Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
51m
Distance
36.9 mi
59 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
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
West Hamburg, PA
Frank Rietsch
This 36.9-mile drive from Bethlehem, PA, to West Hamburg, PA, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 51 minutes. With a modest fuel cost estimate of $6, it's an economical option for a quick excursion. The route primarily utilizes local roads like the William Penn Highway and Lehigh Valley Thruway, suggesting a more connected-to-the-landscape experience rather than a high-speed interstate journey. Given its short duration and the absence of designated stops, this is an ideal one-day trip, allowing for plenty of flexibility in your schedule. Both your origin and destination are within Pennsylvania's Northeast region, keeping the travel experience geographically consistent.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| William Penn Highway | 20.9 mi | 25m |
| Lehigh Valley Thruway | 9.8 mi | 13m |
| Bethlehem Spur Route | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| State Street | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| East Union Boulevard | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| North 4th Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Hex Highway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Linden Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Bethlehem, PA and West Hamburg, PA.
Start on Linden Street
Turn right onto East Union Boulevard
Take the ramp
Merge onto PA 378
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto US 22
Merge onto I 78; US 22
Take the exit
Turn left onto North 4th Street
Turn right onto State Street
Continue on Hex Highway
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 36.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 18.4 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 0.1 and 35.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto East Union Boulevard
Navigation decision point
Keep slight left at fork toward US 22 West: Allentown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Hamburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto North 4th Street
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$6.12 one way
$12.24 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $6.70 | $13.40 |
| premium | $4.93 | $7.16 | $14.31 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.15 | $16.29 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.69
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$1
Total
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.1 | 0 | $3.87 | $1.77 |
| Efficient EV | 9.2 | 0 | $3.23 | $1.48 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.8 | 0 | $5.17 | $2.36 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
4:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Late night in West Hamburg on Sunday
Local time
4:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
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
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.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive on this route, with no highway segments to speak of. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 20.9 miles along the William Penn Highway. This suggests a journey that will take you through varied local environments, with frequent intersections and changes in speed. The absence of significant highway time means you'll likely experience a more intimate connection with the landscape and communities you pass through, making the 51-minute duration feel engaging rather than monotonous.
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 0.1 miles in near East Union Boulevard.
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 9 decision points packed into just 36.9 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 51m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (East Union Boulevard): Navigation decision point; 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.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Bethlehem, PA to West Hamburg, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Hamburg along the way.
Hamburg
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 51m. Total distance: 36.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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