The Cost of a Trip Between Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and Pittsfield, Massachusetts in Today's Gas Prices

If you're planning a trip between Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and Pittsfield, Massachusetts, one of your first considerations will be the cost. There are a few different routes you can take, and each one will have a different total cost based on current gas prices. In this article, we'll break down the cost and distance of each route, and recommend the best one for your travel plans.

Routes Between Bethlehem and Pittsfield

There are three main routes you can take when traveling from Bethlehem to Pittsfield:

Route 1: I-78 W and I-81 N

This is the shortest route in terms of distance, but it may not be the most cost-effective. From Bethlehem, you'll head west on I-78 for about 35 miles, then take I-81 north for another 230 miles or so until you reach Pittsfield. This route covers a total distance of around 270 miles.

Based on current gas prices, this trip would cost you approximately $50 one-way. This estimate assumes that your car gets an average of 25 miles per gallon, and gas prices are at around $2.75 per gallon.

Route 2: I-84 W and I-90 W

Another possible route is to take I-84 west, which intersects with I-81 in Scranton, Pennsylvania. From there, you'll continue west on I-84 for around 125 miles until you reach I-90 near Sturbridge, Massachusetts. I-90 will take you the rest of the way to Pittsfield, a distance of around 90 miles.

This route covers a total distance of about 215 miles, making it slightly shorter than Route 1. However, it may be a bit more expensive due to the additional tolls you'll encounter along the way. The tolls on I-84 in Pennsylvania will cost around $17 in total, and the tolls on I-90 in Massachusetts will cost around $22. Additionally, you'll need to factor in gas costs, which are estimated to be around $40 one-way, based on our earlier assumptions.

Route 3: US-22 W and US-20 W

This is the longest route in terms of distance, but it may be the cheapest overall. From Bethlehem, you'll take US-22 west for around 185 miles, until you reach US-20 in Lee, Massachusetts. From there, it's just a short drive on US-20 (around 10 miles) until you reach Pittsfield.

This route covers a total distance of around 195 miles, making it slightly longer than Route 2 but significantly longer than Route 1. However, it may be the cheapest option, since there are no tolls and gas costs are estimated to be around $35 one-way.

Recommended Route

Based on our analysis, Route 2 (I-84 W and I-90 W) is the best option for most travelers. It's slightly shorter than Route 1, and while it may be a bit more expensive due to the tolls, it's still a reasonable price overall. Additionally, I-84 and I-90 are both major highways that are generally well-maintained and easy to navigate.

Conclusion

Overall, traveling between Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and Pittsfield, Massachusetts can be done relatively cheaply, depending on which route you choose. While there are pros and cons to each route, we recommend taking I-84 west and continuing on I-90 for the majority of the trip. This route offers a good balance of distance, cost, and ease of navigation, making it the best choice for most travelers. With gas prices at around $2.75 per gallon, you can expect to spend around $77 for the round-trip journey, assuming your car gets an average of 25 miles per gallon. Depending on how many stops you make along the way, you can expect the trip to take between 4 and 5 hours each way, making it a great option for a day trip or a weekend getaway.