Bristol, PA to Punxsutawney, PA is 301.2 miles and takes about 5h 41m via Pennsylvania Turnpike, Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, and Keystone Shortway, with a fuel budget near $50 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip keeps you within Pennsylvania for its entirety, traveling from the Northeast region to its western part. The route offers a mix of major highways and surface roads, making it a straightforward, single-day drive for most. Expect around 5 hours and 41 minutes of pure driving time, not including any breaks you might take.
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
150.6 miles from Bristol, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
175.5 mi
3h 10m
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
74.2 mi
1h 20m
Pennsylvania Turnpike
24 mi
28m
East Main Street
13.4 mi
16m
Buffalo-Pittsburgh Highway
3.1 mi
3m
North Brady Street
1.9 mi
2m
Bee Line Highway
1.6 mi
2m
East DuBois Avenue
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 175.5 mi, about 3h 10m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 26 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,092 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,504
Quietest
2 AM
~185 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bristol, PA and Punxsutawney, PA.
1
Start on this road
158 ft·13 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Washington Street
506 ft·27 sec·Washington Street
3
Turn left onto Wood Street
0.1 mi·37 sec·Wood Street
4
Turn left onto Jefferson Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·Jefferson Avenue
5
At end of road, turn right onto Beaver Street
0.2 mi·31 sec·Beaver Street
6
Turn slight right onto US 13
0.7 mi·1 min·Bristol Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Turn left onto Pennsylvania Turnpike
0.6 mi·1 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
Toward I 95: Philadelphia, New YorkUse the left lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward I 95 South: Philadelphia, HarrisburgUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 95
1.2 mi·1 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 276; PATP
22 mi·25 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
Exit 40Toward I 276 Toll West, PATP West: HarrisburgUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
Toward I 476: Chester, AllentownUse the slight right lane.
Exit 95Toward PA 940, I 80: Hazleton, Mount Pocono
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·23 sec
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I 80 West: Hazleton
17
Merge onto I 80
175 mi·3 hr 10 min·Keystone Shortway
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward PA 255: DuBois, Penfield
19
Turn left onto PA 255
0.1 mi·15 sec·Bee Line Highway
20
Turn left
53 ft·6 sec
21
Turn right
57 ft·6 sec
22
Turn right
52 ft·5 sec
23
Turn right onto PA 255
1.5 mi·2 min·Bee Line Highway
24
Continue on PA 255
1.4 mi·2 min·East DuBois Avenue
25
Turn left onto US 219
0.6 mi·49 sec·Liberty Boulevard
26
Continue on US 219
1.9 mi·2 min·North Brady Street
27
Continue on US 219
0.2 mi·17 sec·Buffalo-Pittsburgh Highway
28
Turn right onto US 119
2.9 mi·3 min·Buffalo-Pittsburgh Highway
29
Continue on US 119
1.0 mi·1 min·Sykes Street
30
Turn right onto US 119
13 mi·16 min·East Main Street
31
Continue on US 119
0.2 mi·18 sec·Hampton Avenue
32
Turn right onto US 119; PA 36
0.2 mi·15 sec·East Mahoning Street
33
Arrive at destination
US 119; PA 36
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour 41-minute estimated drive time, starting in the morning is advisable to ensure you have ample daylight. You'll want to factor in at least one stop for fuel and a break, especially since the longest stretch on the Keystone Shortway is over 175 miles. While you could technically do this in one go, a brief stop midway will help you stay refreshed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as services can be more spread out on the surface road sections.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 150.6 miles from Bristol, PA, or about 2h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 175.5 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 66 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 150.6 miles or 2h 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Punxsutawney, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 301.2 miles and 5h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 66 miles from Bristol, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Keystone Shortway for about 175.5 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 26
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.7 and 100.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
1.7 mi into trip|~4m in|Pennsylvania Turnpike
Turn left onto Pennsylvania Turnpike toward I 95: Philadelphia, New York
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 95: Philadelphia, New York
8
2.3 mi into trip|~6m in
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 South: Philadelphia, Harrisburg
9
3.9 mi into trip|~9m in|I 276; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 40
Toward I 276 Toll West, PATP West: Harrisburg
7
26.1 mi into trip|~34m in
Take the exit toward I 476: Chester, Allentown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 476: Chester, Allentown
6
100.8 mi into trip|~1h 55m in
Take the exit toward PA 940, I 80: Hazleton, Mount Pocono
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 95
Toward PA 940, I 80: Hazleton, Mount Pocono
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$48.03 one way
$96.05 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg105 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$53.15
$106.30
premium
$4.81
$57.01
$114.03
diesel
$4.80
$56.87
$113.74
Estimated Tolls: $12.77
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(98.2 mi)$12.77
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
$48
Tolls
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$86–$111
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 105.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
90.4
1
$31.63
$14.46
Efficient EV
75.3
0
$26.36
$12.05
EV Truck/SUV
120.5
1
$42.17
$19.28
Gas CO2
105 kg
EV CO2
35 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Bristol, PA
Afternoon
in Bristol on Sunday
Local time
1:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Areas Of Smoke
NW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 3:59PM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 1:40PM EDT until July 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Destination
Punxsutawney, PA
Afternoon
in Punxsutawney on Sunday
Local time
1:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Smoke
W 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 3:59PM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 1:40PM EDT until July 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 41m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
Valley Forge National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Valley Forge is the place where George Washington and the Continental Army took refuge during the winter of 1777-1778. Today the park protects 3,500 acres of meadows, woodlands, historic landscapes, a...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
Free
near mile 31.2
The park represents the founding ideals of the nation, and preserves national and international symbols of freedom and democracy, including Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. The Declaration of I...
Visit the house where wounded Polish freedom fighter Thaddeus Kosciuszko lived and hear how this brilliant military engineer designed successful fortifications during the American Revolution. See the...
13 mi from route
~34 min detour
Free
near mile 20.8
Famous as the First State to ratify the Constitution, Delaware was born out of a conflict among three world powers for dominance of the Delaware Valley. From this beginning, the region developed a dis...
27 mi from route
~69 min detour
Free
near mile 31.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 33% of this trip involves highway driving. You'll encounter your longest stretch without a major change in road type for 175.5 miles on the Keystone Shortway. The drive transitions from highway segments to surface roads, meaning you'll experience periods of higher-speed travel interspersed with more local cruising. Be aware of the shift as you encounter more intersections and potentially slower traffic on the non-highway portions.
33% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 175.5 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 26 significant decision points across 301.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
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 3.9 miles (I 276; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,586 ft23 ft
Total Climb
2,889 ft
Total Descent
1,680 ft
Highest Point
1,586 ft
~193.6 mi in
Elevation Range
1,563 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bristol, PA and Punxsutawney, PA, road signs point toward Allentown, Mount Pocono and Penfield.
Punxsutawney is a borough in southern Jefferson County in the Pennsylvania Wilds, famous nationwide for Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog of Groundhog Day fame, who is traditionally said to determine for the nation whether summer will come sooner or later. Upon popping out of bed on the second of February, if he sees his shadow and returns to the security of his hole in fright, then — so the story goes — the U.S. can be assured that it will be in for a cold, long, rainy spring! See North American wildlife for more on the species.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 41m. Total distance: 301.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 175.5 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $12.77 in tolls one way, starting with Pennsylvania Turnpike. 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.
Yes — we found about 25 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Punxsutawney, PA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 25 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 3.9 miles (I 276; PATP / Pennsylvania Turnpike): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Valley Forge National Historical Park, Independence National Historical Park and Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial (4 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Punxsutawney, PA before the return drive.
