How far is Zion, PA from Bethlehem, PA?

The driving distance from Zion, PA to Bethlehem, PA is about 172.6 miles (277.8 km), with a travel time of about 02h 53m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 122.7 miles (197.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 46m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
172.6 mi
02h 53m
Flight
122.72 mi
197.5 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Zion.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
122.72 mi
Kilometers
197.5 km
Flight Time
00h 14m

Driving Distance

Road route
172.6 mi
Kilometers
277.77 km
Drive Time
02h 53m

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 02h 53m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Bethlehem
Thu, Oct 15, 9:36 PM EDT
Return by in Zion
Fri, Oct 16, 12:29 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Zion
2026-10-15T18:43
Arrive Bethlehem
Thu, Oct 15, 9:36 PM EDT
Route Timing
02h 53m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:53 AM to 12:53 PM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
12:44 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Zion
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

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
Marion Heights
PA

Borough in southeastern Northumberland County, Pennsylvania

From Zion
77.9 mi
01h 26m
To Bethlehem
94.7 mi
01h 26m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
66°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 mph E
Destination
65°F
This Afternoon

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Oct 15 12:00 PM EDT
Wind
5 mph E

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Zion Road

    2064 ft · 51 sec · Zion Road

  2. 2

    Turn left onto East College Avenue

    643 ft · 11 sec · East College Avenue

  3. 3

    Continue on Nittany Valley Drive

    11.4 mi · 17 min · Nittany Valley Drive

  4. 4

    Take the ramp right

    2089 ft · 51 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight left onto Keystone Shortway

    50.3 mi · 54 min · Keystone Shortway

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward PA 54: Danville, Washingtonville

    1080 ft · 27 sec

  7. 7

    Turn slight left

    24 m · 3 sec

  8. 8

    Turn right onto Continental Boulevard

    2.9 mi · 4 min · Continental Boulevard

  9. 9

    Continue on Factory Street

    716 ft · 20 sec · Factory Street

  10. 10

    Continue on Danville-Riverside Bridge Road

    1799 ft · 49 sec · Danville-Riverside Bridge Road

  11. 11

    Turn left onto Elysburg Road

    9.7 mi · 11 min · Elysburg Road

  12. 12

    Continue on State Route 54

    11.1 mi · 13 min · State Route 54

  13. 13

    Continue on Locust Gap Highway

    1897 ft · 42 sec · Locust Gap Highway

  14. 14

    Continue on Fairgrounds Road

    2.2 mi · 2 min · Fairgrounds Road

  15. 15

    Continue on Sunbury Road

    9.4 mi · 11 min · Sunbury Road

  16. 16

    Continue on Sunbury Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · Sunbury Street

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Pottsville Minersville Highway

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Pottsville Minersville Highway

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Gordon Nagle Trail

    4 mi · 7 min · Gordon Nagle Trail

  19. 19

    Continue on North Sillyman Street

    1281 ft · 33 sec · North Sillyman Street

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Pottsville Street

    1.1 km · 2 min · Pottsville Street

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Route 61 South

    150 m · 6 sec · Route 61 South

  22. 22

    Continue on Center Avenue

    10.6 mi · 13 min · Center Avenue

  23. 23

    Continue on Centre Street

    2.7 mi · 4 min · Centre Street

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight right toward I 78 East, US 22 East: Allentown

    1423 ft · 41 sec

  25. 25

    Merge slight left onto William Penn Highway

    21.6 mi · 27 min · William Penn Highway

  26. 26

    Keep slight right to continue on Lehigh Valley Thruway

    10.3 mi · 14 min · Lehigh Valley Thruway

  27. 27

    Take the exit slight right toward PA 378 South: Bethlehem, Schoenersville Road

    1072 ft · 26 sec

  28. 28

    Keep slight right to continue on PA 378 South: Bethlehem

    1149 ft · 22 sec

  29. 29

    Continue on Bethlehem Spur Route

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Bethlehem Spur Route

  30. 30

    Take the exit slight right toward Eighth Avenue

    1208 ft · 33 sec

  31. 31

    Turn right onto 8th Avenue

    620 ft · 22 sec · 8th Avenue

  32. 32

    Turn left onto West Union Boulevard

    1 mi · 2 min · West Union Boulevard

  33. 33

    Turn left onto Center Street

    129 m · 11 sec · Center Street

  34. 34

    Turn right onto East Goepp Street

    1342 ft · 50 sec · East Goepp Street

  35. 35

    Turn right onto Linden Street

    17 m · 1 sec · Linden Street

  36. 36

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Linden Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
36 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
2 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
20.9 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Keystone Shortway
50.3 mi · 29%
William Penn Highway
21.6 mi · 13%
Nittany Valley Drive
11.8 mi · 7%
State Route 54
11.1 mi · 6%
Center Avenue
10.6 mi · 6%
Lehigh Valley Thruway
10.3 mi · 6%
Longest Stretch

Keystone Shortway

Merge slight left onto Keystone Shortway

50.3 mi · 00h 54m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 53m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 46m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+49.9 mi
122.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Marion Heights
01h 26m from Zion
Leave By
12:44 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Zion and Mostly Sunny near Bethlehem.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 172.6 miles (277.8 km) and usually takes 02h 53m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Marion Heights is a useful midpoint, sitting about 77.9 miles from Zion and 94.7 miles from Bethlehem.

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

The direct path is about 122.7 miles (197.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 49.9 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 12:44 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $27.19 one way or $54.37 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 54.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Zion and Mostly Sunny near Bethlehem.

Stop Ideas Near Marion Heights

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Marion Heights, 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 Marion Heights.

BUS

Wilkes-Barre, PA

69 mi away
47 South Washington Street
RAIL

Harrisburg Transportation Center

70 mi away
4th and Chestnut Streets
BUS

White Haven, PA

71 mi away
I-476, Exit 95/I-80, Exit 277, at Hwy 940
RAIL

Middletown

72 mi away
Union Street and Mill Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Zion and Bethlehem. Straight-line distance: 122.72 mi (197.5 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Zion

Situated at an elevation of 1014 feet in Centre County, Pennsylvania, this unincorporated community lies within the expansive Nittany Valley.

Population0
Coordinates40.9142300, -77.6847200
Altitude309
CountryUnited States
Bethlehem

#2 Bethlehem

The second most populous city in Northampton County, Pennsylvania.

Population74,892
Coordinates40.6259300, -75.3704600
Altitude109
CountryUnited States
Start: Zion Road (-77.684891, 40.914715)
End: Linden Street (-75.370434, 40.625929)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 278 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 45m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 18m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 27m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 52m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 27m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 09m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.09 gal
23.05 L · about $27.19
Round trip
$54.37
12.18 gal · 46.1 L
Estimated CO2
54.1 kg one way
Round trip: 108.2 kg / 239 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.46 $27.19 $54.37
Mid-grade $4.93 $29.99 $59.99
Premium $5.31 $32.31 $64.61
Diesel $6.55 $39.89 $79.78

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 · Oct 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Zion and Bethlehem. The current time is 18:43:05.

Distance to Other Cities

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