Trip from Kenmar, PA to Bethlehem, PA
Pin this tripCompiled 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
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kenmar, PA
Qeis Ismail
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 |
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
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.
Start on Reed Street
Turn left onto Westminster Drive
At end of road, turn left onto East 3rd Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 180; US 220
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 80
Take the exit
Turn slight left
Turn right onto PA 54
Continue on PA 54
Continue on PA 54
Turn left onto PA 54
Continue on PA 54
Continue on PA 901
Continue on PA 901
Continue on PA 901
Continue on PA 901
Turn right onto PA 901
Turn right onto PA 901
Continue on PA 901
Turn left onto PA 183
Turn right onto PA 61
Continue on PA 61
Continue on PA 61
Take the exit
Merge onto I 78; US 22
Keep slight right at fork onto US 22
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Continue on PA 378
Take the exit
Turn right onto 8th Avenue
Turn left onto West Union Boulevard
Turn left onto Center Street
Turn right onto East Goepp Street
Turn right onto Linden Street
Arrive at destination
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.
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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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
A short stop after about 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
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.
Flying J Travel Center
Montour County Rest Area Westbound
Rest Area
Allentown Service Plaza
Lehigh Millennium Folk Arch and Art Enclave
Near the end, short detour
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 245 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.
Take the exit toward I 80 East: Bloomsburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
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
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
Keep slight right at fork toward PA 378 South: Bethlehem
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Eighth Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.26 one way
$42.52 round trip
| 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
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.
Origin
Kenmar, PA
Afternoon in Kenmar on Sunday
Local time
12:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Partly Sunny
Destination
Bethlehem, PA
Afternoon in Bethlehem on Sunday
Local time
12:04 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Partly Sunny
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
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...
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.
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.
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.
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
Lvi Airport
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
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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