This 87.1-mile drive from Bethlehem, PA to Rutherford, PA is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 55 minutes. You'll navigate a mix of roads, including the William Penn Highway and I-81, with about 18% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost for this excursion is around $14, making it an affordable option. The route is characterized by frequent turns, suggesting a more local and engaging driving experience rather than a straightforward interstate cruise. Both your origin and destination are within Pennsylvania's Northeast region, so you'll stay within familiar territory throughout your journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43.6 miles from Bethlehem, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
William Penn Highway
43.1 mi
51m
I 81
15.7 mi
18m
Lehigh Valley Thruway
9.8 mi
13m
78th Division Highway
7.6 mi
8m
Nyes Road
2.7 mi
5m
Bethlehem Spur Route
2.3 mi
3m
East Union Boulevard
0.8 mi
1m
Creek Crossing Drive
0.8 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
William Penn Highway
— 43.1 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bethlehem, PA and Rutherford, 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
16 mi·18 min·I 81
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·45 sec
Exit 72Toward Paxtonia, LinglestownUse the slight right lane.
12
Turn left onto North Mountain Road
0.4 mi·44 sec·North Mountain Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
13
Continue on South Mountain Road
0.2 mi·36 sec·South Mountain Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
14
Turn left onto Jonestown Road
0.4 mi·1 min·Jonestown Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
15
Turn right onto Nyes Road
2.7 mi·5 min·Nyes Road
Use the right lane.
16
Turn right onto Union Deposit Road
0.2 mi·23 sec·Union Deposit Road
17
Turn slight left onto Conway Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Conway Road
18
Turn right onto Lyters Lane
0.2 mi·26 sec·Lyters Lane
19
Turn left onto Atticks Lane
0.1 mi·32 sec·Atticks Lane
20
Continue on Creek Crossing Drive
0.8 mi·2 min·Creek Crossing Drive
21
Turn right onto Jefferson Street
521 ft·28 sec·Jefferson Street
22
Turn left onto Rudy Alley
243 ft·17 sec·Rudy Alley
23
Arrive at destination
Rudy Alley
Trip Plan
With a total duration of under two hours, this trip offers plenty of flexibility. You can easily complete it in a single day, so consider leaving mid-morning to avoid rush hour and arrive at your destination with ample daylight. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 43.1 miles, so plan for a brief stop around the halfway point if you prefer not to drive for that long at once. Keep an eye on your GPS for the frequent turns, especially as you transition from I-81 onto local roads like the William Penn Highway. At an estimated fuel cost of $14, you won't need to worry about frequent refueling stops.
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 43.6 miles from Bethlehem, PA, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43.1 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 19 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43.6 miles or 56m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Rutherford, 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 87.1 miles and 1h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Bethlehem, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on William Penn Highway for about 43.1 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 81.2 — 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
5
4.3 mi into trip|~7m in|US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway
Merge onto US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
14 mi into trip|~20m in|I 78; US 22 / William Penn Highway
Merge onto I 78; US 22 / William Penn Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
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
8
81.2 mi into trip|~1h 40m in
Take the exit toward Paxtonia, Linglestown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 72
Toward Paxtonia, Linglestown
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.44 one way
$28.88 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$15.82
$31.63
premium
$4.93
$16.89
$33.78
diesel
$5.61
$19.23
$38.46
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
$14
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.1
0
$9.15
$4.18
Efficient EV
21.8
0
$7.62
$3.48
EV Truck/SUV
34.8
0
$12.19
$5.57
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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 17, 2026
Origin
Bethlehem, PA
Late night
in Bethlehem on Sunday
Local time
3:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Mostly Cloudy
W 5 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Dense Fog Advisory
Dense Fog Advisory issued April 17 at 4:51AM EDT until April 17 at 11:00AM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Destination
Rutherford, PA
Late night
in Rutherford on Sunday
Local time
3:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
68°F
Bloomsburg, PA
44 mi in
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
5 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
1h 55m 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.
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...
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...
22 mi from route
~55 min detour
Free
near mile 87.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' personality for this 87.1-mile trip. While about 18% of your route will be on highways like I-81 and the Lehigh Valley Thruway, a significant portion is on local roads, including the William Penn Highway. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 43.1 miles on the William Penn Highway, offering a good segment of consistent driving before you need to make turns. This blend means you'll experience varied road conditions and potentially slower speeds as you transition between different types of thoroughfares.
Only 18% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 43.1 mi on William Penn Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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 Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 87.1 miles you will encounter 17 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 3.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.3 miles (US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 14 miles (I 78; US 22 / William Penn Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 Rutherford, PA, road signs point toward Paxtonia and Linglestown.
Paxtonia
81.2 mi in|~1h 40m
Linglestown
81.2 mi in|~1h 40m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 55m. Total distance: 87.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 43.1 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 Rutherford, PA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 3.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.3 miles (US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 14 miles (I 78; US 22 / William Penn Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Rutherford, PA before heading back.
