Trip from Bethlehem, PA to Connoquenessing, 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
6h 12m
Distance
317.8 mi
511 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$51
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bethlehem, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Connoquenessing, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Bethlehem, PA to Connoquenessing, PA is 317.8 miles and takes about 6h 12m via Pennsylvania Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $53 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. It's a highway-focused drive that should be manageable in a single day for most drivers. You'll spend a good portion of your time on major interstates, making it a straightforward journey if you're looking for efficiency over winding country roads.
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
158.9 miles from Bethlehem, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 11m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike | 198.4 mi | 3h 37m |
| 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 |
| I 79 | 5.7 mi | 6m |
| Evans City Road | 4.4 mi | 6m |
| Lindsay Road | 2.6 mi | 4m |
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
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 Connoquenessing, PA.
Start on Linden Street
Turn right onto East Union Boulevard
Take the ramp
Merge onto PA 378
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto US 22
Merge onto I 78; US 22
Continue on I 78; US 22
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 81
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto US 11
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 76; PATP
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 79
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn slight right onto PA 528
At end of road, turn right onto PA 68; PA 528
Continue on PA 68; PA 528
Continue on PA 68
Turn left onto T830
At end of road, turn left onto Connoquenessing Main Street
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With a total duration of around 6 hours and 12 minutes, this trip is well-suited for a single-day journey. Consider departing Bethlehem, PA, in the morning to take advantage of daylight and avoid potential rush hour traffic. The longest stretch on the Pennsylvania Turnpike is nearly 200 miles, so plan for a fuel and stretch break before or during that segment. With a fuel cost estimated at $53, it's wise to fill up before you hit the turnpike, as toll road services can sometimes be pricier. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially on the longer highway portions.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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 70 miles or 1h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 158.9 miles or 3h 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Connoquenessing, 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 317.8 miles and 6h 12m.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
159 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
A short stop after about 70 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 158.9 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 198.4 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 Somerset Service Plaza
South Somerset Service Plaza
South Midway Service Plaza
North Midway Service Plaza
Blue Mountain Service Plaza
Rest Area
Love's Travel Stop
Petro Stopping Centers
Flying J Travel Center
New Stanton Service Plaza
Sideling Hill Service Plaza
Rest Area
TA
Love's Travel Stop
ONE9 Travel Center
Flying J Travel Center
Flying J Travel Center
Cumberland Valley Service Plaza
Service Plaza
TA
Flying J Travel Center
Rest Area
Love's Travel Stop
Allentown Service Plaza
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 235 decision points cluster between mile 3.4 and 309.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight left at fork toward US 22 West: Allentown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
Keep slight right at fork toward US 11 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 79, US 19: Erie, Pittsburgh, Warrendale, Cranberry
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward PA 528 North: Evans City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$50.67 one way
$101.35 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $56.08 | $112.16 |
| premium | $4.81 | $60.16 | $120.31 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $60.01 | $120.01 |
Estimated Tolls: $26.48
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
$51
Tolls
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$102–$127
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 111.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 95.3 | 1 | $33.37 | $15.25 |
| Efficient EV | 79.5 | 0 | $27.81 | $12.71 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 127.1 | 1 | $44.49 | $20.34 |
Gas CO2
111 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
87°F
Areas Of Smoke
Destination
Connoquenessing, PA
Afternoon in Connoquenessing on Sunday
Local time
1:17 PM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Smoke
82°F
Martinsburg, PA
159 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
2 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
6h 12m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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.
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...
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...
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...
Fort Necessity National Battlefield
National Battlefield
The battle at Fort Necessity in the summer of 1754 was the opening action of the French and Indian War. This war was a clash of British, French and American Indian cultures. It ended with the removal...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for 76% of this 317.8-mile trip. The Pennsylvania Turnpike will be your main artery for a significant stretch, offering a longest uninterrupted drive of 198.4 miles. This means you'll experience long periods of consistent speed and relatively few turns. While the bulk of the journey is on high-speed roads like the Pennsylvania Turnpike and I-81, the route incorporates sections of the William Penn Highway, which may offer a slight change in pace before rejoining major thoroughfares. Overall, it's a drive geared towards covering ground efficiently.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and William Penn Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.4 miles in.
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 23 significant decision points across 317.8 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
Total Climb
2,642 ft
Total Descent
1,708 ft
Highest Point
2,092 ft
~227 mi in
Elevation Range
1,736 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 Connoquenessing, PA, road signs point toward Middlesex and Patp.
Middlesex
Patp
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 Connoquenessing, PA
Full guide →Founded 1795
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 6h 12m. Total distance: 317.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 12m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
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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