Origin
Pottsville, PA
Morning in Pottsville on Sunday
Local time
9:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pottsville, PA to Bristol, PA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 6m
Distance
104.6 mi
168 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 57m
★
6 AM
2h 6m
8 AM
2h 24m
10 AM
2h 12m
12 PM
2h 11m
3 PM
2h 13m
5 PM
2h 23m
8 PM
2h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pottsville, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Bristol, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 104.6-mile drive from Pottsville to Bristol, Pennsylvania, is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in about 2 hours and 6 minutes. Operating primarily on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and the Pennsylvania Turnpike, this route is ideal for a single-day trip with no need for an overnight stay. With an estimated fuel cost of $17, it's an economical option for getting from the Northeast region of Pennsylvania to another part of the same state. The majority of the drive utilizes major highways, making it a practical choice for efficient travel.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52.3 miles from Pottsville, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 4m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension | 36.9 mi | 39m |
| Pennsylvania Turnpike | 23.6 mi | 26m |
| William Penn Highway | 21.6 mi | 26m |
| Center Avenue | 10.6 mi | 12m |
| Route 61 South | 3 mi | 3m |
| Centre Street | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| Lehigh Valley Thruway | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Bristol Pike | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
— 36.9 mi, about 39m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pottsville, PA and Bristol, PA.
1
Start on US 209
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
North Centre Street
2
Turn left onto US 209
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Mauch Chunk Street
3
Turn right onto PA 61
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
South Claude A. Lord Boulevard
4
Continue on PA 61
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
Pottsville Boulevard
5
Continue on PA 61
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Route 61 South
6
Continue on PA 61
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Center Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Continue on PA 61
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
Centre Street
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 78 East, US 22 East: Allentown
9
Merge onto I 78; US 22
22 mi
·
26 min
·
William Penn Highway
Use the straight lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 22
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Lehigh Valley Thruway
Exit 51
Toward US 22 East: Pennsylvania Turnpike, LVI Airport
Use the slight right lane.
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward PATP, I 476: Philadelphia, Scranton
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Toward I 476 South: Philadelphia
Use the right lane.
13
Merge onto I 476; PATP
37 mi
·
39 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Toward I 276 East: New Jersey
Use the right lane.
15
Merge onto I 276; PATP
24 mi
·
26 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
2 min
Exit 42
Toward US 13: Levittown, Bristol
17
Continue on Pennsylvania Turnpike
360 ft
·
8 sec
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike
18
Keep slight right at fork
357 ft
·
8 sec
Toward US 13 South: Bristol
Use the right lane.
19
Merge onto US 13
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Bristol Pike
Use the left lane.
20
Turn slight left onto Beaver Street
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
Beaver Street
Use the left lane.
21
Turn left onto Jefferson Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Jefferson Avenue
22
Turn right onto Pond Street
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
Pond Street
23
Turn left
91 ft
·
12 sec
24
Arrive at destination
1 ft
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of about 2 hours and 6 minutes, this trip is best tackled in one go. Leaving early in the morning can help you avoid potential midday traffic, especially as you approach the Philadelphia area. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without a clear exit is 36.9 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. You’ll want to ensure you have enough gas before embarking on that segment. While no specific stops are noted, the turnpike system offers service plazas for breaks and refueling.
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 52.3 miles from Pottsville, PA, or about 1h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 36.9 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 23 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.3 miles or 1h 4m 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 41m
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 Pottsville, 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 Pottsville, PA
This is one driving day of about 104.6 miles and 2h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Pottsville, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension for about 36.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
52 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 23 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 52.3 miles from Pottsville, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 175 decision points cluster between mile 39.1 and 103.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
39.1 mi into trip
|
~49m 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
40.5 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Take the exit toward PATP, I 476: Philadelphia, Scranton
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 PATP, I 476: Philadelphia, Scranton
7
40.9 mi into trip
|
~52m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 476 South: Philadelphia
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 476 South: Philadelphia
6
78.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 32m in
Take the exit toward I 276 East: New Jersey
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 276 East: New Jersey
8
103.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 2m 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
$17.34 one way
$34.68 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
37 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $18.99 | $37.99 |
| premium | $4.93 | $20.29 | $40.57 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.09 | $46.19 |
Estimated Tolls: $7.96
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(60.5 mi)
$7.87
Lehigh Valley Thruway
(1.3 mi)
$0.09
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
$17
Tolls
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 31.4 | 0 | $10.98 | $5.02 |
| Efficient EV | 26.2 | 0 | $9.15 | $4.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 41.8 | 0 | $14.64 | $6.69 |
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (68% 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.
Destination
Bristol, PA
Morning in Bristol on Sunday
Local time
9:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Cloudy
E 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
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
7 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
2h 6m 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.
Valley Forge National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Valley Forge is the place where George Washington and the Continental Army took refuge during the winter of 1777-1778. Today the park protects 3,500 acres of meadows, woodlands, historic landscapes, a...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
Free
near mile 75.8
Park Closure: Sun, Apr 19 - Park Entrance and Tour Roads Temporarily Closed for Rev Run
Park Closure: Admin Parking Lot Closed Fri 4/17 Until Sun 4/19 at Noon for Rev Run Setup
Independence National Historical Park
National Historical Park
The park represents the founding ideals of the nation, and preserves national and international symbols of freedom and democracy, including Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. The Declaration of I...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
$1
near mile 83
View on nps.gov
Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial
National Memorial
Visit the house where wounded Polish freedom fighter Thaddeus Kosciuszko lived and hear how this brilliant military engineer designed successful fortifications during the American Revolution. See the...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 83
View on nps.gov
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 3.6
View on nps.gov
First State National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Famous as the First State to ratify the Constitution, Delaware was born out of a conflict among three world powers for dominance of the Delaware Valley. From this beginning, the region developed a dis...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
Free
near mile 79.4
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 104.6-mile trip, with 61% of the route on high-speed roads. You'll encounter a significant uninterrupted stretch of 36.9 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, offering a chance to maintain a consistent pace. The drive will largely consist of modern turnpike conditions, providing a smooth and predictable ride. While not explicitly scenic, the focus here is on efficient transit rather than winding backroads.
61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 36.9 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and Pennsylvania Turnpike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 39.1 miles in near US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 17 significant decision points across 104.6 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 39.1 miles (US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Pottsville, PA and Bristol, PA, road signs point toward Lvi Airport, Patp and Scranton.
Lvi Airport
39.1 mi in
|
~49m
|
via US 22
Patp
40.5 mi in
|
~50m
Scranton
40.5 mi in
|
~50m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 6m. Total distance: 104.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (61%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 36.9 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $7.96 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.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 39.1 miles (US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Valley Forge National Historical Park, Independence National Historical Park and Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial (5 total within detour distance). 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 Bristol, PA before heading back.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Bristol, PA
More from Pottsville, PA
More trips to Bristol, PA
Explore more options from Pottsville, PA or browse trips ending in Bristol, PA.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse PA road trips.