Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 36m
Distance
59 mi
95 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Bristol, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Middletown, PA
Michael Taccetta
Bristol, PA to Middletown, PA is 59 miles and takes about 1 hour 36 minutes via Pennsylvania Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Pennsylvania, traversing the Northeast region for its entirety. Expect a mixed driving experience that combines highway travel with some local road sections. With a short duration and manageable distance, this trip is well-suited for a single-day excursion, allowing for a relaxed pace.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
29.5 miles from Bristol, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 46m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike | 15 mi | 18m |
| Sellersville Bypass | 8.2 mi | 11m |
| Horsham Road | 7.6 mi | 13m |
| North West End Boulevard | 6.3 mi | 10m |
| Bethlehem Pike | 4.8 mi | 8m |
| PA 378 | 4.5 mi | 7m |
| South West End Boulevard | 2.9 mi | 5m |
| Mountain Drive North | 1.7 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between Bristol, PA and Middletown, 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
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto PA 611
Turn slight left onto PA 463
Turn slight right onto PA 309
Continue on PA 309
Continue on PA 309
Continue on PA 309
Take the exit
Continue on PA 378
Turn right onto Mountain Drive North
Keep slight left at fork onto Mountain Drive North
Continue on Hayes Street
Turn right onto PA 412
Turn left onto Stefko Boulevard
Turn right onto Pembroke Road
Continue on Freemansburg Avenue
Keep slight left at fork onto Willow Park Road
Arrive at destination
Given the drive's short duration of under 2 hours, you have a lot of flexibility with departure times. Consider leaving mid-morning to avoid potential rush hour traffic around Bristol and its surrounding areas. Since there are no designated stops in the data, plan for a brief fuel or stretch break midway if needed, perhaps after completing the longest 15-mile stretch on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is only $10, suggesting you might want to top off before you leave Bristol to ensure you have ample fuel for the entire 59 miles.
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.
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 13 miles or 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 29.5 miles or 46m 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Middletown, PA than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Bristol, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bristol, PA
This is one driving day of about 59 miles and 1h 36m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
30 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 29.5 miles from Bristol, 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 1.7 and 17.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
Take the exit toward PA 611: Willow Grove, Doylestown, Jenkintown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward PA 611 North: Doylestown, Horsham
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward PA 611 North: Doylestown, Horsham, Biddle Air National Guard Base
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$9.78 one way
$19.56 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $10.71 | $21.43 |
| premium | $4.93 | $11.44 | $22.88 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $13.03 | $26.05 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.95
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
$10
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.7 | 0 | $6.19 | $2.83 |
| Efficient EV | 14.8 | 0 | $5.16 | $2.36 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.6 | 0 | $8.26 | $3.78 |
Gas CO2
21 kg
EV CO2
7 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
Morning in Bristol on Sunday
Local time
8:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
93°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Morning in Middletown on Sunday
Local time
8:00 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°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
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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This drive offers a blend of highway and local road experiences, with 33% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter a 15-mile stretch primarily on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, providing a taste of faster-paced driving. The route also incorporates segments on the Sellersville Bypass and Horsham Road, which likely offer a different feel with potentially more local traffic or slower speeds. This mix means you'll transition between different driving environments as you progress toward Middletown.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in near Pennsylvania Turnpike.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 59 miles you will encounter 22 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 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; at 17.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bristol, PA and Middletown, PA, road signs point toward Patp West: Harrisburg, Doylestown, Jenkintown, Horsham and Biddle Air National Guard Base.
Patp West: Harrisburg
Doylestown
Jenkintown
Horsham
Biddle Air National Guard Base
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 36m. Total distance: 59 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (33%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface 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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