Fernway, PA to Reading, PA is 277 miles and takes about 5h 13m via Pennsylvania Turnpike and US 222, with a fuel budget near $46 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, primarily traversing Pennsylvania. Given its mostly highway profile and manageable duration, it's a solid choice for a single-day excursion. You'll be covering a significant portion of the drive on a major toll road, so be prepared for that aspect of the trip.
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
138.5 miles from Fernway, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Pennsylvania Turnpike
259 mi
4h 42m
US 222
7.4 mi
9m
US 222 BUS
4.9 mi
8m
Rochester Road
1.4 mi
3m
Perry Highway
1.2 mi
2m
Colonel Howard Boulevard
0.7 mi
1m
South 5th Street
0.4 mi
<1m
South 6th Street
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Pennsylvania Turnpike
— 259 mi, about 4h 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fernway, PA and Reading, PA.
1
Start on Hartland Drive
422 ft·20 sec·Hartland Drive
2
Turn right onto Woodhollow Drive
346 ft·16 sec·Woodhollow Drive
3
Turn right onto Rochester Road
1.4 mi·3 min·Rochester Road
4
Turn right onto US 19
1.2 mi·2 min·Perry Highway
Use the right lane.
5
Take the exit
0.1 mi·13 sec
Toward I 76, PATP: Youngstown Ohio, HarrisburgUse the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 76 East: HarrisburgUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·1 min
Toward I 76 East: Harrisburg
8
Merge onto I 76; PATP
259 mi·4 hr 42 min·Pennsylvania Turnpike
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·35 sec
Toward US 222: Reading, EphrataUse the slight right lane.
10
Continue on Colonel Howard Boulevard
0.6 mi·1 min·Colonel Howard Boulevard
11
Keep slight left at fork onto Colonel Howard Boulevard
0.1 mi·15 sec·Colonel Howard Boulevard
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·35 sec
Toward US 222 North: Reading
13
Merge onto US 222
3.3 mi·3 min·US 222
14
Continue on US 222
4.1 mi·5 min·US 222
15
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.
16
Turn left onto US 222 BUS
0.4 mi·47 sec·South 5th Street
Use the left lane.
17
Turn right onto US 422 Business
0.1 mi·16 sec·Franklin Street
18
Turn left onto South 6th Street
0.1 mi·24 sec·South 6th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
19
Turn left onto US 422 Business Alternate
278 ft·4 sec·Penn Street
20
Arrive at destination
US 422 Business Alternate
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from Fernway to take advantage of lighter traffic, especially on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. With a single recommended stop, plan it strategically around the halfway point or when you need a break. The fuel cost is estimated at $46, so ensure your tank is full before leaving and check prices along the way. Since most of the drive is on the turnpike, be aware of toll costs and have your payment method ready. The transition from the turnpike to US 222 will mark a change in the driving environment, so stay alert.
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 138.5 miles from Fernway, PA, or about 2h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 259 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 61 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 138.5 miles or 2h 35m 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 12m
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 Fernway, 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 Fernway, PA
This is one driving day of about 277 miles and 5h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Fernway, 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 259 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.6 and 271.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.6 mi into trip|~3m in|US 19 / Perry Highway
Turn right onto US 19 / Perry Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
2.8 mi into trip|~5m in
Take the exit toward I 76, PATP: Youngstown Ohio, Harrisburg
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 I 76, PATP: Youngstown Ohio, Harrisburg
7
2.9 mi into trip|~6m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 76 East: Harrisburg
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 76 East: Harrisburg
7
262.9 mi into trip|~4h 50m 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
271.4 mi into trip|~5h 3m 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
$44.17 one way
$88.33 round trip
$4.05/gal25.4 MPG avg97 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.48
$48.88
$97.76
premium
$4.81
$52.43
$104.87
diesel
$4.80
$52.30
$104.61
Estimated Tolls: $33.67
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(259 mi)$33.67
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
$44
Tolls
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$103–$128
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 96.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
83.1
1
$29.09
$13.30
Efficient EV
69.3
0
$24.24
$11.08
EV Truck/SUV
110.8
1
$38.78
$17.73
Gas CO2
97 kg
EV CO2
32 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Fernway, PA
Late night
in Fernway on Sunday
Local time
5:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Smoke
S 1 to 5 mph59% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 9:35PM EDT until July 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 9:22PM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
Destination
Reading, PA
Late night
in Reading on Sunday
Local time
5:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Smoke
N 0 to 5 mph9% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued July 17 at 9:35PM EDT until July 19 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 17 at 9:22PM EDT until July 18 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Cleveland OH
83°F
King, PA
139 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
5h 13m 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...
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Free
near mile 200.6
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...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
Free
near mile 95.5
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 248.4
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
~59 min detour
Free
near mile 66.9
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
~61 min detour
Free
near mile 114.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 98% of it on major roadways. You'll spend most of your time on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, covering a longest stretch of 259 miles. After this extensive highway segment, you'll transition to US 222 and US 222 BUS for the final miles into Reading. Expect a high volume of exits and potential merging traffic as you approach more populated areas near the end of the drive.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 259 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 222. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.6 miles in near US 19 / Perry Highway.
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 16 significant decision points across 277 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 1.6 miles (US 19 / Perry Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,700 ft253 ft
Total Climb
2,256 ft
Total Descent
3,043 ft
Highest Point
2,700 ft
~98.9 mi in
Elevation Range
2,448 ft
Notable High Points
2,700 ft at ~98.9 miles+548 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Fernway, PA to Reading, PA, road signs begin pointing toward Ephrata along the way.
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 13m. Total distance: 277 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 259 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $33.67 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 17 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 17 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.6 miles (US 19 / Perry Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.9 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 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.5 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.
