Origin
Bethlehem, PA
Evening in Bethlehem on Sunday
Local time
5:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Bethlehem, PA to Clifton Heights, PA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 29m
Distance
59.3 mi
95 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 23m
★
6 AM
1h 29m
8 AM
1h 43m
10 AM
1h 34m
12 PM
1h 33m
3 PM
1h 35m
5 PM
1h 42m
8 PM
1h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bethlehem, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Clifton Heights, PA
Michael Taccetta
Trip Overview
This 59.3-mile drive from Bethlehem, PA, to Clifton Heights, PA, is a straightforward journey that takes about 1 hour and 29 minutes. It's a perfect candidate for a day trip, so you won't need to worry about overnight stays. The route is heavily focused on highways, with 77% of it being such, making for a swift transit. Expect to spend around $10 on fuel for this trip. As both your origin and destination are within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania, you'll be navigating familiar territory without crossing state or major regional lines. This straightforward drive is ideal when you need to get from point A to point B efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension | 24.3 mi | 26m |
| Mid-County Expressway | 10.8 mi | 14m |
| PA-378 | 5.1 mi | 8m |
| PA 309 | 5.1 mi | 8m |
| West Springfield Road | 2.7 mi | 6m |
| John Fries Highway | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Lawrence Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Sproul Road | 1.2 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
— 24.3 mi, about 26m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bethlehem, PA and Clifton Heights, PA.
1
Start on Linden Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Linden Street
2
Turn right onto East Church Street
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
East Church Street
3
Turn left onto Center Street
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Center Street
4
Turn left onto Fahy Bridge
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
Fahy Bridge
5
Continue on South New Street
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
South New Street
6
Turn right onto West 4th Street
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
West 4th Street
7
Turn slight left onto PA 412
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Broadway
8
Turn left onto PA 378
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Wyandotte Street
9
Continue on PA 378
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
PA-378
10
Continue on PA 378
4.6 mi
·
7 min
·
PA-378
Use the left lane.
11
Turn left onto PA 309
5.1 mi
·
8 min
·
PA 309
12
Turn right onto West Pumping Station Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
West Pumping Station Road
13
Turn left onto Portzer Road
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
Portzer Road
14
Continue on Portzer Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Portzer Road
15
Turn right onto PA 663
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
John Fries Highway
16
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward PATP
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 476 South: Philadelphia
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
18
Merge onto I 476; PATP
24 mi
·
25 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on I 476; PATP
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Exit 20
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 476; PATP
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Use the slight left lane.
21
Continue on I 476
11 mi
·
14 min
·
Mid-County Expressway
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
59 sec
Exit 9
Toward PA 3: Upper Darby, Broomall
Use 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
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Springfield Road
28
Turn left
168 ft
·
12 sec
29
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.6 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 195 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
$9.83 one way
$19.66 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
21 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $10.77 | $21.53 |
| premium | $4.93 | $11.50 | $23.00 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.09 | $26.19 |
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.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Tolls
$3
Total
$13
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.7 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 | 17.8 | 0 | $6.23 | $2.85 |
| Efficient EV | 14.8 | 0 | $5.19 | $2.37 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.7 | 0 | $8.30 | $3.80 |
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.
Destination
Clifton Heights, PA
Evening in Clifton Heights on Sunday
Local time
5:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
76°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
21 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 29m 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?
Primarily a highway-focused drive, this route emphasizes speed and directness. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on high-speed roads, covering 77% of the journey on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 24.3 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, offering a sustained period of highway travel. While the bulk of the drive is on expressways, the transition between these main arteries like the Mid-County Expressway and PA-378 means you'll experience a mix of faster travel and more localized road conditions as you approach your destination.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 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 Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 59.3 miles you will encounter 19 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.
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 Clifton Heights, PA, road signs point toward Patp and Broomall.
Patp
16.6 mi in
|
~30m
Broomall
52.6 mi in
|
~1h 14m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 29m. Total distance: 59.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). 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 Clifton Heights, 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 Clifton Heights, 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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