Fairdale, PA to Reading, PA is 256.3 miles and takes about 5h 8m via Pennsylvania Turnpike and US 40, with a fuel budget near $42 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, entirely within Pennsylvania. The route is predominantly highway driving, making it a straightforward and efficient way to get from point A to point B. With a recommended one-day drive, it's a solid option if you need to cover this distance without an overnight stay.
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
128.1 miles from Fairdale, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 41m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
196.6 mi
3h 35m
US 40
13.1 mi
15m
McClellandtown Road
10.5 mi
18m
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
2.9 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 196.6 mi, about 3h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fairdale, PA and Reading, PA.
1
Start on Schroyers Lane
281 ft·17 sec·Schroyers Lane
2
Turn left onto Nemacolin Road
85 ft·8 sec·Nemacolin Road
3
Turn sharp right onto Burnett Way
0.1 mi·29 sec·Burnett Way
4
Turn left onto PA 88
2.1 mi·3 min·Eighty Eight Road
5
Turn left onto PA 21
1.6 mi·2 min·Roy E. Furman Highway
6
Continue on PA 21
10 mi·18 min·McClellandtown Road
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Use the right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward US 119 North, US 40 West: Connellsville
9
Merge onto US 40; US 119
13 mi·15 min·US 40; US 119
10
Continue on US 119; PA 711 Truck
2.9 mi·3 min·US 119; PA 711 Truck
11
Take the exit
244 ft·6 sec
12
Turn straight onto PA 982
7.9 mi·13 min·Pleasant Valley Road
13
Turn right onto PA 31
6.0 mi·9 min·PA 31
14
Turn slight left
0.2 mi·33 sec
15
Turn left
28 ft·3 sec
16
Take the ramp
493 ft·12 sec
Toward PATP, I 70, I 76
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·35 sec
18
Merge onto I 70; I 76; PATP
197 mi·3 hr 35 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·35 sec
Toward US 222: Reading, EphrataUse the slight right lane.
20
Continue on Colonel Howard Boulevard
0.6 mi·1 min·Colonel Howard Boulevard
21
Keep slight left at fork onto Colonel Howard Boulevard
0.1 mi·15 sec·Colonel Howard Boulevard
22
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward US 222 North: Reading
23
Merge onto US 222
3.3 mi·3 min·US 222
24
Continue on US 222
4.1 mi·5 min·US 222
25
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.
26
Turn left onto US 222 BUS
0.4 mi·47 sec·South 5th Street
Use the left lane.
27
Turn right onto US 422 Business
0.1 mi·16 sec·Franklin Street
28
Turn left onto South 6th Street
0.1 mi·24 sec·South 6th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
29
Turn left onto US 422 Business Alternate
278 ft·4 sec·Penn Street
30
Arrive at destination
US 422 Business Alternate
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour drive, leaving in the morning should give you ample time to reach Reading before evening. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility with stops, but consider breaking up the 196.6-mile stretch on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The fuel cost is estimated at $42, so ensure you have enough to cover this. Keep an eye out for the transition from the Pennsylvania Turnpike to US 40, as this marks the shift from high-speed highway to surface street driving.
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 128.1 miles from Fairdale, PA, or about 2h 41m 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 56 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 128.1 miles or 2h 41m 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 10m
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 Fairdale, 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 Fairdale, PA
This is one driving day of about 256.3 miles and 5h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Fairdale, 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.
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 0.1 and 250.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|Burnett Way
Turn sharp right onto Burnett Way
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach
7
14.3 mi into trip|~25m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
14.5 mi into trip|~26m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 119 North, US 40 West: Connellsville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 119 North, US 40 West: Connellsville
7
242.1 mi into trip|~4h 45m 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
250.7 mi into trip|~4h 58m 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
$40.87 one way
$81.73 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg90 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$45.23
$90.45
premium
$4.81
$48.52
$97.03
diesel
$4.80
$48.39
$96.79
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
$41
Tolls
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$91–$116
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
76.9
0
$26.91
$12.30
Efficient EV
64.1
0
$22.43
$10.25
EV Truck/SUV
102.5
1
$35.88
$16.40
Gas CO2
90 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Fairdale, PA
Morning
in Fairdale on Monday
Local time
11:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Areas Of Smoke
S 5 mph33% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 3:54AM EDT until July 18 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 18 at 2:13AM EDT until July 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Destination
Reading, PA
Morning
in Reading on Monday
Local time
11:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Smoke
S 0 to 5 mph23% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 3:54AM EDT until July 18 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 18 at 2:13AM EDT until July 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
83°F
King, PA
128 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
1 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 8m 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 176.7
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
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 70.7
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...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
Free
near mile 17.7
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
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 220.9
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
~60 min detour
Free
near mile 97.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 90% of this 256.3-mile drive on highways. The Pennsylvania Turnpike accounts for the longest stretch at 196.6 miles. After this extensive highway portion, you'll transition to surface roads like US 40 and McClellandtown Road. Expect a high volume of exits and potential merging traffic as you navigate the highway segments.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 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?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Pennsylvania Turnpike and US 40. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Burnett Way.
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 256.3 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 0.1 miles (Burnett Way): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 14.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,591 ft253 ft
Total Climb
1,892 ft
Total Descent
2,642 ft
Highest Point
2,591 ft
~54.9 mi in
Elevation Range
2,338 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Fairdale, PA and Reading, PA, road signs point toward Patp and Ephrata.
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 8m. Total distance: 256.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). 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 0.1 miles (Burnett Way): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 14.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument, Flight 93 National Memorial and Fort Necessity National Battlefield (5 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.3 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.
