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Trip from Connellsville, 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

4h 26m

Distance

228.5 mi

368 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$38

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 13m ★
6 AM
4h 27m
8 AM
4h 53m
10 AM
4h 36m
12 PM
4h 33m
3 PM
4h 37m
5 PM
4h 52m
8 PM
4h 19m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States

Connellsville, PA

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 228.5-mile drive from Connellsville, PA, to Reading, PA, is designed for a single day, taking approximately 4 hours and 26 minutes. Primarily utilizing the Pennsylvania Turnpike, with brief sections on Pleasant Valley Road and US 222, this route is 95% highway. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $38. Given its efficiency, it's a straightforward trip that doesn't necessarily require an overnight stop. You'll be navigating within the Northeast region throughout your travel.

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

114.2 miles from Connellsville, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 14m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike 196.6 mi 3h 35m
Pleasant Valley Road 7.9 mi 13m
US 222 7.4 mi 9m
PA 31 6 mi 9m
US 222 BUS 4.9 mi 8m
US 119 2.7 mi 3m
Colonel Howard Boulevard 0.7 mi 1m
Pittsburgh Street 0.5 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Pennsylvania Turnpike — 196.6 mi, about 3h 35m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Connellsville, PA and Reading, PA.

1

Start on Pittsburgh Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · Pittsburgh Street
2

Turn right onto US 119; PA 711 Truck

2.7 mi · 3 min · US 119; PA 711 Truck
3

Take the exit

244 ft · 6 sec
4

Turn straight onto PA 982

7.9 mi · 13 min · Pleasant Valley Road
5

Turn right onto PA 31

6.0 mi · 9 min · PA 31
6

Turn slight left

0.2 mi · 33 sec
7

Turn left

28 ft · 3 sec
8

Take the ramp

493 ft · 12 sec
Toward PATP, I 70, I 76
9

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 35 sec
10

Merge onto I 70; I 76; PATP

197 mi · 3 hr 35 min · Pennsylvania Turnpike
11

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 35 sec
Toward US 222: Reading, Ephrata Use the slight right lane.
12

Continue on Colonel Howard Boulevard

0.6 mi · 1 min · Colonel Howard Boulevard
13

Keep slight left at fork onto Colonel Howard Boulevard

0.1 mi · 15 sec · Colonel Howard Boulevard
14

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Toward US 222 North: Reading
15

Merge onto US 222

3.3 mi · 3 min · US 222
16

Continue on US 222

4.1 mi · 5 min · US 222
17

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.
18

Turn left onto US 222 BUS

0.4 mi · 47 sec · South 5th Street
Use the left lane.
19

Turn right onto US 422 Business

0.1 mi · 16 sec · Franklin Street
20

Turn left onto South 6th Street

0.1 mi · 24 sec · South 6th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
21

Turn left onto US 422 Business Alternate

278 ft · 4 sec · Penn Street
22

Arrive at destination

US 422 Business Alternate

Trip Plan

For this 4-hour and 26-minute trip, consider an early morning departure from Connellsville to maximize your daylight hours and avoid potential afternoon traffic. With only one planned stop suggested, you'll have considerable flexibility on when and where to take a break. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 196.6-mile stretch on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, as services can be spaced out. The $38 fuel cost is a good estimate, but always factor in a buffer. Having a full tank before you begin will ensure a smooth start to your highway-focused drive.

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 114.2 miles from Connellsville, PA, or about 2h 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 196.6 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 50 miles or 1h 4m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 114.2 miles or 2h 14m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 34m

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 Connellsville, 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 Connellsville, PA

This is one driving day of about 228.5 miles and 4h 26m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Connellsville, 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 196.6 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Hancock, MD, MD

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Hancock, MD

114 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

Berlin, PA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Hancock, MD

Meal break

The midpoint is around 114.2 miles from Connellsville, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Pennsylvania Turnpike if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 196.6 miles.

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 16

5 decision points cluster between mile 17.4 and 228.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
17.4 mi into trip | ~27m in

Take the ramp toward PATP, I 70, I 76

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward PATP, I 70, I 76
7
214.3 mi into trip | ~4h 4m 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
215.2 mi into trip | ~4h 6m in

Keep slight right at fork toward US 222 North: Reading

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward US 222 North: Reading
7
222.9 mi into trip | ~4h 16m 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...
6
228.3 mi into trip | ~4h 26m in | South 6th Street

Turn left onto South 6th Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$37.88 one way

$75.76 round trip

$4.21/gal 25.4 MPG avg 80 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.61 $41.49 $82.98
premium $4.93 $44.31 $88.63
diesel $5.61 $50.45 $100.90

Estimated Tolls: $25.56

Pennsylvania Turnpike (196.6 mi) $25.56

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

$38

Tolls

$26

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$88–$113

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 79.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 68.6 0 $23.99 $10.97
Efficient EV 57.1 0 $19.99 $9.14
EV Truck/SUV 91.4 1 $31.99 $14.62

Gas CO2

80 kg

EV CO2

27 kg (66% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 Apr 19, 2026

Origin

Connellsville, PA

Afternoon in Connellsville on Sunday

Local time

1:48 PM

EDT

Current temp

73°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Reading, PA

Afternoon in Reading on Sunday

Local time

1:48 PM

EDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

54°F

Hancock, MD

114 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

17 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

4h 26m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of this 228.5-mile journey, with a 95% highway share. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is a significant 196.6 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, indicating long, consistent driving conditions. While the primary roads are high-speed, the inclusion of Pleasant Valley Road and US 222 suggests brief transitions to potentially different road types, though the overall profile remains that of a highway drive. This route is built for covering ground efficiently.

95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 196.6 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and Pleasant Valley Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 17.4 miles in.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 228.5 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 17.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 214.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 215.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Connellsville, PA and Reading, PA, road signs point toward Patp and Ephrata.

Patp

17.4 mi in | ~27m

Ephrata

214.3 mi in | ~4h 4m

About the Cities

Arriving in Reading, PA

Full guide →

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.

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 4h 26m. Total distance: 228.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 196.6 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $25.56 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 17.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 214.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 215.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Reading, PA, but most travelers stay overnight.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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