Burgettstown, PA to Reading, PA is 285.1 miles and takes about 5h 34m via Pennsylvania Turnpike, US 22, with a fuel budget near $47 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Northeast region and entirely within Pennsylvania. It's a predominantly highway route, making it a straightforward option for a single-day trip. Plan for a mostly efficient journey, with the bulk of your time spent on the turnpike.
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
142.6 miles from Burgettstown, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
230.8 mi
4h 12m
Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
14.5 mi
20m
US 22
9.9 mi
13m
US 222
7.4 mi
9m
US 222 BUS
4.9 mi
8m
Bavington Road
3 mi
4m
Steubenville Pike
1.2 mi
2m
Colonel Howard Boulevard
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 230.8 mi, about 4h 12m
Traffic on I-376
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 12 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
5 PM
~3,243 veh/hr typical
Quietest
3 AM
~204 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 105 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 Burgettstown, PA and Reading, PA.
1
Start on South Main Street
0.4 mi·1 min·South Main Street
2
Turn right onto Bridge Street
160 ft·6 sec·Bridge Street
3
Turn left onto PA 18
0.4 mi·45 sec·John L Brunner Bypass Road
4
Turn right onto Bavington Road
3.0 mi·4 min·Bavington Road
Use the right lane.
5
At end of road, turn right onto Steubenville Pike
1.2 mi·1 min·Steubenville Pike
6
Turn right onto Maple Grove Road
0.1 mi·16 sec·Maple Grove Road
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·24 sec
Toward US 22 East: Pittsburgh
8
Merge onto US 22
9.9 mi·13 min·US 22
9
Continue on PA 60; Orange Belt
358 ft·9 sec·Steubenville Pike
10
Take the exit
9.9 mi·14 min
Toward I 376 East: PittsburghUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 376; US 22; US 30
15 mi·20 min·Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
Toward I 376 East: MonroevilleUse the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·1 min
Exit 85Toward I 76, PATP: Ohio, Harrisburg
13
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·30 sec·this road
Use the straight lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward I 76 East: HarrisburgUse the slight right lane.
15
Merge onto I 76; PATP
231 mi·4 hr 12 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·35 sec
Toward US 222: Reading, EphrataUse the slight right lane.
17
Continue on Colonel Howard Boulevard
0.6 mi·1 min·Colonel Howard Boulevard
18
Keep slight left at fork onto Colonel Howard Boulevard
0.1 mi·15 sec·Colonel Howard Boulevard
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward US 222 North: Reading
20
Merge onto US 222
3.3 mi·3 min·US 222
21
Continue on US 222
4.1 mi·5 min·US 222
22
Take the exit onto US 222 BUS
4.9 mi·8 min·US 222 BUS
Toward US 222 Business: Lancaster Avenue, ShillingtonUse the slight right lane.
23
Turn left onto US 222 BUS
0.4 mi·47 sec·South 5th Street
Use the left lane.
24
Turn right onto US 422 Business
0.1 mi·16 sec·Franklin Street
25
Turn left onto South 6th Street
0.1 mi·24 sec·South 6th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
26
Turn left onto US 422 Business Alternate
278 ft·4 sec·Penn Street
27
Arrive at destination
US 422 Business Alternate
Trip Plan
Given the 5.5-hour duration, leaving in the morning is your best bet to avoid driving in the dark. The longest stretch is over 230 miles, so plan at least one fuel and rest stop midway. Consider topping off your tank before you leave Burgettstown, as fuel prices can fluctuate on the turnpike. The high highway share means you can make good time, but pay attention to the transition off the main turnpike onto other roads as you get closer to Reading.
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 142.6 miles from Burgettstown, PA, or about 2h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 230.8 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 63 miles or 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 142.6 miles or 2h 51m 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 31m
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 Burgettstown, 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 Burgettstown, PA
This is one driving day of about 285.1 miles and 5h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Burgettstown, 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 230.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 15.1 and 279.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
15.1 mi into trip|~23m in
Take the exit toward I 376 East: Pittsburgh
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 376 East: Pittsburgh
7
25.1 mi into trip|~37m in|I 376; US 22; US 30 / Penn-Lincoln Parkway East
Keep slight right at fork onto I 376; US 22; US 30 / Penn-Lincoln Parkway East toward I 376 East: Monroeville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward I 376 East: Monroeville
8
40 mi into trip|~59m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 76 East: Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 76 East: Harrisburg
7
271 mi into trip|~5h 12m 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
7
279.5 mi into trip|~5h 24m 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
$50.17 one way
$100.35 round trip
$4.47/gal25.4 MPG avg100 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.89
$54.86
$109.73
premium
$5.23
$58.66
$117.32
diesel
$6.18
$69.36
$138.71
Estimated Tolls: $30.01
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(230.8 mi)$30.01
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
$50
Tolls
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$105–$130
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 99.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
85.5
1
$29.94
$13.68
Efficient EV
71.3
0
$24.95
$11.40
EV Truck/SUV
114
1
$39.91
$18.25
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (67% 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.
Forecast as of Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Burgettstown, PA
Late night
in Burgettstown on Monday
Local time
1:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Widespread Frost then Sunny
SE 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 18 at 2:47AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 18 at 2:47AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Destination
Reading, PA
Late night
in Reading on Monday
Local time
1:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Widespread Frost then Sunny
N 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 18 at 2:47AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 18 at 2:47AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
40°F
King, PA
143 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
2 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 34m 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...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 206.5
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...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 108.2
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 255.6
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 68.8
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
~59 min detour
Free
near mile 127.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 94% highway, meaning you'll spend most of your time on high-speed roads. The longest continuous stretch on the highway is 230.8 miles, primarily on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. You'll transition to more surface roads, including US 22, as you approach your destination. Expect a relatively seamless drive with frequent exits and entrances common to major turnpikes and interstates.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 230.8 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and Penn-Lincoln Parkway East. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 15.1 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
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 21 significant decision points across 285.1 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 15.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.1 miles (I 376; US 22; US 30 / Penn-Lincoln Parkway East): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 40 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,252 ft357 ft
Total Climb
1,888 ft
Total Descent
2,383 ft
Highest Point
2,252 ft
~101.8 mi in
Elevation Range
1,895 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Burgettstown, PA and Reading, PA, road signs point toward Patp: Ohio and Harrisburg.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 34m. Total distance: 285.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 34m 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 230.8 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $30.01 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.
Yes — we found about 16 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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. There are 16 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 15.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.1 miles (I 376; US 22; US 30 / Penn-Lincoln Parkway East): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 40 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument, Flight 93 National Memorial and Appalachian National Scenic Trail (5 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.6 hours each way, a round trip means 11.2 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.
