Origin
Delaware, PA
Late night in Delaware on Tuesday
Local time
5:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Delaware, PA to Bethlehem, PA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 24m
Distance
53.9 mi
87 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 18m
★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 37m
10 AM
1h 29m
12 PM
1h 27m
3 PM
1h 29m
5 PM
1h 37m
8 PM
1h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Delaware, PA
Christopher Santiago
Bethlehem, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 53.9-mile drive from Delaware, PA, to Bethlehem, PA, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 1 hour and 24 minutes. Primarily following US 209 and Easton Avenue, with a segment of the Keystone Shortway, this route is heavily highway-focused, with 77% of it on higher-speed roads. With a fuel cost estimated at $9, this is an economical option for a day trip. Both your origin and destination are within the Northeast region, keeping the travel experience consistent. This drive is well-suited for a single-day adventure, offering a direct path without the need for an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 209 | 41.6 mi | 1h 2m |
| Easton Avenue | 4.4 mi | 7m |
| Keystone Shortway | 3.6 mi | 5m |
| Seven Bridge Road | 3.1 mi | 6m |
| William Penn Highway | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Linden Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 209
— 41.6 mi, about 1h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Delaware, PA and Bethlehem, PA.
1
Start on US 209
15 mi
·
28 min
·
US 209
2
Enter roundabout onto US 209
176 ft
·
6 sec
·
Seven Bridge Road
3
Continue on US 209
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Seven Bridge Road
4
Keep slight right at fork onto US 209
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
US 209
5
Merge onto I 80
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 209
26 mi
·
33 min
·
US 209
Toward US 209 south to PA 33 south: Snydersville
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward William Penn Highway
Use the slight right lane.
8
Turn right onto William Penn Highway
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
William Penn Highway
9
Continue on Easton Avenue
4.4 mi
·
7 min
·
Easton Avenue
10
Turn left onto Linden Street
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Linden Street
11
Arrive at destination
Linden Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27 miles from Delaware, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 14.9 and 48.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
14.9 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
US 209 / Seven Bridge Road
Enter roundabout onto US 209 / Seven Bridge Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
18 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
US 209
Keep slight right at fork onto US 209
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
18.3 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
I 80 / Keystone Shortway
Merge onto I 80 / Keystone Shortway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
21.9 mi into trip
|
~40m in
|
US 209
Keep slight right at fork onto US 209 toward US 209 south to PA 33 south: Snydersville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 209 south to PA 33 south: Snydersvill...
6
48.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
Take the exit toward William Penn Highway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward William Penn Highway
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.94 one way
$17.87 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $9.79 | $19.57 |
| premium | $4.93 | $10.45 | $20.91 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.90 | $23.80 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.66 | $2.59 |
| Efficient EV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.72 | $2.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.6 | 0 | $7.55 | $3.45 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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.
Destination
Bethlehem, PA
Late night in Bethlehem on Tuesday
Local time
5:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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
1h 24m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 53.9-mile journey, with 77% of the route utilizing higher-speed roads. You'll encounter a significant uninterrupted stretch of 41.6 miles on US 209, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. The drive progresses by transitioning from US 209 to Easton Avenue, which will likely offer a change in scenery and speed as you approach your destination. This route prioritizes efficient travel over winding, scenic byways, making it a functional choice for reaching Bethlehem.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41.6 mi on US 209.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 209 and Easton Avenue. You will hit about 6 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 14.9 miles in near US 209 / Seven Bridge Road.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 53.9 miles you will encounter 6 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 14.9 miles (US 209 / Seven Bridge Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 18 miles (US 209): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 18.3 miles (I 80 / Keystone Shortway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Delaware, PA to Bethlehem, PA, road signs begin pointing toward William Penn Highway along the way.
William Penn Highway
48.3 mi in
|
~1h 13m
About the Cities
Starting in Delaware, PA
Full guide →“The First State” · Founded 1787
Delaware has beautiful beaches and parks. The more popular beaches are in: Rehoboth Beach, Lewes, Dewey Beach and Bethany Beach. Most parks in Delaware's very extensive and well maintained park system are free or low-cost. The First State National Historical Park a group of historical sites that cover the early colonial history of Delaware and the role Delaware played in the establishment of the United States, leading up to it being the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution. It is one of the smallest states in the United States. It has beautiful beaches, and activities vary from business-friendly Wilmington to the rural southern parts of the state.
Top landmarks
- • Delaware Art Museum — art museum located on the Kentmere Parkway in Wilmington, Delaware, USA
- • Chesapeake and Delaware Canal — canal in Delaware, United States of America
- • Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library — museum in Wilmington, Delaware
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 24m. Total distance: 53.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 41.6 miles on US 209. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 14.9 miles (US 209 / Seven Bridge Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 18 miles (US 209): Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 18.3 miles (I 80 / Keystone Shortway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bethlehem, PA before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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