Bethlehem, PA to Mifflin, PA is 129.7 miles and takes about 2h 44m via William Penn Highway and US 322, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, same-day trip that keeps you within Pennsylvania for its entirety. The route offers a mixed drive experience, meaning you'll encounter both highway sections and local road driving. With a recommended single day for completion, this journey is ideal for those seeking a relatively quick transit between two points in the Northeast region without extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
64.8 miles from Bethlehem, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
William Penn Highway
45.1 mi
55m
US 322
39.7 mi
49m
I 81
20.8 mi
25m
Lehigh Valley Thruway
9.8 mi
13m
78th Division Highway
7.6 mi
8m
Bethlehem Spur Route
2.3 mi
3m
East Union Boulevard
0.8 mi
1m
Industrial Park Road
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
William Penn Highway
— 45.1 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bethlehem, PA and Mifflin, PA.
1
Start on Linden Street
367 ft·13 sec·Linden Street
2
Turn right onto East Union Boulevard
0.8 mi·1 min·East Union Boulevard
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
4
Merge onto PA 378
2.3 mi·3 min·Bethlehem Spur Route
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward US 22 West: AllentownUse the slight left lane.
6
Merge onto US 22
9.8 mi·13 min·Lehigh Valley Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 78; US 22
43 mi·51 min·William Penn Highway
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on I 78; US 22
7.6 mi·8 min·78th Division Highway
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·49 sec
Exit 1BToward I 81 South: Harrisburg
10
Merge onto I 81
21 mi·25 min·I 81
11
Take the exit onto US 322
0.3 mi·27 sec·US 322
Exit 67A; 67BToward US 22 East, PA 230 East, US 22 West, US 322 West: Harrisburg, Lewistown, State College
12
Keep slight right at fork onto US 322
39 mi·49 min·US 322
Exit 67BToward US 22 West, US 322 West: Lewistown, State CollegeUse the slight right lane.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward PA 75: Port RoyalUse the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork
449 ft·15 sec
Toward PA 75 South: Port Royal
15
Turn straight onto PA 75
0.7 mi·1 min·Industrial Park Road
Use the straight lane.
16
Turn right onto SR 3002
2.0 mi·3 min·William Penn Highway
17
Enter roundabout onto PA 35
181 ft·3 sec·Wilson Street
18
Continue on PA 35
0.4 mi·44 sec·Wilson Street
19
Turn right onto Parker Street
500 ft·19 sec·Parker Street
20
Turn left onto Juniata Street
0.2 mi·29 sec·Juniata Street
21
Turn left onto Main Street
86 ft·3 sec·Main Street
22
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 2 hours and 44 minutes, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. You can depart Bethlehem, PA anytime in the morning and still arrive in Mifflin, PA well before evening. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated at $22, this route is budget-friendly. Pay attention to the transition onto US 322 and I 81, as these are key segments of your journey and offer opportunities for quicker travel.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 64.8 miles from Bethlehem, PA, or about 1h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 45.1 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 29 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.8 miles or 1h 21m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mifflin, 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 129.7 miles and 2h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Bethlehem, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on William Penn Highway for about 45.1 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.4 and 126 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
3.4 mi into trip|~5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 22 West: Allentown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward US 22 West: Allentown
6
64.8 mi into trip|~1h 21m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 81 South: Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 1B
Toward I 81 South: Harrisburg
6
86.3 mi into trip|~1h 47m in|US 322
Take the exit onto US 322 toward US 22 East, PA 230 East, US 22 West, US 322 West: Harrisburg, Lewistown, State College
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 67A; 67B
Toward US 22 East, PA 230 East, US 22 West, US...
9
86.6 mi into trip|~1h 47m in|US 322
Keep slight right at fork onto US 322 toward US 22 West, US 322 West: Lewistown, State College
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 67B
Toward US 22 West, US 322 West: Lewistown, Stat...
6
126 mi into trip|~2h 37m in
Take the exit toward PA 75: Port Royal
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward PA 75: Port Royal
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.50 one way
$43.01 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$23.55
$47.10
premium
$4.93
$25.15
$50.31
diesel
$5.61
$28.64
$57.27
Estimated Tolls: $0.69
Lehigh Valley Thruway
(9.8 mi)$0.69
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
$22
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38.9
0
$13.62
$6.23
Efficient EV
32.4
0
$11.35
$5.19
EV Truck/SUV
51.9
0
$18.16
$8.30
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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 15, 2026
Origin
Bethlehem, PA
Late night
in Bethlehem on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Mifflin, PA
Late night
in Mifflin on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°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
15 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
2h 44m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 62.6
Park Closure: List of trail closures post-Hurricane Helene
Caution: Black Bears Frequenting the McAfee Knob Area in Virginia
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...
16 mi from route
~39 min detour
Free
near mile 93.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive presents a varied landscape of roadways, with 47% of the journey on highways. You'll experience a mix of faster-paced sections alongside more traditional road driving. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 45.1 miles along the William Penn Highway, so be prepared for a significant segment on this particular road before transitioning. The overall profile is described as a 'mixed drive,' suggesting a dynamic experience rather than a monotonous interstate cruise.
47% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 45.1 mi on William Penn Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.4 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 17 significant decision points across 129.7 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 64.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 86.3 miles (US 322): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Between Bethlehem, PA and Mifflin, PA, road signs point toward Lewistown and State College.
Lewistown
86.3 mi in|~1h 47m|via US 322
State College
86.3 mi in|~1h 47m|via US 322
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 44m. Total distance: 129.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (47%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 45.1 miles on William Penn Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.69 in tolls one way, starting with Lehigh Valley Thruway. 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 Mifflin, 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 64.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 86.3 miles (US 322): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Appalachian National Scenic Trail and Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument. 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 Mifflin, PA before heading back.
