Origin
Mars, PA
Morning in Mars on Tuesday
Local time
9:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mars, PA to Bristol, PA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 12m
Distance
331.8 mi
534 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$55
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 0m
★
6 AM
6h 13m
8 AM
6h 38m
10 AM
6h 22m
12 PM
6h 19m
3 PM
6h 23m
5 PM
6h 37m
8 PM
6h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mars, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Bristol, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Mars, PA to Bristol, PA is 331.8 miles and takes about 6h 12m via Pennsylvania Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $55 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, entirely within Pennsylvania. Given the predominantly highway nature of this route, it's a straightforward drive suited for a single day. Expect a consistent pace for most of the trip, making it a practical choice if you're looking to cover ground efficiently between these two points.
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
165.9 miles from Mars, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 8m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike | 319 mi | 5h 48m |
| Bakerstown Road | 3.9 mi | 6m |
| William Flinn Highway | 2.8 mi | 5m |
| Mars Valencia Road | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Babcock Boulevard | 1 mi | 1m |
| Bristol Pike | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Jefferson Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Irvine Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 319 mi, about 5h 48m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mars, PA and Bristol, PA.
1
Start on Crowe Avenue
35 ft
·
3 sec
·
Crowe Avenue
2
Turn slight left onto Irvine Street
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Irvine Street
3
Continue on Mars Valencia Road
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Mars Valencia Road
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on Babcock Boulevard
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Babcock Boulevard
5
Turn sharp left onto Red Belt
3.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Bakerstown Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Take the ramp
343 ft
·
9 sec
Toward PA 8 South
7
Merge onto PA 8
0.6 mi
·
59 sec
·
William Flinn Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Continue on PA 8
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
William Flinn Highway
Use the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
Toward I 76 Toll, PATP
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Toward I 76 East: Pittsburgh
11
Merge onto I 76; PATP
319 mi
·
5 hr 48 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Exit 42
Toward US 13: Levittown, Bristol
13
Continue on Pennsylvania Turnpike
360 ft
·
8 sec
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike
14
Keep slight right at fork
357 ft
·
8 sec
Toward US 13 South: Bristol
Use the right lane.
15
Merge onto US 13
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Bristol Pike
Use the left lane.
16
Turn slight left onto Beaver Street
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
Beaver Street
Use the left lane.
17
Turn left onto Jefferson Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Jefferson Avenue
18
Turn right onto Pond Street
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Pond Street
19
Turn left
91 ft
·
12 sec
20
Arrive at destination
1 ft
Trip Plan
Starting your drive from Mars, PA, early in the morning is a good strategy to maximize daylight and minimize potential traffic delays. With a total duration of around 6 hours and 12 minutes, this trip is easily manageable in a single day, but consider a brief stop around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the long 319-mile stretch on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, as services can be spread out. Given the route's efficiency, you have the flexibility to depart at a time that best suits your schedule.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 165.9 miles from Mars, PA, or about 3h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 319 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 73 miles or 1h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 165.9 miles or 3h 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bristol, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Mars, 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 Mars, PA
This is one driving day of about 331.8 miles and 6h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 73 miles from Mars, 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 Pennsylvania Turnpike for about 319 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
166 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 73 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 165.9 miles from Mars, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Pennsylvania Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 319 miles.
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 145 decision points cluster between mile 2.9 and 330.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
2.9 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
Red Belt / Bakerstown Road
Turn sharp left onto Red Belt / Bakerstown Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
6.9 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
PA 8 / William Flinn Highway
Merge onto PA 8 / William Flinn Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
9.6 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward I 76 Toll, PATP
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 I 76 Toll, PATP
6
329.3 mi into trip
|
~6h 6m in
Take the exit toward US 13: Levittown, Bristol
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 42
Toward US 13: Levittown, Bristol
8
330.3 mi into trip
|
~6h 9m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 13 South: Bristol
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward US 13 South: Bristol
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$55.01 one way
$110.02 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
116 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $60.25 | $120.49 |
| premium | $4.93 | $64.35 | $128.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $73.26 | $146.51 |
Estimated Tolls: $41.48
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(319 mi)
$41.48
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
$55
Tolls
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$121–$146
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 116.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 99.5 | 1 | $34.84 | $15.93 |
| Efficient EV | 83 | 0 | $29.03 | $13.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 132.7 | 1 | $46.45 | $21.24 |
Gas CO2
116 kg
EV CO2
39 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Bristol, PA
Morning in Bristol on Tuesday
Local time
9:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
67°F
Hancock, MD
166 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
5 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
6h 12m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 96% of this 331.8-mile trip on highways. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 319 miles, all on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The final leg of your drive, likely on Bakerstown Road and William Flinn Highway, will involve surface streets with more frequent exits and potentially denser local traffic as you approach your destination.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 319 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and Bakerstown Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.9 miles in near Red Belt / Bakerstown Road.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 331.8 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 2.9 miles (Red Belt / Bakerstown Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.9 miles (PA 8 / William Flinn Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Starting in Mars, PA
Full guide →Mars is a town in Pennsylvania. Yes, you read that right. It is one of the most quirky places you can find in Pennsylvania. The main reason to visit us to enjoy the signage that makes use of the town's name, and to see the flying saucer, if it's there.
Arriving in Bristol, PA
Full guide →Bristol is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. This article also covers the neighboring communities of Tullytown and Levittown.
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 6h 12m. Total distance: 331.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 12m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 319 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $41.48 in tolls one way, starting with Pennsylvania Turnpike. 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Bristol, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.9 miles (Red Belt / Bakerstown Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 6.9 miles (PA 8 / William Flinn Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 9.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.2 hours each way, a round trip means 12.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Bristol, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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