Connecting Lehigh to Reading, this 97.7-mile journey is a straightforward transit through Pennsylvania’s Northeast region. You can expect a drive time of approximately 2 hours and 17 minutes, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day trip. With a fuel budget of about $16, the route is economically efficient for a quick getaway or business travel. Since the entire trip takes place within the state of Pennsylvania, you won't need to worry about adjusting to different regional driving cultures. It is a practical, no-nonsense path that doesn't require an overnight stay, allowing you to easily complete the trek in a single session.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.9 miles from Lehigh, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 7m into the drive
.
Exit 56Toward I 78, US 22, PA 309: Allentown, Harrisburg
15
Merge onto US 22
1.1 mi·1 min·Lehigh Valley Thruway
16
Merge onto I 78; US 22
1.8 mi·2 min·William Penn Highway
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·46 sec
Exit 49AToward PA 100 South: TrexlertownUse the slight right lane.
18
Turn straight onto PA 100
0.7 mi·1 min·PA 100
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Turn right onto Schantz Road
3.5 mi·6 min·Schantz Road
20
Enter roundabout onto US 222
21 ft·0 sec·Hamilton Boulevard
21
Continue on US 222
0.6 mi·50 sec·Hamilton Boulevard
22
Continue on US 222
3.8 mi·5 min·Kutztown Road
23
Keep slight left at fork onto US 222
5.9 mi·7 min·US 222
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Enter roundabout onto US 222
110 ft·1 sec·Allentown Pike
25
Continue on US 222
0.4 mi·39 sec·Allentown Pike
26
Continue on US 222
1.1 mi·1 min·Kutztown Road
27
Continue on US 222
1.6 mi·2 min·Allentown Pike
28
Enter roundabout onto US 222
97 ft·4 sec·Allentown Pike
29
Continue on US 222
0.4 mi·52 sec·Allentown Pike
30
Enter roundabout onto US 222
127 ft·5 sec·Allentown Pike
31
Continue on US 222
1.1 mi·1 min·Allentown Pike
Use the straight lane.
32
Continue on US 222
0.3 mi·26 sec·Kutztown Road
33
Continue on US 222
0.5 mi·47 sec·Allentown Pike
34
Continue on US 222 BUS
1.9 mi·3 min·Allentown Pike
35
Continue on US 222 BUS
5.0 mi·8 min·North 5th Street Highway
Use the straight lane.
36
Continue on US 222 BUS
0.1 mi·22 sec·South 5th Street
37
Turn left onto US 422 Business
0.1 mi·16 sec·Franklin Street
Use the left lane.
38
Turn left onto South 6th Street
0.1 mi·24 sec·South 6th Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
39
Turn left onto US 422 Business Alternate
278 ft·4 sec·Penn Street
40
Arrive at destination
US 422 Business Alternate
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour and 17-minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Since there are no mandatory stops scheduled, you can easily tackle the entire 97.7 miles without needing to plan for lengthy breaks. Keep your $16 fuel budget in mind as you prepare, and make sure your tank is topped off before hitting the major highways to avoid unnecessary stops. Because the route relies heavily on the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension and I-380, checking for real-time traffic updates on those specific arteries before you pull out of your driveway is a smart move. Enjoy the simplicity of this direct, single-day transit through Pennsylvania.
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 48.9 miles from Lehigh, PA, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 29.4 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 21 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.9 miles or 1h 7m 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 49m
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 Lehigh, 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 Lehigh, PA
This is one driving day of about 97.7 miles and 2h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Lehigh, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension for about 29.4 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 25
5 decision points cluster between mile 17.6 and 97.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
17.6 mi into trip|~27m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 80 West: Hazleton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Exit 1A
Toward I 80 West: Hazleton
7
36.8 mi into trip|~54m in
Take the ramp toward PATP South, I 476 South: Allentown
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward PATP South, I 476 South: Allentown
6
66.5 mi into trip|~1h 27m in
Take the exit toward I 78, US 22, PA 309: Allentown, Harrisburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 56
Toward I 78, US 22, PA 309: Allentown, Harrisbu...
7
70.3 mi into trip|~1h 33m in
Take the exit toward PA 100 South: Trexlertown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 49A
Toward PA 100 South: Trexlertown
7
97.5 mi into trip|~2h 16m in|US 422 Business / Franklin Street
Turn left onto US 422 Business / Franklin Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.20 one way
$32.39 round trip
$4.21/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$17.74
$35.48
premium
$4.93
$18.95
$37.90
diesel
$5.61
$21.57
$43.14
Estimated Tolls: $3.90
Pennsylvania Turnpike
(29.4 mi)$3.82
Lehigh Valley Thruway
(1.1 mi)$0.08
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
$16
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.3
0
$10.26
$4.69
Efficient EV
24.4
0
$8.55
$3.91
EV Truck/SUV
39.1
0
$13.68
$6.25
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Lehigh, PA
Late night
in Lehigh on Tuesday
Local time
4:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Reading, PA
Late night
in Reading on Tuesday
Local time
4:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
89°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 5 to 15 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 4:45AM EDT by NWS Mount Holly NJ
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 4:42AM EDT by NWS State College PA
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
32 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 17m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip offers a mixed driving profile that keeps you engaged as you transition between different road types. You will spend about 59% of your time on highways, utilizing the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension, I-380, and the Keystone Shortway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 29.4-mile run along the Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. Because the route balances fast-paced interstate travel with other road segments, you get a varied experience behind the wheel. Expect the pace to shift as you move off the major turnpikes and navigate the different segments of this 97.7-mile journey.
59% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
40 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 29.4 mi on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 17.6 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 25 significant decision points across 97.7 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 17.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 36.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 66.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lehigh, PA and Reading, PA, road signs point toward Blakeslee, Patp South 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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 17m. Total distance: 97.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (59%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 29.4 miles on Pennsylvania Turnpike Northeast Extension. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $3.90 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 17.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 36.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 66.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Reading, PA before heading back.
