Spice Restaurant & Bar
Around the midpoint, short detour
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
Hours: 2–11 pm
+17176913131
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 36m
Distance
354.1 mi
570 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$59
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bristol, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Beaver Falls, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Bristol, PA to Beaver Falls, PA is 354.1 miles and takes about 6h 36m via the Pennsylvania Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $59 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Pennsylvania, taking you across the northeastern part of the state. With 98% highway driving, expect a straightforward trip that's mostly about covering ground efficiently. It's a solid choice if you want to get from point A to point B without many detours. Plan for a single day of driving to reach your destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
177.1 miles from Bristol, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 17m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike | 346.2 mi | 6h 18m |
| Big Beaver Boulevard | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| 4th Avenue | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| 8th Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
| Bristol Pike | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Jefferson Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| College Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Beaver Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Bristol, PA and Beaver Falls, PA.
Start on this road
Turn right onto Washington Street
Turn left onto Wood Street
Turn left onto Jefferson Avenue
At end of road, turn right onto Beaver Street
Turn slight right onto US 13
Turn left onto Pennsylvania Turnpike
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 95
Keep slight left at fork onto I 276; PATP
Take the exit
Turn right onto PA 18
Continue on PA 18
Continue on PA 18
Continue on PA 18
Continue on 8th Avenue
Turn left onto 11th Street
Arrive at destination
Given the 6h 36m estimated drive time, leaving Bristol, PA in the morning will allow you to arrive in Beaver Falls, PA well before sunset. The route is heavily highway-focused, making it easy to maintain a consistent pace; however, be mindful of potential tolls on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. With a fuel cost estimated at $59, it's wise to fill up before starting or at a major service plaza along the turnpike. Since the drive is manageable in one day, you have flexibility to start a bit later if needed, but an early start ensures a relaxed arrival.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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 78 miles or 1h 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 177.1 miles or 3h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Beaver Falls, PA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Bristol, 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 Bristol, PA
This is one driving day of about 354.1 miles and 6h 36m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
177 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 78 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 177.1 miles from Bristol, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Pennsylvania Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 346.2 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Best meal stop · early in the drive
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
Around the midpoint, short detour
Hours: 2–11 pm
+17176913131
Fratelli's Italian Restaurant
Burlington, New Jersey
Nino's Restaurant
Mt Pleasant, Pennsylvania
Around the midpoint, short detour
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
Hours: 2–11 pm
+17176913131
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Burlington, New Jersey
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+16095262746
Visit websiteLater in the drive, short detour
Mt Pleasant, Pennsylvania
Hours: Closed
+17245472900
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Monroeville, Pennsylvania
Hours: 4:30–9 pm
+14123724414
Visit websiteLater in the drive, short detour
Mt Pleasant, Pennsylvania
Hours: 4–8:30 pm
+17245473529
Visit websiteNear the start, ~11 min detour
Exton, Pennsylvania
Hours: 11 am–8 pm
+14848733198
Visit websiteNear the end, ~10 min detour
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Hours: 11 am–10 pm
+14127958666
Visit websiteNear the end, ~12 min detour
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Hours: 11 am–8:30 pm
+14127933121
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Monroeville, Pennsylvania
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887584389
Visit websiteLater in the drive, short detour
Somerset, Pennsylvania
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18777983752
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Monroeville, Pennsylvania
+18774943833
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Monroeville, Pennsylvania
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887584389
Visit websiteNear the end, short detour
Monroeville, Pennsylvania
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18889982546
Visit websiteLater in the drive, short detour
Somerset, Pennsylvania
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18668167584
Later in the drive, short detour
Somerset, Pennsylvania
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18889982546
Visit websiteLater in the drive, ~11 min detour
Somerset, Pennsylvania
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+12152475777
Visit websiteNear the start, ~11 min detour
Norristown, Pennsylvania
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+16102773825
Visit websiteNear the start, ~12 min detour
Ambler, Pennsylvania
Hours: 6 am–6 pm
+12674688000
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 348.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto Washington Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto Pennsylvania Turnpike toward I 95: Philadelphia, New York
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 South: Philadelphia, Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto I 276; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike toward I 276 Toll West, PATP West: Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward PA 18: Ellwood City, Beaver Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$58.71 one way
$117.41 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $64.30 | $128.59 |
| premium | $4.93 | $68.67 | $137.35 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $78.18 | $156.36 |
Estimated Tolls: $45.01
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
$59
Tolls
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$129–$154
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 123.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 106.2 | 1 | $37.18 | $17.00 |
| Efficient EV | 88.5 | 1 | $30.98 | $14.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 141.6 | 1 | $49.57 | $22.66 |
Gas CO2
124 kg
EV CO2
41 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Morning in Bristol on Tuesday
Local time
6:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Beaver Falls on Tuesday
Local time
6:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
67°F
Hancock, MD
177 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
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
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This drive is predominantly highway, with 98% of the 354.1 miles on high-speed roads. You'll experience one continuous stretch of 346.2 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. After this long highway segment, you'll transition to surface roads like Big Beaver Boulevard and 4th Avenue for the final miles into Beaver Falls. Expect dense exit activity as you approach your destination.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and Big Beaver Boulevard. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Washington Street.
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 354.1 miles you will encounter 12 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: near the start (Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (Pennsylvania Turnpike): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Founded 1868
Beaver Falls is a small city (population c. 9000 in 2010) in the North Pittsburgh Region of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 36m. Total distance: 354.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 36m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
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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