Bethlehem, PA to Birchwood Lakes, PA is 63.5 miles and takes about 1h 44m via PA-33 and US 209, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive primarily within Pennsylvania's Northeast region. The route offers a mixed driving experience, meaning you'll encounter both faster highway sections and potentially more local road travel as you approach your destination. Given its relatively short duration, this trip is ideal for a same-day excursion, allowing for a relaxed pace and plenty of flexibility.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
31.7 miles from Bethlehem, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
PA-33
22 mi
27m
Federal Road
11.8 mi
21m
US 209
11.5 mi
18m
Milford Road
7.1 mi
13m
Easton Avenue
4.4 mi
7m
Silver Lake Road
2.2 mi
4m
PA-739
1.2 mi
2m
Marshalls Creek Bypass
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
PA-33
— 22 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bethlehem, PA and Birchwood Lakes, PA.
1
Start on Linden Street
367 ft·16 sec·Linden Street
2
Turn left onto East Union Boulevard
449 ft·20 sec·East Union Boulevard
3
Turn left onto Maple Street
0.2 mi·40 sec·Maple Street
4
Turn left onto East Fairview Street
452 ft·22 sec·East Fairview Street
5
Turn right onto Linden Street
0.2 mi·20 sec·Linden Street
6
Turn right onto Easton Avenue
4.4 mi·7 min·Easton Avenue
7
Continue on William Penn Highway
0.7 mi·1 min·William Penn Highway
8
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·46 sec
Toward PA 33 North: Stroudsburg
9
Merge onto PA 33
22 mi·27 min·PA-33
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 209
7.9 mi·11 min·US 209
Toward US 209 North: StroudsburgUse the straight / right lanes.
11
Take the exit onto US 209
3.6 mi·7 min·US 209
Toward US 209 north , PA 447 north: Marshalls Creek
12
Enter roundabout onto US 209
98 ft·3 sec·Marshalls Creek Bypass
13
Continue on US 209
0.8 mi·1 min·Marshalls Creek Bypass
14
Continue on US 209
7.1 mi·13 min·Milford Road
15
Continue on US 209
12 mi·21 min·Federal Road
16
Turn left onto PA 739
1.2 mi·2 min·PA-739
17
Turn left onto Silver Lake Road
2.2 mi·4 min·Silver Lake Road
18
Turn right onto Doolan Road
0.8 mi·1 min·Doolan Road
19
Arrive at destination
Doolan Road
Trip Plan
With a drive time under two hours, this trip is easily manageable in a single day, offering significant flexibility. Consider departing mid-morning to avoid peak rush hour traffic in the Bethlehem area and enjoy a leisurely arrival in Birchwood Lakes. The longest stretch is 22 miles on PA-33, so plan your fuel stops accordingly before hitting that segment if needed, as services might be less frequent. The estimated fuel cost is around $11, a minimal expense for this short journey.
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 31.7 miles from Bethlehem, PA, or about 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 22 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 14 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 31.7 miles or 44m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Birchwood Lakes, 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 63.5 miles and 1h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from Bethlehem, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on PA-33 for about 22 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 31.7 miles from Bethlehem, 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 28 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|Maple Street
Turn left onto Maple Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|East Fairview Street
Turn left onto East Fairview Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|Linden Street
Turn right onto Linden Street
Navigation decision point
5
5.7 mi into trip|~11m in
Take the ramp toward PA 33 North: Stroudsburg
Navigation decision point
Toward PA 33 North: Stroudsburg
7
28 mi into trip|~39m in|US 209
Keep slight right at fork onto US 209 toward US 209 North: Stroudsburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward US 209 North: Stroudsburg
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.53 one way
$21.06 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg22 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$11.53
$23.06
premium
$4.93
$12.32
$24.63
diesel
$5.61
$14.02
$28.04
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
19.1
0
$6.67
$3.05
Efficient EV
15.9
0
$5.56
$2.54
EV Truck/SUV
25.4
0
$8.89
$4.06
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Bethlehem, PA
Afternoon
in Bethlehem on Sunday
Local time
12:15 PM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 5 to 15 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 4:45AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 4:42AM EDT by NWS State College PA
Destination
Birchwood Lakes, PA
Afternoon
in Birchwood Lakes on Sunday
Local time
12:15 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°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
44 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 44m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is characterized as a 'Mixed drive,' with 55% of the journey on highways. You'll experience stretches of faster travel, including a notable 22-mile segment on PA-33. Expect transitions between these main roads and potentially more local routes like Federal Road and US 209 as you get closer to Birchwood Lakes. The road's personality shifts from more open highway to potentially winding or slower local conditions, so be prepared for varied driving environments.
55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22 mi on PA-33.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Maple Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 44m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (Maple Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (East Fairview Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Linden Street): Navigation decision point.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 44m. Total distance: 63.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 22 miles on PA-33. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 0.2 miles (Maple Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (East Fairview Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Linden Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Birchwood Lakes, PA before heading back.
