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Trip from Duncannon, PA to Reading, PA

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 39m

Distance

75.8 mi

122 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min
4 AM
1h 32m ★
6 AM
1h 39m
8 AM
1h 54m
10 AM
1h 45m
12 PM
1h 43m
3 PM
1h 45m
5 PM
1h 54m
8 PM
1h 35m

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

Downtown Duncannon, PA, PA

Duncannon, PA

Jay's Photography

Trip Overview

Duncannon, PA to Reading, PA is 75.8 miles and takes about 1h 39m via Pennsylvania Turnpike and US 222, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Pennsylvania, moving you from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. It's a straightforward, primarily highway-focused trip that should be manageable for most drivers in a single day. You can expect a quick transit between these two points with minimal fuss.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

37.9 miles from Duncannon, PA

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 51m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike 38.7 mi 41m
US 22 11.4 mi 15m
US 222 7.4 mi 9m
US 322 5.3 mi 7m
US 222 BUS 4.9 mi 8m
I 283 2.8 mi 4m
American Legion Memorial Highway 1.8 mi 2m
Colonel Howard Boulevard 0.7 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Pennsylvania Turnpike — 38.7 mi, about 41m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on North Market Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · North Market Street
2

Continue on PA 849

0.4 mi · 50 sec · Newport Road
3

Merge onto US 22; US 322

11 mi · 15 min · US 22; US 322
4

Take the exit onto US 322

0.2 mi · 20 sec · US 322
Toward I 81 North, US 322 East, I 81 South: Hershey, Hazleton, Carlisle Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5

Keep slight left at fork onto US 322

0.9 mi · 1 min · US 322
Toward I 81 North, US 322 East: Hershey, Hazleton
6

Merge onto I 81; US 322

1.8 mi · 2 min · American Legion Memorial Highway
7

Keep slight right at fork onto US 322

4.3 mi · 5 min · US 322
Exit 70 Toward I 83 South, US 322 East: Hershey, York Use the slight right lane.
8

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 22 sec
Exit 46A Toward I 283 South: Harrisburg International Airport Use the slight left lane.
9

Continue on I 283

2.8 mi · 4 min · I 283
10

Keep slight left at fork

0.7 mi · 1 min
Toward I 76 East: Philadelphia
11

Merge onto I 76; PATP

39 mi · 41 min · Pennsylvania Turnpike
12

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 35 sec
Toward US 222: Reading, Ephrata Use the slight right lane.
13

Continue on Colonel Howard Boulevard

0.6 mi · 1 min · Colonel Howard Boulevard
14

Keep slight left at fork onto Colonel Howard Boulevard

0.1 mi · 15 sec · Colonel Howard Boulevard
15

Keep slight right at fork

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Toward US 222 North: Reading
16

Merge onto US 222

3.3 mi · 3 min · US 222
17

Continue on US 222

4.1 mi · 5 min · US 222
18

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.
19

Turn left onto US 222 BUS

0.4 mi · 47 sec · South 5th Street
Use the left lane.
20

Turn right onto US 422 Business

0.1 mi · 16 sec · Franklin Street
21

Turn left onto South 6th Street

0.1 mi · 24 sec · South 6th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
22

Turn left onto US 422 Business Alternate

278 ft · 4 sec · Penn Street
23

Arrive at destination

US 422 Business Alternate

Trip Plan

Given the short duration of 1h 39m, this trip is easily completed in a single day, offering flexibility for your departure time. A good strategy is to leave mid-morning to avoid peak traffic. The longest stretch without a major change in road is 38.7 miles on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, so plan your fuel stops accordingly before entering this segment. While there are no designated stops in the data, keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach Reading, PA, as highway services can sometimes be spaced out.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 37.9 miles from Duncannon, PA, or about 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38.7 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 17 miles or 24m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 37.9 miles or 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 1h 21m

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 Duncannon, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Duncannon, PA

This is one driving day of about 75.8 miles and 1h 39m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Duncannon, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Pennsylvania Turnpike for about 38.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

borough in central Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Manheim, PA

38 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

Harrisburg, PA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

North Cornwall, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 37.9 miles from Duncannon, 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 17

5 decision points cluster between mile 12.2 and 70.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
12.2 mi into trip | ~17m in | US 322

Take the exit onto US 322 toward I 81 North, US 322 East, I 81 South: Hershey, Hazleton, Carlisle

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 81 North, US 322 East, I 81 South: Her...
9
15 mi into trip | ~22m in | US 322

Keep slight right at fork onto US 322 toward I 83 South, US 322 East: Hershey, York

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 70 Toward I 83 South, US 322 East: Hershey, York
8
19.3 mi into trip | ~28m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 283 South: Harrisburg International Airport

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Exit 46A Toward I 283 South: Harrisburg International Ai...
7
61.7 mi into trip | ~1h 16m 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
70.2 mi into trip | ~1h 28m 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

$12.37 one way

$24.73 round trip

$4.14/gal 25.4 MPG avg 27 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.56 $13.60 $27.20
premium $4.86 $14.51 $29.02
diesel $5.61 $16.74 $33.47

Estimated Tolls: $5.04

Pennsylvania Turnpike (38.7 mi) $5.04

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

$12

Tolls

$5

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$42–$67

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 26.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 22.7 0 $7.96 $3.64
Efficient EV 19 0 $6.63 $3.03
EV Truck/SUV 30.3 0 $10.61 $4.85

Gas CO2

27 kg

EV CO2

9 kg (67% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026

Origin

Duncannon, PA

Afternoon in Duncannon on Tuesday

Local time

2:43 PM

EDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Reading, PA

Afternoon in Reading on Tuesday

Local time

2:43 PM

EDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

1h 39m 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Appalachian National Scenic Trail

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...

12 mi from route ~31 min detour Free near mile 41.8
View on nps.gov
Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument

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...

15 mi from route ~37 min detour Free near mile 2.6
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 93% of it utilizing major roadways like the Pennsylvania Turnpike and US 222. You'll encounter stretches of uninterrupted driving, including a notable 38.7-mile segment on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The character of the drive is largely that of efficient travel, prioritizing speed and directness over winding or scenic detours. Expect a consistent pace for the majority of your journey.

93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 38.7 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and US 22. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12.2 miles in near US 322.

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 75.8 miles you will encounter 17 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 12.2 miles (US 322): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15 miles (US 322): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

Between Duncannon, PA and Reading, PA, road signs point toward Hazleton, Carlisle, York, Ephrata and Shillington.

Hazleton

12.2 mi in | ~17m | via US 322

Carlisle

12.2 mi in | ~17m | via US 322

York

15 mi in | ~22m | via US 322

Ephrata

61.7 mi in | ~1h 16m

Shillington

70.2 mi in | ~1h 28m | via US 222 BUS

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 1h 39m. Total distance: 75.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 38.7 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $5.04 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 12.2 miles (US 322): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15 miles (US 322): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Appalachian National Scenic Trail and Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument. 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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