Trip from Union City, 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 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

6h 37m

Distance

319.6 mi

514 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$51

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min

4 AM

6h 26m ★

6 AM

6h 38m

8 AM

7h 2m

10 AM

6h 46m

12 PM

6h 44m

3 PM

6h 47m

5 PM

7h 1m

8 PM

6h 30m

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

Best Time

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Union City, PA

Michael Taccetta

city in Lehigh and Northampton counties, Pennsylvania, USA

Bethlehem, PA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Union City, PA to Bethlehem, PA is 319.6 miles and takes about 6h 37m via Keystone Shortway, William Penn Highway, and Colonel Drake Highway, with a fuel budget near $52 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive keeps you within Pennsylvania for its entirety, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. Expect a route that is mostly surface roads, offering a more grounded travel experience than a pure interstate cruise. With a recommended one-day drive, it's a solid option for a straightforward trip across the state.

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

159.8 miles from Union City, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 24m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Keystone Shortway	153.1 mi	2h 44m
William Penn Highway	21.6 mi	26m
Colonel Drake Highway	13.5 mi	19m
William Flinn Highway	12.4 mi	16m
Route 208	12.3 mi	18m
State Route 54	11.1 mi	13m
Center Avenue	10.6 mi	12m
Lehigh Valley Thruway	10.3 mi	14m

Longest stretch: Keystone Shortway — 153.1 mi, about 2h 44m

Traffic on I-80

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 22 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 Union City, PA and Bethlehem, PA.

Start on US 6; PA 8

0.6 mi · 1 min · North Main Street

Use the straight / right lanes.

Continue on PA 8

3.1 mi · 4 min · Titusville Road

Continue on PA 8

7.8 mi · 10 min · William Flinn Highway

Continue on PA 8

1.6 mi · 2 min · Erie Street

Continue on PA 8

4.6 mi · 6 min · William Flinn Highway

Continue on PA 8

3.0 mi · 4 min · Hydetown Road

Continue on PA 8

1.3 mi · 3 min · West Spring Street

Use the straight lane.

Continue on PA 27

0.1 mi · 21 sec · Diamond Street

Turn straight onto PA 27

2.1 mi · 4 min · East Central Avenue

Continue on PA 27

2.6 mi · 3 min · Titusville Road

Continue on PA 27; PA 227

1.3 mi · 1 min · West State Street

Continue on PA 36

4.4 mi · 6 min · Tionesta Road

Continue on PA 36

4.5 mi · 6 min · Colonel Drake Highway

Turn left onto US 62; PA 36

0.3 mi · 27 sec · Route 36 and 62

At end of road, turn right onto PA 36

0.5 mi · 48 sec · Elm Street

Continue on PA 36

9.0 mi · 13 min · Colonel Drake Highway

Continue on PA 208

5.0 mi · 7 min · Route 208

Continue on PA 208

7.2 mi · 10 min · Route 208

Continue on PA 208

0.4 mi · 40 sec · North School Street

Turn left onto US 322

4.6 mi · 6 min · Main Street

Continue on US 322

1.7 mi · 2 min · West Main Street

Continue on US 322

1.6 mi · 2 min · Twenty-Eighth Division Highway

Continue on US 322

1.0 mi · 1 min · Main Street

Continue on US 322

4.1 mi · 5 min · Route 322

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 33 sec

Merge onto I 80

153 mi · 2 hr 44 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

Given the 6h 37m estimated drive time, leaving Union City, PA in the morning is your best bet to complete this trip within daylight hours. The route is mostly surface roads, so factor in potential delays from local traffic and signals. While there's only one recommended stop, you might want to plan for more frequent, shorter breaks as you'll be encountering them more naturally on surface roads. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially after leaving the 153.1-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway, as fuel availability might be less frequent on the subsequent surface road segments.

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 159.8 miles from Union City, PA, or about 3h 24m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 153.1 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 70 miles or 1h 46m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 159.8 miles or 3h 24m 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 18m

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 Union City, 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 Union City, PA

This is one driving day of about 319.6 miles and 6h 37m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 miles from Union City, 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 153.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Central City, PA

160 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 70 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Central City, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 159.8 miles from Union City, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

2.3 mi from route

Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

First break 0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour

Titusville, Pennsylvania

Hours: 9 am–4 pm

+18146761733

Visit website

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 website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 22

5 decision points cluster between mile 226.1 and 317.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

226.1 mi into trip | ~4h 35m 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

305.3 mi into trip | ~6h 16m 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...

315.6 mi into trip | ~6h 30m 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...

315.8 mi into trip | ~6h 30m 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

317.8 mi into trip | ~6h 33m 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

$50.96 one way

$101.92 round trip

$4.05/gal 25.4 MPG avg 112 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.48	$56.40	$112.79
premium	$4.81	$60.50	$121.00
diesel	$4.80	$60.35	$120.69

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

$51

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$77–$102

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 111.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $34 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	95.9	1	$33.56	$15.34
Efficient EV	79.9	0	$27.97	$12.78
EV Truck/SUV	127.8	1	$44.74	$20.45

Gas CO2

112 kg

EV CO2

37 kg (67% 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.

Forecast as of Jul 17, 2026

Origin

Union City, PA

Afternoon in Union City on Sunday

Local time

3:35 PM

EDT

Current temp

84°F

Smoke

NW 5 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Destination

Bethlehem, PA

Afternoon in Bethlehem on Sunday

Local time

3:35 PM

EDT

Current temp

87°F

Areas Of Smoke

NW 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

3 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

6h 37m 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.

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 264.5

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 route features a highway share of only 9%, meaning you'll spend most of your time on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a primary highway, the Keystone Shortway, covers 153.1 miles. After that, you'll transition to more local driving. Expect to notice a higher frequency of traffic lights and intersections as you navigate through towns and rural areas.

Only 9% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.

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

Longest single stretch: 153.1 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 226.1 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 22 significant decision points across 319.6 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 226.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 305.3 miles (US 22 / Lehigh Valley Thruway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 315.6 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

2,161 ft 356 ft

Total Climb

2,424 ft

Total Descent

3,330 ft

Highest Point

2,161 ft

~114.1 mi in

Elevation Range

1,805 ft

Notable High Points

1,298 ft at ~251.1 miles +687 ft prominence

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

On the drive from Union City, PA to Bethlehem, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Washingtonville along the way.

Washingtonville

226.1 mi in | ~4h 35m

About the Cities

Starting in Union City, PA

Full guide →

Founded 1856

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 6h 37m. Total distance: 319.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

6h 37m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 153.1 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 23 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 23 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 6.6 hours each way, a round trip means 13.3 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 Union City, PA or browse trips ending in Bethlehem, PA.

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Trip from Union City, 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

Rest Area

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

TA

TA

Rest Area

Allentown Service Plaza

Clarion Service Plaza

Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad

Lehigh Millennium Folk Arch and Art Enclave

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Union City, PA

Bethlehem, PA

Same local time

3 degrees warmer at arrival

6h 37m 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 Union City, 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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