This 157.5-mile drive from Derry, PA to Bristol, PA will take you approximately 3 hours and 7 minutes. Primarily utilizing the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and other major highways, this route is well-suited for a single-day trip. With a fuel cost estimated at $26, it's an economical option for getting across the state. The drive is focused on efficient travel, making it a straightforward journey with minimal fuss. You'll be spending about 62% of your time on highways, ensuring a consistent pace for your trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
78.7 miles from Derry, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 37m into the drive
.
Given the 3-hour duration, this route is easily manageable as a day trip. Consider an early morning departure to maximize your daylight hours and avoid potential rush hour congestion. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $26, you can plan for a smooth and budget-friendly journey. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially before embarking on the longest stretch of 74.6 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, to ensure you don't need to make an unplanned stop.
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 78.7 miles from Derry, PA, or about 1h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 74.6 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 35 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 78.7 miles or 1h 37m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bristol, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
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Open the route before leaving Derry, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
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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 Derry, PA
This is one driving day of about 157.5 miles and 3h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Derry, 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 Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension for about 74.6 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 55.4 and 156 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
55.4 mi into trip|~1h 10m in
Take the exit toward PA 940, PATP, I 476: Wilkes-Barre, Allentown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward PA 940, PATP, I 476: Wilkes-Barre, Allen...
6
56.3 mi into trip|~1h 12m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 476 South: Allentown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 476 South: Allentown
6
131.1 mi into trip|~2h 33m in
Take the exit toward I 276 East: New Jersey
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 276 East: New Jersey
6
154.9 mi into trip|~3h 1m in
Take the exit toward US 13: Levittown, Bristol
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 42
Toward US 13: Levittown, Bristol
8
156 mi into trip|~3h 3m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 13 South: Bristol
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward US 13 South: Bristol
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.11 one way
$52.22 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg55 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$28.60
$57.20
premium
$4.93
$30.55
$61.09
diesel
$5.61
$34.77
$69.55
Estimated Tolls: $12.76
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(98.2 mi)$12.76
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
$26
Tolls
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47.3
0
$16.54
$7.56
Efficient EV
39.4
0
$13.78
$6.30
EV Truck/SUV
63
0
$22.05
$10.08
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 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 Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Derry, PA
Afternoon
in Derry on Sunday
Local time
12:31 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Bristol, PA
Afternoon
in Bristol on Sunday
Local time
12:31 PM
EDT
Current temp
93°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 5 to 15 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 4:45AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 4:42AM EDT by NWS State College 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
49 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 7m 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 130.3
Park Closure: Sun, Apr 19 - Park Entrance and Tour Roads Temporarily Closed for Rev Run
Park Closure: Admin Parking Lot Closed Fri 4/17 Until Sun 4/19 at Noon for Rev Run Setup
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...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
$1
near mile 135.8
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
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 135.8
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...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
Free
near mile 130.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this trip, with 62% of the route on major roadways. The Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension forms a significant portion of your journey, featuring a longest stretch of 74.6 uninterrupted miles. This means you'll experience long periods of consistent driving, allowing for steady progress. The overall feel is one of efficient transit, designed to get you from point A to point B with speed and ease.
62% 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: 74.6 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 Keystone Shortway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 55.4 miles in.
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 157.5 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 55.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 56.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 131.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Between Derry, PA and Bristol, PA, road signs point toward Patp and Allentown.
Patp
55.4 mi in|~1h 10m
Allentown
55.4 mi in|~1h 10m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 7m. Total distance: 157.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 7m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 74.6 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $12.76 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Bristol, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 55.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 56.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 131.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.1 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Bristol, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
