Oakmont Plum Service Plaza
0 mi from route
Trip from Ambridge, PA to Reading, PA
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 29m
Distance
289 mi
465 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$48
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
30 DC fast
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 16m
★
6 AM
5h 29m
8 AM
5h 56m
10 AM
5h 38m
12 PM
5h 36m
3 PM
5h 40m
5 PM
5h 54m
8 PM
5h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ambridge, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Ambridge, PA to Reading, PA covers 289 miles and takes about 5h 29m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Pennsylvania Turnpike, US 222, Ohio River Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 259 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. At current regular gas prices, budget about $47.91 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
144.5 miles from Ambridge, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 44m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike | 259 mi | 4h 42m |
| US 222 | 7.4 mi | 9m |
| Ohio River Boulevard | 5.8 mi | 6m |
| US 222 BUS | 4.9 mi | 8m |
| Freedom Crider Road | 4.4 mi | 6m |
| Freedom Road | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| Crows Run Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Colonel Howard Boulevard | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 259 mi, about 4h 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ambridge, PA and Reading, PA.
1
Start on Duss Avenue
99 ft
·
10 sec
·
Duss Avenue
2
Turn left onto PA 989
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
8th Street
3
Turn right onto PA 65
5.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Ohio River Boulevard
4
Turn right onto Crows Run Road
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Crows Run Road
5
Continue on Freedom Crider Road
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Freedom Crider Road
6
Enter roundabout onto Freedom Crider Road
102 ft
·
1 sec
·
Freedom Crider Road
7
Continue on Freedom Crider Road
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Freedom Crider Road
8
Continue on Freedom Road
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Freedom Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
9
Turn right onto US 19
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Perry Highway
Use the right lane.
10
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Toward I 76, PATP: Youngstown Ohio, Harrisburg
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 76 East: Harrisburg
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 76 East: Harrisburg
13
Merge onto I 76; PATP
259 mi
·
4 hr 42 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
Toward US 222: Reading, Ephrata
Use the slight right lane.
15
Continue on Colonel Howard Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Colonel Howard Boulevard
16
Keep slight left at fork onto Colonel Howard Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Colonel Howard Boulevard
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward US 222 North: Reading
18
Merge onto US 222
3.3 mi
·
3 min
·
US 222
19
Continue on US 222
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
US 222
20
Take the exit onto US 222 BUS
4.9 mi
·
8 min
·
US 222 BUS
Toward US 222 Business: Lancaster Avenue, Shillington
Use the slight right lane.
21
Turn left onto US 222 BUS
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
South 5th Street
Use the left lane.
22
Turn right onto US 422 Business
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Franklin Street
23
Turn left onto South 6th Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
South 6th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
24
Turn left onto US 422 Business Alternate
278 ft
·
4 sec
·
Penn Street
25
Arrive at destination
US 422 Business Alternate
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 144.5 miles from Ambridge, PA, or about 2h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 259 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 64 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 144.5 miles or 2h 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Reading, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ambridge, 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 Ambridge, PA
This is one driving day of about 289 miles and 5h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Ambridge, 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 Pennsylvania Turnpike for about 259 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
145 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 64 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 144.5 miles from Ambridge, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Pennsylvania Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 259 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Nearby Places
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
South Midway Service Plaza
0 mi from route
North Midway Service Plaza
0 mi from route
Blue Mountain Service Plaza
0 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
New Stanton Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
North Somerset Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
South Somerset Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Sideling Hill Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Cumberland Valley Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Lawn Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.4 mi from route
TA
0.6 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.6 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.6 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
1.1 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 185 decision points cluster between mile 14.8 and 283.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
14.8 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Take the exit toward I 76, PATP: Youngstown Ohio, Harrisburg
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 I 76, PATP: Youngstown Ohio, Harrisburg
7
14.9 mi into trip
|
~21m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 76 East: Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 76 East: Harrisburg
7
274.9 mi into trip
|
~5h 6m in
Take the exit toward US 222: Reading, Ephrata
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 US 222: Reading, Ephrata
6
275.8 mi into trip
|
~5h 8m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 222 North: Reading
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward US 222 North: Reading
7
283.4 mi into trip
|
~5h 18m in
|
US 222 BUS
Take the exit onto US 222 BUS toward US 222 Business: Lancaster Avenue, Shillington
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 US 222 Business: Lancaster Avenue, Shill...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.91 one way
$95.83 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
101 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $52.48 | $104.95 |
| premium | $4.93 | $56.05 | $112.10 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $63.81 | $127.62 |
Estimated Tolls: $33.67
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(259 mi)
$33.67
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
$48
Tolls
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$107–$132
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 101.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
30 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Target - Tesla Supercharger
Pittsburgh, PA
Tesla
16 DCFC
Cranberry Mall - Tesla Supercharger
Cranberry Township, PA
Tesla
12 DCFC
Sheetz - Tesla Supercharger
Franklin Park, PA
Tesla
8 DCFC
Sheetz Pittsburgh #619
Pittsburgh, PA
eVgo Network
8 DCFC
Residence Inn Cranberry Township - Tesla Supercharger
Cranberry, PA
Tesla
6 DCFC
GetGo Gas Station - Tesla Supercharger
Monroeville, PA
Tesla
6 DCFC
Walnut - Penn Place
Monroeville, PA
eVgo Network
6 DCFC
Sheetz 133 (Cranberry Township, PA)
Cranberry Township, PA
Electrify America
4 DCFC
ChargePoint Network: 20
Tesla: 5
Non-Networked: 2
eVgo Network: 2
Electrify America: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 86.7 | 1 | $30.35 | $13.87 |
| Efficient EV | 72.3 | 0 | $25.29 | $11.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 115.6 | 1 | $40.46 | $18.50 |
Gas CO2
101 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (66% 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.
Origin
Ambridge, PA
Morning in Ambridge on Sunday
Local time
10:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Reading, PA
Morning in Reading on Sunday
Local time
10:16 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
55°F
Oil City, PA
145 mi in
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
15 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 29m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument
National Monument
More than 7,800 children from 140 Tribes went to the Carlisle School from 1879 to 1918. The National Park Service will collaborate with families, affiliated Tribal Nations, the US Army, historians, an...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 209.3
View on nps.gov
Flight 93 National Memorial
National Memorial
On Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, the U.S. came under attack when four commercial airliners were hijacked and used to strike targets on the ground. Nearly 3,000 people tragically lost their live...
6 mi from route
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 109.6
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...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 259.1
View on nps.gov
Fort Necessity National Battlefield
National Battlefield
The battle at Fort Necessity in the summer of 1754 was the opening action of the French and Indian War. This war was a clash of British, French and American Indian cultures. It ended with the removal...
24 mi from route
~61 min detour
Free
near mile 79.7
View on nps.gov
Johnstown Flood National Memorial
National Memorial
The South Fork Dam failed on Friday, May 31, 1889, and unleashed 20,000,000 tons of water that devastated Johnstown, PA. The flood killed 2,209 people but it brought the nation and the world together...
24 mi from route
~61 min detour
Free
near mile 129.6
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
289 mi in 5h 29m, mostly highway — 259 mi of that is on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 259 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and US 222. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 14.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 18 significant decision points across 289 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 14.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 274.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Ambridge, PA and Reading, PA, road signs point toward Patp: Youngstown Ohio and Harrisburg.
Patp: Youngstown Ohio
14.8 mi in
|
~21m
Harrisburg
14.8 mi in
|
~21m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 29m. Total distance: 289 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 259 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $33.67 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Reading, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 14.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 274.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 11.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Reading, 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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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