
35.3 mi into trip|~43m in|PA 286 Truck
Keep slight left at fork onto PA 286 Truck toward Punxsutawney, Blairsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Punxsutawney, Blairsville
8
80.8 mi into trip|~1h 48m in|I 376; US 22 / Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
Keep slight right at fork onto I 376; US 22 / Penn-Lincoln Parkway East toward I 376 West, US 22 West: Pittsburgh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 376 West, US 22 West: Pittsburgh
7
94.3 mi into trip|~2h 7m in
Take the exit toward Second Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 71B
Toward Second Avenue
6
94.7 mi into trip|~2h 8m in|Ross Street
At end of road, turn right onto Ross Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
7
95 mi into trip|~2h 9m in|Grant Street
Turn right onto Grant Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.77 one way
$31.53 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg33 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$17.27
$34.54
premium
$4.93
$18.44
$36.89
diesel
$5.61
$21.00
$41.99
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
28.5
0
$9.99
$4.56
Efficient EV
23.8
0
$8.32
$3.80
EV Truck/SUV
38
0
$13.31
$6.09
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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
Morning
in Bethlehem on Sunday
Local time
7:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Pittsburgh, PA
Morning
in Pittsburgh on Sunday
Local time
7:34 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°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
9 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
2h 9m 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.
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...
23 mi from route
~58 min detour
Free
near mile 45.9
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 demands your full attention rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. With only 27% of the journey spent on highways, you will spend the majority of your time navigating local roads like the William Penn Highway and Dowler Highway. Your longest uninterrupted stretch is 29.6 miles on the William Penn Highway, which provides a brief reprieve from more frequent turns. As you transition onto the Penn-Lincoln Parkway East, the driving dynamics shift, requiring you to adjust to the flow of more concentrated traffic. This combination of varied road types ensures the drive remains engaging, though it requires more active steering than a standard highway route.
Only 27% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 29.6 mi on William Penn Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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 35.3 miles in near PA 286 Truck.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 95.1 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 35.3 miles (PA 286 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 80.8 miles (I 376; US 22 / Penn-Lincoln Parkway East): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 94.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Pittsburgh, PA, road signs point toward Punxsutawney and Blairsville.
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.
The pleasure of Pittsburgh remains a well-kept secret. Though not built up by reputation, the city's unique combination of bridges, steep hills, and broad rivers make it one of the most naturally scenic cities in the country. Cheap food and beer abound in this true sports town and the locals are amazingly friendly. A city of about 303,000 (2021) in Allegheny County, at the center of a metro area of about 2.4 million in southwestern Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh is situated at the confluence of three rivers: the Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers, which meet to form the Ohio River. The city's unique terrain has resulted in an unusual city design and a hodge-podge of unique neighborhood "pockets" with diverse ethnic and architectural heritage.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 9m. Total distance: 95.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 29.6 miles on William Penn Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Pittsburgh, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 35.3 miles (PA 286 Truck): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 80.8 miles (I 376; US 22 / Penn-Lincoln Parkway East): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 94.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Johnstown Flood National Memorial. 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 Pittsburgh, PA before heading back.
