Origin
Duncannon, PA
Night in Duncannon on Sunday
Local time
11:32 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Duncannon, PA to Bethlehem, PA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 7, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 6m
Distance
99.4 mi
160 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 58m
★
6 AM
2h 7m
8 AM
2h 25m
10 AM
2h 13m
12 PM
2h 11m
3 PM
2h 14m
5 PM
2h 24m
8 PM
2h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Duncannon, PA
Jay's Photography
Bethlehem, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Duncannon, PA to Bethlehem, PA is 99.4 miles and takes about 2h 6m via William Penn Highway and US 22, with a fuel budget near $17 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, covering a relatively short distance that's manageable for a single day. The route primarily utilizes surface roads, offering a more local feel than a pure interstate experience. Given the 2-hour drive time and modest fuel cost, it's a straightforward 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
49.7 miles from Duncannon, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 3m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| William Penn Highway | 42.8 mi | 50m |
| American Legion Memorial Highway | 20.9 mi | 25m |
| US 22 | 11.4 mi | 15m |
| Lehigh Valley Thruway | 10.3 mi | 14m |
| 78th Division Highway | 7.6 mi | 8m |
| Bethlehem Spur Route | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| US 322 | 1 mi | 2m |
| West Union Boulevard | 1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
William Penn Highway
— 42.8 mi, about 50m
Traffic on I-81
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 28 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,855 veh/hr typical · worst 3,323
Quietest
2 AM
~433 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
6.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 101 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 Duncannon, PA and Bethlehem, PA.
1
Start on North Market Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
North Market Street
2
Continue on PA 849
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
Newport Road
3
Merge onto US 22; US 322
11 mi
·
15 min
·
US 22; US 322
4
Take the exit onto US 322
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
US 322
Toward I 81 North, US 322 East, I 81 South: Hershey, Hazleton, Carlisle
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto US 322
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
US 322
Toward I 81 North, US 322 East: Hershey, Hazleton
6
Merge onto I 81; US 322
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
American Legion Memorial Highway
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
19 mi
·
22 min
·
American Legion Memorial Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
45 sec
Exit 89
Toward I 78 East: Allentown
9
Continue on I 78
7.6 mi
·
8 min
·
78th Division Highway
10
Continue on I 78; US 22
43 mi
·
50 min
·
William Penn Highway
Use the straight lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 22
10 mi
·
14 min
·
Lehigh Valley Thruway
Exit 51
Toward US 22 East: Pennsylvania Turnpike, LVI Airport
Use the slight right lane.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward PA 378 South: Bethlehem, Schoenersville Road
Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward PA 378 South: Bethlehem
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on PA 378
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Bethlehem Spur Route
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 2
Toward Eighth Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
16
Turn right onto 8th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
8th Avenue
17
Turn left onto West Union Boulevard
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West Union Boulevard
18
Turn left onto Center Street
423 ft
·
11 sec
·
Center Street
19
Turn right onto East Goepp Street
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
East Goepp Street
20
Turn right onto Linden Street
57 ft
·
1 sec
·
Linden Street
21
Arrive at destination
Linden Street
Trip Plan
With a drive of just over 2 hours, this trip offers a lot of flexibility, so consider leaving mid-morning to avoid early rush hour. You won't need to split this into an overnight, but plan for potential delays on the surface road sections, especially if you encounter local traffic. The fuel cost is estimated at $17, so ensure your tank is sufficiently full before departing Duncannon. Keep an eye on your navigation as you transition between the William Penn Highway, American Legion Memorial Highway, and US 22 to stay on the most efficient path.
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 49.7 miles from Duncannon, PA, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 42.8 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 22 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.7 miles or 1h 3m 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 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bethlehem, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Duncannon, 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 Duncannon, PA
This is one driving day of about 99.4 miles and 2h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 miles from Duncannon, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on William Penn Highway for about 42.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
50 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 22 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 49.7 miles from Duncannon, 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 155 decision points cluster between mile 12.2 and 97.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
12.2 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
US 322
Take the exit onto US 322 toward I 81 North, US 322 East, I 81 South: Hershey, Hazleton, Carlisle
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 81 North, US 322 East, I 81 South: Her...
9
85.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 45m in
|
US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway
Keep slight right at fork onto US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway toward US 22 East: Pennsylvania Turnpike, LVI Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 51
Toward US 22 East: Pennsylvania Turnpike, LVI A...
7
95.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 59m in
Take the exit toward PA 378 South: Bethlehem, Schoenersville Road
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 PA 378 South: Bethlehem, Schoenersville...
8
95.6 mi into trip
|
~2h in
Keep slight right at fork toward PA 378 South: Bethlehem
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward PA 378 South: Bethlehem
7
97.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 2m in
Take the exit toward Eighth Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 2
Toward Eighth Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.61 one way
$33.22 round trip
$4.24/gal
25.4 MPG avg
35 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.67 | $18.28 | $36.56 |
| premium | $5.01 | $19.61 | $39.23 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $21.91 | $43.82 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.72
Lehigh Valley Thruway
(10.3 mi)
$0.72
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
$17
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 29.8 | 0 | $10.44 | $4.77 |
| Efficient EV | 24.9 | 0 | $8.70 | $3.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 39.8 | 0 | $13.92 | $6.36 |
Gas CO2
35 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (66% 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
Night in Bethlehem on Sunday
Local time
11:32 PM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
18 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
2h 6m 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?
This route is mostly surface roads, with only about 12% of the drive on highways. You'll encounter the longest continuous stretch on William Penn Highway, covering 42.8 miles. Expect a significant portion of your travel to be on local routes, which can mean more frequent intersections and varying speed limits. The drive will likely involve navigating through communities rather than exclusively cruising on high-speed thoroughfares.
Only 12% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 42.8 mi on William Penn Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12.2 miles in near US 322.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 15 significant decision points across 99.4 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 12.2 miles (US 322): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 85.2 miles (US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 95.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Between Duncannon, PA and Bethlehem, PA, road signs point toward Hazleton, Carlisle and Lvi Airport.
Hazleton
12.2 mi in
|
~17m
|
via US 322
Carlisle
12.2 mi in
|
~17m
|
via US 322
Lvi Airport
85.2 mi in
|
~1h 45m
|
via US 22
About the Cities
Starting in Duncannon, PA
Full guide →Founded 1792
Arriving in Bethlehem, PA
Full guide →Founded 1741
Bethlehem is one of three cities, along with Allentown and Easton, that are the urban population centers of the Lehigh Valley in eastern Pennsylvania. In the Lehigh Valley, Bethlehem borders Nazareth to its northwest, Allentown to its west, Hellertown to its southeast, and Easton to its east. The city is about 70 miles (110 km) north of Philadelphia, the sixth-largest city in the United States, and about 80 miles (130 km) west of New York City, the nation's largest city.
Top landmarks
- • Bethlehem Waterworks — pump-powered public water supply
- • Historic Moravian Bethlehem Historic District — complex of the oldest surviving buildings in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
- • Cathedral Church of the Nativity — church in Pennsylvania, United States
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 2h 6m. Total distance: 99.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 42.8 miles on William Penn Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.72 in tolls one way, starting with Lehigh Valley Thruway. 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.
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 Bethlehem, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 12.2 miles (US 322): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 85.2 miles (US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 95.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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