Bristol, PA to Wilkes-Barre, PA is 120.6 miles and takes about 2h 23m via Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within Pennsylvania, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. Expect mostly highway driving for this relatively short, direct route. It’s a straightforward drive that can easily be completed in a single day, making it a convenient option for connecting these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
60.3 miles from Bristol, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 11m into the drive
.
Given the 2h 23m estimated drive time, leaving Bristol, PA in the morning should get you to Wilkes-Barre with plenty of daylight to spare. You can easily complete this drive in one day, so flexibility in departure time is key. With a fuel cost estimated at $20, you likely won't need to worry too much about frequent refueling, but it's always wise to keep an eye on your gauge, especially during the 84.9-mile stretch on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. Consider filling up before you get on the Turnpike for the best prices.
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 60.3 miles from Bristol, PA, or about 1h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 84.9 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 27 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.3 miles or 1h 11m 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 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Wilkes-Barre, 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.
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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 120.6 miles and 2h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Bristol, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension for about 84.9 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.7 and 111.4 — 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
111.4 mi into trip|~2h 7m in
Take the exit toward PA 115: Wilkes-Barre, Bear Creek
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 105
Toward PA 115: Wilkes-Barre, Bear Creek
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.23 one way
$38.46 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg42 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$21.28
$42.56
premium
$4.81
$22.83
$45.66
diesel
$4.80
$22.77
$45.54
Estimated Tolls: $14.15
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(108.8 mi)$14.15
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
$19
Tolls
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36.2
0
$12.66
$5.79
Efficient EV
30.2
0
$10.55
$4.82
EV Truck/SUV
48.2
0
$16.88
$7.72
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Bristol, PA
Evening
in Bristol on Sunday
Local time
8:27 PM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 10 mph52% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 10:02PM EDT until July 19 at 7:00AM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 10:01PM EDT until July 19 at 6:00AM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA
Destination
Wilkes-Barre, PA
Evening
in Wilkes-Barre on Sunday
Local time
8:27 PM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 6 mph48% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 10:02PM EDT until July 19 at 7:00AM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued July 18 at 10:01PM EDT until July 19 at 6:00AM EDT by NWS Pittsburgh PA
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
7 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
2h 23m 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.
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 29.1
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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily on highways, with 92% of the route utilizing them. You'll spend most of your time on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, including one continuous stretch of 84.9 miles. The approach to Wilkes-Barre via Bear Creek Boulevard will involve more surface roads after leaving the Turnpike.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 84.9 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and Pennsylvania Turnpike. 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 Effort10/10
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 20 significant decision points across 120.6 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
1,883 ft23 ft
Total Climb
2,843 ft
Total Descent
2,319 ft
Highest Point
1,883 ft
~112 mi in
Elevation Range
1,860 ft
Notable High Points
1,553 ft at ~77.5 miles+620 ft prominence
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 Wilkes-Barre, PA, road signs point toward Allentown and Bear Creek.
Allentown
26.1 mi in|~34m
Bear Creek
111.4 mi in|~2h 7m
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Curry Donut
Cafe
Near the end, right off the route
Home stretch
0.4 mi from route
~1 min detour
Dunkin'
Fast_food
Near the end, right off the route
Home stretch
0.1 mi from route
Wilkes-Barre, PA
Cuisine: donut;coffee_shop
Hours: Mo-Fr 05:00-18:00; Sa 06:00-18:00; Su 07...
Wilkes-Barre (the last part is variously pronounced "Berry", "Bury", "Bare", or "Berrah" by locals, and "Barry" or "Barr" by others) is a city of 41,000 people (2018) in Northeastern Pennsylvania, approximately 20 miles southwest of Scranton. The city is named for John Wilkes and Isaac Barre, both of whom were members of the British Parliament who opposed royal rule of the colonies. Although the city is named after them, neither one ever set foot in North America.
Top landmarks
•West End Wheelmen's Club
•St. Stephen's Episcopal Pro-Cathedral — procathedral in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
•River Street Historic District — historic district in Pennsylvania, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 23m. Total distance: 120.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 84.9 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $14.15 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 3 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 Wilkes-Barre, 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. There are 3 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Wilkes-Barre, PA before heading back.
