How far is Bethlehem, PA from Mercer, PA?

The driving distance from Bethlehem, PA to Mercer, PA is about 301.8 miles (485.7 km), with a travel time of about 05h 50m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 257.6 miles (414.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 41m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
301.78 mi
05h 50m
Flight
257.53 mi
414.45 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Bethlehem.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
257.53 mi
Kilometers
414.45 km
Flight Time
00h 31m

Driving Distance

Road route
301.78 mi
Kilometers
485.67 km
Drive Time
05h 50m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 05h 50m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Mercer
Thu, Apr 23, 6:25 AM EDT
Return by in Bethlehem
Thu, Apr 23, 12:16 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Bethlehem
2026-04-23T00:34
Arrive Mercer
Thu, Apr 23, 6:25 AM EDT
Route Timing
05h 50m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:51 AM to 1:51 PM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
5:18 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Bethlehem
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Howard
PA

Borough in Pennsylvania, United States of America

From Bethlehem
150.6 mi
02h 55m
To Mercer
151.1 mi
02h 55m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
72°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph NW
Destination
76°F
Thursday

Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 6 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Bethlehem and Mercer.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Bethlehem and Mercer.

  1. 1

    Start on Linden Street

    112 m · 13 sec · Linden Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto East Union Boulevard

    1.3 km · 2 min · East Union Boulevard

  3. 3

    Take the ramp right

    1240 ft · 30 sec

  4. 4

    Merge slight left onto Bethlehem Spur Route

    2.3 mi · 3 min · Bethlehem Spur Route

  5. 5

    Keep slight left to continue on US 22 West: Allentown

    1.3 km · 2 min

  6. 6

    Merge slight left onto Lehigh Valley Thruway

    3.2 mi · 4 min · Lehigh Valley Thruway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward PA 145

    981 ft · 35 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on PA 145 North

    73 m · 9 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto MacArthur Road

    4.5 mi · 8 min · MacArthur Road

  10. 10

    Continue on Macarthur Road

    7.4 mi · 10 min · Macarthur Road

  11. 11

    Continue on South Best Avenue

    1 mi · 1 min · South Best Avenue

  12. 12

    Continue on North Best Avenue

    2260 ft · 33 sec · North Best Avenue

  13. 13

    Continue on Riverview Drive

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Riverview Drive

  14. 14

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Lehigh Drive

    7 mi · 10 min · Lehigh Drive

  15. 15

    Turn left onto Bridge Street

    2482 ft · 1 min · Bridge Street

  16. 16

    Continue on Bankway Street

    550 ft · 7 sec · Bankway Street

  17. 17

    Continue on Sargent Stanley Hoffman Boulevard

    3242 ft · 55 sec · Sargent Stanley Hoffman Boulevard

  18. 18

    Continue on North 1st Street

    1.4 km · 2 min · North 1st Street

  19. 19

    Continue on Mauch Chunk Street

    1.9 mi · 2 min · Mauch Chunk Street

  20. 20

    Continue on Susquehanna Street

    1589 ft · 39 sec · Susquehanna Street

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Lehigh Avenue

    38 m · 2 sec · Lehigh Avenue

  22. 22

    Continue on Lehigh Street

    2384 ft · 33 sec · Lehigh Street

  23. 23

    Continue on Lehigh Avenue

    1431 ft · 22 sec · Lehigh Avenue

  24. 24

    Continue on East Catawissa Street

    2.5 mi · 3 min · East Catawissa Street

  25. 25

    Turn right onto Hudson Drive

    160 m · 8 sec · Hudson Drive

  26. 26

    Continue on Hunter Street

    2.8 mi · 4 min · Hunter Street

  27. 27

    Continue on Hudson Drive

    5.7 mi · 8 min · Hudson Drive

  28. 28

    Continue on Broad Street

    2666 ft · 35 sec · Broad Street

  29. 29

    Continue on Berwick Street

    1 mi · 1 min · Berwick Street

  30. 30

    Continue on East Broad Street

    3.8 mi · 5 min · East Broad Street

  31. 31

    Continue on North Broad Street

    2738 ft · 39 sec · North Broad Street

  32. 32

    Turn straight onto Susquehanna Boulevard

    2.3 mi · 3 min · Susquehanna Boulevard

  33. 33

    Continue on Valmont Parkway

    1199 ft · 31 sec · Valmont Parkway

  34. 34

    Continue on State Route 93

    3.7 mi · 7 min · State Route 93

  35. 35

    Continue on Berwick Hazleton Highway

    1.2 km · 1 min · Berwick Hazleton Highway

  36. 36

    Take the ramp slight right

    1125 ft · 28 sec

  37. 37

    Merge slight left onto Keystone Shortway

    240.6 mi · 4 hr 19 min · Keystone Shortway

  38. 38

    Take the exit slight right toward US 19: Mercer

    816 ft · 23 sec

  39. 39

    Keep slight right

    73 m · 8 sec

  40. 40

    Turn straight onto South Erie Street

    2.3 mi · 4 min · South Erie Street

  41. 41

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Erie Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Bethlehem and Mercer.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
41 steps
7 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
4 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Keystone Shortway
241 mi · 80%
MacArthur Road
11.9 mi · 4%
Lehigh Drive
7.02 mi · 2%
Hudson Drive
5.79 mi · 2%
East Broad Street
3.81 mi · 1%
State Route 93
3.73 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Keystone Shortway

Merge slight left onto Keystone Shortway

241 mi · 04h 19m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
05h 50m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+44.2 mi
257.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Howard
02h 55m from Bethlehem
Leave By
5:18 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Bethlehem and Sunny near Mercer.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Bethlehem to Mercer?

The road trip is about 301.8 miles (485.7 km) and usually takes 05h 50m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Howard is a useful midpoint, sitting about 150.6 miles from Bethlehem and 151.1 miles from Mercer.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 257.6 miles (414.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 44.2 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 5:18 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $43.52 one way or $87.03 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 94.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Bethlehem and Sunny near Mercer.

Stop Ideas Near Howard

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Howard, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Howard.

RAIL

Lewistown

48 mi away
150 Helen Street
RAIL

Tyrone

62 mi away
Pennsylvania Ave and West 10th St.
RAIL

Huntingdon

66 mi away
Fourth and Allegheny Sts.
RAIL

Altoona Transportation Center

84 mi away
1231 11th Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Bethlehem and Mercer. Straight-line distance: 257.53 mi (414.45 km).

Bethlehem

#1 Bethlehem

The second most populous city in Northampton County, Pennsylvania.

Population74,892
Coordinates40.6259300, -75.3704600
Altitude109
CountryUnited States
Mercer

#2 Mercer

Borough in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, United States

Population1,865
Coordinates41.2270000, -80.2397900
Altitude395
CountryUnited States
Start: Bethlehem (-75.37046, 40.62593)
End: Mercer (-80.23979, 41.227)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 486 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 03m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 32m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 02m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 01m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 18m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 45m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.65 gal
40.31 L · about $43.52
Round trip
$87.03
21.3 gal · 80.62 L
Estimated CO2
94.6 kg one way
Round trip: 189.3 kg / 417 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $43.52 $87.03
Mid-grade $4.60 $48.98 $97.96
Premium $4.95 $52.76 $105.52
Diesel $5.98 $63.69 $127.37

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Pennsylvania · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Bethlehem and Mercer. The current time is 00:34:20.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.