Origin
Ardmore, PA
Morning in Ardmore on Sunday
Local time
10:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ardmore, PA to Reading, PA
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 26, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 11m
Distance
53.1 mi
85 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 6m
★
6 AM
1h 12m
8 AM
1h 23m
10 AM
1h 16m
12 PM
1h 14m
3 PM
1h 16m
5 PM
1h 22m
8 PM
1h 8m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ardmore, PA
Haneul Trac
Reading, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Ardmore to Reading is 53.1 miles and takes about 1h 11m via Pennsylvania Turnpike, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Pennsylvania, connecting two points in the Northeast region. It's a straightforward drive primarily on the Turnpike, making it a convenient option for a quick transit between these areas. Given its short duration, it’s well-suited for a same-day excursion.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Turnpike | 27.7 mi | 29m |
| Morgantown Expressway | 11.3 mi | 12m |
| Old Gulph Road | 2.5 mi | 5m |
| Schuylkill Expressway | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| West Shore Bypass | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| South Gulph Road | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| New Gulph Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| West Montgomery Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 27.7 mi, about 29m
Traffic on I-176
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~921 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~48 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
19.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 27 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 Ardmore, PA and Reading, PA.
1
Start on Sibley Avenue
403 ft
·
25 sec
·
Sibley Avenue
2
Turn left onto Coulter Avenue
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Coulter Avenue
3
Turn right onto Anderson Avenue
233 ft
·
13 sec
·
Anderson Avenue
Use the right lane.
4
Turn left onto West Montgomery Avenue
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West Montgomery Avenue
5
Turn slight right onto New Gulph Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
New Gulph Road
6
Continue on Old Gulph Road
2.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Old Gulph Road
7
Continue on PA 320
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
South Gulph Road
Use the left lane.
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 76 West: Valley Forge
Use the left lane.
9
Merge onto I 76
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Schuylkill Expressway
10
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
Exit 328B-A/327
Toward US 202, US 422 West: King of Prussia, West Chester, Pottstown
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
Toward US 202 South, US 422 West: Mall Boulevard, West Chester, Pottstown, Swedesford Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
20 sec
Toward Mall Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
Toward I 76 West: New Jersey, Harrisburg
14
Merge onto I 76
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
Schuylkill Expressway
Toward I 76 West: New Jersey, Harrisburg
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 76
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
I 76
Toward I 76 West: Harrisburg
Use the slight left lane.
16
Merge onto I 76; PATP
28 mi
·
29 min
·
Pennsylvania Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 298
Toward I 176, PA 10: Morgantown, Reading
Use the slight right lane.
18
Continue on I 176
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Morgantown Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 11B
Toward US 422 West: Reading
20
Merge onto US 422
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
West Shore Bypass
Toward US 422 West: Reading
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward US 222 Business: Lancaster Avenue
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
22
Turn right onto US 222 BUS
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
Bingaman Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Continue on US 222 BUS
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Laurel Street
Use the left lane.
24
Turn left onto US 222 BUS
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
South 5th Street
Use the left lane.
25
Turn right onto US 422 Business
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Franklin Street
26
Turn left onto South 6th Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
South 6th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
27
Turn left onto US 422 Business Alternate
278 ft
·
4 sec
·
Penn Street
28
Arrive at destination
US 422 Business Alternate
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.5 miles from Ardmore, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 225 decision points cluster between mile 8.3 and 37.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
8.3 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Take the exit toward US 202, US 422 West: King of Prussia, West Chester, Pottstown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 328B-A/327
Toward US 202, US 422 West: King of Prussia, We...
9
8.4 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 202 South, US 422 West: Mall Boulevard, West Chester, Pottstown, Swedesford Road
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 202 South, US 422 West: Mall Boulevar...
8
8.7 mi into trip
|
~18m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Mall Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Mall Boulevard
7
8.9 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 76 West: New Jersey, Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 76 West: New Jersey, Harrisburg
8
37.5 mi into trip
|
~51m in
Take the exit toward I 176, PA 10: Morgantown, Reading
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 298
Toward I 176, PA 10: Morgantown, Reading
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.66 one way
$17.33 round trip
$4.14/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.56 | $9.53 | $19.05 |
| premium | $4.86 | $10.17 | $20.33 |
| diesel | $5.40 | $11.30 | $22.59 |
Estimated Tolls: $3.60
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(27.7 mi)
$3.60
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$4
Total
$12
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.9 | 0 | $5.58 | $2.55 |
| Efficient EV | 13.3 | 0 | $4.65 | $2.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.2 | 0 | $7.43 | $3.40 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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.
Destination
Reading, PA
Morning in Reading on Sunday
Local time
10:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
6 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
1h 11m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 78% of the 53.1 miles on high-speed roads. You'll spend the bulk of your time on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, including one stretch of 27.7 miles without needing to exit. After leaving the Turnpike, you'll transition to Morgantown Expressway and then local roads like Old Gulph Road, which will feel like a significant change in pace.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27.7 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and Morgantown Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 53.1 miles you will encounter 22 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 8.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
772 ft
190 ft
Total Climb
906 ft
Total Descent
1,005 ft
Highest Point
772 ft
~41.7 mi in
Elevation Range
582 ft
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 Ardmore, PA and Reading, PA, road signs point toward Chester, Pottstown and Harrisburg.
Chester
8.3 mi in
|
~18m
Pottstown
8.3 mi in
|
~18m
Harrisburg
8.9 mi in
|
~19m
About the Cities
Starting in Ardmore, PA
Full guide →Ardmore, Pennsylvania is in a small town on the border of Montgomery County and Delaware County in the Philadelphia Region.
Arriving in Reading, PA
Full guide →Founded 1748
Reading is a historic city of about 95,000 (2020 Census) in Pennsylvania, about 50 miles northwest of Philadelphia, 35 miles southwest of Allentown and 55 miles east of Harrisburg. It punches above its weight in culture, and its downtown features some iconic buildings, so consider making it a stopover on your way between any of these and other area cities.
Top landmarks
- • Frederick Lauer Monument — monument in City Park, Reading, Pennsylvania, United States
- • Skew Arch Bridge
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 1h 11m. Total distance: 53.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 27.7 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.60 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.
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.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 8.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Valley Forge National Historical Park, Independence National Historical Park and Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial (5 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Reading, PA before heading back.
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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