Skip to main content

Trip from Bethlehem, PA to Rome, PA

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 12m

Distance

136.1 mi

219 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$23

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min
4 AM
3h 1m ★
6 AM
3h 12m
8 AM
3h 36m
10 AM
3h 21m
12 PM
3h 18m
3 PM
3h 22m
5 PM
3h 35m
8 PM
3h 5m

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

city in Lehigh and Northampton counties, Pennsylvania, USA

Bethlehem, PA

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Rome, PA, PA

Rome, PA

C1 Superstar

Trip Overview

Bethlehem, PA to Rome, PA is 136.1 miles and takes about 3h 12m via the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and Grand Army of the Republic Highway, with a fuel budget near $23 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania's Northeast region, offering a straightforward journey. Given its relatively short duration and mixed driving profile, it's well-suited for a single-day excursion. You'll experience a blend of highway speeds and more local road travel as you head north. Plan for a smooth, manageable drive perfect for a quick getaway.

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

68.1 miles from Bethlehem, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 27m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension 47.7 mi 52m
Grand Army of the Republic Highway 21 mi 30m
Tunkhannock Highway 15.8 mi 25m
Roosevelt Highway 14.6 mi 21m
PA 309 9.9 mi 16m
PA 187 6.8 mi 9m
Tilghman Street 6.4 mi 10m
East Union Boulevard 4.9 mi 8m
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 Rome, 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

9.8 mi · 16 min · PA 309
10

Take the exit onto PA 309

509 ft · 12 sec · PA 309
11

Merge onto PA 309

16 mi · 24 min · Tunkhannock Highway
12

Continue on PA 29

1.9 mi · 3 min · Hunter Highway
13

Continue on PA 29

0.3 mi · 54 sec · Tunkhannock Highway
14

Turn left onto US 6

2.1 mi · 3 min · Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Use the left lane.
15

Merge onto US 6

7.2 mi · 10 min · Roosevelt Highway
Use the straight lane.
16

Continue on US 6

0.3 mi · 38 sec · Main Street
17

Continue on US 6

0.5 mi · 46 sec · River Street
18

Continue on US 6

7.4 mi · 10 min · Roosevelt Highway
19

Continue on US 6

6.9 mi · 9 min · Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Use the straight lane.
20

Continue on US 6

0.5 mi · 1 min · State Street
21

Continue on US 6

12 mi · 16 min · Grand Army of the Republic Highway
22

Turn sharp right onto PA 187

6.8 mi · 9 min · PA 187
Use the straight / right lanes.
23

Arrive at destination

PA 187

Trip Plan

For this 136.1-mile journey, consider departing in the morning to make the most of the daylight and the 3h 12m estimated drive time. With only one recommended stop and a total duration that easily fits into a single day, you have flexibility in your pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially before heading onto the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, as services can be spaced out. The estimated fuel cost of $23 should help you budget, but it's always wise to have a buffer. A good tip is to fill up in Bethlehem before you leave to ensure you start with a full tank.

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 68.1 miles from Bethlehem, PA, or about 1h 27m 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 30 miles or 41m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 68.1 miles or 1h 27m 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 37m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rome, 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 136.1 miles and 3h 12m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 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 Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension for about 47.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

unincorporated community

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Back Mountain, PA

68 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

Palmerton, PA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Kingston, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 68.1 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 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 11.8 and 129.3 — 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
92.4 mi into trip | ~2h 8m in | US 6 / Grand Army of the Republic Highway

Turn left onto US 6 / Grand Army of the Republic Highway

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
5
94.5 mi into trip | ~2h 11m in | US 6 / Roosevelt Highway

Merge onto US 6 / Roosevelt Highway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
7
129.3 mi into trip | ~3h 2m in | PA 187

Turn sharp right onto PA 187

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$22.56 one way

$45.13 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 48 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $24.71 $49.42
premium $4.93 $26.39 $52.79
diesel $5.61 $30.05 $60.10

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

$23

Tolls

$6

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$54–$79

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 47.6 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 40.8 0 $14.29 $6.53
Efficient EV 34 0 $11.91 $5.44
EV Truck/SUV 54.4 0 $19.05 $8.71

Gas CO2

48 kg

EV CO2

16 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

3:28 AM

EDT

Current temp

55°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Rome, PA

Late night in Rome on Sunday

Local time

3:28 AM

EDT

Current temp

39°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

16 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

3h 12m 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?

This route presents a mixed drive, with 47% of it on highways, suggesting a good balance between faster travel and more scenic, potentially slower sections. You'll encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 47.7 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, providing a substantial period of consistent highway cruising. As you transition off the Turnpike and onto roads like the Grand Army of the Republic Highway and Tunkhannock Highway, expect the driving experience to become more varied. The character shifts from efficient highway travel to a more engaged, potentially winding, and local road feel.

47% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
23 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 route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 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 136.1 miles you will encounter 11 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 92.4 miles (US 6 / Grand Army of the Republic Highway): Lane positioning matters here.

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

Patp

11.4 mi in | ~19m

Bear Creek

59.9 mi in | ~1h 13m

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 12m. Total distance: 136.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (47%). 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.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.

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 92.4 miles (US 6 / Grand Army of the Republic Highway): Lane positioning matters here.

Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Rome, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Bethlehem, PA or browse trips ending in Rome, PA.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse PA road trips.