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Trip from Kenmar, PA to Bethlehem, PA

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 26, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 45m

Distance

130.3 mi

210 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$21

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 32 min
4 AM
2h 35m ★
6 AM
2h 45m
8 AM
3h 7m
10 AM
2h 53m
12 PM
2h 51m
3 PM
2h 54m
5 PM
3h 6m
8 PM
2h 39m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Kenmar, PA, PA

Kenmar, PA

Qeis Ismail

city in Lehigh and Northampton counties, Pennsylvania, USA

Bethlehem, PA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Kenmar, PA to Bethlehem, PA is 130.3 miles and takes about 2h 45m via Susquehanna Beltway, William Penn Highway, and Keystone Shortway, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region of Pennsylvania, offering a straightforward drive. Expect mostly surface roads, making it a good option if you prefer to avoid extensive highway time. With just one recommended stop and a relatively short duration, this route is ideal for a day trip or a relaxed start to a longer adventure.

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

65.2 miles from Kenmar, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 17m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Susquehanna Beltway 23 mi 25m
William Penn Highway 21.6 mi 26m
Keystone Shortway 11.5 mi 12m
State Route 54 11.1 mi 13m
Center Avenue 10.6 mi 12m
Lehigh Valley Thruway 10.3 mi 14m
Elysburg Road 9.7 mi 11m
Sunbury Road 9.4 mi 11m
Longest stretch: Susquehanna Beltway — 23 mi, about 25m

Traffic on I-80

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 6 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

3 PM

~1,375 veh/hr typical · worst 1,843

Quietest

2 AM

~202 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

6.8×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 48 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 Kenmar, PA and Bethlehem, PA.

1

Start on Reed Street

97 ft · 9 sec · Reed Street
2

Turn left onto Westminster Drive

0.4 mi · 1 min · Westminster Drive
3

At end of road, turn left onto East 3rd Street

1.0 mi · 1 min · East 3rd Street
4

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 40 sec
5

Merge onto I 180; US 220

23 mi · 25 min · Susquehanna Beltway
6

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 56 sec
Toward I 80 East: Bloomsburg Use the right lane.
7

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 21 sec
8

Merge onto I 80

12 mi · 12 min · Keystone Shortway
9

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Toward PA 54: Danville, Washingtonville
10

Turn slight left

79 ft · 2 sec
11

Turn right onto PA 54

2.9 mi · 3 min · Continental Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
12

Continue on PA 54

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Factory Street
13

Continue on PA 54

0.3 mi · 49 sec · Danville-Riverside Bridge Road
14

Turn left onto PA 54

9.7 mi · 11 min · Elysburg Road
Use the left lane.
15

Continue on PA 54

11 mi · 13 min · State Route 54
16

Continue on PA 901

0.4 mi · 41 sec · Locust Gap Highway
17

Continue on PA 901

2.2 mi · 2 min · Fairgrounds Road
18

Continue on PA 901

9.4 mi · 11 min · Sunbury Road
19

Continue on PA 901

0.8 mi · 1 min · Sunbury Street
20

Turn right onto PA 901

1.8 mi · 2 min · Pottsville Minersville Highway
21

Turn right onto PA 901

4.0 mi · 6 min · Gordon Nagle Trail
22

Continue on PA 901

0.2 mi · 33 sec · North Sillyman Street
23

Turn left onto PA 183

0.7 mi · 2 min · Pottsville Street
24

Turn right onto PA 61

493 ft · 6 sec · Route 61 South
25

Continue on PA 61

11 mi · 12 min · Center Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
26

Continue on PA 61

2.7 mi · 3 min · Centre Street
27

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 41 sec
Toward I 78 East, US 22 East: Allentown
28

Merge onto I 78; US 22

22 mi · 26 min · William Penn Highway
Use the straight lane.
29

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.
30

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Toward PA 378 South: Bethlehem, Schoenersville Road Use the slight right lane.
31

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 21 sec
Toward PA 378 South: Bethlehem Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32

Continue on PA 378

1.8 mi · 2 min · Bethlehem Spur Route
33

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 33 sec
Exit 2 Toward Eighth Avenue Use the slight right lane.
34

Turn right onto 8th Avenue

0.1 mi · 22 sec · 8th Avenue
35

Turn left onto West Union Boulevard

1.0 mi · 2 min · West Union Boulevard
36

Turn left onto Center Street

423 ft · 11 sec · Center Street
37

Turn right onto East Goepp Street

0.3 mi · 49 sec · East Goepp Street
38

Turn right onto Linden Street

57 ft · 1 sec · Linden Street
39

Arrive at destination

Linden Street

Trip Plan

Given the 2h 45m estimated duration, leaving Kenmar, PA in the morning allows ample time to reach Bethlehem, PA well before evening. Plan for one stop along the way to break up the 130.3-mile drive. Since this route is mostly surface roads, keep an eye on local speed limits and traffic, especially as you approach towns. The fuel cost is estimated at $21, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before departing, as services may be less frequent on certain stretches of the William Penn Highway and Keystone Shortway.

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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 65.2 miles from Kenmar, PA, or about 1h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 23 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 29 miles or 34m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 65.2 miles or 1h 17m 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 12m

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 Kenmar, 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 Kenmar, PA

This is one driving day of about 130.3 miles and 2h 45m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Kenmar, 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 Susquehanna Beltway for about 23 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Pine Grove, PA, PA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Pine Grove, PA

65 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

Milton, PA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Pine Grove, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 65.2 miles from Kenmar, 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.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Montour County Rest Area Eastbound

0 mi from route

Flying J Travel Center

0.2 mi from route

Montour County Rest Area Westbound

0.2 mi from route

Rest Area

0.8 mi from route

Allentown Service Plaza

1.6 mi from route

Lehigh Millennium Folk Arch and Art Enclave

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.8 mi from route ~5 min detour

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 24

5 decision points cluster between mile 24.7 and 128.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
24.7 mi into trip | ~29m in

Take the exit toward I 80 East: Bloomsburg

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward I 80 East: Bloomsburg
9
116.1 mi into trip | ~2h 24m 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
126.3 mi into trip | ~2h 38m 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
126.5 mi into trip | ~2h 38m 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
128.6 mi into trip | ~2h 41m 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

$21.26 one way

$42.52 round trip

$4.14/gal 25.4 MPG avg 46 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.56 $23.38 $46.75
premium $4.86 $24.95 $49.89
diesel $5.40 $27.72 $55.43

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

$21

Tolls

$1

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$47–$72

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 45.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 39.1 0 $13.68 $6.25
Efficient EV 32.6 0 $11.40 $5.21
EV Truck/SUV 52.1 0 $18.24 $8.34

Gas CO2

46 kg

EV CO2

15 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 26, 2026

Origin

Kenmar, PA

Afternoon in Kenmar on Sunday

Local time

12:04 PM

EDT

Current temp

61°F

Partly Sunny

NE 5 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Destination

Bethlehem, PA

Afternoon in Bethlehem on Sunday

Local time

12:04 PM

EDT

Current temp

59°F

Partly Sunny

NE 10 mph 1% chance Live forecast

38°F

Pine Grove, PA

65 mi in

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

2 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 45m 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.

Appalachian National Scenic Trail

Appalachian National Scenic Trail

National Scenic Trail

The Appalachian Trail is a 2,190+ mile long public footpath that traverses the scenic, wooded, pastoral, wild, and culturally resonant lands of the Appalachian Mountains. Conceived in 1921, built by p...

20 mi from route ~51 min detour Free near mile 76.4
Park Closure: List of trail closures post-Hurricane Helene
Caution: Black Bears Frequenting the McAfee Knob Area in Virginia
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

This drive is primarily on surface roads, with only 9% of the total 130.3 miles on highways. You'll experience a significant stretch of 23 miles on the Susquehanna Beltway, which transitions into surface roads for the majority of the trip. Expect the drive to feel more like cruising through towns and local areas rather than high-speed highway travel. The longest continuous highway segment is 23 miles.

Only 9% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
39 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23 mi on Susquehanna Beltway.

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 24.7 miles in.

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 24 significant decision points across 130.3 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 24.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 116.1 miles (US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 126.3 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.

Between Kenmar, PA and Bethlehem, PA, road signs point toward Washingtonville and Lvi Airport.

Washingtonville

36.9 mi in | ~43m

Lvi Airport

116.1 mi in | ~2h 24m | via US 22

About the Cities

Arriving in Bethlehem, PA

Full guide →

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.

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 45m. Total distance: 130.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 23 miles on Susquehanna Beltway. 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.

Yes — we found about 5 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 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. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 5 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

The main spots that need attention: at 24.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 116.1 miles (US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 126.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes — Appalachian National Scenic Trail. 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 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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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