Trip from Knox, PA to Bethlehem, PA

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 13m

Distance

267.3 mi

430 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$43

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min

4 AM

5h 0m ★

6 AM

5h 14m

8 AM

5h 41m

10 AM

5h 23m

12 PM

5h 21m

3 PM

5h 25m

5 PM

5h 39m

8 PM

5h 6m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Knox, PA

Haberdoedas Photography

city in Lehigh and Northampton counties, Pennsylvania, USA

Bethlehem, PA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Knox to Bethlehem is 267.3 miles and takes about 5h 13m via Keystone Shortway, with a fuel budget near $44 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, traversing the Northeast region from west to east. Expect a local drive with frequent turns, making it less of a high-speed cruise and more of an engaged journey. Given the relatively short duration and the $44 fuel estimate, this route is well-suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to arrive with time to spare.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

133.6 miles from Knox, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 28m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Keystone Shortway	169.6 mi	3h 2m
William Penn Highway	21.6 mi	26m
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
Gordon Nagle Trail	4 mi	6m

Longest stretch: Keystone Shortway — 169.6 mi, about 3h 2m

Traffic on I-80

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 44 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

3 PM

~1,072 veh/hr typical · worst 1,424

Quietest

2 AM

~183 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

5.9×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 52 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 Knox, PA and Bethlehem, PA.

Start on Main Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · Main Street

Continue on Knox Road

1.0 mi · 2 min · Knox Road

Turn right onto PA 338

1.6 mi · 2 min · PA 338

Turn left onto Canoe Ripple Road

0.7 mi · 1 min · Canoe Ripple Road

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 48 sec

Merge onto I 80

170 mi · 3 hr 2 min · Keystone Shortway

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec

Toward PA 54: Danville, Washingtonville

Turn slight left

79 ft · 2 sec

Turn right onto PA 54

2.9 mi · 3 min · Continental Boulevard

Use the straight / right lanes.

Continue on PA 54

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Factory Street

Continue on PA 54

0.3 mi · 49 sec · Danville-Riverside Bridge Road

Turn left onto PA 54

9.7 mi · 11 min · Elysburg Road

Use the left lane.

Continue on PA 54

11 mi · 13 min · State Route 54

Continue on PA 901

0.4 mi · 41 sec · Locust Gap Highway

Continue on PA 901

2.2 mi · 2 min · Fairgrounds Road

Continue on PA 901

9.4 mi · 11 min · Sunbury Road

Continue on PA 901

0.8 mi · 1 min · Sunbury Street

Turn right onto PA 901

1.8 mi · 2 min · Pottsville Minersville Highway

Turn right onto PA 901

4.0 mi · 6 min · Gordon Nagle Trail

Continue on PA 901

0.2 mi · 33 sec · North Sillyman Street

Turn left onto PA 183

0.7 mi · 2 min · Pottsville Street

Turn right onto PA 61

493 ft · 6 sec · Route 61 South

Continue on PA 61

11 mi · 12 min · Center Avenue

Use the straight / right lanes.

Continue on PA 61

2.7 mi · 3 min · Centre Street

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 41 sec

Toward I 78 East, US 22 East: Allentown

Merge onto I 78; US 22

22 mi · 26 min · William Penn Highway

Use the straight lane.

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.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec

Toward PA 378 South: Bethlehem, Schoenersville Road Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 21 sec

Toward PA 378 South: Bethlehem Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on PA 378

1.8 mi · 2 min · Bethlehem Spur Route

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 33 sec

Exit 2 Toward Eighth Avenue Use the slight right lane.

Turn right onto 8th Avenue

0.1 mi · 22 sec · 8th Avenue

Turn left onto West Union Boulevard

1.0 mi · 2 min · West Union Boulevard

Turn left onto Center Street

423 ft · 11 sec · Center Street

Turn right onto East Goepp Street

0.3 mi · 49 sec · East Goepp Street

Turn right onto Linden Street

57 ft · 1 sec · Linden Street

Arrive at destination

Linden Street

Trip Plan

With a drive time of just over 5 hours and a manageable 267.3-mile distance, this route is ideal for a single-day trip. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for the frequent turns. While the longest stretch is significant, plan for a break around the halfway point, especially as you transition to more local roads. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge; while the estimated cost is $44, local roads can sometimes be more spread out between services than major highways, so don't let it get too low.

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 133.6 miles from Knox, PA, or about 2h 28m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 169.6 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 59 miles or 1h 8m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 133.6 miles or 2h 28m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 10m

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 Knox, 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 Knox, PA

This is one driving day of about 267.3 miles and 5h 13m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Knox, 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 Keystone Shortway for about 169.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Central City, PA

134 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

Punxsutawney, PA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 59 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Central City, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 133.6 miles from Knox, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

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 21

5 decision points cluster between mile 173.8 and 265.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

173.8 mi into trip | ~3h 11m in

Take the exit toward PA 54: Danville, Washingtonville

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward PA 54: Danville, Washingtonville

253 mi into trip | ~4h 52m 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...

263.3 mi into trip | ~5h 6m 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...

263.5 mi into trip | ~5h 6m 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

265.6 mi into trip | ~5h 9m 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

$42.62 one way

$85.24 round trip

$4.05/gal 25.4 MPG avg 94 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.48	$47.17	$94.33
premium	$4.81	$50.60	$101.20
diesel	$4.80	$50.47	$100.94

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

$43

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$68–$93

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 93.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	80.2	0	$28.07	$12.83
Efficient EV	66.8	0	$23.39	$10.69
EV Truck/SUV	106.9	1	$37.42	$17.11

Gas CO2

94 kg

EV CO2

31 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 Jul 18, 2026

Origin

Knox, PA

Morning in Knox on Monday

Local time

6:17 AM

EDT

Current temp

65°F

Smoke

S 5 mph 38% chance Live forecast

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued July 17 at 9:35PM EDT until July 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ

Beach Hazards Statement

Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 9:22PM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH

Destination

Bethlehem, PA

Morning in Bethlehem on Monday

Local time

6:17 AM

EDT

Current temp

67°F

Smoke

0 mph 12% chance Live forecast

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued July 17 at 9:35PM EDT until July 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ

Beach Hazards Statement

Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 9:22PM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH

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 warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

5h 13m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

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...

21 mi from route ~52 min detour Free near mile 212

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 characterized as turn-heavy and local, with only a 5% highway share. You'll primarily be navigating via the Keystone Shortway, William Penn Highway, and State Route 54. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 169.6 miles on the Keystone Shortway, offering a period of more consistent travel before the local roads and turns become more frequent. This profile suggests a driving experience that requires constant attention rather than a passive interstate cruise.

Only 5% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.

37 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 169.6 mi on Keystone Shortway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

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 173.8 miles in.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 267.3 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 173.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 253 miles (US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 263.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

1,824 ft 356 ft

Total Climb

2,066 ft

Total Descent

3,092 ft

Highest Point

1,824 ft

~57.3 mi in

Elevation Range

1,468 ft

Notable High Points

1,583 ft at ~133.6 miles +518 ft prominence

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

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

Washingtonville

173.8 mi in | ~3h 11m

Lvi Airport

253 mi in | ~4h 52m | via US 22

About the Cities

Starting in Knox, PA

Full guide →

Founded 1877

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 5h 13m. Total distance: 267.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 169.6 miles on Keystone Shortway. 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 22 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 22 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — Appalachian National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Bethlehem, PA before the return drive.

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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore more options from Knox, PA or browse trips ending in Bethlehem, PA.

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Trip from Knox, PA to Bethlehem, PA

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Traffic on I-80

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Jefferson County Rest Area Eastbound

Centre County Rest Area Eastbound

Montour County Rest Area Eastbound

Flying J Travel Center

TA

Jefferson County Rest Area Westbound

Centre County Rest Area Westbound

Clinton County Rest Area Eastbound

Clinton County Rest Area Westbound

Zachrich Trucking Inc

Pilot Travel Center

Pilot Travel Center

Flying J Travel Center

Flying J Travel Center

Sapp Brothers Travel Center

Montour County Rest Area Westbound

Love's Travel Stop

Clarion Service Plaza

TA

TA

Rest Area

Allentown Service Plaza

Lehigh Millennium Folk Arch and Art Enclave

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Knox, PA

Bethlehem, PA

Same local time

2 degrees warmer at arrival

5h 13m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Appalachian National Scenic Trail

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Starting in Knox, PA

Arriving in Bethlehem, PA

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

How do I pay the tolls on this route?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

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