If you are planning a quick excursion from Lehigh to Allentown, you are looking at a manageable 64.4-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 31 minutes to complete. This trip is perfectly suited as a single-day outing, meaning you can easily head out and return without needing to book an overnight stay. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $11, it is an economical choice for those looking to traverse the Northeast region of Pennsylvania. You will primarily navigate via PA 33, I-380, and the Lehigh Valley Thruway, which keeps the navigation straightforward. Because the distance is relatively short, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience without feeling rushed. It is a practical, no-fuss route that gets you from point A to point B efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
32.2 miles from Lehigh, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
PA 33
23.6 mi
30m
I 380
12 mi
13m
Lehigh Valley Thruway
10.5 mi
14m
Keystone Shortway
8.5 mi
11m
Main Street
3.1 mi
5m
Lehigh Road
2.1 mi
8m
Tilghman Street
0.8 mi
1m
MacArthur Road
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
PA 33
— 23.6 mi, about 30m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lehigh, PA and Allentown, PA.
1
Start on this road
60 ft·4 sec·this road
2
Continue on Lehigh Road
2.1 mi·8 min·Lehigh Road
3
At end of road, turn right onto PA 507
3.1 mi·5 min·Main Street
4
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·48 sec
5
Merge onto I 380
12 mi·13 min·I 380
6
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 1BToward I 80 East: Stroudsburg
7
Merge onto I 80
8.5 mi·11 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 302AToward PA 33 South: SnydersvilleUse the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto PA 33
24 mi·30 min·PA 33
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward US 22 West: Bethlehem, AllentownUse the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto US 22
11 mi·14 min·Lehigh Valley Thruway
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
Toward PA 145Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
177 ft·8 sec
Toward PA 145 SouthUse the left lane.
14
Turn left onto PA 145
0.1 mi·17 sec·MacArthur Road
15
Continue on PA 145
0.7 mi·1 min·MacArthur Road
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on PA 145
0.4 mi·42 sec·North 7th Street
17
Turn right onto Tilghman Street
0.8 mi·1 min·Tilghman Street
18
Arrive at destination
Tilghman Street
Trip Plan
Since this is a straightforward 64.4-mile drive, you have plenty of scheduling flexibility to avoid the heaviest regional traffic patterns. You won't need to worry about planning formal stops given the short duration, but keeping your fuel tank in good shape is easy with the $11 estimated cost. Make sure to check the traffic conditions on the Lehigh Valley Thruway before you depart, as this segment can influence your total travel time significantly. Because there are no mandatory stops required to complete the 1-hour and 31-minute drive, you can focus on a direct trip or build in a quick break if you prefer a slower pace. Keep an eye on your mileage markers while on the 23.6-mile stretch of PA 33 to gauge your progress accurately.
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 32.2 miles from Lehigh, PA, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 23.6 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 14 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 32.2 miles or 47m 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 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Allentown, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lehigh, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lehigh, PA
This is one driving day of about 64.4 miles and 1h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from Lehigh, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on PA 33 for about 23.6 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 17.6 and 62.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
17.6 mi into trip|~27m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 80 East: Stroudsburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 1B
Toward I 80 East: Stroudsburg
7
27.1 mi into trip|~40m in
Take the exit toward PA 33 South: Snydersville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 302A
Toward PA 33 South: Snydersville
7
51.2 mi into trip|~1h 11m in
Take the exit toward US 22 West: Bethlehem, Allentown
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 US 22 West: Bethlehem, Allentown
6
62.3 mi into trip|~1h 27m in
Take the exit toward PA 145
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward PA 145
8
62.5 mi into trip|~1h 27m in
Keep slight left at fork toward PA 145 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward PA 145 South
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.68 one way
$21.35 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg23 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$11.69
$23.39
premium
$4.93
$12.49
$24.98
diesel
$5.61
$14.22
$28.44
Estimated Tolls: $0.74
Lehigh Valley Thruway
(10.5 mi)$0.74
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
$11
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
19.3
0
$6.76
$3.09
Efficient EV
16.1
0
$5.64
$2.58
EV Truck/SUV
25.8
0
$9.02
$4.12
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Lehigh, PA
Late night
in Lehigh on Sunday
Local time
3:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Allentown, PA
Late night
in Allentown on Sunday
Local time
3:53 AM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Partly Sunny then Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms
NW 5 to 10 mph22% chanceLive forecast
66°F
Bangor, PA
32 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
24 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
1h 31m 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.
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
Situated within the most densely populated region of the United States, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area provides a unique opportunity to experience tranquil landscapes, rich human history,...
19 mi from route
~49 min detour
$10
near mile 26.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip offers a mixed driving profile, alternating between higher-speed highway segments and more localized road conditions. You will spend roughly 55% of your time on the highway, ensuring steady progress toward your destination. The route includes a longest uninterrupted stretch of 23.6 miles on PA 33, where you can settle into a consistent pace. As you transition between the various main roads, the character of the drive shifts from the open stretches of I-380 to the more integrated flow of the Lehigh Valley Thruway. Expect a balanced experience that requires you to stay alert during the transitions between these different road types while enjoying the varied pace of the journey.
55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23.6 mi on PA 33.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 17.6 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 64.4 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 17.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 27.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 51.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 31m. Total distance: 64.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (55%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 23.6 miles on PA 33. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.74 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 Allentown, PA before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 17.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 27.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 51.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. 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 Allentown, PA before heading back.
