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Trip from Bethlehem, PA to Kingston, PA

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 4, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 32m

Distance

69.9 mi

113 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 21 min
4 AM
1h 25m ★
6 AM
1h 32m
8 AM
1h 46m
10 AM
1h 37m
12 PM
1h 36m
3 PM
1h 38m
5 PM
1h 46m
8 PM
1h 28m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time
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city in Lehigh and Northampton counties, Pennsylvania, USA

Bethlehem, PA

Wikimedia Commons

borough in central Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States

Kingston, PA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Bethlehem, PA to Kingston, PA covers 69.9 miles and takes about 1h 32m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, Tilghman Street, East Union Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 47.7 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.68 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

35 miles from Bethlehem, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 46m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension 47.7 mi 52m
Tilghman Street 6.4 mi 10m
East Union Boulevard 4.9 mi 8m
Bear Creek Boulevard 4.3 mi 7m
PA 309 3.2 mi 4m
Rutter Avenue 0.9 mi 2m
Wyoming Avenue 0.4 mi <1m
Pierce Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension — 47.7 mi, about 52m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bethlehem, PA and Kingston, PA.

1

Start on Linden Street

367 ft · 13 sec · Linden Street
2

Turn right onto East Union Boulevard

4.9 mi · 8 min · East Union Boulevard
3

Continue on Tilghman Street

6.4 mi · 10 min · Tilghman Street
4

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 1 min
Toward I 476, PATP
5

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 1 min
Toward I 476 North: Scranton Use the left lane.
6

Merge onto I 476; PATP

48 mi · 52 min · Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
7

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min
Exit 105 Toward PA 115: Wilkes-Barre, Bear Creek
8

Turn left onto PA 115

4.3 mi · 7 min · Bear Creek Boulevard
9

Continue on PA 309

3.2 mi · 4 min · PA 309
10

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Exit 4 Toward Kingston, Forty Fort
11

Keep slight left at fork

284 ft · 11 sec
12

Turn straight onto Rutter Avenue

0.9 mi · 2 min · Rutter Avenue
13

Turn right onto Pierce Street

0.2 mi · 37 sec · Pierce Street
14

Turn left onto US 11

0.4 mi · 56 sec · Wyoming Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
15

Turn left

85 ft · 8 sec
16

Turn right

199 ft · 14 sec
17

Turn slight right

7 ft · 0 sec
18

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

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 35 miles from Bethlehem, PA, or about 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 47.7 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 15 miles or 24m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 35 miles or 46m 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 13m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kingston, 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 69.9 miles and 1h 32m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Bethlehem, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension for about 47.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

borough and county seat of Carbon County, Pennsylvania, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Jim Thorpe, PA

35 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

Coplay, PA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Jim Thorpe, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 35 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 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 11.8 and 69.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
11.8 mi into trip | ~20m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 476 North: Scranton

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane. Toward I 476 North: Scranton
6
59.9 mi into trip | ~1h 13m in

Take the exit toward PA 115: Wilkes-Barre, Bear Creek

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 105 Toward PA 115: Wilkes-Barre, Bear Creek
6
68.1 mi into trip | ~1h 27m in

Take the exit toward Kingston, Forty Fort

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 4 Toward Kingston, Forty Fort
6
69.5 mi into trip | ~1h 30m in | US 11 / Wyoming Avenue

Turn left onto US 11 / Wyoming Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
5
69.9 mi into trip | ~1h 32m in

Turn right

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$11.68 one way

$23.36 round trip

$4.24/gal 25.4 MPG avg 25 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.67 $12.85 $25.71
premium $5.01 $13.79 $27.59
diesel $5.60 $15.41 $30.82

Estimated Tolls: $6.20

Pennsylvania Turnpike (47.7 mi) $6.20

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

$12

Tolls

$6

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$43–$68

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 24.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 21 0 $7.34 $3.36
Efficient EV 17.5 0 $6.12 $2.80
EV Truck/SUV 28 0 $9.79 $4.47

Gas CO2

24 kg

EV CO2

8 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 Sep 2, 2026

Origin

Bethlehem, PA

Morning in Bethlehem on Friday

Local time

11:47 AM

EDT

Current temp

69°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy

0 mph 61% chance Live forecast

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued September 1 at 9:55PM EDT until September 2 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA

Destination

Kingston, PA

Morning in Kingston on Friday

Local time

11:47 AM

EDT

Current temp

68°F

Patchy Fog

0 mph 21% chance Live forecast

Heat Advisory

Heat Advisory issued September 1 at 9:55PM EDT until September 2 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA

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

1 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 32m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

69.9 mi in 1h 32m, mostly highway — 47.7 mi of that is on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension.

73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 47.7 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and Tilghman Street. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 11.8 miles in.

Driving Effort 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 69.9 miles you will encounter 12 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 11.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 59.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

1,831 ft 261 ft

Total Climb

1,986 ft

Total Descent

1,804 ft

Highest Point

1,831 ft

~59.9 mi in

Elevation Range

1,569 ft

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 Kingston, PA, road signs point toward Patp and Bear Creek.

Patp

11.4 mi in | ~19m

Bear Creek

59.9 mi in | ~1h 13m

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 Kingston, PA

Full guide →

Founded 1857

Top landmarks

  • • Wyoming Seminary — private primary and secondary school in Kingston, Pennsylvania, US

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 1h 32m. Total distance: 69.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 47.7 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $6.20 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.

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 11.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 59.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Kingston, 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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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