Embarking from Bethlehem, PA, to Great Bend, PA, this 111.9-mile journey takes approximately 2 hours and 19 minutes. Designed as a single-day trip, it's a straightforward drive primarily utilizing I-81, I-380, and PA-33. You'll be looking at a fuel cost of around $19 for this relatively short hop within Pennsylvania's Northeast region. This route is a practical option for a quick transition between areas, offering a direct path without extensive detours. It's an efficient way to cover the distance when time is a consideration.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
55.9 miles from Bethlehem, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 13m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
42.7 mi
50m
I 380
27.7 mi
30m
PA-33
22 mi
27m
Keystone Shortway
8.6 mi
10m
Easton Avenue
4.4 mi
7m
PA 33
3.1 mi
4m
William Penn Highway
0.7 mi
1m
US 11
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 42.7 mi, about 50m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bethlehem, PA and Great Bend, 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 left at fork onto PA 33
3.1 mi·4 min·PA 33
Toward PA 33 North: Bartonsville, HazletonUse the left lane.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward I 80 West: HazletonUse the left lane.
12
Merge onto I 80
8.6 mi·10 min·Keystone Shortway
13
Take the exit
0.7 mi·46 sec
Exit 293Toward I 380 North: Scranton
14
Continue on I 380
28 mi·30 min·I 380
Use the straight lane.
15
Merge onto I 81
43 mi·50 min·I 81
Use the straight lane.
16
Take the exit
0.1 mi·24 sec
Toward PA 171: Great Bend, Susquehanna
17
Turn left onto PA 171
0.2 mi·25 sec·State Route 171
Use the straight lane.
18
Turn right onto US 11
0.4 mi·48 sec·US 11
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Turn right onto Williams Street
76 ft·3 sec·Williams Street
20
Arrive at destination
Williams Street
Trip Plan
Given its 2-hour duration, this trip is easily completed in one day, offering flexibility for when you depart. Consider leaving early in the morning to avoid potential midday traffic, especially if your travel falls on a weekday. With no designated stops in the data, plan your own breaks as needed, perhaps at service areas along I-81. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without a planned exit is over 40 miles. The $19 fuel estimate is a good baseline, but always check current prices before you go.
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 55.9 miles from Bethlehem, PA, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 42.7 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 25 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.9 miles or 1h 13m 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 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Great Bend, 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 111.9 miles and 2h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Bethlehem, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 42.7 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 31.2 — 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
8
28 mi into trip|~39m in|PA 33
Keep slight left at fork onto PA 33 toward PA 33 North: Bartonsville, Hazleton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward PA 33 North: Bartonsville, Hazleton
6
31.2 mi into trip|~43m in
Take the exit toward I 80 West: Hazleton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 80 West: Hazleton
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.55 one way
$37.10 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$20.32
$40.64
premium
$4.93
$21.70
$43.40
diesel
$5.61
$24.71
$49.41
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 39.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.6
0
$11.75
$5.37
Efficient EV
28
0
$9.79
$4.48
EV Truck/SUV
44.8
0
$15.67
$7.16
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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 18, 2026
Origin
Bethlehem, PA
Morning
in Bethlehem on Tuesday
Local time
6:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Partly Sunny
SE 0 to 10 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Great Bend, PA
Morning
in Great Bend on Tuesday
Local time
6:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°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
14 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
2h 19m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
Situated within the most densely populated region of the United States, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area provides a unique opportunity to experience tranquil landscapes, rich human history,...
19 mi from route
~48 min detour
$10
near mile 30.9
Park Closure: Old Mine Road North Construction Closure Begins April 6, 2026
Park Closure: Dingmans Falls Trail, Road, and Access Closed for Bridge Replacement
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly a highway-focused experience, with 86% of the route on major roadways. Expect long stretches of efficient travel, including one uninterrupted segment of 42.7 miles on I-81. The character is largely that of a functional interstate drive, designed for covering ground quickly. While not overly complex, the focus remains on maintaining steady progress through Pennsylvania's landscape. You'll experience the typical flow of highway traffic as you make your way north.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 42.7 mi on I 81.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and I 380. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near Maple Street.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 111.9 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 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Bethlehem, PA to Great Bend, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Hazleton along the way.
Hazleton
28 mi in|~39m|via PA 33
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 19m. Total distance: 111.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 42.7 miles on I 81. 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 Great Bend, 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 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 — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. 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 Great Bend, PA before heading back.
