Origin
Bethlehem, PA
Late night in Bethlehem on Sunday
Local time
3:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
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
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bethlehem, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Rome, PA
C1 Superstar
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 .
| 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 |
Step-by-step road directions between Bethlehem, PA and Rome, PA.
Start on Linden Street
Turn right onto East Union Boulevard
Continue on Tilghman Street
Take the ramp
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 476; PATP
Take the exit
Turn left onto PA 115
Continue on PA 309
Take the exit onto PA 309
Merge onto PA 309
Continue on PA 29
Continue on PA 29
Turn left onto US 6
Merge onto US 6
Continue on US 6
Continue on US 6
Continue on US 6
Continue on US 6
Continue on US 6
Continue on US 6
Turn sharp right onto PA 187
Arrive at destination
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.
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.
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.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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.
A short stop after about 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
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.
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.
Keep slight left at fork toward I 476 North: Scranton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
Turn left onto US 6 / Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto US 6 / Roosevelt Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Turn sharp right onto PA 187
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$22.56 one way
$45.13 round trip
| 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
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Bethlehem on Sunday
Local time
3:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Rome on Sunday
Local time
3:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Bear Creek
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.
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.
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