Centre County Rest Area Eastbound
0 mi from route
Trip from Northern Cambria, PA to Bethlehem, PA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 48m
Distance
243 mi
391 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$39
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 35m
★
6 AM
4h 48m
8 AM
5h 15m
10 AM
4h 58m
12 PM
4h 55m
3 PM
4h 59m
5 PM
5h 14m
8 PM
4h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Northern Cambria, PA
Michael Taccetta
Bethlehem, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Northern Cambria, PA to Bethlehem, PA is 243 miles and takes about 4h 48m via Keystone Shortway, William Penn Highway, and State Route 54, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Pennsylvania, taking you across the central part of the state. With a highway share of only 5%, expect much of your travel to be on surface roads, making it a more leisurely trip. It's a good option if you prefer to avoid extensive highway time and want a more grounded experience of the towns and landscapes you pass through.
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
121.5 miles from Northern Cambria, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 15m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Keystone Shortway | 103.7 mi | 1h 51m |
| 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 |
| Mahaffey Grampian Highway | 9.8 mi | 11m |
| Elysburg Road | 9.7 mi | 11m |
| Sunbury Road | 9.4 mi | 11m |
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 103.7 mi, about 1h 51m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 36 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,081 veh/hr typical · worst 1,447
Quietest
2 AM
~184 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
5.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 51 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 Northern Cambria, PA and Bethlehem, PA.
1
Start on 39th Street
81 ft
·
5 sec
·
39th Street
2
Turn right onto Crawford Avenue
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Crawford Avenue
3
Turn left onto US 219
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Philadelphia Avenue
4
Continue on US 219
3.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Shawna Road
5
Continue on US 219
0.7 mi
·
52 sec
·
South Main Street
6
Turn right onto US 219
318 ft
·
4 sec
·
Market Street
7
Continue on US 219
6.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Patchin Highway
8
Continue on US 219
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
9
Continue on US 219
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
Burnside McGee Highway
10
Continue on US 219
515 ft
·
6 sec
·
Burnside - McGees Highway
11
Continue on US 219; PA 36
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Colonel Drake Highway
12
Continue on US 219; PA 36
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
·
West Main Street
13
Continue on US 219
9.8 mi
·
11 min
·
Mahaffey Grampian Highway
14
Continue on US 219
0.7 mi
·
47 sec
·
1st Street
15
Continue on PA 879
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Curwensville Grampian Road
16
Continue on PA 879
2.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Curwensville Grampian Highway
17
Continue on PA 879
0.4 mi
·
24 sec
·
Curwensville Grampain Highway
18
Continue on PA 879
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Clearfield Curwensville Highway
19
Turn right onto PA 879
4.2 mi
·
6 min
·
Clearfield Shawville Highway
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
21
Merge onto I 80
104 mi
·
1 hr 51 min
·
Keystone Shortway
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward PA 54: Danville, Washingtonville
23
Turn slight left
79 ft
·
2 sec
24
Turn right onto PA 54
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
Continental Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
25
Continue on PA 54
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Factory Street
26
Continue on PA 54
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Danville-Riverside Bridge Road
27
Turn left onto PA 54
9.7 mi
·
11 min
·
Elysburg Road
Use the left lane.
28
Continue on PA 54
11 mi
·
13 min
·
State Route 54
29
Continue on PA 901
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
Locust Gap Highway
30
Continue on PA 901
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Fairgrounds Road
31
Continue on PA 901
9.4 mi
·
11 min
·
Sunbury Road
32
Continue on PA 901
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Sunbury Street
33
Turn right onto PA 901
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Pottsville Minersville Highway
34
Turn right onto PA 901
4.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Gordon Nagle Trail
35
Continue on PA 901
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
North Sillyman Street
36
Turn left onto PA 183
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Pottsville Street
37
Turn right onto PA 61
493 ft
·
6 sec
·
Route 61 South
38
Continue on PA 61
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Center Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
39
Continue on PA 61
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Centre Street
40
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 78 East, US 22 East: Allentown
41
Merge onto I 78; US 22
22 mi
·
26 min
·
William Penn Highway
Use the straight lane.
42
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.
43
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward PA 378 South: Bethlehem, Schoenersville Road
Use the slight right lane.
44
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward PA 378 South: Bethlehem
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
45
Continue on PA 378
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Bethlehem Spur Route
46
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 2
Toward Eighth Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
47
Turn right onto 8th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
8th Avenue
48
Turn left onto West Union Boulevard
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West Union Boulevard
49
Turn left onto Center Street
423 ft
·
11 sec
·
Center Street
50
Turn right onto East Goepp Street
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
East Goepp Street
51
Turn right onto Linden Street
57 ft
·
1 sec
·
Linden Street
52
Arrive at destination
Linden Street
Trip Plan
You can easily complete this 243-mile drive in a single day, giving you flexibility on when to depart. Consider leaving in the morning to make the most of daylight, especially since a significant portion of the route is on surface roads. The estimated fuel cost is $43, so plan accordingly. With only one stop suggested, you can decide if you want to break up the 4h 48m drive into two shorter segments or push through. Keep an eye on your navigation as you transition between the Keystone Shortway, William Penn Highway, and State Route 54 to ensure you're following the most efficient path.
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 121.5 miles from Northern Cambria, PA, or about 2h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 103.7 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 53 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 121.5 miles or 2h 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 49m
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 Northern Cambria, 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 Northern Cambria, PA
This is one driving day of about 243 miles and 4h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Northern Cambria, 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 103.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
122 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 53 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 121.5 miles from Northern Cambria, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Keystone Shortway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 103.7 miles.
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
Centre County Rest Area Westbound
0.1 mi from route
Clinton County Rest Area Eastbound
0.1 mi from route
Clinton County Rest Area Westbound
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Sapp Brothers Travel Center
0.2 mi from route
Montour County Rest Area Westbound
0.2 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
TA
0.3 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 websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 235 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 241.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Crawford Avenue
Turn right onto Crawford Avenue
Navigation decision point
9
228.8 mi into trip
|
~4h 27m 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
239.1 mi into trip
|
~4h 41m 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
239.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 41m 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
241.3 mi into trip
|
~4h 44m 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
$38.75 one way
$77.49 round trip
$4.05/gal
25.4 MPG avg
85 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $42.88 | $85.76 |
| premium | $4.81 | $46.00 | $92.00 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $45.88 | $91.77 |
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
$39
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 85 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 72.9 | 0 | $25.52 | $11.66 |
| Efficient EV | 60.8 | 0 | $21.26 | $9.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 97.2 | 1 | $34.02 | $15.55 |
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
28 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.
Origin
Northern Cambria, PA
Evening in Northern Cambria on Monday
Local time
8:56 PM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Patchy Smoke then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
SW 7 to 13 mph
89% chance
Live forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 18 at 9:21AM EDT until July 19 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS State College PA
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 3:54AM EDT until July 18 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Destination
Bethlehem, PA
Evening in Bethlehem on Monday
Local time
8:56 PM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Smoke
SW 0 to 15 mph
90% chance
Live forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 18 at 9:21AM EDT until July 19 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS State College PA
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 3:54AM EDT until July 18 at 10:00PM 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 48m 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...
20 mi from route
~50 min detour
Free
near mile 192.8
Park Closure: List of trail closures post-Hurricane Helene
Caution: Black Bears Frequenting the McAfee Knob Area in Virginia
Johnstown Flood National Memorial
National Memorial
The South Fork Dam failed on Friday, May 31, 1889, and unleashed 20,000,000 tons of water that devastated Johnstown, PA. The flood killed 2,209 people but it brought the nation and the world together...
22 mi from route
~54 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route covers 243 miles, and you'll spend most of your time on surface roads, as highways make up only 5% of the drive. The longest continuous stretch on a single road is 103.7 miles along the Keystone Shortway. Expect to transition from highway cruising to navigating through towns and rural areas fairly early on. The prevalence of surface roads means you'll likely encounter more traffic signals and varying speed limits.
Only 5% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
52 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 103.7 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 early in the drive near Crawford Avenue.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 23 significant decision points across 243 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: near the start (Crawford Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 228.8 miles (US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 239.1 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
1,638 ft
356 ft
Total Climb
1,654 ft
Total Descent
2,808 ft
Highest Point
1,638 ft
~52.1 mi in
Elevation Range
1,282 ft
Notable High Points
1,437 ft at ~121.5 miles
+500 ft prominence
1,287 ft at ~173.6 miles
+574 ft prominence
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 Northern Cambria, PA and Bethlehem, PA, road signs point toward Washingtonville and Lvi Airport.
Washingtonville
149.6 mi in
|
~2h 45m
Lvi Airport
228.8 mi in
|
~4h 27m
|
via US 22
About the Cities
Starting in Northern Cambria, PA
Full guide →Founded 1893
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 4h 48m. Total distance: 243 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 103.7 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 14 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 14 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Crawford Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 228.8 miles (US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 239.1 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 and Johnstown Flood National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Bethlehem, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.
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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